Hello! It is with great happiness, excitement and confidence that I begin the next stage of life.
I will be saving money, working, and studying to prepare for the next service trip. It looks like I will be leading a group trip to Sri Lanka summer 2010. Stay tuned for more information, but most importantly, know its coming and email me if you are interested!
I will be living in Carpenteria, California, which is about 5 minutes away from Santa Barbara. Why am I living in Carpenteria? The organization that provides the support to Sri Lanka is based nearby, and it allows me to be an active member of the board of directors. Something that is hugely important to me is the community and people I met while I went to Westmont College. Also, having worked there after I graduated, I already have the contacts and support necessary to work there.
Where will I be working?
Beginning in August 2009 I will return to Cesar Chavez Charter School, where I will be a teacher's assistant in a first grade classroom. Cesar Chavez is a bilingual education public charter school, with loads of dedicated staff. I am eager to return to work there.
I have already applied to work another job in the afternoon, so this should allow for a full schedule and me to meet my goals.
In the mean time, I am applying for summer session at UCSB in order to get some econ classes to prepare for graduate school.
I hope you all keep in touch, and maybe some of you will join me for a one month service trip to Sri Lanka in summer 2010.
Thank you for all your love and support.
Jeremy
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Homecoming
Hello! I am in Santa Barabara ! It is good to be home !
I came into Los Angeles and after seeing a good friend I came back to Santa Barbara via the Airbus.
While I am jet lagged, it is actually not so bad because I have been sleeping at night, so now its just finding energy. I would love to go exercising with someone. Anyone up for a jog or bike ride?
I hope you all are well.
Let's hang out, but pLEASE don't ask me to tell you all about it. I want to hear about your year, hang out with you and relearn being friends as we all have new experiences and changes. I want to share slowly, and hope to hear about what you have been up to as well.
Jeremy
I came into Los Angeles and after seeing a good friend I came back to Santa Barbara via the Airbus.
While I am jet lagged, it is actually not so bad because I have been sleeping at night, so now its just finding energy. I would love to go exercising with someone. Anyone up for a jog or bike ride?
I hope you all are well.
Let's hang out, but pLEASE don't ask me to tell you all about it. I want to hear about your year, hang out with you and relearn being friends as we all have new experiences and changes. I want to share slowly, and hope to hear about what you have been up to as well.
Jeremy
Friday, March 13, 2009
Poverty Sucks
After living in a developing country, I can truly say poverty sucks.
During one's first experience with poverty (mine was Mexico house building trips) poverty may be romanticized. "They are so poor, but they are so happy," Is a characteristic line of this sentiment. Bull.
Maybe the people have greater perserverance, maybe they are more grateful, but exisiting in insecurity is poor.
Imagine:
Having to stand in a bus to ride to work every day, because 1. There are not enough buses and 2. Private vehicles are beyond your reach.
Having to carry with you a hankie, which you cover your face with as you walk by the raw sewage passing right by the povement.
An adult working for 3-4 dollars a day, while the cost of food for that day is approximately 2 dollars per person. How to support the children? How to prepare them for school?
Insecurity provides these questions.
What to do if you get hurt and cannot afford decent care?
During one's first experience with poverty (mine was Mexico house building trips) poverty may be romanticized. "They are so poor, but they are so happy," Is a characteristic line of this sentiment. Bull.
Maybe the people have greater perserverance, maybe they are more grateful, but exisiting in insecurity is poor.
Imagine:
Having to stand in a bus to ride to work every day, because 1. There are not enough buses and 2. Private vehicles are beyond your reach.
Having to carry with you a hankie, which you cover your face with as you walk by the raw sewage passing right by the povement.
An adult working for 3-4 dollars a day, while the cost of food for that day is approximately 2 dollars per person. How to support the children? How to prepare them for school?
Insecurity provides these questions.
What to do if you get hurt and cannot afford decent care?
Finding the "I" in "Me"
This morning as I rode with the Bishop's staff to the airport, "I " was thinking what "I" was most excited about. How did I feel?
After seven months in a different culture, expressing myself through different mechanisms and finding myself in different situations that I have been used to, it was difficult to answer what seems like such an easy question, "How do I feel?"
Another way of looking at it is, I have had seven months of adding a different dimension to my life, character and self, and so how am I?
I am excited to see my friends, my support group, and my family.
That is what I am most excited about.
After seven months in a different culture, expressing myself through different mechanisms and finding myself in different situations that I have been used to, it was difficult to answer what seems like such an easy question, "How do I feel?"
