LOST IN TRANSLATION

We decided to introduce a little bit of Scotland into our lesson plans this week by learning the children ’10 green bottles’. Unfortunately we didn’t have any green bottles but not to be defeated we decided to use our growing store of water bottles. The song was now 10 ‘big’ bottles. And to emphasis the ‘big’ concept we took along a ‘small’ water bottle as contrast. Thinking we’d been very clever and covered all possible problems, you can only imagine our frustration when things didn’t go exactly to plan.

We introduced the song easily. The kids are quick to learn and love any songs or tunes we learn them. After only two times hearing me sing ’10 big bottles’ they had it. Moving onto the ‘sitting on the wall’ part was equally quick. Resting on our proverbial laurels we smugly went for a full run though only to find that instead of singing ‘sitting on the wall’ we hear the children sing ‘sitting on the water’. No big deal right? But after several corrections where they all dutifully sang ‘sitting on the wall’ only to warp it back into ‘sitting on the water’ as soon as we re-introduced the tune... Matt and I had to admit defeat.  Some things aren’t worth labouring – there frankly isn’t enough hours in one month!

FOOD – IT’S A SOCIAL THING

Meals are a very social occasion here, with much sharing of dishes and food tasting and discussion. As visitors we must be giving off ‘get your leftovers here’ signals.  The Hotel has a resident crow who tries to get in on the social/sharing aspect. It watches our poor food consumption with a mercenary glean in its eyes and only shows concern if it looks like we’re in danger of finishing our food by hopping into the restaurant and ‘caa’ing’ with alarm. We’ve nick named him Dave. But Dave isn’t alone in seeing us as a soft touch. On a recent visit to Kandy we visited the Royal Botanical Gardens where one of the millions of dogs on the island shadowed us half way around the place. Even being bold enough to sneak under our umbrella to shelter from the rain and kept up with us until I gave in and fed it a bit of our fruit loaf.

Back at the school all the teachers are concerned that we don’t eat enough for breakfast. Breakfast for Sri Lankan’s is a mid-morning social occasion. We’ve tried to explain that we eat as soon as we get up, so for us a snack is enough but it still remains a source of concern, which seems odd given the number of helpful suggestions I’ve been given to lose my fat. Amongst which includes an Arab remedy of honey & lime in water which ‘sorts out’ too much oil. If this is right I think the Arabs have struck a new kind of Oil – Or rather an oil eliminating solution. Brace yourselves for a new fat busting craze!

HANGING AROUND

Visited the Royal Botanical Garden in Kandy and very much enjoyed the sights of the lush foliage and numerous exotic flowers, which were being enjoyed by the resident wildlife.  To start with we couldn’t hear or see anything but a sea of families and group of friends spread out on the thick green grass - whooping and laughing. So when Matthew spotted a chipmunk hot footing its way from tree to tree we were delighted. However, the more we wandered into the more secluded parts of the gardens, the more we realised that it was chipmunk city!



We’d only taken the small camera to take photos of plants and flowers so getting close enough to any of the chipmunks to get a photo was gonna be a challenge. I became a lady on a mission and was so busy being ‘it’ for a cruel game of chipmunk catch that I hadn’t noticed that I’d stumbled into the ‘love zone’. Amongst the gravestone roots of the Almond trees were not only the object of my camera lens but crowds of courting couples. I don’t know who was blushing more. Me or the shy lovebirds!

Wandering to a safer... quieter part of the park we could hear high pitched screeching. It turns out that it was coming from a host of hanging fruit bats. I had previously believed that bats were silent flyers that flew from dusk to dawn, but no one had told these guys. As we moved on dodging droplets, Matt quipped that it looked very boring just hanging around like that all day.

Almost as soon as he’d finished the sentence, like a heavenly judgement the sky gave a loud grumble and large drops of rain the size of 10 pence pieces started to rain from the clouds. I’m ashamed to say that we were caught like failed Scots without an umbrella and had to make a swift dash to the nearest building which turned out to be the staff cafe. Our penance for judging the fruit bats was over an hour of torrential rain which left us doing our own sort of ‘hanging around’.

ONE LUMP OR TWO?

Tea is an integral part of meal times but I’m surprised at how sweet the folks I’ve met take their tea. The teachers make a ritual cup of tea after breakfast every day and find it very odd that I drink mine ‘bitter’ that is – without sugar. I’ve always thought that 2 spoons was a lot and 3 was excessive, but now I’m beginning to think that 2 or 3 is restrained! After a hot, sticky tour around fully functioning 107 year old machinery at a tea factory, we were rewarded with a complimentary cup of their finest. It was strong and flavoursome... a real good brew, served exactly the way I like it - in a beautiful bone china cup. Perfect I thought, but as I sank back into my wicker chair to relax and enjoy the full experience I glanced at our driver Paul. I watched him as he ladled four heaped spoons of sugar into the tiniest cup – take a trial sip and then add another! 

