Parliament and Puppies

Hii everyone! This is Jenn and Amanda here!! Today was the first day we got to wear our fancy outfits when we visited Parliament in Georgetown. When we first arrived, the building looked exquisite on the outside with eye-catching architecture. Compared to the rest of Georgetown, the  bright building stands out.We would've never imagined ourselves sitting in the 64-chair Parliament Chamber. As a former British colony, Guyana's legislative branch has been influenced by Britain and their style of governing. At Parliament, we met Mr. December (yes, the month!!!), who introduced us more to Guyana's government and what happens when members of Parliament gather together. Contrary to the peaceful images we see on television, we learned that it can get a bit chaotic! We found it interesting to hear Mr. December mention things we've discussed in our preparation class. He spoke about the past racial relations in Guyana and how its history has influenced the current politics of the country. After learning about some of the things that Parliament does, such as pass bills, discuss budgets, and create new iniatives to improve some of the challenges that the nation and its people face, we toured the Parliament's library. We saw pictures of Queen Elizabeth II, past presidents of Guyana, and cool artifacts of Guyana's history, such as the mase and seal of emancipation. Seeing the seal made a few of us in the group uneasy. It's shocking to see the Queen on something that represents their independence. It's ironic seeing that Guyana has tried to achieve independence from the British Crown, but they have a portrait of the Queen, who represents a system of colonialism. In class, we learned about the efforts that oppressed people have made to create a life of their own. Throughout our trip, after today, we see how the changes in post-colonial Guyana continue to unfold.

   Say hello to your future Parliament members!

After we ate lunch, we headed out to Saint Ann's orphanage to help out the girls with their homework and play with them after school!! We gathered a bunch of donations (i.e. clothes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, books, and other fun activies) and headed out the door to drive to the destination. While we were on our way, we realized it would be the last time at St. Ann's, but despite this, we made such strong and deep connections with the girls. We brought a ton of chalk, which really got the girls excited! We drew things from magical castles to pigs to hop scotch to rainbows!!! After spending time with them outside, some of us headed inside to join a few for homework and a tiny tutoring session. Many of us had to clear the cobwebs and remember some basic math skills and spelling techniques. Time pasted quickly, especially while having fun with puppies and playing tag, so when we were called to leave, many of us were sad to depart. So in reaction to this, many exchanged addresses and phone numbers to keep in touch with the girls we made strong relationships with! We hope to contiue visiting our sites and meeting new groups of people who we can build relationships with!

                                        Mural on one of the walls at Saint Ann's Orphanages