Another way of looking at it is, I have had seven months of adding a different dimension to my life, character and self, and so how am I?
I am excited to see my friends, my support group, and my family.
That is what I am most excited about.
I'm Coming Home !!!
Greetings from Taipei, Taiwan !
I am on the return trip !
The term in Kurunegala which I volunteered for, "6-7 months" has finished, with me accomplishing seven months and 5 days.
I arrived at Katunayake Airport at about 3 AM, after going through several police and military check points.
After a flight to Malaysia I was reintroduced to the West, as Coffee Bean was prominently featured in the Kuala Lumpur Airport (Ryan Reiner, I miss you buddy !).
Things I am excited about:
1. Seeing my friends.
2. Attending my family and friend's big event, namely, my sister's wedding and related excitement.
I am arriving at LAX at 7:30 TONIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT!!!
I am excited. I will be picked up by a good friend and catch up with some intentional conversation and then be back on my way to Santa Barbara.
I am excited about spending time with the people I care very deeply about.
I am on the return trip !
The term in Kurunegala which I volunteered for, "6-7 months" has finished, with me accomplishing seven months and 5 days.
I arrived at Katunayake Airport at about 3 AM, after going through several police and military check points.
After a flight to Malaysia I was reintroduced to the West, as Coffee Bean was prominently featured in the Kuala Lumpur Airport (Ryan Reiner, I miss you buddy !).
Things I am excited about:
1. Seeing my friends.
2. Attending my family and friend's big event, namely, my sister's wedding and related excitement.
I am arriving at LAX at 7:30 TONIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT!!!
I am excited. I will be picked up by a good friend and catch up with some intentional conversation and then be back on my way to Santa Barbara.
I am excited about spending time with the people I care very deeply about.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Just a Walk Around the Block
Some not so unusual events of the last two weeks.
I was sitting listening to the Bishop and a 3 1/2 foot long snake came through the window into the office. It went behind a bookshelf, and we spent the next half hour trying to coax it out with a cloth dipped in kersone. Finally we gave up and went back to work.
As I was walking to work the other day I walked by a man ride a motorcycle, which was going slow and evidently having trouble. I figured he might be needing assistance to push it to the service pump nearby, so I looked back to see him stick his nose into the gas tank to see if there was any left. He got back on it, and I saw him continue slowly along the road.
We pumped gas the other day. A full tank in a Beamer that the secretary will have to sell to fund his son's wedding and daughter's coming child. With gas at $1.10 a liter, he paid 7,453 rupees to fill the tank. That is easily a week's work.
I went to a ream of paper for the copy machine. 500 sheets for $5. The owner was not in the book shop at first, but when he saw me inspecting the open door and the shop with the lights off, he came from where he was talking to friends nearby, turned the lights on and welcomed me, in English. When I told him what I wanted, he said alright, one moment, told me the price, left for another shop and came back with the ream.
I tried to pay him with a twenty, which I knew was too much but it was all I had. He asked if I had anything smaller, the cash register was not working recently he said. Having already realized the difficulty, I acknowledged my mistake, "It's early now isn't it. No problem." I went to the service station across the street and got change from one of the pump attendants, came back and completed the purchase.
Ream purchased.
I walked away, and then came back, realizing I had forgotten the receipt and needed it for reimbursement. I asked for the receipt, and made it clear I wasn't in need of anything great. I was pleased to have the written receipt, which was made from the receipt book.
I was sitting listening to the Bishop and a 3 1/2 foot long snake came through the window into the office. It went behind a bookshelf, and we spent the next half hour trying to coax it out with a cloth dipped in kersone. Finally we gave up and went back to work.
As I was walking to work the other day I walked by a man ride a motorcycle, which was going slow and evidently having trouble. I figured he might be needing assistance to push it to the service pump nearby, so I looked back to see him stick his nose into the gas tank to see if there was any left. He got back on it, and I saw him continue slowly along the road.
We pumped gas the other day. A full tank in a Beamer that the secretary will have to sell to fund his son's wedding and daughter's coming child. With gas at $1.10 a liter, he paid 7,453 rupees to fill the tank. That is easily a week's work.
I went to a ream of paper for the copy machine. 500 sheets for $5. The owner was not in the book shop at first, but when he saw me inspecting the open door and the shop with the lights off, he came from where he was talking to friends nearby, turned the lights on and welcomed me, in English. When I told him what I wanted, he said alright, one moment, told me the price, left for another shop and came back with the ream.