Sipping my tea I can’t help reflecting on the tea making process, I can’t get over how simple and organic the process is. No artificial chemicals used or over processed methods employed just honest hard work and time. Without seeing it, I’m not sure I’d have appreciated just how natural tea is as a product. Anyone for cake?

On a Mission

Talk about travel and most people will have heard of Phileas Fogg. The main fictional character in the 1873 Jules Verne novel Around the World in Eighty Days. Having recently returned from a month long trip to Sri Lanka, I can say without a shadow of a doubt most of those eighty days would've been taken up travelling across this tiny Island known as the ‘Jewel Box of the Indian Ocean’.

Orange Coconuts for Drinking

Sri Lanka is similar in size to Ireland but the condition of the roads, the volume of the traffic and the laid back attitude of the Sri Lankan people means that getting around takes a sturdy car, cushioned seats and patience…lots of patience!

We had no idea of any of this, when teacher, Helen O’Brien from Ellon Academy asked us to present some much needed equipment to Pelene Rajiragnana M.Vat School. So we accepted eagerly and having visited the school, met the pupils and been welcomed by the teachers.. I'm glad we did.
It took us over six hours of travelling from Negombo to Weligama with only one stop on the way to tour a turtle sanctuary. The West coastline of Sri Lanka is tropical. Crystal blue waters foam onto golden sandy beaches and are framed by the tall slim trunks of numerous coconut trees.

One Day Old Turtles

Despite this, we travelled in relative silence, as the lush scenery did little to mask the rows upon rows of houses raised to the ground by the Asian tsunami which devastated the Island on the 26th December 2004 killed over 40000 people. Peppered in between the ruins of building where graves. Miles and miles of the same views, leaving a sobering reminder of how quickly lives and families can be changed and how long the effects can be felt. We spoke so several people, including our driver who recounted their memories of that day. Stories of loss, tragedy and the human spirit at its best.

We were welcome by Mr Kumar the head teacher and treated to a tour of the classrooms, spanning children from grade four up to grade fourteen. Every class greeted us with bright curious faces and a hearty ‘Ayubowan’ which literally translated means ‘welcome, I wish you long life’. Some of the older children were glad to talk with us. Although I think our Scottish accents made conversations more challenging.

Previous support donated by Ellon Academy had provided the school with toilet facilities for both the teachers and pupils. A facility we were proudly shown and of which we were invited to take photos. A humbling experience to see such pride in a commodity that we take for granted several times in a day.

Toilets Donated by Ellon Academy

Weligama was one of the worst affected areas on the Island and has been lucky to receive aid from around the globe. The school has now been equipped with a science and music room and recently the children and teachers have been working hard to create and maintain a small garden area which they use to grown food as part of their environmental studies.

School Environment Garden

We rounded off our tour with an invitation to join the staff in enjoying a cup of tea with an array of traditional sweet snacks. During which time the older pupils were assembled to see the presentation of much needed music equipment. Matthew offered a short speech, telling them that we were visiting Sri Lanka to teach English at a school in Kochicade and then presented the music stand, microphone and lectern from Ellon Academy to the head pupil who accepted the donation on behalf of his fellow pupils and school.

Presentation

As the celebratory songs died down, two young girls turned to me and said ‘we wish you were teaching at our school’… and I thought, so many children so few volunteers.

Speaking English is a very important and highly regarded skill and a must to get a decent job. The children particularly love learning slang phrases like ‘see you later’ or ‘hi’. Such a little time and effort can make the world of difference to these children.

DRINK!

This curious fellow’s photo was taken at the side of the road on the way to Polonnaruwa, perhaps he’s has heard about the money to be made through the illicit alcohol industry.

And they say us Scots have an unhealthy interest in drink!

Seeing him brought to mind the meal Matt and I had on Friday night where I ordered a beer and was brought a large bottle which attracted a good few double takes from passersby – everything from surprise to disapproval. I’m guessing drinking bottles of beers (even with a glass) isn’t the done thing. Note to self ... put bottle under table = problem solved.

It seems that even a sneaky lizard tried to get in on the binge drinking habit, unfortunately, it was only gingerbeer!

Heaven is a Flushing Toilet

Last Friday I had an upset stomach and the  whole neighbourhood was informed of my embarrassment as I was escorted by a full procession of four Teachers from the school to one of the teacher’s houses which is only few doors up from the School. Dianne was kind enough to offer me the use of her toilet as it is a ‘good toilet’ which really means that it is more than a hole in the ground.

I have been so grateful and until I developed trouble down below, it has been a mutually enjoyed meander as we two ‘black and white’ (as Dianne likes to say) friends pass by her own friends and neighbours up to her house and back. We communicate in broken English, with me labelling English names for the things she points out. We delight in this relaxed time together. I for the opportunity to revel in her unconditional friendship and her at having a celebrity guess visiting her home giving her much Kudos amongst her neighbours.

Dianne takes particular enjoyment from showing me off to people she knows, including her husband Rodney who has spent most of his day off work washing clothes! He shows me great kindness in using his home and honours me by holding my hand after I joke with Dianne that she has a good husband as he washes the clothes.