Guyana Times Sunday Magazine

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Times May 15, 2016

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2 Sunday Times Magazine

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MAY 15, 2016

Times Feature

Cove and John Ashram

Touching lives through charitable works sasters, moments of grief, personal loss, and in any way possible, to alleviate suffering.

The Ashram is able to touch the lives of the poor, needy and the vulnerable through Seva service and prayers. From the many medical outreaches stretching from Port Mourant to Leguan, the Ashram has managed to partner with many non-governmental organizations in treating thousands of Guyanese and at-

tant, but beyond performing Hawan and purifying the atmosphere, he believes that extending a hand of kindness or a smile to a despairing person is more meaningful.

Swami Shivashankar said that the Ashram, along with its members and donors,is devoted to promoting the welfare of humanity, especially through the elimination of pain and suffering for the poor and needy.

During an exclusive interview on the selfless work

clothing, shoes and prayers were offered for them.

At Golden Fleece, the Dhanpat family of 11 very young children, was provided with comfortable beds by the Ashram. The members also performed a Hawan in their new home that was constructed by Food for the Poor.

Food hampers were also distributed to other vulnerable families as their way of serving humanity. Families on the West Coast were also provided with beds, mattress-

Mothers pose with Swami Shivashankaranandaji Maharaj on Mother's Day

By Indrawattie Natram

T

he story of the Guyana Sevashram Sangha, Cove and John Ashram, which is located on the East Coast of Demerara, is a story of a philanthropic and monastic organisation;a story of sacrifice, dedication, hard work and commitment.

It is the belief of the Sangha that when the disciple is ready – the Guru will come. Such was the case that led to the beginning of the Cove and John Ashram.

At the command of Yugacharya Srimat Swami Pranavanadaji Maharaj, the Sangha Lord and the Guru of the age, to “go from one end of the world to the other and gather all my children under the banner of the Sangha so they can be saved,” Swami Purnanandaji Maharaj journeyed to the West in obedience of this command.

Established in the early 1950s, the Ashram is a complex of 20 acres of formerly undeveloped land that has been transformed by the hard work of the Swamis, Brahmacharies and selfless devotees.

The Ashram is ideally sit-

uated away from the ‘hustle and bustle’ of everyday life.

It epitomizes tranquillity and serenity, yet it is a teeming hive of activities.

Its saffron(deep orange) cluster of buildings, which overlook the Atlantic Ocean, naturally blend into the sunrise and the sunset, and is the colour of renunciation.

Saffron is a colour signifying sacrifice, piety and all things sacred in Hinduism.

The Ashram is an oasis that quenches the thirst of the tired traveller. It is a paradise that represents home for the seeker of the Divine.

The Ashram has produced spiritual giants in the making of the late Swami Vidyananda – former head of all western branches of the Sangha; Swami Nirliptananda (London); Swami Bhajanananda (Canada); Swami Shiveshwarananda (USA); Swami Shivaamritanandaji(USA), and Swami Shivashankaranandaji (Guyana) all actively involved in promoting Hindu Dharma The Mandir seems to overflow with the spirituality displayed by its multitude of devotees. Prayers and Guru

Aarti twice daily, ensure that the spirit of divinity is maintained.

The lawns of the ashram are decorated with the Shiva Kund Mandir,Shivalaya Mandir, the Laxhminarayan Mandir and the Shiva Parbat Mandir. A new Hanuman Mandir and a large OM symbol will be soon consecrated to give devotees greater opportunity of worship when they are on pilgrimage.

Workshops, development sessions, an annual summer camp for children, and family fun-day, are among the many occasions that present devotees with opportunities to intermingle and to build unity under the banner of the Sangha.

Seva – the pillar of the Ashram

The Ashram thrives on the concept of Seva – service to humanity. It is the bedrock on which the Ashram is based. While the Swamis and Brahmacharies make transformations in the lives of the thousands who seek the influence of the Sangha in their lives, the Ashram also readily responds to the need of the people in times of natural di-

Members of the Ashram contribute beds and mattresses to a Region Two family. Swami Shivashankaranandaji at left

Children with their gifts from the Ashram

tending to their needs.

On a monthly basis various Seva's services are extended to various families, offering a hand of kindness and hope.

According to Swami Shivashankaranandaji Maharaj, administrator and spiritual leader of the Ashram, Guyana Sevashashram Sangha, Seva, Hinduism is simply serving God's creation through kind deeds or act.

Swami explained that the Ashram in collaboration with many donors, during its 60 years of existence, has reached out to many desperate families through charitable donations. According to him, serving humanity is like serving God and when one can extend his or her hand to someone in need it’s the best blessing.

For the swami, congregational prayers are impor-

of the Ashram, Swami explained that whenever persons communicate with the Ashram for help, a team or members from the Ashram usually volunteer their support and efforts in reaching out.

He explained that the team of volunteers is usually deployed to the most depressed areas with the same humanitarianmotivated goals of performing acts of kindness, without expecting rewards.

The Ashram over the years has donated blood and food hampers; conducted medical outreaches, clothing drives, havans and counselling; honoured mothers and fathers, and conducted several youth camps to increase the knowledge of the youths.

Only recently the Ashram and its members reached out to two poor families in Region Two. Beds, food hampers,

es and food hampers from the Ashram.

In celebrating the Ashram’s 60th Anniversary, they intend to reach out to more persons in whatever way, once they are informed.

S w a m i Shivashankaranadaji also revealed that the Ashram's doors are always opened to anyone who needs help.

The Ashram over the years through the counselling expertise of Swami Shivashankar has managed to save many lives through its suicide prevention programmes.

Swami advised persons to be positive and to lead a productive life with a positive attitude and outlook.

The Ashram has been, and will continue to be, a beacon light to all – from all walks of life.

Members of the Ashram helping in the Seva programme

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MAY 15, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

CEIBA Biological Centre

T

he CEIBA Biological Centre is proud of its participation in the global effort to understand, interpret, and preserve the Earth’s natural biological diversity through leadership and excellence in scientific research, education and conservation.

Established in January 1993, as a collaboration among three families, Drs. Godfrey and Carol Bourne (USA), Gary and Amy Komlos (USA), and two local

cal research station in South America.

CEIBA is now a non-profit publicly supported research, education, and conservation organization, incorporated in Missouri, US, but with its facilities and programs in Guyana.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Dr Bourne said that the fundamentals of biology, conservation, and ecology are best taught at biological field stations, and for more than 100

courses to serve the needs of students from the University of Guyana (UG), University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE), St. Louis University (SLU), and Washington University (WU), Guyanese high school CXC and A-levels, and middle and high school participants from North Broward Preparatory School.

“More recently, visiting scientists from several institutions, me and many of my

Entrance to CEIBA

School, 301 Florida Atlantic University and University of Missouri-St. Louis students, 40 from Wesleyan

Bourne (left) talks to students about CEIBA's work

charcoal producers, the late Martin and Gloria Younge (Guyana), CEIBA (Guyana) serves the broader education, conservation, and scientific communities.

Since 1989, G. R. Bourne, Executive Director of CEIBA, has been taking students from Florida Atlantic University to Guyana during ‘spring break’ as part of a human ecology course he developed entitled, “Tropical Resource Ecology”.

The location they spent most of their time was a ‘farm’ owned by Bourne’s family friends, Nari and the late Farouk Kalamadeen.

Bourne was struck by how much this accessible area on the Madewini, just 40 km south of Georgetown the capital, and 20 minutes from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri, looked and felt like the more remote Karrau (Region Seven), which was initially considered as the site for CEIBA. Karrow is near Kartabo where William Beebe (1922) established the first biologi-

years, biological field stations have provided opportunities for education and research to students and scientists.

However, recently, funding for field biology has become constrained, pristine habitats are rapidly disappearing, and the need for the services that biological field stations provide is increasing.

Bourne further mentioned that in Guyana everyone cannot use Iwokrama as an educational and a research site, because of economical and logistical constraints.

More accessible sites like CEIBA, offering a mix of wet savannah and seasonal and flooded primary rainforest habitats, are more conducive to providing education and research opportunities, because of the typical small biological research budgets being currently awarded by governments, foundations, and other granting agencies.

CEIBA therefore offers formal immersion, hands-on research driven ecological

graduate students and several UG students have been conducting ecological course projects, senior and masters’ theses, and dissertation research at CEIBA,” Bourne pointed out.

Data collected from CEIBA is converted into senior, masters and doctoral theses. Many course projects are published as posters and entered in state Science Fair posters or manuscripts, or submitted to local and regional university symposia.

Also, research projects are published in high quality scientific journals and reprints deposited at the Guyana EPA and UG Biodiversity Centre.

In its 23 years of operation, CEIBA has provided educational, research training, and research opportunities to about 2,045 international and local participants, including 430 from the University of Guyana, 475 Guyanese high school students, 60 middle and high school students from North Broward Preparatory

University, and 713 British high school students.

