“Cuss wheh ya guh, nah wheh yuh come from.”
That is a saying I grew up hearing. It was one of those quotes that made you think and smile at the same time. It surfaces in my mind every time I get frustrated to the point of wanting to run away from Guyana. Within our culture, it is important to remember such a saying because it reminds us to appreciate our uniqueness as Guyanese and the significance of our foundation, no matter where in the world we may go.
Most Guyanese who migrate do not forget this beautiful land. They do not cast away their pride and deny the existence of this place. You spot the accent in a crowd because it is so distinct. And, when in a foreign land, it is comforting to know that you have company. The number of Guyanese who return home daily is proof that the way of life, the climate and family will always draw the majority back to these shores, even if for a short time.
In 2011, I was a part of a training project for filmmaking and out of that training eight short films were produced. CineGuyana was born with the intention of starting a film industry in Guyana. In August of 2011, I was part of the CineGuyana group that went to the US to show the films we had made. For a Guyanese audience in New York, the nostalgia those films stirred was touching. The thrill when they saw local items, such as kerosene stoves and enamel cups, reminded me how we sometimes take for granted the little things that are part of the Guyanese experience.
There are, however, those who forget or at least pretend to do so. They choose to leave Guyana and vow never to return. They adapt to a new culture. It is quite amazing how quickly some adult Guyanese can change their accents. When we think about the fact that foreigners who come to our land rarely change their accents to sound Guyanese, it leaves an impression that many Guyanese may seem to believe that taking on the culture of another place,