The Uprising of the Critters

Rainy season? Yes. All kinds of tropical creatures trying to find new homes inside my house?

YES, YES, YES. 

One of my friend's in Canada mentioned to me that with the rainy season there'd be more mosquitoes. That may be true, but did he have to burst my bubble and have me start THINKING about it?? I was quite blissfully happy before that with my rain "long" boots and all. I actually declared a few days later that I don't usually have problems with mosquitoes and didn't see an increase. I apparently didn't knock on any wood as I was saying that - and spoke too early!!!  Mi ah ded fram mosquita now!!!! Last night there were FIVE mosquitoes inside my mosquito net. This, because I had opened one side to lounge on the bed while using the laptop, and of course where there's opportunity, there's mosquitoes flying under the net.... SIGH

And sure enough one day my housemate found a mouse in the house!!!! Now, most of you know, where there's one.... sigh again. But that one met an untimely death, and we hoped against hope. A couple of weeks later, there was another. I took action, and we didn't see any for a while again. But, I know at least one came back. I hope he SUFFERS. Whatever happens, I don't care, but he must learn not to mess with big people! But, you know... rain is falling and they're looking for higher ground and warmer places. In addition, there's a bunch of construction going on downstairs, across the street, etc. So, I'm sure their nests were disturbed and they're trying to find a new home. WELL, NOT WITH ME!!!!!! It ain't gonna happen!

Sure enough, I took out the garbage late one night, and once outside in the yard I noticed a bunch of very large cockroaches running around. Now, I'd never really seen any this size, and RARELY seen any inside this house. BUT, no. Things don't like to just end there, so naturally a few days later I saw a few in the shower which had obviously come up the drain. This is not gonna end well for some...

The start of the rainy season...

Rainy season in Georgetown. 

In Jamaica, I hated the rain. Hated it. Rain meant that everything was not only wet and sloshy, but traffic slowed to criminally slooooow speeds. What is it about the rain that makes everyone drive like they have nowhere to go? Of course the roads are more dangerous, but standing still in traffic with one car going at a time, inching forward every 10mins??? Maybe a slight exagerration, but you get the picture.

I also hated the rain in Toronto. Loved the snow. Well, when it was just falling. Isn't it pretty to see the white flakes and feel the coolness on your face? The moments before it actually hits the roads and then becomes brown, disgusting slush!!!

I thought I would hate the rain in Georgetown. Why wouldn't I? It's the same wet stuff falling from the sky and making a mess on the ground. The first rain a couple of months ago that ended in the unexpected flooding made me cringe. (see earlier post - When it rains in Georgetown) http://bjanice1.blogspot.com/2012/02/when-it-rains-in-georgetown.html
I wasn't sure I could survive the rain here. And you know what happens when you're anticipating something in a negative way??? It's almost sure to go badly. BUT. Now that I've been fortunate enough to be armed with my rain gear....

I've realized something. I don't care about the rain. BRING IT ON!!!!

Furthermore, now that my fan has died and gone off to some cemetery somewhere, I was HAPPY it's the rainy season, because, guess what?  It's a heck of a lot cooler most days!

When it rains in Georgetown...

It*&^#%$$ POURS!!!

So, it's high tide to begin with. And then it rained... And rained... And RAINED. I don't mean a little dibby dibby rain. It rained like there was a hurricane. Last night all night I kept thinking, "this can't be good. it's going to flood...".

AND SO IT DID. Man alive, it was still raining this morning and so I contemplated taking a taxi to work. Now in real terms, this is not expensive. GY$3-400/ ride is about US/Cdn$1.50-2.00. But, in volunteer-land, when you will not be paid until the end of March, and you're already trying to live off a small stipend, you'd rather not have to take a cab. These days my choices have been... bus or FOOD, bus or food? I've been walking to work which my colleagues think is amazing for the distance I'm walking. They all declared they never would. I've been offered a bike, and one kind soul gave me money for a bus and taxi fare for such an emergency like this morning. Sweet people!  But, I digress. This is not about work or my colleagues. THIS is about what happens when it rains.

My housemate and downstairs neighbour and I decide to cab it. We call a cab. Now, the first thing that happens when it rains is... IF the cab company answers the phone, you will get one of two responses: a) We don't have any cars right now! or b) Okay, we'll send one. Now, (a) is self-explanatory, but the first clue about (B) is that they didn't tell you how long for the cab to come. What it really means is that 'NUH CAB NOT COMING'!

So, eventually we walk to the bus stop and take the bus ($60). This dropped me off on one of the main streets for me to walk up to my office. It was then that I noticed that the piazzas in front of the buildings were swimming. no way to leave the road where I got off the bus to go walk in relative "safety" in front of the stores. Ok, no problem. So, I navigate through the middle of the streets sometimes, and then in betwen the two lines of cars hoping they wouldn't squeeze me to death. I made it to the corner. Phew. Now to go up Alexander Street. Or not. The entire roadway is flooded. FLOODED. There is a young lady and a few other people looking in wonder up the street. It is raining, and I decide that standing looking at the water may not make it go away this morning, so, maybe I should press on to another route...

I take the scenic route, criss crossing streets until I get to the street my office is on. But, I can tell from the cross-road at the bottom that I won't be able to get unto my street. Now there's another street parallel (separated by a walkway in the middle flanked by two canals to drain the water). So, lemme explain that again, it's street, canal, walkway, canal, street. :) Got it? Okay, so since I can access the parallel street, and I can eyeball my office across the road, I start walking down that one. Get to the point where I'm now directly across from my office and I can see that the entire front of my office is under about 8-10" of water... I can see droppings from a donkey or horse, dogs, etc. I decide I am NOT CROSSING.

I think about my leopard print rain boots in Toronto. Whose idea was it not to bring them? Why am I here? Is this what I gave up my life in Canada for? I think about my bed and why I didn't call in sick. I look at the time and wonder if anyone else is actually going to come to work... I think about the boots again. I think about how volunteers are supposed to be "flexible". I wonder what that really means. I people watch. I watch the dogs go by. I twirl my umbrella and try to look cute regardless. I'm in a black and white skirt with a bow and a hot pink top. I will survive!

(Pics are courtesy of the Guyana Times Website)