still…. Living in Lanka

and I love it !!

Some time has passed since my first post on the blog. Then I rediscovered it, and a few friends came around….. read those lines, and gave me encouragement. Thanks ppl. What would a blog be without friends ?

I work in an environment where interactions with people from different parts of the world is a frequent event. Most of these interactions are business related, but invariably touchs upon living in lanka. How is the place ? Is it safe ? Do they have regular curfews ? Do you get to go out ? What about your kids…. do they have proper schools ?

It sometimes goes beyond funny…. once someone asked, Do they have cars there ? No, I said….. we use elephants !!

One of the words that keeps coming back to mind, when I think about the life here, is “resilience”. Yes, there are bombs that go off every now and then. Yes, there is a threat perception. Yes, I do think at times…. what if …… ???

Each individual living here must have similar thoughts run through. Everybody must carry that little feeling of…… what if ?? Then, I look around me…… smiling faces. I have never seen a more smiling nation…… and I have been to a few !! People look at you and smile. They smile when they are happy, they smile when they are stressed, they smile when they are complaining….. they smile when they give up, “what to do.. no “

Tsunami struck Lanka’s shores on a saturday morning, in 2004. I still remember that day vividly. I was glued to BBC throughout the day, sad and worried. Couldn’t get myself to go to the boxing day dinner, just kept on the phone trying to reach people I knew to check on them. Following monday morning, everyone who was expected in the office……. turned up, ready to work. This was a national calamity, and everyone I spoke with had gone to lengths to support those affected…. sometimes physically involving themselves in relief activities. I had my team turn up sharp on time, after having spent previous 48 hours at a UN supply depot packing and dispatching relief supplies. They not just turned up, but came ready to work…. I was shocked, in a very positive way.

Two words got etched in my mind, when it comes to life in lanka…. smile, resilience.

I just love it !!

~ by virtualaggy on May 9, 2008.