I Have Decided That After 10 Years

I have decided to act "as if" I will return to Guyana in September.  Let me tell you why:

This time I needed to "ponder", more than other years.   Of course, I had the usual concerns over my age, energy and family commitments.    [My family supports me 100% and wishes that I didn't go.]

A Legacy - Inflated Ego or Student Benefit?
My contemplation difficulties centred more on whether I make a difference to the education of nurses there.   Yes, I know and love that I have impacted the lives of over two hundred nurses.     My pondering has to do with leaving some sort of legacy change... someone there to pick up the torch and teach the PBL course - or even the essential subjects!  I have missed two years over my time there and both times the students received... no psychology, no sociology, no ethics...  Scary, eh?  I do find it depressing.

I have found that while the "important" subjects in professional education like nursing -- say Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology are seldom a major worry when in clinical practice.   Imagine a nurse coming home all frustrated from a fight with her colleague over which is the 6th cranial nerve ... unlikely!  The stressors of professional life are in the areas of relationships, self-worth and correct choices.   Don't think I am picking on nursing, as it is the same in medicine and ministry.

I have set my personal goals to focus on establishing structures that will allow my courses to be taught without me.   Ideally, I'd love to see the Problem Based approach used; however, I'll settle for anything workable.  To this end, I have asked the hospital and school to consider implementing some of my requests for this September.

If the school is not able to accommodate my requests, I will probably not return in 2015 unlikely.  I know that I will be sad.    But that is not today's worry.



Do I have the Energy to go the Distance? 
Hey, once I am there with the students and the girls from St Ann's, I have all the energy I need.  

It is all the work and begging beforehand that makes me tired.   I have had so many loyal and generous friends over the years who have made my journeys possible and successful.   I am not anxious to tell them that I [and really my students] still need them and their generosity, but my lottery ticket strategy doesn't seem to be working as an alternative.

This may seem strange but a motivation to return is the more threatening question, "Do I have the energy NOT to go?"   Staying at home would require me to find something new and different project in which to invest my energies.    

So I have committed to act "as if" and go ahead with plans to return.   If I discover before September that the plan is creating more frustrations than not, I'll change my decision.



If I was only going alone...
 Last year was a good year, I had lots of support from my North American volunteers Bev and Dennis, a local faculty member, Elsie, who helped with the coordinating of the programme, and the three UG graduates who were the small group tutors.  (They all received a graduate course credit from University of St.Joseph, Connecticut, thanks to the efforts of Marylou Welch, a retired faculty member and long time friend of Mercy Hospital. )
Then, there was the Mental Health Team from Grand River Hospital [Peter, Sujay, Ram and Brenna] who spent a full week with Bhiro Harry exploring the possibilities of future involvements with the Guyanese -- and they did and will return this fall with specific goals.  [I'll write more about this team and what they hope to accomplish.]
There is also a congregation in Ohio who want to be involved with Mercy Hospital.   You may wonder "Ohio?" Their pastor is a colleague of one of my disciples, Deborah.    They want to assist in any way possible, with construction, maintenance, landscaping, nursing, and/ or teaching.   I hope to go to Ohio this spring to further the development of this partnership.
I have a retired doctor from Montreal who seems willing to commit to help with the PBL course at Mercy for the full three months.   He is also interested in other involvements in Guyana as well.
Their assumptions are that I will be at Mercy as usual.


Is Ten Years a Tradition?
I have developed a rhythm to my last decade that I have enjoyed and found meaningful.   Yes, nothing and certainly no one lasts forever; if I do return this year, there will come a year that I decide - or life decides for me - that I will not be there... Of course, life will go on.    
I can't claim a long term pin from Mercy, as I have only been part time; however, there sure aren't that many Mercy employees who have been there longer than I have.   I don't know what that says, but it seems significant.
The Guyanese are dominated by the hope of getting out one day... emigrating almost anywhere else.   So anyone who keeps coming back when they don't have to be there is a symbol of hopefulness - in them, Mercy and Guyana.    It is no secret that Mercy Hospital is struggling to survive and needs all the support financially and personally that we can offer.   I consider my self a small offering to the hospital's future.



