The Gap
I saw my uncle today for the first time in 10 years. The last I saw him was when I was in his wedding in 2001. I was really able to reflect upon the lives that we lead as opposed to the lives that some are living. The gap between rich and poor. I spoke with my uncle and aunt about my experiences in Sri Lanka so far and it was the first time I had truly verbalized out loud everything I have gone through until this point and everything before now that prepared me for the encounters I have made on this trip. An unraveling of who I am as a person altogether. In rich and poor countries alike the rich continue to get richer by keeping the poor, poor.
In the past couple of days I was able to see Sri Lanka's developments from highways, to urbanization of towns, road expansions, etc. These various developments as I learned tonight by a high official in the Sri Lankan army, were all made because lives were sacrificed. On this 4-day trip my host family and I visited Kalpitiya, Trincomalee and Harbarna before returning to Colombo. The road that we took to Trincomalee took the lives of about one thousand people, because that area used to be one of the more popular shooting grounds and checkpoints. I suppose in a sense it was considered compromised territory.
This army official and I shall we say don't share the same mindsets. He spent about an hour lecturing me about the difference between Western ethics and Sri Lankan ethics and how the ethics and values in Sri Lanka are much better. He gave every stereotype in the book provided by mass media and his own ignorance to present it as fact. I called him out on everything and explained the differences and similarities in both cultures as well as what is just considered human nature. He's telling me that I'm too young to understand and that I don't know anything. As he continues to stereotype me for the simple fact that I am a U.S. citizen and a female, I decided to keep my mouth shut out of respect for my host family and me losing my temper and drifted into a different world of thought.
Here I was in the backyard sitting at a table with the army official, his wife and my host parents. Each of them part of the minority of very privileged and wealthy Sri Lankans. Blind and immune to the poverty, sickness and obstacles others face on a day to day basis in their struggle to survive. I'm not specifically speaking about them, but overwhelmingly this group exists and they choose to ignore the struggles of their own countrymen. The army official is telling me the importance of a life, while even he doesn't take the grand gesture of just experiencing the life of the majority. His life is lived through special treatment and comfort.
I've been able to see all different levels of society through my various work experiences in Sri Lanka. Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity provides a home to men and women that are mostly elderly, sick, blind, death, suffer mental illness and sometimes it's just a place for people with no other place to go. These people have the most appreciation for the good things in life and the simple gratitude they show me for the work I do for them is the most fulfilling part of my day. I was talking with my uncle and aunt about how some people it's difficult for them to work with people who are in bad circumstances or to say quite clearly not a textbook definition of beautiful. The women I encounter while I work at Shanthi Nivasa (Mother Teresa's) are the most beautiful and genuine people I have had the privilege to meet and it is well worthwhile every moment that I spend with them.
The first day I went there are also girls my own age ranging from 15 to 25 that help at Shanthi Nivasa, little did I know that they actually live here as well. Orphaned and now finishing their education and assisting the nuns with daily chores. Everything is done with the sole idea of all for one and one for all, the only difference is instead of three musketeers there are about thirty. The work is separated into different areas- kitchen, dormitory, bathing, laundry, trash disposal, hanging clothes to dry, preparing meals and more. There is a lot of work that goes in but everything is done within 2 hours because there are enough hands to get the work done in an efficient manner.
Then the middle level of work is my teaching at Aquinas. Today was the last day and farewell to the Final students before they prepare for their exams. I attended their ceremony in the morning and afterwards each final class had decorated their classrooms and brought food to have separate class parties. These students are Sinhalese and Tamil, some are from Japan, Burma, Nepal; they represent Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists especially the monks. There is no divide, this is the generation that does not see cultural and religious differences as an inhibiting factor to friendship. They come from all over Sri Lanka, have studied in different schools, come from different social classes and castes and the diversity they represent is truly Sri Lanka in a tangible form.
My final level of work is my work at Christina Jewellery and with Wijaya Group in general, working with the marketing strategies, promotion plans, press conferences and benefits for their Holiday Resort, Gems and Jewellery store. This is the work I am most accustomed to, designing templates, writing press releases, making proposals, presentations and sitting in on 3-4 hour meetings.