In addition, 31 researchers with post-graduate degrees from the U.S.A., Belgium, Canada, England and Venezuela, and four Guyanese, have utilized the research facilities and contributed to increasing local capacity.

Overall, CEIBA provides safe and unique opportunities for scientists and students to engage in ecological, evolutionary, and conservation research in a region with diverse and complex species assemblages influenced by both natural and anthropogenic selection pressures.

The Honourable Ronald D. Godard (retired Ambassador of the US Embassy in Georgetown) had this to say about CEIBA’s contribution to Guyana: “I have visited CEIBA Biological Centre on two occasions to meet with graduate and undergraduate researchers from UMSL and to bird watch. In the area where CEIBA Biological Centre is located, the dry

seasonal forests and flooded mora forests are progressively being cut and burned.

Without protection, this habitat will probably eventually be destroyed. CEIBA is attempting to modernize their laboratory-classroom, kitchen-dining, transportation, and electricity generating facilities, minimize biodiversity erosion and preserve a representative sample of white sand forests…

I am impressed by CEIBA’s programs in education, research, and conservation, and by the physical appearance of CEIBA, which reminds one of being in a ‘typical’ Guyanese Amerindian village. CEIBA’s free training of Guyanese high school and University of Guyana students in field biology and conservation is commendable.

Furthermore, their weekly program to improve the literacy of children living within an 8-mile radius of CEIBA demonstrates that this research, education, and conservation NGO cares about more than just habitat, animals, and plants. It is also prepared to help out its impoverished neighbours.”

Over the next year or so, Bourne proposes several facilities’ improvements that will increase benefits to Guyana. The broader impacts of the proposed improvements include increased capacity for con-

ducting important ecological research, communication (Internet links to other field stations and to the general public), access to online acquisition of data and library resources, improved enrichment opportunities for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students in both training and research.

He also stated that the proposed improvements will enhance capacity building by attracting an increasing number of students and researchers to conduct research in Guyana, who in turn will provide opportunities for Guyanese to develop the research capacity to effectively conserve their country’s biodiversity heritage.

Research projects and educational activities at CEIBA have been covered by the national media, including video productions.

“We anticipate that with the improvements, international media coverage will follow. Now that I’m in phased retirement from my academic position at UMSL, I will be devoting more time training Guyanese high school and UG students, and resuscitating our Reading is Essential literacy program for kids living within an 8-mile radius of CEIBA,” Bourne declared.

For more information, visit CEIBA Biological Centre on Facebook.

At CEIBA, some very interesting creatures are found

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Sunday Times Magazine

MAY 15, 2016

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Times Feature

Traditional ethnic dishes were served after the concert

S

tudents of Yupukari Village nursery and primary school in Rupununi, Region 9, on May 5 staged an Arrival Day concert to mark the 178th anniversary of Indian arrival to Guyana as indentured workers for the many estates on what was formerly the colony of British Guiana.

The concert not only commemorated Indian arrival but also featured the various peoples who likewise arrived in what is now independent Guyana. Students dressed in various ethnic clothing to represent the various cultural groups, and performed traditional dances of each group.

The Indians, Africans, Chinese,

dance.

The largely impromptu concert was put together by retired teacher Mrs Li,staff and students of Yupukari nursery and primary schools who had earlier viewed several videos to inform themselves about the traditional dance and dress of the groups, and had a short time to put together the different dances and costumes.

Their research was done at the Yupukari Library at Caiman House which is also equipped with an internet service.

Speaking just before the start of the event, Mrs Li, a native of Yupukari who returned to her home village after retiring

Commemorating the Africans who came to Guyana

Caiman House is known for hosting international and local scientists and researchers in extensive study of Black Caiman,jaguars, and Yellow Spotted Amazon River turtles, as well as ethnobotany (the study of how people of a particular culture and region

make use of native plants).

The Makushi Ethnobotany Project being carried out in the area is supported by a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

The story of the Bhisa Students dress in traditional Indian wear at the Arrival Day concert. Mrs Li is first from left

Portuguese and British were all represented in popular or traditional dances from each group, performed in ethnic costumes.

The first peoples, the indigenous, were also represented at the concert.

In addition, some traditional foods of each group were on display and enjoyed by students, teachersand the small but appreciative audience.

Curry and roti, cook up, chowmein, cassava bread and macaroni and cheese were some of the traditional cultural dishes on display and sampled by everyone in atten-

from teaching in the capital city, explained the significance of Indian Arrival Day and the aim of the concert to also highlight Guyana’s different ethnic groups.

Yupukari village is primarily recognised for its Caiman House, a part guest lodge, part research and education centre, assisted

by Rupununi Learners Foundation (RLF), a US-based non-profit organization, and run

by Rupununi Learners Incorporated (RLI), a Guyanese non-profit corporation registered in 2007 and composed of Rupununi village residents.

A water buffalo

By Isahak Basir, CCH

B Students performing a Chinese dance at the concert

hisa is the Hindi name for domesticated water buffalos, a species of huge water-oriented cow. This animal is a native of South Asia and generally India, where it is still being used extensively in agriculture and dairy.

Water buffalos are said to have been domesticated more than 5,000 years ago in India. They are also used in threshing grain and for transportation during the rice harvest, and to power devices for irrigating rice fields in South East Asia countries.

This strong, water-loving bovine, imported to Guyana by the European planters around 1850, helped haul sugarcane punts on the existing sugar estates between Affiance and Devonshire Castle on the Essequibo Coast.

During that period, the traditional punt trench dams would become muddy in the rainy season so that horses were unable to use the dams. The huge bhisa, three times the size of a bull, would pull approximately 30 punts full of sugarcane from the trench to the factory.

These animals prefer to cool off in any continued on page 5

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MAY 15, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

T

here are many Guyanese women who were pioneers in various fields locally and internationally. This week we feature two who made headlines.

Helen Taitt

Helen Taitt was the founder and director of the School of Guyana Ballet, which trained many of the teachers with the Guyana National School of Dance.

Her dancing career spanned two decades, from the 1950s to 1970s.

Helen made the theatre

her life-long career, performing, composing and teaching right up to the end of her life. She was Guyana’s best known, most accomplished and acclaimed professional dancer, and was also a choreographer, writer, dance instructor, and a specialist in ballet.

Her many productions inspired talented dancers and choreographers to new heights, especially her “Song of Guyana” based on A. J. Seymour’s poem about the American Indian legend Amalica. Subsequently, Taitt established the National School of Dance in

Dominica. Back in Guyana, she became director of the Taitt Dance Theatre.

Her autobiography, “My Life My Country”, covers decades of her experiences travelling and working in the U.S.A., Europe and the Caribbean, ending when she eventually returns with the intention of resettling in Guyana just after October 1992.

She first left home for training in social work at university in Jamaica, then again to study dance at the School of American Ballet in New York, and later to pursue her career further afield.

Helen Taitt

The story of the...

Among the schools, studios and companies she set up were the Berlin Art Circle, the Barbados Art Circle and the Taitt Dance Theatre.

Helen Taitt’s life story is that of one who persevered, realizing her determination to be a professional dancer and pursuing a long career in Germany (mainly), the U.S.A., France, Holland, Switzerland, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados and Guyana.

Daphne Steele

Guyanese-born Daphne Steele made headlines around the world when she became the UK’s first black hospital matron in 1964. For the time, Daphne’s achievement was nothing short of amazing.

Former Deputy Director of Nursing at the Department of Health, Nola Ishmael described Daphne as a “first”, who led with dignity and determination.

“She helped to shape aspirations for BME nurses across the profession who sought to follow in her footsteps,” Ishmael said.

Daphne was born in 1929 in the Essequibo region of Guyana, where she grew up as the eldest of nine children. While her mother looked after the house and the children, her father was a pharmacist who travelled regularly around the country. Perhaps it was her father’s career in the health industry that inspired her career path. Young Daphne grew up with aspirations to from page 4

Helen Taitt

Bhisa square today (Marco Basir photo)

water source when the sun is too hot for them. They would break any chain or pull any bull cart in any nearby canal to cool off. Bhisa would remain submerged in the water or pond for an about an hour before they can be controlled by their attendant again.

However, as the sugar estates became abandoned, these animals were left unattended, and to avoid hunters, they sought asylum in the vast savannahs of Tapakuma and Dredge Creek. Their main sleeping grounds were forested areas of Lima Sands, Essequibo. At Lima Sands, they were hunted by persons with “wire ropes”.

Between 1920 and 1950, only Windsor Castle, Devonshire Castle, Paradise and Dartmouth had small farming cultivations of plantain, corn, cassava, potatoes, pumpkin and other crops. The animals would proceed

to these farms at night, rampage all the cultivation and return to the savannah before dawn. Sometimes a few might remain at Paradise (an ex-slave village owned by Pareekan Singh) among a herd of about a dozen cows.

Bhisa had a traditional crossing west of Windsor Castle into Lima Sands, an easy access to the grazing ground or farm land. The area of crossing is still identified by senior residents who recalled the ordeal of these animals. Since they were good swimmers, these animals migrated to an island in the Essequibo River to avoid being hunted.