So Much for Humility
I am a good teacher.  I have fun and my students enjoy the adventure of learning about nursing and themselves.   Last year's students sang "To Sir With Love" when I left.  Very corny - even in the movie - and I liked it.
I do make my students do a serious evaluation of everything and everyone involved with the course; three of the average [Modesty prevents me from including the top ones.] comments about me were:

• Rev John's teaching was Excellent!! I have learnt so much from him. He has taught me to think outside the box, not only within the box.  He has helped me to be a more motivated individual.
• It was attention grabbing, short, precise and unforgettable.  He insured we understood our topics to a "T". He questioned us mercilessly  [LOL J] only to bring out the best in us.
• Rev. John was an excellent teacher.  He gave me more attention in my homework and presentations and challenged me - that motivated me to push harder and research properly - and leave him speechless.

How can I not go back and inflict myself on another batch?   And my girls at St. Ann's are expecting "The Second Annual Father John's Photography Contest"!   So I will act "as if" I will return,, because TIME GOES and if I keep waiting to decide, it will be September.    I will keep everyone up to date on my possible return...

"Small" Success, Swimsuits, Solicitations [Spoiler Alert]

Dr. Cheryl  Barnard listens in on Tiffany
and her students discussing "Marvin"

Visit: University of St. Joseph Faculty

Sister Beth Fisher observing Nurse Elsie
with her small group.

I really need to start with the most important happening of the week.  The Problem Based Learning programme here has been successful  because we have relied on the "volunteer" efforts of three University of Guyana graduates - Azalia Luke, Roberta Binda and Tiffany Chichester-Gilkes - and a local full-time faculty member - Elsie Asabere.  They were under the illusion that their efforts might get some course recognition from St. Joseph's University in Connecticut.  I had been chatting with Professor Marylou Welsh for most of the year about the possibility of this actually happening.   So this week Marylou and three other members of the University of St Joseph's came for a visit to participate in a PBL session with the tutors leading the students' small groups - while I sat outside wondering if the students were actually going to be awake after the day at the creek [See last week's blog: Big Girls at the Creek].

Dr. Marylou Welsh participating with Nurse Azalia
and the PBL students

Dr Janet Knecht listens as a student shares her learning in Nurse Roberta's group.

However, it seems that I had nothing to worry about as all four returned with glowing reports of the leadership skills of the tutors, and the level of work and interaction from the students.    Their feedback confirmed what I have felt about the students' work (sometimes!) and the growing skill level of the tutors.  Now Marylou will return to Connecticut and continue to shepherd the new course through the administrative channels at St Joe's.

While I would love, of course, to take all the credit for the recognition, the lion's share will need to go to Marylou who had volunteered her time to get the course recognition and be the "official" teacher.   I need to thank Marylou for making one of my "tall tales" be a true story.  

An Aside:  While it may not be of the same magnitude as Willie Mays telling me that I would make a great Center Fielder, the visit by the "Giants" from St. Joe's was affirming for the students and tutors in ways that will last long after their short visit.  The students and tutors all received positive feedback for their work and teaching skills.   And from my favourite autobiographical novel, My Name is Asher Lev, (by Chaim Potok) "Remember my son, some tastes remain on your tongue a long time."

Some of the students want me to thank Bev Clarke for getting them in shape to be good PBL participants...  (I am pretty sure they may say the same thing about Dennis LeBlanc who comes on Sunday.)   I know from Bev's perspective is was a short visit .... and yet one never knows how one person impacts another.    And so the circle of significance grows to include all of you who continue supporting me with prayers and donations.   The visitors could hardly believe that after ten years here I still have friends who helped buy the tablets for the students.  (These last sentences are true and a crass attempt to get you ready to read below in a good mood.)

Rough Day at the Beach

Wednesday was Eid Mubarak and a national holiday.    The newly re-energized Student Association under the Presidency of Denzil Hernandez organized a student trip to the Creek [All creeks are just called The Creek here.]   It was put together in a short time after I said I'd get the prizes for the games.   The students organized the transportation, food, timing, games...  and we were off only a half hour after the planned time -- clearly a record.   Somehow the prizes never arrived, but that didn't dampen the fun or the games.   I was a first time loser almost every time with Salout (Sp?) -- it is like "Red Rover, Red Rover",  but obviously I didn't understand the fine points.  And while my mind thought about engaging in a pleasant game of Twister, my body refused to get up off the bench.    I had to content myself with being the official sunburn checker on all the girls regularly throughout the day.

