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Sinhala New Year – Saturday 14th April
There has been quite a build up to New Year – the Sri Lankans have been shopping for new clothes as presents for their families like crazy. Everything about New Year here is to do with family and tradition – values which are so lost in my own country back home. A lot of preparation goes into the day, the Sri Lankans travel all over the country to get back to their families for the celebration. Then, on the actual day – everything that they do is done at a certain auspicious time as decreed by astrononmers and printed in the newspapers and on TV so that everyone in the country follows the same timetable. Well, Saman asked me to go to his house as the guest of honour for their New Year lunch. I had to get there just before the auspicious time of 2.51pm. He is such a sweet, kind and good man – he just makes me feel like a better person just by being near him. I’m sure if he knew half of what I get up to when I’m not at work, he would think I was a dreadful person. His idea of a good weekend is spending it teaching children extra maths – to help them. Not sure he would’ve quite got the 7s weekend in Hong Kong! Anyway, he met me at Sambohdi Junction and I followed him to his house. He lives with his parents and sister in a very Sri Lankan house – teddies on the sofa still in their plastic wrapping. Flying red ducks on the wall, a cabinet filled with plastic ornaments and teddies, huge photos of Saman graduating and his sister getting married, loads of plastic chairs in no particular arrangement in the room to sit on, the TV on full volume with a very fuzzy picture, no doors to their rooms, just curtains and high up on the wall, a plastic Buddah with an orange flickering light in front of it. As we approached 2.51pm, Saman’s father lit the special oil lamp and prepared 5 handfuls of milk rice which he gave to each of us, wishing us a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Then the count down on the TV told us when we could eat the milk rice and I was then ushered into their dining room. On the table was quite a spread – delicious rice and curry, which I had to eat completely by myself!!! The family stood around whilst I served myself, watching in silence and then they went next door whilst I ate! How completely different is that??!!! It was a delicious lunch, I’m definitely getting more into spicy food. Then, I went back next door and chatted to Saman for a while – I lasted as long as I could, but the conversation was running out and I had no idea how long I was meant to stay there. So, after almost 2 hours, I left. It was a very sweet experience, very different to how we live our lives – but I love the whole family aspect of it.
Got home to receive a call from The Monk at Weligama – who rang to wish me Happy New Year!! It is definitely these aspects of my job that are making my stay in Sri Lanka so worthwhile – LOVE IT!!!!
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