Some of these animals can still befound in DeHoop, Mahaicony or the East Coast of Demerara.

As part of its history in Essequibo, we have identified the area of bhisa crossing in Lima Sands as a spot to commemorate Guyana’s 50th anniversary.

Daphne Steele

become a doctor.

She started nursing and midwifery training in 1945 at the public hospital in Georgetown. She immigrated to the UK in 1951 and started out on a fast-track training programme at St. James’ Hospital in Balham, south London.

In 1955, her career took her to the United States where she worked at a New Jersey hospital. She returned to the UK five years later and was stationed as a nurse at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, before moving to Manchester to become a deputy matron at a nursing home.

The nursing home was facing closure and Daphne considered her next move.

Recognizing her ambition, the matron in charge of the nursing home emboldened Daphne to go for the position of matron at a hospital in West Yorkshire, with the encouraging words of, “Come on, Steele!”

The encouragement worked and in 1964, Daphne made history by becoming the first black matron in Britain at St. Winifred’s Hospital in Ilkley, in the same historic building where Charles Darwin had lived a century before.

News of Daphne’s appointment spread as far afield as the United States and, of course, her native Guyana. When St. Winifred’s closed in 1971, Daphne trained as a health visitor at Leeds University.

She took on her role with renewed vigour and quickly became an integral part of the community.

Her sister, Jeune, recalled a time when she went to visit Daphne in Ilkley,

where she was a health visitor. One day, they set off to go shopping, however, so many people stopped to ask Daphne for advice that they barely made it to the shops; such was Daphne’s devotion to the people in her care. In fact, it was due to Daphne’s passion for nursing that Jeune herself entered the profession.

“Daphne loved being a nurse and would bend over backwards to help. She never seemed to be off duty.

There was always a willingness to do something, to advise, to ask questions. She was definitely a people person. You could say she was the ideal nurse!” Jeune declared.

Retirement did not stop Daphne leading an active life. She was a devout Methodist and was involved with volunteer organisation Soroptomist International, as well as serving as vice president for the Association of Guyanese Nurses and Allied Professionals (AGNAP).

She loved cooking, music and amateur dramatics.

Her contribution to her local community was recognised by the Rotary Club and, in addition, she received an award from the government of Guyana in recognition of her services to nursing.

Sadly, Daphne died in 2004. She is remembered fondly by all of her family and peers. Jeune described her as someone with the most heart-warming smile and a great sense of humour.

She said that Daphne gave “110 per cent to everything she did, giving freely of her time, and was always willing to help people.” (http:// guyanesegirlsrock.org)

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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MAY 15, 2016

Times Book World

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

50 years of women writing

Beryl Gilroy (1924 -2001)

By Petamber Persaud

T

he home of a wellknown female Guyanese writer was recently demolished and there was no fuss - it did not make the news and there was no public outcry. In my book, that place is a shrine – a literary shrine.

That shrine gave birth to three novels (so far). Not far – a stone’s throw away from that location and not so long ago – another shrine was destroyed by fire, consuming the author of “Hear the Grugrus sing”. Two oth-

er such ‘shrines’ are under threat from the vagaries of tropical climate and shortsightedness of our custodians.

One of those shrines produced the “surrogate cultural and artistic mother to younger writers and artists”. The other shrine under threat is responsible for the production of five novels, some huge, with stories spanning continents.

Women writers are essential to our literature because they see, perceive, feel and respond differently to various elements in a male dominated world.

Who’s paying the women writers any heed?

To fully appreciate this aspect of our literature –50 years of writing by Guyanese women writersit would be useful to take a peek into the period before Independence in 1966.

Before the 1930s, it would appear there was no writing done by Guyanese women. This is a disturbing thought. Why? Why not?

If they were writing (and I am sure they were writing) women were always ‘downing’ their thoughts, ideals and opinions; why did this not come to the fore? We can only speculate here, the scholars – anthropologist and sociologist – will have to make available data to help us find answers.

However, the first recorded instance of writing by a woman in Guyana seemed to be in the genre of drama. A play, “The Romance of Kaieteur”, written by Esme Cendrecourt, surfaced in the 1930s.

There is not much more information on the play or the playwright but the mere fact that this writer expressed herself in drama is instructive. This seems also a point of departure.

The first collection of plays by a woman writer surfaced almost two decades later. That collection, “Five Plays”, written by Dorothy Collier, was published by the Daily Chronicle in the

late 1940s.

Of note, the next such collection, of five plays by a female Guyanese writer, surfaced half a century later. That book, “Caribbean Mythology and Modern Life”, was written

by Paloma Mohamed and published by The Majority Press in 2004.

Despite that unflattering record (or lack of record.

I am convinced that women were writing all the time but were not given space or recognition) of writing

by Guyanese women in the early 20th century, there was a steady flow from their pens starting in the 1940s when writers like Celeste Dolphin, B. Zorina Ishmael, Helen Taitt, Jacqueline DeWeever, Joy Allsopp, Margaret E. Bayley, Edwina Melville and others were breaking into the literary landscape.

Some of the writing produced then was of good quality, qualified to stand alongside the work produced by their male counterparts.

The 1960s was a fertile period for writing by women, as numerous women writers surfaced and were acknowledged during this period. If fact, they made their presence felt in that they became members of literary groups and contributed to a number of publications of the day.

Such names as Sheila King, Evadne D’Oliviera, Cecile Nobrega, Doris Harper-Wills, Rajkumari Singh, and Syble Douglas stood out during this period.

The post-Independence period saw a flowering of writing by women, and the birth of the novel writing tradition by women. Many of these women have attracted world attention; some winning international, Commonwealth and Guyana literary prizes.

Here’s a list featuring names like Shana Yardan, Mahadai Das, Jan Lo Shinebourne, Parvati Persaud-Edwards, Janet Naidu, Janet Jagan (author of six volumes of children literature), Narmala Shewcharan, Oonya Kempadoo, Ryhaan Shah, Maggie Harris, Brenda DoHarris, Denise Harris, Joan Cambridge, Claudia Heywood, Jay Hendricks, Sharon Maas, Elly Niland, Grace Nichols, Karen KingAribisala, Maggie Harris, Pauline Melville, Beryl Gilroy, Stephanie Bowry, Cassia Alphonso, Mosa Telford, Ryhaan Shah, Julia Kanhai and Ashley Anthony (Anthony is the first female Guyanese writer to publish a novel of speculative/fantasy fiction) There are many reasons for such a short list of women writers in the pantheon of Guyanese literature and there are many other rea-

Pauline Melville. Her first book, “Shape-Shifter” (1990) won the Commonwealth Writers Prize (Overall Winner, Best First Book) and the Guardian Fiction Prize.

sons for the much shorter list of women writers of Indian ancestry.

In the last 50 years, women’s writing has developed with flair as such only women can add to any aspect of life and it is imperative that we take note.

At the time of writing, there are many other women writers awaiting publication and acknowledgement, waiting to add their voice to the fuller experience and the fuller enjoyment of the continuum of life.

We salute you, Woman.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com

What’s happening: Coming Soon: “Made in Guyana” by Petamber Persaud is a pocketbook bursting with a wealth of information and pictures on people, places and events, and on things made in Guyana.

Look out also for “…

History of Cricket in Guyana, 1865-1897” by Clem Seecharan; “Children of Watooka” by Steve Connolly; “History of Plaisance” by Beryl Haynes Adams, and “Guyana at 50”, among others.

Next in this column: 50 golden years of Guyanese literature.

Cover of “Caribbean Mythology and Modern Life” by Paloma Mohamed

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MAY 15 , 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

Governors of British Guiana

Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg B rigadier-General Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg became governor and commanderin-chief of British Guiana in 1928.According to one newspaper report of Aug. 11, 1928,

His Majesty the King approved the appointment of Guggisberg to be Governor of British Guiana, and on Nov.7, 1928,Guggisberg arrived on the colony.

He succeeded previous

Guggisberg and his wife Decima Moore-Guggisberg pose for their book during his earlier secondment to the Gold Coast (modern day Ghana)

Governor, Sir Cecil William Hunter-Rodwell who helped establish the Legislative Council of British Guiana that replaced the Dutch created Court of Policy and the Combined Court.

Guggisberg served as the first governor of the newly established British Guiana (Constitution) Order in Council. He served as governor until failing health forced him to leave the colony in 1929, just eight months after arriving. He tendered his resignation shortly after, and died April 21, 1930 at the age of 60.

The Canadian-born British officer and colonial administrator is considered to have introduced sweeping administrative reforms on the colony during his brief government, and devoted himself to the problems of maintaining and improving the drainage and irrigation system upon which the sugar and rice cultivation of the colony depended.

He is also said to have promoted immigration and peasant settlement, and the development of the production and marketing of rice.

Others on the colony

however were not so enthused with his administration. With his drastic reformations, which, according to one report, included extending working time by one hour and cutting leave for locally appointed civil servants, soon left fewer doctors, post offices, police stations, and public amenities.

