Last 2 months was quite madness!

Ashton with Deaf Mission team who introduced the drama workshop for the Deaf community

Ashton the ASL teacher at the Corentyne CBR, Corrvertion

Disability Sport's Day - finish line

Joey, Ashton and Steven at the Brazilian restaurant

Ashton gave a speech before the opening of Diamond Deaf Youth Club on 25th March


Hey everyone! How are you British, Irish, Welsh, European, rest of the world mates?

I was soo busy because UFO abducted me! Aliens are really Deaf, UFOSL (UFO sign language) I learnt for 5 minutes then signed ‘Minicom home, stupid!’

I feel like my English is getting much better than before due to my email-machine!!! Ahem, that's not so me! I will put a brief message,.. I think!

Anyway last 2 months was quite madness but worthy!!! Numbers of VSO volunteers seem got lesser and lesser than last year, it was quite spooky! :S. Must be my BO or something!! just kidding (I hope!), their 6-months service here was done! In March, I did add 4 ASL classes for teachers/parents at schools & disabled students at the Open Doors Centre. The Deaf Mission visited for workshops from the USA, 20 include 2 Deaf people. They were so amazing and so lovely! They are great role model to most of Deaf Guyanese through their drama workshop. Julie who is hearing, she is fluent ASL user also qualified interpreter. We got on very well. We talked about comparison of BSL and ASL, attitude, culture etc. We learnt each other for signs like BSL & ASL's own signs. Other people are fantastic too! I think I fell in love with my girlfriend ASL now because of handshape rhythm, I will show you when I get back!

I’m so pleased to tell you that the fund-raising for a new Diamond's Deaf youth Club was really successful! It was the St.Patrick house party at Stevo's & mine, there were about less than 20 people attended (included a few gate-crashed which was a good thing!!!) Raised about £50!! My big thanks to them! :) I did buy some games and meals for the opening party from the fund, teachers from Diamond school cooked vary of foods such as chicken curry, roti, sponge cake. Mines chick pea! Also gave away spoilt sweet thing to the children!!!

The grand opening of Diamond's DYC was fantastic, I organised everything perfectly except problem with the date and time but we've put it behind us already!!! About 40 people include 5 Deaf children, parents + teachers from Diamond school seemed they enjoyed every moment! :) We played the game like magnet dartboard, cards, dominoes, chess, scrabbles, football!! It was for Deaf children and other who has learning difficulties and behaviour problem. It will boost their confidence and communication between them and parents at home. Great speeches from Stevo and one of teachers who was a birthday girl,... of course and me too! lol! This club will start at 2pm-4pm on 2nd and 4th Saturdays every month.

After Stevo’s Trinidad hols, Stevo brought his mate from the UK who I never know... finally met Joanna,... Joey,.... Mojo... or Jo (from Doncaster) at the parent support group meeting! She is really lovely and open-minded, straight-talking, I like that about her! We talked alot and alot and alot and alot and alot (did I say 'alot'?) although I haven’t been to Esso station for using my hand!!! I found this weird to sign in.................................BSL!!!! Blimey! When we first met, she was bit nervous because of my fluent ASL even without using my lip sometime!!! Funnily, the first thing she said to me 'I’m nervous!' Very sweet! She learnt most of ASL and GSL, she is a quick learner! She influenced me infamous sign 'Vast' as in 'Oh I see'!!! The more she talks about England, the more I'm missing over there... for the first time!!! It made me think of England (not in the bed if what you think!). I really miss most of my mates over there!
Only I know she didn’t like the most about Guyana is her enemy mosquitoes! She met Deaf Guyanese people, she did well! Seems everyone like her because they said she is pretty!!

My great mate Rachel MacDonald will visit here in June for 2 weeks (24th June-8th July), we might fly over to my (almost) rooted Dominica, one of West Indies island for 5 nights!!! I wonder what she will surprise me…. Anyway I really can’t wait to see her!

Don’t be hope up, mate………. but I might fly back to the UK with Rachel on 8th July OR August depend on the election confirmation, 17th July-4th August would be more likely. It would be too risky for us VSO volunteers to stay through the election because of the higher crime rate.

It’s so nice to know that 5 of my mates still in the South America, Caroline and Toto are in Columbia, Helen and Jason in Brazil and Lulu in Chile!!!

I’m so happy with Arsenal’s form this season! Goodbye Real and Juve! What Premiership? Hehe!

There's more coming up, I will set up a Deaf drama group (can’t wait!!), another Deaf Youth club in New Amsterdam, more workshops and Deaf Awareness Week in 12th-18th June!!!

Take care of yourselves

Ash xXxXx