Some teaching days are easier than others.  However, when we finally got back to Georgetown, they were deciding where they were going that night, while I was so tired I had to go to bed without my supper!
 

I have had to admire the leadership shown by the whole Student Association as they have addressed the low morale at Mercy and have decided to do something about it.   They have developed a series of events and projects planned throughout the year to increase spirit.and raise a few bucks.   They have developed:

• Motto: Together we aspire ; Together we achieve. 
• 2013-2014 Vision statement: Respect and Equality for our student nurses.
• Aim: To do all in our power to promote a more cordial relationship between our members, Senior Personnel , other members of the Health Team and the Community as a whole.

 

And to show their support for the less fortunate; they invited Adrian Anderson,
an Assistant Administrator, to come as their guest.

Can you Find My Keys?

As I was going up my stairs outside my flat, I dropped my keys

 

but with my cat-like reflexes

I kicked them through the opening between the stairs.
 

I think that they are still there; if you can spot them tell me!

Good thing I keep an "idiot set" hidden .......... somewhere.

Briefly:

•  I recently found out that the first year students were doing their Anatomy and Physiology without any textbooks.   I knew I still had some donation dollars lodged with Guyana Christian Charities, so I ordered enough used texts online and had them shipped through Taju's company at JFK and they were here in a week.  Thanks for your continued support.  The students thought it was Christmas.   I tried to tell them not to get too excited because  if the teacher knows they have a textbook, she will just expect more.  
• As well, with your help, we have started a reference section for PBL in the hospital library. Already there are five books and growing..  And the tutors have actually read some.   And Sister Catherine is mellowing in her late 80's.  She is going to ignore the filing system that the library uses and put all the PBL books in a section of their own and even mixed with photocopied journal articles.
• My old friend of almost 50 years, Dennis LeBlanc, will arrive on Sunday Morning.  He is coming to volunteer for three weeks.   We were in Maryknoll College together and chose similar paths in life -- ministry.  (We did change brands, however, with him becoming Baptist, and we both ended up as pastoral counselors.)    I am looking forward to seeing the continuities and changes that 50 years has done.  Come to think of it, though, I did see him a couple of years ago in Nova Scotia, and he was quite recognizable, which meant I felt good about inviting him to volunteer!
• The very little girls at St. Ann's had my camera .....I have just a few photos to give a sense of their work.

 

Speaking of Christmas: I didn't have the nerve to post this two weeks ago.  Christmas is a really big event here...really big.   When I was at the Republic Bank to see my banker, Michael Ram, this was front and center in the lobby:

Now that You are in the Christmas Spirit

Hey, if banks can use Christmas to get you in the mood to take out a loan .....

I have two great opportunities for you:

• Photography Contest at St Ann's Girls Home:  The Contest is entitled "Father John's First and Probably Last Photography Contest".  There will be four categories (Girls Playing, Studying, Working and Action) with four prize winners.    I have already printed about 40 pictures and hung them up at St. Ann's.  They had all told me that they wanted MP3 players for the prizes and that they were about $10 US ..... Well, the cheapest ones turn out to cost $25.   So if you'd like to donate an MP3 prize, you can send a cheque to Guyana Christian Charities .....  just email me that you did and I'll get the MP3 player because all who read my blog are trustworthy. 
• Buy a Tile Project:  This is the first undertaking by the Mercy Students' Association.   They are trying to get donations of a $1,000 Gy per tile ($5 US) in order to tile the floors in the nursing school classrooms.  At present they are a powdery concrete and always seem dusty and dirty though housekeeping now cleans them daily.   The students will do the work themselves under the guidance of an real installer, in order to keep costs down. And here's the part you will really like:  If you donate (10 tiles makes you a "Bronze Donor", 20 "Silver Donor", 30 "Gold Donor" and 50 "Platinum Donor")  you will have an engraved tile placed on a wall in the classroom forever or until the building collapses.   I think they will make wonderful Christmas gifts for all my grandkids; I'll let Anne explain why these are better than toys!   Same deal: just send your cheque to Guyana Christian Charities with "Tile" in the memo field... and 100% of the donation will go to the tiles project.   Or you can mail it to Mercy Student Association at the Hospital and again put "Tile" in the memo line...

(Anne says:  all our grandchildren have more toys than anyone in Guyana can imagine -- they don't need more!  But they love to feel useful!!)

Thanks for getting this far.  John