To cut expenditure, he restructured government departments, retrenched staff, and overhauled appointments, promotions and increments. According to the then Bishop of British Guiana, the colony became “a more distressful state” during his governance.

Previously, after serving in the First World War, Guggisberg, who had moved to the UK at age 10, became governor of Ghanain 1919 – then known as the Gold Coast.

Brigadier General Sir Frederick Guggisberg, b.

July 1869,d. April 1930. (Photo circa 1920)

He remains a significant figure in their history, one of the few colonial administrators to be held in such esteem.

Arrival of Brigadier General Sir Frederick Guggisberg, the new Governor of British Guiana, to Georgetown on Nov. 7, 1928

Parliament Buildings, circa 1950s (Andrew Jeffrey photo)

Stabroek Market square, circa 1911 (Andrew Jeffrey photo)

In the Gold Coast, Guggisberg is considered to have played a major role in the construction of a seaport, roads and railways, and in strengthening health and education,where he founded an academic institution that served as the forerunner for the modern day University of Ghana. It is said that ill health had forced him to resign his governorship there.

Besides administration, Guggisberg played first class cricket as well as polo, golf, football and racquets –a game played with a hard ball in a somewhat large court(the related game of squash (racquets) is played with a soft ball on a smaller court).

He is said to have married twice, divorcing his first wife in 1904, with whom he had three daughters. He married British actress Decima Moore, who was also a divorcee, on Aug. 15, 1905.The two later wrote a book together in 1909 entitled “We two in West Africa”. Sir Frederick also wrote other publications on military matters and Africa.

Guggisberg had received his Knighthood in 1922 for his military and administrative services.

8 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Travel & Tourism

Pathway to the jungle

T

he Kaburi jungle, which is known as a popular mining area, provides breathtaking natural scenery, filled with rich biodiversity and streams of refreshing black water.

Kaburi is an indigenous village located along the Bartica-Potaro Road

in Region Seven, and covers an area of 41.57 square miles.

Some 275 persons, with 55 families/ households of primarily Akawaio and Patamona descendants, reside in the village, which was established in 1935.

(Photos by AnnalisaRM on Flickr)

An oasis found in the Kaburi jungle Navigating through the jungle

Bridge to a camp in Kaburi's jungle

Contemplation at a creek

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Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

B

lood vessels that carry blood to the brain from the heart are called arteries. The brain needs a constant supply of blood, which carries the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function. Each artery supplies blood to specific areas of the brain.

A stroke occurs when one of these arteries to the brain is either blocked or bursts. As a result, part of the brain does not get the blood it needs, so it starts to die.

While all strokes happen in the brain, there are different types. Identifying the type of stroke leads to quicker treatment.

Sudden severe headache with no known cause If you have any of these symptoms or see someone else having them, get to a hospital immediately. Fast treatment at the hospital can have better results.

eurysms can make blood vessels weak enough to burst.

An aneurysm is a weak spot on the wall of an artery that bulges out into a thin bubble. As it gets bigger, the wall may weaken and burst. If it bursts, blood leaks inside or around the brain.

There are different types of hemorrhagi c

Learn the many warning signs of a stroke

Types of strokes

Ischemic Stroke is the most common type of stroke.

An ischemic stroke happens when an artery in the brain is blocked.

There are two types of ischemic stroke: Embolic Stroke: In an embolic stroke, a blood clot or plaque fragment forms, usually in the heart or the large arteries leading to the brain, and then moves through the arteries to the brain. In the brain, the clot blocks a blood vessel and leads to a stroke.

Thrombotic Stroke: A thrombotic stroke is a blood clot that forms inside an artery that supplies blood to the brain. The clot interrupts blood flow and causes a stroke.

Hemorrhagic stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and spills blood into or around the brain.

High blood pressure and an-

stroke, including intracerebral haemorrhage and subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Intracerebral haemorrhage is caused when a burst blood vessel bleeds into brain tissue. The bleeding causes brain cells to die and the part of the brain that is affected stops working correctly. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is the most common cause of this type of stroke.

With a subarachnoid haemorrhage, a blood vessel bursts near the surface of the brain and blood leaks in between the brain and the skull. This blood may cause nearby arteries to spasm, and that reduces blood flow to the brain and causes a stroke.

This type of stroke can be caused by different things,

but is usually caused by a burst aneurysm.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) can occur if an artery within the brain or one that goes to the brain is blocked for a short time. The blood flow to that area of the brain slows down or stops.

This can cause TIA, sometimes called a mini-stroke.

Major symptoms of a TIA include numbness, weakness or loss of vision; trouble speaking and loss of balance or coordination.

When a TIA happens, the artery either becomes unblocked after a short time or a new path opens up and blood flow goes back to normal.

Because of that, the symptoms last for a short time and then disappear.

A TIA is a serious warn-

How a stroke affects you

The sides of the brain The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body. You use the left side of your brain to move the right side of your body, figure out math and science problems and understand what you read and hear.

You may have trouble doing these things if you have a stroke that damages parts of the left side of your brain.

The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body. You use the right side to move the left side of your body and do creative things like paint a picture, appreciate art or music, recognize the

emotion in someone’s voice or find where you plan to go.

You may have trouble doing these things if you have a stroke in the right side of your brain.

Moving and sensing things The human brain has different areas that control how the body moves and feels. When a stroke damages a certain part of the brain, that part may not work as well as it did before. This can cause problems with walking, speaking, seeing or feeling.

ing sign that you might have a stroke. If you’ve had a TIA, you should see a doctor immediately.

Stroke Symptoms

Some signs of stroke include: Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes Sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance

Act fast and use FAST to remember the warning signs: F FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?

T TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 or go to a hospital immediately.

Prevent another stroke

If you’ve had a stroke, you’re at risk of having another one. Do these things to prevent another stroke: If you have high blood pressure, lower it. For people over age 18, high blood pressure is a measurement of 140/90 or higher.

Find out if you have atrial fibrillation (Afib). Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat that can cause blood to pool in parts of your heart.

This blood can form clots that break off and cause a stroke.

Your doctor can tell you if you have Afib and help you manage it.

If you smoke, stop.

Smoking doubles the risk for stroke.

If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Heavy drinking can increase your risk for stroke.

Lower your cholesterol (the fat-like substance in your blood). Your total cholesterol should be under 200 and your LDL or “bad” cholesterol should be between 50 and 70, or about half your LDL cholesterol level before you had a stroke.

If you are diabetic, follow your doctor’s advice carefully to get your blood sugar level under control. Having diabetes puts you at an increased risk for stroke.

Exercise daily. Even a little exercise—a brisk walk, bicycle ride, swim or yard work—can improve your health and may reduce your stroke risk. Check with your doctor to find out what level of exercise is appropriate for you.

Cut down on sodium and fat. Less salt and fat can lower your blood pressure and your risk for stroke. (Excerpted from Explaining Stroke, a US National Stroke Association brochure)

10 Sunday Times Magazine Times Fashion

A

s part of the country’s 50th anniversary Jubilee celebrations, some of Guyana’s most talented designers will put on an electrifying display at the upcoming Guyana Fashion Week (GFW).

This week Sunday Times Magazine features pieces by some of Guyana’s most talented designers who are revolutionizing the local fashion industry: Keisha Edwards, Shevaun Abel and Wynetta Jones.

These designers will showcase their newest collections at GFW launch on May 20 at Colgrain House on Camp Street, Georgetown.

Additionally, at the prestigious fashion event, the designers will have their pieces on sale.

GFW is the “second longest running fashion week in the region, incorporating the promotion of the Caribbean aesthetic as one of its primary objectives”.

The highly anticipated event started some nine years ago by veteran designer Sonia Noel with the aim to foster the creative industry and allow for young designers to be seen.

For more information, call 2266554.

MAY 15, 2016

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Sunday Times Magazine 11 MAY 15, 2016

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Star Times Hollywood

H enry William Dalgliesh Cavill, born May 5, 1983, is a British actor. Cavill began his career starring as Albert Mondego in the 2002 film adaptation of “The Count of Monte Cristo”. He would later star in minor and supporting roles in television shows such as BBC's “The Inspector Lynley Mysteries”, “Midsomer Murders” and “The Tudors” before transitioning to more mainstream Hollywood films such as “Tristan & Isolde”, “Stardust” and “Immortals”. In 2008, Cavill became the face and official spokesperson of the Dunhill fragrance collection for men campaign. The actor would gain further prominence and international fame playing the titular superhero Superman in the 2013 reboot film “Man of Steel”, which became a commercial success and the highestgrossing Superman film of all time, a role that he reprised in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, his highest-grossing film to date. In 2015, he co-starred with Armie Hammer in the spy film “The Man from U.N.C.L.E”. Cavill has expressed interest in taking over the role of James Bond when fellow British actor Daniel Craig gives it up. In December 2013, Cavill was named World's Sexiest Man by British Glamour magazine. In August 2014, Cavill took part in an Ice Bucket Challenge in support of the ALS Association, where he was soaked with six large buckets of water (doing the challenge in his full Superman costume).

