Guyana Diaspora

'89 percent of Guyana 's graduate population live and work in the 30 relatively rich countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) -"Fruit that falls far from the tree",
The Economist, 03 November 2005'

It is estimated that there are as many Guyanese living overseas as they are in Guyana
They are spread out far and wide to almost every country on the planet
This blog was created to chronicle the news and and stories of the Diaspora

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Inspirational Grandmother

Norma Jean was born in Guyana and moved to Canada thirty-four years ago with her husband Rolly. She remembers those starry moonlit Friday and Saturday nights when she was a child back in Guyana, sitting on the front porch, snacking on Plantain chips, fresh hot roasted peanuts and ice cold Mauby while listening to her mother tell the stories of such characters as Anansi, Brier Tiger, Sly Mongoose and others.

When her children were little, Norma Mammie shared her childhood stories with her daughter Norma Jean and her 4 siblings. Then, when Norma Jean's granddaughter was born, she had another chance to share these wonderful memories. Now she hopes that other parents and grandparents will see the joy in their little one's eyes as they hear the Fables and Tales of Guyana that Norma has written to be shared.

Norma Jean was born in Guyana and moved to Canada thirty-four years ago with her husband Rolly. She remembers those starry moonlit Friday and Saturday nights when she was a child back in Guyana, sitting on the front porch, snacking on Plantain chips, fresh hot roasted peanuts and ice cold Mauby while listening to her mother tell the stories of such characters as Anansi, Brier Tiger, Sly Mongoose and others.

With her busy lifestyle when her three children were growing up, she neglected to pass on these stories. However, when her granddaughter, Taylor, was born, life was a little slower and she decided to use the opportunity to share these childhood memories. "I enjoyed every memory of those evenings in Guyana and it became an absolute joy to write the stories and I kept smiling through it all. The thoughts were flowing so fast, I had to write them down first."

"I remember holding my granddaughter and gazing into her beautiful brown eyes", beams Norma, "I felt so humble and privileged to be a grandmother to this beautiful gift." She turned to her daughter and asked, "What kind of legacy do I have to pass on to this angel God has given me?" Her daughter simply replied, "Mom, write your grandchild stories you have always wanted to write and share your childhood with her."

It was a wonderful idea. "My daughter is so wise", laughed Norma. So her husband Rolly bought her a laptop and said, "There you go. Start writing and I am here for you if you need me."

"I read these stories as I helped to edit the manuscript," says Janice Byer, Norma's desktop publisher and web designer, "and I shared them with my 10 year old daughter. She loved them. They are perfect for bedtime (or any time) stories and the illustrations, done by a talented mother of triplets, are beautiful."

Norma is so passionate about how parents, grandparents and children around the world will enjoy these wonderful stories that she has already written a second book (with 3 or 4 more on the tip of her tongue) and offers them on her website at http://www.childrensstories.ca.

About Norma Jean

Norma Jean has lived in Brampton, Ontario, Canada for 34 years. She is married to her husband Rolly and is the mother of her late son Andrew, second son Terry and daughter Cindy. She is also the proud grandmother of Taylor Anne ("my Taylor Rose"). Her love for her family, especially her granddaughter, are the inspiration for her books and she plans on sharing many more memories and other treasures in upcoming books. Visit her website at http://www.childrensstories.ca/