I'm finally seeing different lights in my time spent in Sri Lanka, none more valuable than another but cumulatively provide a shared enlightenment and understanding of the lives that are led and the direction of this country overall.
In the past couple of days I was able to see Sri Lanka's developments from highways, to urbanization of towns, road expansions, etc. These various developments as I learned tonight by a high official in the Sri Lankan army, were all made because lives were sacrificed. On this 4-day trip my host family and I visited Kalpitiya, Trincomalee and Harbarna before returning to Colombo. The road that we took to Trincomalee took the lives of about one thousand people, because that area used to be one of the more popular shooting grounds and checkpoints. I suppose in a sense it was considered compromised territory.
This army official and I shall we say don't share the same mindsets. He spent about an hour lecturing me about the difference between Western ethics and Sri Lankan ethics and how the ethics and values in Sri Lanka are much better. He gave every stereotype in the book provided by mass media and his own ignorance to present it as fact. I called him out on everything and explained the differences and similarities in both cultures as well as what is just considered human nature. He's telling me that I'm too young to understand and that I don't know anything. As he continues to stereotype me for the simple fact that I am a U.S. citizen and a female, I decided to keep my mouth shut out of respect for my host family and me losing my temper and drifted into a different world of thought.
Here I was in the backyard sitting at a table with the army official, his wife and my host parents. Each of them part of the minority of very privileged and wealthy Sri Lankans. Blind and immune to the poverty, sickness and obstacles others face on a day to day basis in their struggle to survive. I'm not specifically speaking about them, but overwhelmingly this group exists and they choose to ignore the struggles of their own countrymen. The army official is telling me the importance of a life, while even he doesn't take the grand gesture of just experiencing the life of the majority. His life is lived through special treatment and comfort.
I've been able to see all different levels of society through my various work experiences in Sri Lanka. Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity provides a home to men and women that are mostly elderly, sick, blind, death, suffer mental illness and sometimes it's just a place for people with no other place to go. These people have the most appreciation for the good things in life and the simple gratitude they show me for the work I do for them is the most fulfilling part of my day. I was talking with my uncle and aunt about how some people it's difficult for them to work with people who are in bad circumstances or to say quite clearly not a textbook definition of beautiful. The women I encounter while I work at Shanthi Nivasa (Mother Teresa's) are the most beautiful and genuine people I have had the privilege to meet and it is well worthwhile every moment that I spend with them.
The first day I went there are also girls my own age ranging from 15 to 25 that help at Shanthi Nivasa, little did I know that they actually live here as well. Orphaned and now finishing their education and assisting the nuns with daily chores. Everything is done with the sole idea of all for one and one for all, the only difference is instead of three musketeers there are about thirty. The work is separated into different areas- kitchen, dormitory, bathing, laundry, trash disposal, hanging clothes to dry, preparing meals and more. There is a lot of work that goes in but everything is done within 2 hours because there are enough hands to get the work done in an efficient manner.
Then the middle level of work is my teaching at Aquinas. Today was the last day and farewell to the Final students before they prepare for their exams. I attended their ceremony in the morning and afterwards each final class had decorated their classrooms and brought food to have separate class parties. These students are Sinhalese and Tamil, some are from Japan, Burma, Nepal; they represent Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists especially the monks. There is no divide, this is the generation that does not see cultural and religious differences as an inhibiting factor to friendship. They come from all over Sri Lanka, have studied in different schools, come from different social classes and castes and the diversity they represent is truly Sri Lanka in a tangible form.
My final level of work is my work at Christina Jewellery and with Wijaya Group in general, working with the marketing strategies, promotion plans, press conferences and benefits for their Holiday Resort, Gems and Jewellery store. This is the work I am most accustomed to, designing templates, writing press releases, making proposals, presentations and sitting in on 3-4 hour meetings.
I'm finally seeing different lights in my time spent in Sri Lanka, none more valuable than another but cumulatively provide a shared enlightenment and understanding of the lives that are led and the direction of this country overall.
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