HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDY! Hope you have a great one!
The wedding was so fantastic- I can’t believe how beautiful the Galle Face hall was! Fiona & Hugh: you guys are so lucky to have stayed there!!! I was also a little jealous of the tourists who were wearing bikinis & sipping cocktails by the pools but I could also see from the Sri Lankan way- what a strange way to spend your time! I was proud to be Sri Lankan- giggling with the ladies in the bathroom about the discomfort of the sari, and joining in the wedding ceremony 100%- I
mean, how funny is it that I sat with the wedding party? Because I am Pearl’s duwa (daughter), and the groom is her son-in-laws brother, I am also a relative. Just check out this picture where I am right in with the bride and groom! I was in the professional ones, too!
The ceremony was really interesting with the Kandyan dancers and chanting and the fire lighting and all, and unlike our usual ceremonies it didn’t drag on for more than about ½ an hour. But after this was the usual photo time and the bride and groom have to go to each table to be congratulated so lunch wasn’t for a couple of hours. When it finally came I was soooooo badiginny (hungry) and there was so much delicious food. I also got re-acquainted with my old friend the fork. And I was the only one using it. Some held on to their culture, and the rice with their hand, and others used a combination of two spoons.
Wearing the sari was nice because the hotel was air-conditioned, but as soon as I got outside I felt like I was going to suffocate from either the heat or explode at the stomach - the sari has a way of digging in to your organs after a good meal and especially the thick wedding sari is not exactly made with comfort in mind. To relieve my pain, I very discreetly made a change in the backseat- it was not so easy in a pin-filled sari but I thought I was quite masterful. When we stopped soon after Pearl was about to ask if I wanted to get out to change- but when she turned around she saw that I already was.
“You’re crazy!” she said and I think she was a little mad. But later, she began laughing “you are like Mr.Bean, brushing his teeth and changing in his car. Like Mr. Bean!” I told her how my mom called me Ellie May Clampett and made my best attempt to explain.
Anyways, on my way home I thought about how insanely well I am being treated. I got the trip to Colombo and participation at a beautiful wedding without anyone accepting a cent. I am going on Weds to the homecoming though (party after the wedding) so I will have to bring something small. I was also chatting with Rohan and explaining to him that the experience was unlike any I could have ever imagined. I hope anyone who is considering volunteering in SL understands how safe they will feel once they are here and how glad they will be that they came. Every volunteer who has come to SL so far has extended their stay! Do it, do it!
The wedding was so fantastic- I can’t believe how beautiful the Galle Face hall was! Fiona & Hugh: you guys are so lucky to have stayed there!!! I was also a little jealous of the tourists who were wearing bikinis & sipping cocktails by the pools but I could also see from the Sri Lankan way- what a strange way to spend your time! I was proud to be Sri Lankan- giggling with the ladies in the bathroom about the discomfort of the sari, and joining in the wedding ceremony 100%- I
mean, how funny is it that I sat with the wedding party? Because I am Pearl’s duwa (daughter), and the groom is her son-in-laws brother, I am also a relative. Just check out this picture where I am right in with the bride and groom! I was in the professional ones, too!The ceremony was really interesting with the Kandyan dancers and chanting and the fire lighting and all, and unlike our usual ceremonies it didn’t drag on for more than about ½ an hour. But after this was the usual photo time and the bride and groom have to go to each table to be congratulated so lunch wasn’t for a couple of hours. When it finally came I was soooooo badiginny (hungry) and there was so much delicious food. I also got re-acquainted with my old friend the fork. And I was the only one using it. Some held on to their culture, and the rice with their hand, and others used a combination of two spoons.
Wearing the sari was nice because the hotel was air-conditioned, but as soon as I got outside I felt like I was going to suffocate from either the heat or explode at the stomach - the sari has a way of digging in to your organs after a good meal and especially the thick wedding sari is not exactly made with comfort in mind. To relieve my pain, I very discreetly made a change in the backseat- it was not so easy in a pin-filled sari but I thought I was quite masterful. When we stopped soon after Pearl was about to ask if I wanted to get out to change- but when she turned around she saw that I already was.“You’re crazy!” she said and I think she was a little mad. But later, she began laughing “you are like Mr.Bean, brushing his teeth and changing in his car. Like Mr. Bean!” I told her how my mom called me Ellie May Clampett and made my best attempt to explain.
Anyways, on my way home I thought about how insanely well I am being treated. I got the trip to Colombo and participation at a beautiful wedding without anyone accepting a cent. I am going on Weds to the homecoming though (party after the wedding) so I will have to bring something small. I was also chatting with Rohan and explaining to him that the experience was unlike any I could have ever imagined. I hope anyone who is considering volunteering in SL understands how safe they will feel once they are here and how glad they will be that they came. Every volunteer who has come to SL so far has extended their stay! Do it, do it!
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