I tried to pay him with a twenty, which I knew was too much but it was all I had. He asked if I had anything smaller, the cash register was not working recently he said. Having already realized the difficulty, I acknowledged my mistake, "It's early now isn't it. No problem." I went to the service station across the street and got change from one of the pump attendants, came back and completed the purchase.
Ream purchased.
I walked away, and then came back, realizing I had forgotten the receipt and needed it for reimbursement. I asked for the receipt, and made it clear I wasn't in need of anything great. I was pleased to have the written receipt, which was made from the receipt book.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Today... I got a haircut
Today I got a haircut. As I came to work I felt a little uneasy. The malaria prevention medication advises to be taken on an empty stomach, with lots of water. However, even with a lot of water, the lack of food makes it uneasy. So I came to work, and then I got ready for breakfast. I skipped it this morning, and once I checked in [and checked the day's work] I went to go for a snack. After a doughnut and a glass of orange juice from Perera and Sons I stopped for a haircut.
Beautiful haircut.
As I approached the shop the cashier, sitting next door, motioned to his friend to come give me a haircut. I had come early and there was no wait. I sat down, and a starched white linen was wrapped around my shoulders, snug carefully with my neck. I motioned how I would like the haircut, 3 on the sides, top like this, and he knew, he had cut my hair before.
He took out about eight brushes looking for the right one.
He found it, and took out the shaver. Smoothly, carefully he cuts the hair, carefully using scissors on the top. Always he is examining it from different angles, making sure not a single lock, nay hair is out of place.
After about 20 minutes of careful styling, I am beaming all the time. It is good to know the work is appreciated, and I try to show it. He has cut my hair before, and takes a new razor blade out of the paper wrapper and places it in the holder to cut the specks of hair beneath and up to the sideburns, and around the ears. Not a speck is missed.
Finally, baby powder is placed on a towel and used to take off the cut hair. The white cloth is taken off, and I stand. I am somewhat embarrassed as there is some hair clinging to my trousers. The barber catches sight of it, and moves his towel from swishing the loose hair off the back of my shirt to that on my trousers. I try to wipe it off hurriedly, so much to do seems embarrassing.
I sit in the empty plastic chair as a friend takes the next customer into a barber chair that is waiting.
I wait for the price from the cashier, a well dressed fellow with a tie, white short sleeve shirt with collar, and a build that reminds me of my grandpa, who was a vice president of a company.
The barber who just cut my hair tells him the price, and it is repeated to me. 70 rupees. So I paid the equivelant of 67 US cents for the best haircut of my life.
I tipped him 20 rupees more.
Beautiful haircut.
As I approached the shop the cashier, sitting next door, motioned to his friend to come give me a haircut. I had come early and there was no wait. I sat down, and a starched white linen was wrapped around my shoulders, snug carefully with my neck. I motioned how I would like the haircut, 3 on the sides, top like this, and he knew, he had cut my hair before.
He took out about eight brushes looking for the right one.
He found it, and took out the shaver. Smoothly, carefully he cuts the hair, carefully using scissors on the top. Always he is examining it from different angles, making sure not a single lock, nay hair is out of place.
After about 20 minutes of careful styling, I am beaming all the time. It is good to know the work is appreciated, and I try to show it. He has cut my hair before, and takes a new razor blade out of the paper wrapper and places it in the holder to cut the specks of hair beneath and up to the sideburns, and around the ears. Not a speck is missed.
Finally, baby powder is placed on a towel and used to take off the cut hair. The white cloth is taken off, and I stand. I am somewhat embarrassed as there is some hair clinging to my trousers. The barber catches sight of it, and moves his towel from swishing the loose hair off the back of my shirt to that on my trousers. I try to wipe it off hurriedly, so much to do seems embarrassing.
I sit in the empty plastic chair as a friend takes the next customer into a barber chair that is waiting.
I wait for the price from the cashier, a well dressed fellow with a tie, white short sleeve shirt with collar, and a build that reminds me of my grandpa, who was a vice president of a company.
The barber who just cut my hair tells him the price, and it is repeated to me. 70 rupees. So I paid the equivelant of 67 US cents for the best haircut of my life.
I tipped him 20 rupees more.
Today
Today. Today is the moment. A moment in time. Whether we are monochronic or polychronic, it is good to be in the moment. To sit and see, how the world appears at this very moment. An artist uses his canvas to portray reality. An anthropologist takes notes; I just sit and look at the world around me.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Cultural Triangle Citadel of Sinhala Culture
I have begun the visits to the Cultural Triangle !!!
Actually, I have begun the visits to the Historical/Archaeological Sites within the Cultural Triangle.
