Well I never.....
So I am just about recovered from our 12 hour return trip from Colombo with a soundtrack of hindi/sinhala songs all the way. It was painful and extremeley uncomfortable. And I think I got a wee infection to boot! Damn that un airconditioned van!
The last two days have been a blur of tiredness, heat and a desperate struggle to get things sorted here before I leave. I have an enormous guilty feeling inside that I haven't done enough, that I should have done more and that I've made more of a mess of things than I have achieved. It's like revising for exams. You leave everything to the last minute and hope for the best. That's what I've gotta do. I've realised that once I go, there is no one to carry on the English content I brought to Horizon. It amazes me everyday when girls who I once dissed quite badly in this journal can now suddenly talk to me, ask me questions and above all crack a joke in English! Immersion in English is probably the best thing I have bought here. And now I'm taking it away. I'm trying to remain focussed. I'm finishing off award applications, trying to find volunteers, still trying to find funding....and I've only got 2 weeks to pull it all off.
It's been getting so hot here I have to take an afternoon siesta. It's ridiculous the heat. But the siesta is quite refreshing.
And now I have the story of all stories. Wanni doesn't want me to write this but it's just too good for you not to know. Everyone knows I am leaving soon and everyone is understandabley upset. It seems that I turned everyones lives upside down...for the better I think. The kids like me for my English and my energy on the football pitch; the teachers like me because I'm just a great gal and have a great sense of humour; and the Wanninayaka family like me because I always have a smile on my face and a spring in my step and I've almost become one of them in these last 3 months. Archie has always been particulary sweet on me. She always cooks my favourite foods. She once told me I was better than Ramanee....that's when I was cleaning my room! Anyway last night as Wanni and I were sat under the mango tree, watching the stars and solving all the problems at Horizon, Archie came and sat with us. It's the first time I have ever seen her come and sit with her children and talk. It suddenly occurred to me that perhaps she was playing chaperone. Archie has some funny ideas and maybe she thought it was inappropriate forWanni and I to be seen together like that alone. Anyways, I eventually excused myself but not before Wanni made a comment about his mother and said he would tell me later. Then I really thought she must have been there for chaperoning purposes but didn't think anything more of it. So tonight I asked Wanni what it was all about. Now everybody hold on to your hats, Archie sees me as a potential daughter in law. Wanni is really embarassed about it. Apparently Archie had turned to Wanni a couple of days ago and asked what we did in Colombo. Wanni explained that we had gone to sort my visa extension out. She then asked him if he was going to "retain me". Now I'm making most of this bit up because Wanni's to embarrased to tell me the truth. I think what she was asking was if Wanni was going to marry me. When I first turned up here, Archie like most of the village disapproved of my smoking and slovenly dress. But, and Wanni can't explain it, something has happened in the last couple of weeks to make her suddenly think I'm the bees knees. Maybe it's because I came to the hospital everyday with Wanni. I can't seem to do a thing wrong in her eyes right now. I'm extremely flattered that she thinks me a suitable daughter in law. Its not often that I get the approval of the mother before the son. She even knows that I am divorced and that doesn't seem to matter. According to Wanni, Aruna has also said something to the same affect. Wanni had been telling Aruna how since I'd been here I'd got many things moving along like the web sites and the admin side of things. Aruna's response was "Why don't you get her to stay?" meaning why don't you marry her. The whole family, asides Wanni, is planning on making me an in-law. Now I know Wanni is embarrased. But it does make me wonder. If I was single, would he have asked? Every girl likes her ego stroked now and again. He keeps laughing and looking embarassed like it's the worst thing in the world that I've found out. But really, am I such a bad option? Craigy, you'd better get your skates on honey!! (Just kidding - no pressure)
So how's that for a fabulous end to my time here. I hope there are no more surprises up anyones sleeve. I might wake in the morning to find a poruwa set up and a wedding all set to take place. It's made me smile. It's nice to know that someone somewhere thinks I may be worth marrying!
It's Wannis birthday today. He had strictly expressed that we should not celebrate his birthday and no cards or gifts. Trouble was he'd said that after I'd bought the card and present. So I had to wait till the end of the day when the girls had all gone home to give it to him. I'd seen him pawing over a Mach 3 razor in town before but sensed that he couldn't afford it. Boys, don't wince at this, but the man is still using BIC disposable razors! So I purchased him a razor and some blades. Understandabley many would think this is a very personal gift and yeah, maybe you are right. But when you know someone really needs something, you'd buy it for them. And you should have seen the joy on his face when he opened his gift. I hadn't really wished him Happy Birthday all day...just because he'd asked no one to mention his bday. But i noticed that all the girls had sent him e-cards. I wasn't sure if he'd accept the gift especially after all the hoo har he had made over the girls buying him clothes. But he was surprised I'd bought him anything. And accepted the gift graciously and was over the moon when he opened it. Like i'd thought, he'd never thought to buy one because it was too expensive. Total cost of gift 6.50 pounds. Think I made his day a little more special with my gift. And as he pointed out, it was a successful birthday because on Ramanee's birthday, she got kicked out of the house...he atleast got to stay. I've told him not to tell his mother what I had bought him for his birthday otherwise, I think she'd have us married off tomorrow.
