FAQs - Guyana
This is my viewpoint according to the two assignments I had in Guyana. One was about an hour out side the main city of Georgetown called Mahaicony in which I spent 1 1/2 years, the other was 2oish hour bus ride through the jungle to an interior village called Lethem, I spent 2 1/2 years there.
Banking and Money
I have Bank of America. Guyana a sister bank, Scotia, and you can just pull from there. Guyana's ATMs charge roughly a $5.oo dollar fee every time you pull the max which is $15o.ooUSD. $1.ooUSD is about $2oo.ooGYD.
I have Bank of America. Guyana a sister bank, Scotia, and you can just pull from there. Guyana's ATMs charge roughly a $5.oo dollar fee every time you pull the max which is $15o.ooUSD. $1.ooUSD is about $2oo.ooGYD.
Water
In the interior (well water) the water was clean enough to just take from the tap, add one drop of bleach per gallon, and drink up. In Mahaicony (city water) we had to boil our water. After you've done that there is a film of something oily on top and rust settled at the bottom. We pour off the top and call it good for drinking. Never got sick. We had two tanks and had to pump the water to the top tank about once a week into a 275 gallon tank so we had running water in the house. (Not hot and cold, but running.)
Food
You can eat out for $2.oo-$6.ooUSD. Groceries are also very cheap when we were careful we were spending $1o.ooUSD a week on groceries. Indian food is very popular. Curry is easy to come by. Chinese food is also availble.
Language
English creol is spoken. Guyanese Creol or Belize Creol is what you'll want to have down loaded to your devices for sharing with the community.
People
The people are very warm inviting and hosptable. They'll often have you in their home to visit. They are a happy humble people. Most are Christian or Hindu, some are Muslim. African (Afro Guyanese) Indians (Indo Guyanese) and Native South Americans (Amerindians) make up most the population. There are also Brazilians and Chinese. The local people are usually very poor, earning about $1.ooUSD an hour.
Climate
It is hot year round between 85F - 9oF. In Guyana is appropriate to wear clothing that covers you atleast down to the knee and a cap sleeve at all times. Out in service you'll want to have flowy breathable skirts made out of lenon or cotton or other non synthetic fabrics.
Health Care
US funded hospitals are there you can usually get what you need, free of charge. If you want to be extra careful you can go to a clinic where you pay and the prices still aren't bad.
US funded hospitals are there you can usually get what you need, free of charge. If you want to be extra careful you can go to a clinic where you pay and the prices still aren't bad.
Vaccines
Recommended are Yellow fever, Hep A and Typhoid.
Sicknesses
Keep mosquito off. Keep your immune system working well. Get needed rest. Don't get sunburned. Eat right. Exercise. My friends or I have contracted Pnemonia, Zika, Chickengonia, Malaria and Dengue. But these can be minimized or avoided by taking great care of your self.
Recommended are Yellow fever, Hep A and Typhoid.
Sicknesses
Keep mosquito off. Keep your immune system working well. Get needed rest. Don't get sunburned. Eat right. Exercise. My friends or I have contracted Pnemonia, Zika, Chickengonia, Malaria and Dengue. But these can be minimized or avoided by taking great care of your self.
Rent
Relatively easy to find decent housing. A beautiful 2 bedroom house is for less than 2oo.ooUSD a month. Running water, indoor plumbing, a yard, electricity, semi furnished. In the interior $125.oo a month for a small apartment and small plot of land.
Internet
Near the city 25 bucks a month will get you fast enough internet to stream video and skype family, its not so choppy it would run smooth for about 2/3 people and 4ish devices. 5o bucks a month and it will be smooth. In the interior we would have it on our phones through Digicel, very slow, but it was only about $37.ooUSD for 3 months of internet.
Near the city 25 bucks a month will get you fast enough internet to stream video and skype family, its not so choppy it would run smooth for about 2/3 people and 4ish devices. 5o bucks a month and it will be smooth. In the interior we would have it on our phones through Digicel, very slow, but it was only about $37.ooUSD for 3 months of internet.
Electricity
Electricity is somewhat reliable. In the interior there were a few months out of a 2 year period, where the electricity was only available every other 6 hours. Nearer to the city, outages (black out) were far less common. There might be a 4-6 hour outage every 5 months or so.
You don't need a visa. When you enter the country they tell you weather or not you are allowed to stay the 3 months that visitors are allowed and they'll stamp your passport accordingly.
Airports
Airports
Which airport would we fly into? Cheddie Jaggan Airport. To get to the interior, from Cheddie Jaggan you use Ogle Airport.
Local transport
How do we get around? Near the city you walk or use buses. Only .5oc USD to take from a 5 minute to 2o minute buss ride. (Within the territory.) You may use a bus around 2 to 4 times a day.
Total costs
Including traveling for visa renewal and plane tickets, living simply I spent a rough average of $333.ooUSD a month.
What else should I add to my list of basics to help people get a rough idea of life in Guyana? Leave a comment if you have an idea and I'll add it.
Local transport
How do we get around? Near the city you walk or use buses. Only .5oc USD to take from a 5 minute to 2o minute buss ride. (Within the territory.) You may use a bus around 2 to 4 times a day.
Total costs
Including traveling for visa renewal and plane tickets, living simply I spent a rough average of $333.ooUSD a month.
What else should I add to my list of basics to help people get a rough idea of life in Guyana? Leave a comment if you have an idea and I'll add it.
