A Fulfilling Experience

As a native Guyanese, this was a unique, but quite rewarding experience for me. The WorldTeach admin officers provided excellent support, and while the conditions in the country were not ideal, knowing that I was making a difference was well worth the minor discomforts. The other teachers in the school are helpful, for the most part, and the students become quickly attached. Some may find several school practices rigorous and perhaps too structured, but approaching the experience with an open mind and not trying to change the system (too much) is a more productive use of a volunteer's time. Life is Guyana is slow. A volunteer should make friends with the locals; listen to their advice if they say to stay away from a certain person or place; become very familiar with the local stores in the villages and the vehicles that go around selling vegetables; and make sure that a seller does not inflate prices. Foreign products are available in Georgetown, but they are quite expensive. A volunteer on a stipend needs to budget carefully. The riches a volunteer may experience in Guyana are not of monetary value, but it is a learning and fulfilling experience that will stay with a volunteer for a lifetime.