The Hollywood star’s philanthropy work includes being a spokesman for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, and an ambassador for The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Hollywood

Fans slam Justin Bieber’s Kaley Cuoco and Ryan Sweeting finalize their divorce ‘no picture’ policy K J ustin Bieber is not going to retract his statement about no more pictures with his fans despite backlash from a lot of people.

After one of his Instagram followers called him "a douche" for making such decision, the Canadian pop star took to the social media again to share another lengthy message which explains his situation.

The "Love Yourself" hitmaker wrote, "Braekess you are so right btw your Instagram name is fire. Years ago it was impossible to even take a picture at anytime not everyone was accessible to a camera now everyone has a camera phone and Now it's just a different thing.If you think setting boundaries is being a douche I'm the biggest douche around but I think it's smart and will be the only way I last."

The 22-year-old singer went on defending his decision, "I wanna enjoy life and not be a slave to the world and their demands of what they think I need to do!! I love the fact that I am able to make people happy but cmon if you truly were in my position you would understand how tiring it is ( boo hoo Justin get over it) I'm going to keep making decisions I feel are fit for my growth and no human being will make me feel bad for it."

Earlier Tuesday, May 10, Bieber launched a rant on the photo-sharing site.

"If you happen to see me out somewhere know that I'm not gonna take a picture I'm done taking pictures," so read a picture he posted. "It has gotten to the point that peo-

ple won't even say hi to me or recognize me as a human, I feel like a zoo animal, and I wanna be able to keep my sanity."

"I realize people will be disappointed but I don't owe anybody a picture And people who say 'but I bought ur album' know that you got my album and you got what you paid for AN ALBUM!" he continued. "It doesn't say in fine print whenever you see me you also get a photo."

His "no picture" policy comes after several fans took pictures of him strolling through Boston Common and the Public Garden barefoot. (AceShowbiz)

aley Cuoco is officially single now!

The star of "The Big Bang Theory" finalized her divorce from her husband Ryan Sweeting on Friday, May 6. The former couple originally filed for divorce in September 2015 after 21 months of marriage.

Kaley and Ryan had signed a prenuptial agreement before their marriage.

However, she is still assisting her ex-husband financially in a few ways. The prenup had listed that both parties would pay, but Kaley is paying for Ryan's legal fees up to US$55,000.

According to the agreement, spousal support would be "payable and terminable." Thus, Ryan will be receiving temporary spousal support in total of US$165,000, a request he had made in response to her filing, which will be paid by November 30, 2016.

Kaley, meanwhile, will

get their two houses in Port Hueneme and Tarzana.

Following her split from Ryan, Kaley has been dating equestrian athlete Karl Cook. The new cou-

ple was recently spotted kissing before they filled their black SUV with gas in Westlake Village, California on Sunday, May 1. (AceShowbiz)

Katy Perry responds to Orlando Bloom cheating rumours

K

aty Perry seems to be sticking by her man after rumours swirled this week that her

boyfriend Orlando Bloom got a little ‘too’ close to his ex-flame Selena Gomez in a Vegas club.

When Orlando Bloom and Selena Gomez we're snapped sitting side-byside in a Vegas nightclub booth and reportedly left together, the rumour mill went wild with speculation. But, it appears “Roar” singer Katy Perry is having none of it.

"Instead of giving energy & eyeballs to dumb conspiracy check out how [COOL] this is" Katy tweeted alongside a link to Orlando's UNICEF charity work in Eastern Ukraine.

She finished the tweet with the hashtag #dontfeedthebeast - which says it all, really. (Glamour)

Chris Hemsworth bakes birthday cake for daughter India

C

hris Hemsworth took matters into his own hands when he couldn't get a birthday cake for his daughter India. The Thor of Marvel Cinematic Universe traded his hammer with a whisk and bowl as he baked a cake for his little girl who's celebrated

her 4th birthday.

In an adorable Instagram picture posted by his wife Elsa Pataky, the actor was seen hard at work beating eggs in the kitchen. "Papa working hard on India's birthday cake! Happy birthday India, love you more than anything! #family

#love #birthdaygirl," she captioned.

The result was a dinosaur cake decorated with green frosting and colorful M&Ms. "What happens when the bakery says they don't have time to make your daughter a birthday cake?

You get involved and smash one out yourself ! I call it 'La TRex al la chocolate'," he proudly showed off his masterpiece.

Not only is Chris Hemsworth a master baker, he is also pretty good at braiding his daughter's hair and knows "how to do a plait." "I'm pretty good with India's hair," he said earlier this year.

(AceShowbiz)

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Sunday Times Magazine 13

Star Times Bollywood

J

acqueline Fernandez, born August 11, 1985, is a Bahraini-Sri Lankan actress, former model, and the winner of the 2006 Miss Universe Sri Lanka pageant. Fernandez graduated with a degree in mass communication from the University of Sydney, and worked as a television reporter in Sri Lanka.

While on a modeling assignment in India in 2009, Fernandez successfully auditioned for Sujoy Ghosh's fantasy drama “Aladin”, which marked her acting debut. Fernandez' breakthrough role was in Mohit Suri's psychological thriller “Murder 2” (2011), her first commercial success. This was followed by glamorous roles in the ensemble-comedy “Housefull 2” (2012), and the action/thriller “Race 2” (2013), both of which were box office successes. Her performance in the former garnered an IIFA Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In 2014, Fernandez played the leading lady in Sajid Nadiadwala's “Kick”, which is said to be one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time. One of the most popular actresses in India, she was the recipient of the IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year – Female in 2010. Alongside her screen acting career, Fernandez has participated in stage shows and is active in humanitarian work.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Bollywood

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Emraan Hashmi feels criticism is sometimes ‘unfair’ for celebs bows out of Cannes’ AmfAR E gala, Sonam Kapoor in

A

ctress Sonam Kapoor will attend the prestigious amfAR Gala at the ongoing 69th Cannes Film Festival this year.

She says she feels honoured to be a part of the charity event, adding that she hopes to pitch in for the effort “in every way possible”.

Earlier, Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan bowed out of the event citing commitments regarding her upcoming film “Sarbjit”. Sonam, who is also the brand ambassador of L’Oréal Paris, will represent the cosmetic giant at Cannes.

The Cannes Film Festival started on May 11 and will go on till May 21.

The actress, who will be also

completing six years of attending the festival in 2016, will be seen walking the red carpet on May 15 and 16.

AmfAR Gala, established to raise funds for the fight against AIDS, is scheduled for May 19. “It’s an honour to be a part of the esteemed amfAR gala. I cannot stress

enough the importance of AIDS research in our time.

This foundation is doing such incredible work dedicated towards raising funds for life-saving research programs that help the fight against AIDS,” Sonam said in a statement. (PTI)

ven if celebrities get lot of love from their fans, harsh criticism also comes with the package. Emraan Hashmi, who will soon be seen in “Azhar”, has always been at the helm of controversies.

When asked how one should actually deal with the criticism that comes their way, the 37-year-old actor said, “Criticism will be beneficial for you, if you take it in a constructive way. Generally, as human beings, we like to stay clear and it is in human nature to evade the criticism and only focus on the praises.”

“Sometimes the critique that comes your way is not fair, so it is very important to find a sense of balance so that it doesn’t affect you. One needs to use their own observation skills to understand,” added Hashmi.

Emraan’s latest film is based on the life of former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin that will shed light on his highs and lows during his career.

The film also stars Narghis Fakhri and Prachi Desai in the supporting roles.

Directed by Tony D’Souza, “Azhar” will hit the silver screen on May 13. (ANI)

Priyanka Chopra: ‘I don’t think I’m a fashionista’

A

ctor Priyanka Chopra has been lucky so far; fashion critics all over the world have given her thumbs up for all her looks on the red carpet. But the actor reveals that she doesn’t take the red carpet too seriously and lets her mood dictate her clothes.

Though she has her stylist helping her to a large extent, Priyanka prefers to wear clothes that aren’t too “fashion forward”.

“I rely on my stylist completely to procure the clothes, but I finally decide which outfit to go with. I always decide my outfit depending on my mood and that has been a big reason why my red carpet appearances aren’t majorly fashion forward. I don’t consider myself a fashionista but I like to be the best version of myself. So I have to wear what I feel best in. I always have three options ready because I change my mind all the time and that is my birth right as a woman. You have to be on the red carpet feeling most special because as soon as you pretend to be something you are not, people see through it and then you end up looking stiff. I need to enjoy myself on the red carpet and that is very important,” she says.

Priyanka is extremely grateful for what she has achieved and wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world. But at the same time, though she enjoys being in the limelight since she started acting, there are moments she wishes to live a normal life.

“There are times when I would like to be just another person. I am not saying I don’t want to be Priyanka Chopra. But personally, when there is a crisis to deal with, I feel like I am just another girl with usual problems.

