Home » Sri Lanka » June 16, 2005 Sri Lanka

Sorry I have been out of touch recently – no excuse other than busy, as you are I am sure. Plus trying to come up with a coherent email with something witty or adventurous or moving to say has been difficult. Just living life here in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka, which is now starting to feel quite like home away from home. I love it here: the beach, the dirt road I walk down to get to town while stopping to say hello to someone every ten feet, the volleyball at sunset, the friends I have made.

June 16, 2005 Sri Lanka

Lasulo
2006-01-06 19:41:36

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Sorry I have been out of touch recently – no excuse other than busy, as you are I am sure. Plus trying to come up with a coherent email with something witty or adventurous or moving to say has been difficult. Just living life here in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka, which is now starting to feel quite like home away from home. I love it here: the beach, the dirt road I walk down to get to town while stopping to say hello to someone every ten feet, the volleyball at sunset, the friends I have made.

Since I don’t have anything extremely exciting to write, I thought I would give you some slices of life here in Sri Lanka.

Yesterday, Sam and I stopped at one of the schools where we are working. I was speaking with the principal and assistant principal who were thrilled with all the work we are doing. Over and over again people have told me how we are one of the few charities to actually do what we promised to do, which, of course, makes all the sweating and frustration worth it. Sam walked around with me for a bit and then was chitchatting with some boys playing cricket. When I got back in the van there was a green, plastic bag by my feet. ‘Wow, some forward thinking on Sam’s part; he finally got a garbage bag instead of just throwing everything on the floor,’ I thought. I tucked my feet under the bag, and we set off.

“Have a look in the bag,” said Sam. Alarm bells. Sam loves to play jokes. A few weeks ago, he taught Kate and I some song lyrics in Singhalese but changed one word to a very, very bad word in Singhalese and then had us singing for every gas station attendant, waiter, and family member, much to their amusement. I thought they were laughing at my singing ability, but no they were laughing at my ignorance. It took us about a week to crack onto this.

Carefully, I picked up the bag which ...