What a day huh! I'm gonna go to bed with a smile and a spring in my step!
mx
The last two days have been a blur of tiredness, heat and a desperate struggle to get things sorted here before I leave. I have an enormous guilty feeling inside that I haven't done enough, that I should have done more and that I've made more of a mess of things than I have achieved. It's like revising for exams. You leave everything to the last minute and hope for the best. That's what I've gotta do. I've realised that once I go, there is no one to carry on the English content I brought to Horizon. It amazes me everyday when girls who I once dissed quite badly in this journal can now suddenly talk to me, ask me questions and above all crack a joke in English! Immersion in English is probably the best thing I have bought here. And now I'm taking it away. I'm trying to remain focussed. I'm finishing off award applications, trying to find volunteers, still trying to find funding....and I've only got 2 weeks to pull it all off.
It's been getting so hot here I have to take an afternoon siesta. It's ridiculous the heat. But the siesta is quite refreshing.
And now I have the story of all stories. Wanni doesn't want me to write this but it's just too good for you not to know. Everyone knows I am leaving soon and everyone is understandabley upset. It seems that I turned everyones lives upside down...for the better I think. The kids like me for my English and my energy on the football pitch; the teachers like me because I'm just a great gal and have a great sense of humour; and the Wanninayaka family like me because I always have a smile on my face and a spring in my step and I've almost become one of them in these last 3 months. Archie has always been particulary sweet on me. She always cooks my favourite foods. She once told me I was better than Ramanee....that's when I was cleaning my room! Anyway last night as Wanni and I were sat under the mango tree, watching the stars and solving all the problems at Horizon, Archie came and sat with us. It's the first time I have ever seen her come and sit with her children and talk. It suddenly occurred to me that perhaps she was playing chaperone. Archie has some funny ideas and maybe she thought it was inappropriate forWanni and I to be seen together like that alone. Anyways, I eventually excused myself but not before Wanni made a comment about his mother and said he would tell me later. Then I really thought she must have been there for chaperoning purposes but didn't think anything more of it. So tonight I asked Wanni what it was all about. Now everybody hold on to your hats, Archie sees me as a potential daughter in law. Wanni is really embarassed about it. Apparently Archie had turned to Wanni a couple of days ago and asked what we did in Colombo. Wanni explained that we had gone to sort my visa extension out. She then asked him if he was going to "retain me". Now I'm making most of this bit up because Wanni's to embarrased to tell me the truth. I think what she was asking was if Wanni was going to marry me. When I first turned up here, Archie like most of the village disapproved of my smoking and slovenly dress. But, and Wanni can't explain it, something has happened in the last couple of weeks to make her suddenly think I'm the bees knees. Maybe it's because I came to the hospital everyday with Wanni. I can't seem to do a thing wrong in her eyes right now. I'm extremely flattered that she thinks me a suitable daughter in law. Its not often that I get the approval of the mother before the son. She even knows that I am divorced and that doesn't seem to matter. According to Wanni, Aruna has also said something to the same affect. Wanni had been telling Aruna how since I'd been here I'd got many things moving along like the web sites and the admin side of things. Aruna's response was "Why don't you get her to stay?" meaning why don't you marry her. The whole family, asides Wanni, is planning on making me an in-law. Now I know Wanni is embarrased. But it does make me wonder. If I was single, would he have asked? Every girl likes her ego stroked now and again. He keeps laughing and looking embarassed like it's the worst thing in the world that I've found out. But really, am I such a bad option? Craigy, you'd better get your skates on honey!! (Just kidding - no pressure)
So how's that for a fabulous end to my time here. I hope there are no more surprises up anyones sleeve. I might wake in the morning to find a poruwa set up and a wedding all set to take place. It's made me smile. It's nice to know that someone somewhere thinks I may be worth marrying!
It's Wannis birthday today. He had strictly expressed that we should not celebrate his birthday and no cards or gifts. Trouble was he'd said that after I'd bought the card and present. So I had to wait till the end of the day when the girls had all gone home to give it to him. I'd seen him pawing over a Mach 3 razor in town before but sensed that he couldn't afford it. Boys, don't wince at this, but the man is still using BIC disposable razors! So I purchased him a razor and some blades. Understandabley many would think this is a very personal gift and yeah, maybe you are right. But when you know someone really needs something, you'd buy it for them. And you should have seen the joy on his face when he opened his gift. I hadn't really wished him Happy Birthday all day...just because he'd asked no one to mention his bday. But i noticed that all the girls had sent him e-cards. I wasn't sure if he'd accept the gift especially after all the hoo har he had made over the girls buying him clothes. But he was surprised I'd bought him anything. And accepted the gift graciously and was over the moon when he opened it. Like i'd thought, he'd never thought to buy one because it was too expensive. Total cost of gift 6.50 pounds. Think I made his day a little more special with my gift. And as he pointed out, it was a successful birthday because on Ramanee's birthday, she got kicked out of the house...he atleast got to stay. I've told him not to tell his mother what I had bought him for his birthday otherwise, I think she'd have us married off tomorrow.
What a day huh! I'm gonna go to bed with a smile and a spring in my step!
mx