[Lina Gates] SUBJECT: How to Entertain Yourself in the Bush

AUTHOR: Lina Gates, Age 15, lives with her parents, one sister and two brothers, and cousins in the village of Kaikan, Guyana, near the Venezuelan border.

DATE: May 13, 1997

[Coconut Leaf]
How Coconut Leaves are Used
O.K. so you're wondering, now what on earth is there to do out there in the middle of nowhere? Well what do the people here do? In my previous article I mentioned how they fly bugs by little strings.Well, I have discovered they do much more.

[Drawing of Arrow]
Arrow made of Coconut leaves
What if you want to fly a paper plane, but you don't have any paper? Easy! Take a coconut leaf and make an arrow. Try throwing it. It travels great! Now, what if you want to look cool, but you don't have any shades? Simple! Take a coconut leaf and make some. You're beginning to understand why coconut trees are so vital down here.
[Drawing of Coconut Glasses]
Glasses made from Coconut Leaves
Another thing you can make our of coconut leaves - windmills. The kids simply cut out the leaves and stick the midrib through it. This creates a miniature windmill which works excellent if you run with it (providing you are facing the wind)
[Drawing of a Windmill]
A Windmill made of Coconut leaves
Here's one last thing you can do with coconut leaves. It's called harmless shooting. You tear the leaf a bit and put it on your finger. Then you pull while mooving your finger upwards. The result is a shooting piece of leaf. It's quite interesting actually.
[Shooting Leaves]
Shooting Coconut Leaves
Well you're fed up with coconut trees and little shades. You want real fun! Play the 'stack it' game. Pile a bunch of cut logs on top of each other until they reach up to a tree.When they are precariously balanced against the tree throw a piece
[Avacado Seed Top]
Homemade Avocado Top
of wood and see who will be the first to knock the stack down. O.K. here's how to make a top. Take an avocado seed. Then put a stick through it. Spin the stick and you've got a great top. Here's another game to try. Get a flexible pointed stick. Got it? Great. Now stick a little red fruit on the end. Finished? O.K. Now when I say three, swat the stick so the
[Boys Stacking Logs]
Boys Stacking Logs
fruit goes flying, O.K.? One, two, three! Man! You better run before your neighbor finds out what hit him. Well, that's all for now. I hope you won't be bored now if you ever find yourself in the bush.

Lina

You may write to Lina at: gates@andrews.edu

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Last Updated: May 13, 1997