So, sometimes, it gets overwhelming to not be able to explain to the world when I walk out about how I am actually feeling. You are expected to have a pleasant demeanour and you always have to be the star that people expect you to be. That can sometimes get taxing,” Priyanka says. (Hindustan Times)

Shah Rukh Khan: ‘I don’t celebrate success’

S

uperstar Shah Rukh Khan has been ruling Bollywood for the last two-decades but he says he doesn’t celebrate success and loves fulfilling desires of his children.

“I am a ‘fakir’ that ways, I don’t celebrate success. If you meet me for seven days I would be in the same pants.

I love giving things to people. I don’t buy anything for myself. I don’t have the requirement to spend money on myself,” said Shah Rukh.

“I don’t have any personal desires, I love fulfilling desires of my children. I don’t listen to music so I don’t buy speakers. I have lot of shoes, but all that comes from

shootings because I wear sneakers,” he said.

After achieving immense success, Khan now has a huge empire- a film production company, VFX studio, IPL team, investments in

companies and properties abroad.

“I feel I should do something new as I have got the opportunity to do it. A lower middle class boy comes from Delhi has not even a penny to his name, parents are not there, orphan and you get these opportunities,” added Shah Rukh.

The “Fan” star is aware that he may fail at doing things, but he is more content with taking risks and trying out different things.

“I may fail but at least I gave it a shot. We all will fail, we all will have an end to our career one day, so let’s try something new,” the 50-year-old actor said. (PTI)

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Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Trends

Star of the week

S

teven Anthony Jacobs, born September 13, 1988, is a right-hand batsman who also bowls off-spin. He made his first-class debut for Guyana during the Carib Beer Cup in 2006 and played two matches after which he captained the West Indies Under-19s in the 2007-08 KFC Cup. The Guyanese all-rounder also plays for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (Hero CPL). This year, the cricketer will once again represent his country in the upcoming Hero CPL, making this his third year with the Guyana Amazon Warriors team. “It’s always nice to be home and represent your nation, so I just want to thank selectors, the manager, the coach and the owner for picking me,” he said.(Photo by WICB Media/Ashley Allen)

Trending Now

S

imple, sleek ponytails are bang on-trend, but how will you wear yours? Check out these celebrity-inspired styles.

Add braided details to your pony for a more dramatic look

Game of Thrones goddess Emilia Clarke knows how to style her long ponytail, giving the look a new edge

Tying up short hair can be stylish. Girls with bobs breathe a sigh of relief - you can rock a pony Iggy Azalea’s sleek-looking style rocked at the IHeartRadio awards. Simple ponytails are officially cool again

For a quirky take on the new season's ponytails, follow Olivia Wilde's lead and section a high ponytail using clear elastics. Leave a full fringe out to give the look a carefree feel.

The loose strands of hair frame Jennifer Aniston's face, while the backcombed back pumps volume into a fresh, elegant look

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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MAY 15, 2016

Times Art

Exhibition celebrating Guyana’s 50th independence anniversary opens at Castellani House

T

he National Gallery of Art, in collaboration with the Guyana National Museum, University of Guyana and the St Joseph Mercy Hospital, presents a special exhibition in celebration of Guyana’s semi-centenary as an independent nation, and offers a panoramic and unprecedented view of how art has paralleled the growth of our nation.

For the first time, this exhibition highlights some of the earliest works of art that still exist in Guyana, traces the beginnings of Guyanese art through the emergence of the pioneers in the 1920’s and 1930’s, then goes through the succeeding decades of art in Guyana.

As we go through this exhibition, we see what Guyana

looked like more than 100 years ago, viewed from within the particular mind-set of the time. As we move forward, we see how Guyanese learnt from the colonial masters before engaging with the movements in art that emerged in the wider world.

We see how influences which cannot be suppressed – the inhering influences of Africa, India and the indigenous peoples – resist submersion and surface in powerfully meaningful ways in our art.

This exhibition shows that art has been, and continues to be, an important part of the lives of Guyanese. The artworks make it clear that our visual thinkers have been major contributors to the shaping of the Guyana – pro-

posing and giving expression to values and ideas that help to direct and shape our development.

While there are more than 100 pieces in this exhibition, there is much that is left out also. This is so because more thinking and research has to be done on our informal art: the church statuary, sign painting, pottery, petroglyphs, basketry, weaving and other creations of so many unknown, unnamed artists before and after the coming of formal western-oriented art to Guyana. This will be the project for another important exhibition.

The name of the exhibition, “From Colony to Nation”, is starkly descriptive and appropriate for the purpose of “reflecting, celebrating and

"Roofs" (1957) by Patrick Barrington

inspiring”. It adequately establishes the general topography of our development.

But the terms “colony” and “nation” are loaded with significance and meaning.

They reflect the journey from one state of being to another - not only in chronological terms, but psychically, spiritually, culturally and socially as well. They invite us to

colonial enterprise, but also amazement that they still exist; fascination with what Guyana was one hundred years ago, and delight in having a record of what Guyana looked like more than one hundred years ago.

These artworks help to give life to our history – sometimes delightfully and often painfully–and add depth to

derstanding who we are and where we should be directing our energies. The artists filled the gap of imaginative possession, involved exploration, and concerned vision vacated by the colonisers.

As we celebrate our semicentenary, there is the feeling that art will continue be there to lead, support and inspire our development.

"Kitchen Garden" (n.d.) by Keith Welcome

"Jenman’s Building" (n.d.) by S. Ramsammy

meditate on our journey, and this exhibition provides one avenue for such a necessary contemplation.

From “Colony to Nation” opens a window to the past and reviews the present, to help us in the necessary tasks of reflecting, celebrating and inspiring. The early artworks presented form a part of our national legacy because they capture a particular conjunction of people, life and landscape in this special place now called ‘Guyana’.

They tell the story of what was, and they indicate how far we have come. One cannot help but have an ambiguous feeling toward these artworks – aversion to the entire

our landscape by awakening in us the realisation of the history that literally lies beneath our feet. The subsequent artworks show the depth, complexity and richness of the Guyanese imagination. They hold up a prismatic mirror to our present selves, so that we may contemplate ourselves, our condition and our journey, and clarify questions about where we are going.

The exhibition also shows that our local men and women needed no prompting to take on Walcott’s Adamic task of “giving names to things” through their art. In many instances, they were ahead of our politicians in un-

“From Colony to Nation” is currently open to the public until July 30, 2016.

Admission is free. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday to Friday and 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday; the gallery is closed Sundays and holidays.

On May 20, 2016, there will also be an “Afternoon Tea and Artist Talk” event at Castellani House, Vlissengen Road, with Guyanese artist and author Stanley Greaves, starting from 4pm. Call 2250579 for more information.

(Text on “From Colony to Nation” exhibition by Alim Hosein) (Cover photo : "River Front Scene" (1945) by Dennis L Bourne)

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Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

Google releases keyboard for iPhone

G

oogle has launched "Gboard," an iOS keyboard that combines Google Search with everyday typing. Right inside the keyboard area, users can

Tech news

search for local business results, images, and GIFs to weave into their conversation.

The idea is to offer a better way to get media and oth-

er search results into your conversation. If you wanted to show a friend a trailer on YouTube, the normal work flow would involve leaving the app, opening search,

Production begins on REAL hoverboard ARCA Space CEO Dumitru Popescu rides the ArcaBoard in Monte Carlo in April (Credit: ARCA Space via GIZMAG)

W

hen it was first announced at the end of last year, the hovering ArcaBoard was viewed with scepticism by many people. Since then, however, the device has been publicly demonstrated – and it has now reportedly entered production.

The board has entered production at parent company ARCA Space Corporation's factory in New Mexico.

Deliveries to clients in China, France, Israel, Romania and the US should begin in May. Originally, plans called for them

Tech BYTE

H

to start this in April.

The ArcaBoard first "flew" for the public and press on April 14, 2016 at Monaco's Top Marques event.

If you want a board of your own, be prepared to pay US$14,900 – that's actually less than the original projected price of $19,900, thanks to new production partnerships worked out with American and Chinese companies such as Southwest Composite Works Inc. and Eco Molding Co.

Soft wearable robot does your heavy lifting

arvard University’s flexible exosuit – or soft wearable robot – can really do serious heavy lifting for the wearer without hampering movement.

Unlike our general idea of a metal clad suit, a team led by Conor Walsh,Harvard University associate professor of engineering and applied sciences, used textiles as the basis for their soft exosuit. The bio-inspired design creates super-human abilities that the researchers call “augmenting human performance.”

An earlier version was more involved and seemed kind of awkward to walk in. Walsh, who also founded the Harvard Biodesign Lab, has since streamlined the suit so wearers appear to be walking normally.

The current iteration consists of a waist belt, two thigh pieces and two calf straps connected by cables to two motors mounted on a backpack, the researchers’ description reads. Although the lightweight suit is quite different from Ironman’s, it’s smart enough to only activate upon detecting a walking motion.

When a person walks in it, the suit senses the motion of the gait and then stiffens different parts of the fabric to assist the load on the joints and, overall, reduce the energy needed the carry a load, according to the researchers’ article in the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation.

