A story of returning to your roots

ALTHOUGH we share various similarities with our Caribbean counterparts and even some of our South American neighbours, Guyana is still vastly unique in countless regards. As unique as life in Guyana is, people venture out to other countries every day- some in hopes of creating a better life, others in search of a fresh start, and others who see a certain appeal in travelling far and wide. But some people have such a profound love and deep-rooted admiration for their country that they simply must return. Some say it is a feeling, an urge, a need to answer the call of their homeland.

Growing up in a World Beyond Georgetown
Colin Nelson was born and raised in the community of Cottage. The village he called home more than seventy years ago had an easy-going atmosphere to it. In a time when most people lived life one day at a time, and farming was the only trade of the day, the community of Cottage was the embodiment of simplicity. As Colin shared, “It was always a laid-back community. Nothing exciting really ever happened here. It is a farming community.”

But Colin has long possessed an adventurous spirit, and at an early age, he moved to the capital city of Georgetown. The location change could be felt at the very depths of that way of life. Colin spent many years working with the government of Guyana in Georgetown and occasionally returned to Cottage to visit his family. This life, however, did not do much to quench his thirst for adventure, and Colin ventured off to the United States of America more than two decades ago.

The shift from Cottage to Georgetown was great, but the change from Guyana to America was simply unimaginable. Colin came from a family of eleven siblings, and his parents were rice farmers. Georgetown was already a big step, but New York seemed like a leap into the unknown for a young Colin. “I liked adventure and this was a laid-back community,” Colin said.

This drive to experience more is what pushed Colin to leave Guyana. He explained how when the opportunity presented itself, he did not think twice. He explained that because of his urge to experience a life of excitement, he no longer found joy in the mundane nature of life in Cottage. He stated that, “In those days, when you did a trade, they would trade to Suriname, Brazil, Panama, and Miami. The spirit stayed with me from that, rice farming became not a very pleasant activity.”

Misconceptions and corrections: educating others about Guyana
In 1995, Colin left for the United States. In those days, Guyana was not nearly as talked about as it is today. Perhaps it is owed to our lack of notoriety that Colin had countless experiences telling people about this little country in South America. He had even more experience dispelling misconceptions about Guyana.

According to Colin, even in conversations with people from the West Indies, there were still many falsehoods and a surprising lack of knowledge about Guyana. He explained that living beyond the boundary of Guyana required his sense of patriotism to be greater than ever. He stated that, “In my community in America, which was basically a West Indian community, I would interact with Jamaicans. And they would ask where Guyana is.”

On various occasions, Colin would seek to educate his fellow West Indians on what life in Guyana entailed. His stories of his homeland, where the sunshine covered a land of fruit trees and friendly people and where fun was swimming by the waterside, were unfamiliar stories for many of the people he spoke with. He stated, “When I started talking about small days and growing up in Guyana and then things that happened; that we would do in Guyana as fun, they do not have a clue where we are coming from.”

Like many misconceptions the rest of the world has about Guyana, Colin also learned a few interesting things about America. One of the things that Colin now has a great appreciation for is Guyana’s weather. Living overseas, he experienced the unpredictability of the four seasons. He shared that, “I only have praise for this country. The beautiful things about Guyana… I remember in 2009, stepping out of my house and there was snow up to my knees. We were told to stay at home until the weather clears up, and it was five days.”

Returning to cottage: embracing the simple life once more
Throughout the years, Colin has explored the captivating wide expanse of Guyana. From our waterfalls and mountains to our wild animals and hospitable people, Colin says that there are very few complaints to be made about Guyana. Today, he has returned to his Cottage home, where he lives the easy-going life his community has long been known for. With all its beauty and natural charm, Guyana is poised for greater things. As Colin shares, “The coming together of more people is essential for the development and growth of Guyana. Guyana is still a beautiful country.”