Here we are in Georgetown, Guyana. The flight was uneventful and we actually made it under the baggage limit. This is of course after several rounds of "what do we not absolutely have to take?" As we passed through customs, the guard asked us how long we would be in Guyana and what we were there for. "2 years" we replied. "We are volunteers with the VSO". The guard looked at us and smiled and said, "Thank you so much for being here." It was a really wonderful way to start our adventure into Guyana.

Roy, the longest worker at VSO Guyana having been there for 16 years, picked us up at the airport. We threw our bags into the back of the truck and headed out to Georgetown. Roy was a wealth of knowledge and told us all about the sights as we sped by them. The country is building a huge new cricket stadium for the World Cup cricket games that will take place here next year complete with an "olympic village" for the players and their families. Guyana also boasts the longest floating bridge in the world. As we drove into town the students were just getting out of school, so the streets were lined with little ones all dressed in their school uniforms. Roy, of course, showed caution as he passed by slowing at least 1 km/hr while telling us about the driving in Guyana and how if you were to actually obey the ridiculously slow speed limit then it would take you 2 hours to get anywhere. He also mentioned that he always drove more respecfully when he was first introducing people to the country. This statement was concurrent with speeding past walking children and a horse drawn cart that was moving too slow only to vere back into the correct lane (on the left side of the road) to avoid a head on collision. I would hate to see his regular driving!

We arrived at our destination, the Rima Guesthouse where we will stay for the next couple of weeks during our in country orinientation which involves seminars on safety, Guyana's history and political situation, etc. The town so far is quite charming with wooden buildings and tree lined streets. There are of course more dangerous sections and areas we have been told to avoid completely. Because we are right on the equator the sun comes up completely here at 6:00 AM every morning and goes down completely at 6:00 PM. It makes sleeping in very difficult!

There are 16 other VSO volunteers that have come in our group. We double the existing volunteers in Guyana. The people are really wonderful and from all over the world. There are 3 other couples here, 2 around our ages.

Blake had a wonderful birthday yesterday. Everyone did something a little extra to make it really special for him. There was a homemade card signed by everyone at breakfast and a chair especially decorated for him with a sign and plastic flowers at lunch and dinner. It was a really lovely gesture and bodes well for the coming years.

We will write again soon with further updates. We hope to move into our house on Friday. We haven't seen it and have no idea where it is, so cross your fingers! We miss you all and would love to hear what it going on with you...so, please write soon!