Walsh’s team imagines the suit being put to use by soldiers, first responders, and other groups that carry heavy loads as well as people with physical disabilities.

Tech BYTE

D

typing your query, copying the result, going back to the messaging app, and pasting the link. Gboard lets you do all that without leaving the

Tech news

A

current app while saving you a few of those steps.

It appears to be a blend of Google's best features from its keyboard and

Google Now On Tap service on Android, but brought to the iPhone. You can download the new keyboard from the App Store.

Laplets make bigger gains so far in 2016 over tablets

ccording to new research by 1010data -- a Big Data company that looks at consumer spending habits to determine market share -- laplets are making big gains this year. The full report is due out next week.

While the Apple iPad is still dominant (at 32.5 per cent market share), the Microsoft Surface Book increased in market share by 9 per cent in Q1 (to second place and 25 per cent) over the same quarter last year while the iPad levelled off.

Also, laplets like the Surface Book accounted for 33 per cent of all tablet sales. The trend suggests that more people are buying a 2-in-1 that works as a laptop and as a touch tablet when you detach the display.

According to John Brandon, writing for Computerworld website, “In some ways, it doesn’t make sense for business users. They are heavier, usually run Windows 10 instead of a “true” mobile operating system with plenty of touch apps (alas,

Windows still doesn’t have anywhere near as many quality touch-enabled apps as the iPad or Android), and are a bit clunky. The Surface Book is about three times as thick as the latest iPad.” Yet, he points out, “A laplet provides everything we need for work and play. With a Surface Book, you can type up an entire novel with its brilliant keyboard. Disconnect the display, and you can sit back on a plane and watch a movie. Most importantly, most laplets also run full desktop apps like Photoshop and Microsoft Office.”

Microsoft Surface Book

Slithering robot snakes its way to seabed inspections

eveloped to cut the costs of maintaining underwater equipment, the Eelume robot is designed to be unleashed permanently on seabeds where it will glide through tight spaces tending to gear that is difficult and expensive to reach for us humans.

Eelume is a spin-off company out of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) which collaborated with oil and gas company Statoil and Norway's Kongsberg Maritime in developing the robot.

Its latest machine was developed to carry out maintenance tasks on the seabed. The agile robot is designed to slither in and around underwater rigs, cleaning, performing visual inspections and even attaching itself to certain components to adjust valves.

It is hoped that the Eelume robot can carry much of the workload

for those performing subsea inspections, reducing the need for large and costly vessels.

The developers say it can be in-

stalled permanently on existing and new underwater machinery to serve as a "self-going janitor on the seabed."

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Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

F

or many persons, decorating by theme is a popular option for their home. It can express their personality and their passions perfectly, whether it is the entire home or a room within. While overdoing a theme can be a danger, when done right it can make any home beautiful.

Include a fabric print, some sort of art or art object, and a colour related to your theme. The Moroccan poufs and wall mounted carved wooden TV stand and candleholders suggest an old world travel theme Seek out the authentic.

When choosing a nautical or coastal theme for example, artificial elements simply look – well – fake, and even tacky.Always remember though that less is more, even with genuine articles for your themed space

Red snapper with lemon herb butter

Ingredients

1 red snapper fillet

1 lemon 1/8 tsp. paprika

Method

Preheat oven to 425ºF. Rinse fillet and pat dry.

Sprinkle salt, pepper and paprika over fish. Slice lemon into thin slices and place on oiled baking sheet.

Once oven is hot, place fish on

Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 tbsp. olive oil 1 tsp. parsley (chopped) 1/4 tsp. lemon zest 1 1/2 tbsps butter

top of lemon slices and put it in the oven. Cook for 12 minutes, or until meat is opaque and flaky.

Meanwhile, combine butter, lemon zest and parsley.

When fish is done cooking, top with herb butter.

Makes 1 serving

E A flora theme can be overwhelming but not when done right. Simple floral shapes harmonise with black and white floral wall prints on a neutral colour scheme

njoy the nutrition of beans without their intestinal side effects by adding apple cider vinegar to your recipe. When the last half hour of cooking time for your beans arrives, remove ¼-cup of liquid and add ¼-cup of apple cider vinegar.

Bring the pot to a boil again, and simmer until done. (If you add the cider vinegar at the beginning of cooking, it will toughen the beans and lengthen the required cooking time.Salt should also be added after cooking, because it will lengthen cooking time if added sooner). This cooking method works extremely well for pinto and black beans and reasonably well for kidney, Lima, and other types of beans.

Button all buttons on clothing and turn inside out before putting into the washer. Fewer buttons will fall off and garments will fade less if turned inside out.

For the whitest cotton socks, boil socks in water to which a lemon slice has been added.

When pressing pants, iron the top part on the wrong side. Iron the legs on the right side. This gives the pockets and waistband a smooth look.

When threading needles, apply some hair spray on your finger and to the end of the thread, stiffening it enough to be easily threaded.

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Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

T

JOKES

Advertising The codfish lays ten thousand eggs, The homely hen just one.

The codfish never cackles to tell you what she’s done.

And so we scorn the codfish, While the humble hen we prize, Which only goes to show you That it pays to advertise.

- Anonymous Motivation There is an overweight guy who is watching TV. A commercial comes on for a guaranteed weight loss of 10 pounds in a week. So the guy, thinking what the heck, signs up for it.

Next morning an incredibly beautiful woman is standing at his door in nothing but a pair of running shoes and a sign about her neck that reads, "If you can catch me, you can have me."

As soon as he sees her, she takes off running.

He tries to catch her, but is unable. This continues for a week, at the end of which, the man has lost 10 pounds. After this he tries the next weight loss plan, 15 pounds in a week. The next morning an even more beautiful woman is standing at the door, in similar conditions.

The same happens with her as the first woman, except he almost catches her. This continues for a week, at the end of which he, as suspected, weighs 15 pounds less. Excited about this success, he decides to do the master program.

Before he signs up, he is required to sign a waiver and is warned about the intensity of this plan. Still he signs up. The next morning, waiting at the door, is a hulking 300 pound muscle man with nothing but a pair of running shoes and a sign around his neck that says, "If I catch you, you're mine!" The man was supposed to lose 25 pounds in the week; he lost 34.

Words of Wisdom “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not” – Mark Twain “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain; and most fools do.” – Benjamin Franklin “If you don’t say anything, you won’t be called on to repeat it” – Calvin Coolidge “All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are moveable, and those that move.” – Benjamin Franklin Kids Q&A Q: When should you buy a bird?

A: When it goes cheep!

Q: Why did the little bird get in trouble at school?

A: Because he was caught tweeting on a test.

Q: Who comes to a picnic but is never invited?

A: Ants.

here's not just one right way to raise children. And there's no such thing as a perfect parent or a perfect child. But here are some guidelines to help your children grow up healthy and happy: Show your love. Every day, tell your children: "I love you.

You're special to me." Give lots of hugs and kisses.

Listen when your children talk. Listening to your children tells them that you think they're important and that you're interested in what they have to say.

Make your children feel safe. Comfort them when they're scared. Show them you've taken steps to protect them.

Provide order in their lives. Keep a regular schedule of meals, naps and bedtimes. If you have to change the schedule, tell them about the changes ahead of time.

Praise your children. When your children learn something new or behave well, tell them you're proud of them.

Criticize the behaviour, not the child. When your child makes a mistake, don't say, "You were bad." Instead, explain what the child did wrong. For example, say: "Running into the street without looking isn't safe." Then tell the child what to do instead: "First, look both ways for cars."

Be consistent. Your rules don't have to be the same ones other parents have, but they do need to be clear and consistent. (Consistent means the rules are the same all the time.)

If 2 parents are raising a child, both need to use the same rules. Also, make sure babysitters and relatives know (and follow) your family rules.

Spend time with your children. Do things together, such as reading, walking, playing and cleaning the house. What children want most is your attention. Bad behaviour is usually an attempt to get your attention.

Stories of Inspiration

A

10-year-old boy decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car acci-

dent.

The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move.

“Sensei,” the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,”

the sensei replied.

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches.

The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.

This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a

while, the boy appeared to be overmatched.

Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.

“No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament.

He was the champion. On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match.

Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.

“Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defence for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”

The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.

Sometimes we feel that we have certain weaknesses and we blame God, the circumstances or ourselves for it but we never know that our weaknesses can become our strengths one day. Each of us is special and important, so never think you have any weakness, never think of pride or pain, just live your life to its fullest and extract the best out of it.

My Sun and Moon

By Lorenzo Persaud

Like the sunshine you brighten my day, Seeing you smile is just okay.

Just like the clouds you come and go, Blocking the sun and that smile I know.

You've been there for me throughout the day, Now the night is coming I'm afraid.

Be the moon, shine on me when I'm alone.

Send the stars to keep me company, For loneliness is all I've known.

You're with me through my darkest time, Just now you'll leave after this lullaby.

I'm falling asleep don't let me go, The night is so cold as you know.

