by the Dali Lama (someone who the Sri Lankans don’t seem too impressed by, I think he has opened up their more traditional style of Buddhism). It is an auspicious time now so I cannot eat again for 6 hours, drink even water in the house, or do any work. The big event this evening will be boiling milk over a fire on the kitchen floor.There are no broken glass or champagne covered ceilings at this New Years, folks!
Anyway, over the four days we have many visitors and have also make visits to the houses of close friends. There you exchange gifts (like Christmas) & eat 'sweets and tings.' I have already accumulated a bit of a belly so hopefully after these four days I won't be 10 pounds heavier!!!I also found a guitar so I have been shaking up the old music circle with a little Jewel and a little Van.
Anyway, my biggest epiphany of the trip came when I gave them their gifts. After all the meals they had given me
and all the gifts along the way- not to mention the New Years dress Pearl had made for me and the jewellery from Aiyaa- still when I gave them a piece of clothing each they said “oh, you have spent too much!”But the best part was when they opened the poem and note I wrote for them with a laminated with a photo of us. “Yup. Together before the birt,” Pearl said “that’s why I’m like dis” pointing to the tears.
That’s when I realized I am Buddhist because I also believe that I’ve been here before.
3 comments:
Sounds like you have been very productive lately. Happy New Year, well a couple of days late. Your hair looks like it has grown a lot since you left!
It looks like you were trying to light the milk on fire instead of boiling it! haha. They must have been impressed with your giant flame!
Have you heard anything about your extension?
Ya, it has grown a lot lately! My nails seem to grow really long and fast here, too. Maybe it's all the coconut milk?
Well, about the extension, they said it was ok for May 21st and I was like woot woot.
But then today someone from Cdn Uniterra emailed and said I had to do it from the here since it is a paper ticket (why do these even exist anymore?) so it sounds like she is saying I would have to go to the airport in Colombo (4 hrs away - just not practical).
We'll see what happens.
PS Now that I can hook up my laptop to the internet I can skype it so I will call you sometime in your night. Do you have skype? because then it's completely free.
I don't have skype, but I will download it when I get home (I am at work right now). You wouldn't believe the snow yesterday. I couldn't get out of my house so I had to call in sick for work. It was unreal. Now today its all sunny and you'd never know there was snow yesterday!
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