I can feel the breeze tucking me in, I guess this is goodbye...

Until the sun rises I'll see you again.

No equivalent

By Grammar G Part 1

W

hile we all know how much English borrows from foreign languages, sometimes there is just no English equivalent (the French call it le mot juste (luh mo joost) – in English: the perfect, precise word) for some foreign concepts or situations. Let’s look at a few – you might need to use them some day.

The Japanese have a word for a girl who looks pretty from the back but not the front: bakku –shan (backoo shan). In fact that is a word borrowed by the Japanese from English “back” and German schoen , meaning “beautiful”.

Another “untranslatable” word is

POETRY CORNER

the Italian word Qualunquismo (kwal-un-kwees-mo) which is an attitude where a person has little care for pol-

itics and issues in society. It came about in 1944 from an Italian political party called the Fronte dell’Uomo Qualunque or “the front of the ordinary man” which promoted anti-political feelings and a mistrust of public organizations.

In Arabic, gurfa is the amount of water one can scoop up in one’s hand.

One small word uses a lot of English words to explain its meaning!

Ilunga is a Bantu word used in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). In 2004 it was described as “the world’s most difficult word to translate”. It refers to a person who is willing to forgive any wrong for the first time, tolerate it the second time, but never the third time. We could say, in English, “Tolerant to a point.”

20 Sunday Times Magazine

MAY 15, 2016

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Times Sunday Puzzle

Below are incomplete words. Place two letters in each bracket to complete the word on the left and begin the word on the right.

Fu (--) am Ed (--) ar Dit (--) urch Ju (--) eam Ran (--) ese Divi (--) bt Pi (--) upt Dro (--) rse Tr (--) aze Bud (--) nder

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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MAY 15, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

GEOZONE

View from top of Kaieteur Falls overlooking the Potaro Gorge where the Potaro River continues on its way

A

mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) is the name of a salamander that is said to make a barking sound like a dog. They are the only salamanders that make sound.

Mudpuppies are among the largest of the salamanders; they can grow to 41 cm (16 in) in length, although the average length is about28 cm(11 in).

They live on the bottoms of lakes, ponds, rivers, and

streamsfrom southern central Canada, through the Midwestern United States, North Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi.

During the day mudpuppies hide in vegetation, under rocks and logs, emerging at night to feed on crayfish, worms, and snails or any other such prey.

While mudpuppies are common in their range, pollution and habitat loss is a serious threat.

A

gorge is a narrow valley with steep, rocky walls located between hills or mountains.

According to National Geographic, the term comes from the French word gorge, which means throat or neck.

A gorge is often smaller than a canyon, although both words are used to describe deep, narrow valleys with a stream or river running along their bottom.Gorges have steep banks where the river

Maze Daze

The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all please see solution on page 23

digits 1 through 9.

has cut through the earth.

Not all gorges have rivers running through them. Some gorges are dry and the rivers that once carved them long gone.

In Guyana, Kaieteur Falls drops into what is known as the Potaro Gorge or Kaieteur Gorge, formed by the Potaro River’s relentless erosion of its sandstone plateau, leading to the waterfalls’ retreat upstream over millennia.

22 Sunday Times Magazine

MAY 15, 2016

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Sunday Times Magazine 23

World Times

W

ith the recent news of five Pacific islands lost to rising seas and erosion, Atlantic City in New Jersey is confronting its own sea level rise issues.

A touchtone of American popular culture with its casinos and boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic City is home to around 40,000 people, more than a third of whom live below the poverty line.

Benjamin Strauss, a sea level expert at Climate Central, an organization of scientists, says that people in Atlantic City are uniquely vulnerable to rising seas because they inhabit a barrier island with extremely low and flat terrain.

Speaking with Michael Edison Hayden of National Geographic, city resident Claudia Waller revealed that she gets frightened every time it rains because even with moderate rainfall in Atlantic City, the streets flood.

“It feels like all of us, everyone in Atlantic City, we’re sinking into the ocean,” Waller said.

Sea level rise, caused by a confluence of melting polar ice caps and warmer temperatures expanding the ocean, could devastate Atlantic City

Children play on a flooded avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey, after an October storm hit the U.S. Northeast in 2015

in what its residents describe as a kind of “slow death” – one that takes the form of sporadic super storms and routine nuisance flooding, crumbling infrastructure, and endemic poverty.

Only a few portraits of how rising seas will endanger American cities have entered the public consciousness. The most vivid example has been Miami. But Atlantic City—with its severe finan-

cial problems and low-lying shoreline—may prove to be another highly vulnerable place.

Strauss said that a fourfoot surge, for instance, would inundate only 7 percent of Boston but 50 percent of Atlantic City.

Atlantic City Director of Planning Elizabeth Terenik says that a large part of the city government’s financial woes, which nearly caused

Pizza Hut makes delivery to top of Mount Kilimanjaro Brain Teaser Answer Fuse - seam Edge - gear Ditch - church Just - steam Range - geese

Divide - debt Pier - erupt Drove - verse Tram - amaze Budge - gender

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

Earns Guinness World Records title

P

izza Hut Africa and Yum! Brands made history with the highest altitude pizza delivery on land, after General Manager of Pizza Hut Africa Randall Blackford, a group of employees and a team of experienced guides hiked to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro where they shared a pepperoni pizza at 5,897 m (19,341 ft.).

This incredible attempt marks the launch of the first Pizza Hut in Tanzania - the 100th country that the pizza restaurant company has entered in.

It took four days for the pizza to travel from the new restaurant to the top of the highest mountain in Africa.Pizza Hut designed a special pizza box backpack for the record-breaking delivery.

a temporary shutdown this March, relate directly to damage caused by sea level rise.

When damaged homes are abandoned, they no longer provide tax revenue, but the shell that is left behind is often cared for by the city, which must either have it repaired or demolished.

The end result is that money is typically flowing out of city coffers and not returning.

The majority of Atlantic City’s casinos, four of which shuttered in 2014, along with the boardwalk, rest along the highest point of elevation, while the residential portion has a much lower elevation, putting the homes in harm’s way.

Names like “Trump” and “Bally’s” dominate the skyline of a community that sees little of the industry's profits.

“The casinos are a plantation,” says Elwood Davis, an 89-year-old retired government worker who has lived in Atlantic City his entire life.“Now because of the flooding and everything else, it feels like the only people still living in Atlantic City are the people who haven’t figured out a way to leave yet.”

"There’s no climate change denial with these folks here because they see what’s happening to their lives," says Shawn Dickenson, a disaster case manager for A Future with Hope, a charity organization run by the United Methodist Church of New Jersey that rebuilt Claudia Waller’s home in 2013 after Hurricane Sandy. (From: Atlantic City Gambles on Rising Seas by Michael Edison Hayden, National Geographic News) Sharing a pizza some 19,000 ft. up

24

Sunday Times Magazine

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Fun Times

Archie

Take care of unfinished business before you tack(March 21le something new. Having a April 19) clear agenda will encourage you to bring about change that will make your life better.

ARIES

Take charge and show evTAURUS eryone what you can do. Your (April 20desire to help or get involved May 20) in a cause will make a difference and lead to future opportunities.

Question everything and GEMINI everyone. Don't fall into a (May 21- trap set by someone who June 20) wants something from you.

Concentrate on making personal gains and developments. Strive to live a healthy lifestyle.

You'll have to participate if you want to make prog(June 21- ress. Options are available if July 22) you step up and get involved.

Romance is in the stars, and personal gains look promising.

CANCER

Protect your reputation.

LEO Someone will be looking for (July 23any excuse to make you look Aug. 22) bad. Do what you can to improve what you have to offer.

Strive for perfection.

Dilbert

Traveling or checking VIRGO out different lifestyles, phi(Aug. 23losophies or places to reside Sept. 22) will lead to new beginnings.

Romance is featured, but compromise will be required. Make love, not war.

Learn as you go, and make LIBRA adjustments that will keep you (Sept. 23from being distracted by someOct. 23) one trying to control your actions. Be true to yourself and your desires.

Peanuts

Make plans with someone SCORPIO you enjoy spending time with.

(Oct. 24- Relationships are highlightNov. 22) ed, and sharing something unique with a special someone will bring you closer together. A short trip is favored.

Do something that will imSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23- prove your life. Now is not the Dec. 21) time to deal with people who try to manipulate you. Don't believe everything you hear or waste time in pointless arguments.

Calvin and Hobbes

You've got all the right CAPRICORN moves. Your bravado and (Dec. 22- some canny maneuvering will Jan. 19) help you improve your home and boost your assets. Work alongside someone you love for optimal results.

It's up to you to bring AQUARIUS about change. Don't let any(Jan. 20one manipulate your feelings Feb. 19) using guilt tactics or sob stories. Focus on your needs, and do what's best for you.

PISCES Attend a reunion.

(Feb. 20- Connecting to your past will Mar. 20) help you realize how far you have come and recognize the aspirations you still harbor.

Romance looks promising.