What is the Cultural Triangle you may ask? Basically, it's the area between Kandy, Anuradhapura, and Polonuwara. These were all historical capitals of the Sinhalese culture, which enjoys 2,000 + years of uninterrupted history. Only the British in the 1800s were able to gain complete control of the island.
What does this mean?!
Good question. Like Mexico, Sri Lanka has a HUGE history and cultural identity preceding modern times. Unlike Mexico, which was dominated by the Spanish in the 1500's, Sinhala Sri Lanka was only ruled over by the British for approximately 100 years. During that time, rule may have shifted, but unlike the Spanish rule over Mexico, the indigenous culture was not entirely destroyed. Sri Lankan Sinhalese, therefore, have a very big and real sense of "now we are getting things back on track". This contrasts with Mexican culture (I am generalizing, there are many cultures in Mexico) which has more of a "lost identity" (ie La Malinche).
Actually, I have begun the visits to the Historical/Archaeological Sites within the Cultural Triangle.
What is the Cultural Triangle you may ask? Basically, it's the area between Kandy, Anuradhapura, and Polonuwara. These were all historical capitals of the Sinhalese culture, which enjoys 2,000 + years of uninterrupted history. Only the British in the 1800s were able to gain complete control of the island.
What does this mean?!
Good question. Like Mexico, Sri Lanka has a HUGE history and cultural identity preceding modern times. Unlike Mexico, which was dominated by the Spanish in the 1500's, Sinhala Sri Lanka was only ruled over by the British for approximately 100 years. During that time, rule may have shifted, but unlike the Spanish rule over Mexico, the indigenous culture was not entirely destroyed. Sri Lankan Sinhalese, therefore, have a very big and real sense of "now we are getting things back on track". This contrasts with Mexican culture (I am generalizing, there are many cultures in Mexico) which has more of a "lost identity" (ie La Malinche).
Friday, February 20, 2009
Monkeys Two
Today I had to chase down a monkey that had stolen a tennis ball. I felt bad because, he was trying to eat it. When I first tried to "shoo" it, it carried the ball with him, so I had to aggressively get at it because I knew once it was on the run it would drop the ball, which it had thus far cradled in the monkey's arm and paw. It felt like robbing a tennis ball from a monkey.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Monkeys
Some things I love about my job:
Monkeys. One of the things I have learned as a part of my unofficial education is monkeys are a pest.
Today I had to chase two monkeys out of Bishop's House.
In the amount of time it took for me to scare them, come and sit at the desk, they had already come back and toppled Bishop's tea cup, which he had set outside.
So, I had to scare them away again.
Monkeys. One of the things I have learned as a part of my unofficial education is monkeys are a pest.
Today I had to chase two monkeys out of Bishop's House.
In the amount of time it took for me to scare them, come and sit at the desk, they had already come back and toppled Bishop's tea cup, which he had set outside.
So, I had to scare them away again.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sigiriya and the Cultural Triangle
Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe of the Diocese of Kurunagala, Sri Lanka, has arranged for and given me the opportunity to visit the top archaelogical sites in Sri Lanka, including Sigiriya. The other sites include Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, Nalanda, Medirigiriya, Ritigala, Dambulla. Sigiriya is (somewhat) equivelant to Mochu Pichu, but is more of one single palace hewn into a monolith. The Diocese of Kurunagala contains the "Cultural Triangle" and so visiting these sites is an important gift from the Bishop. I am very appreciative.
I have scanned the tickets, which I hope will give you an idea. I will try to post the pictures as well, and will let you know in the coming month !
Friday, January 30, 2009
How to Properly Cut a Tambli
Use a machete.
Actually, it is a knife, (piyae).
Take the coconut.
Place the coconut in hand or on sturdy surface.
Address the coconut with knife.
Hit coconut.
Repeat.
Actually, it is a knife, (piyae).
Take the coconut.
Place the coconut in hand or on sturdy surface.
Address the coconut with knife.
Hit coconut.
Repeat.
Afterwards, split coconut. Eat center with spoon.
Cultural Complexity
A comment on domestic servants...
It's a different culture.
That does not without a thought "ok" it, but keeps in mind that culture arises from the actual situation. People have money, people do not have money.
If a master is fair, the assistant is happy and loyal.
If the master is difficult, the assistant seems happy and loyal.
Class is more divided. Categorized is a good word.
All societies have differences, some are aware and recognize it, others do not.
It's a different culture.
That does not without a thought "ok" it, but keeps in mind that culture arises from the actual situation. People have money, people do not have money.
If a master is fair, the assistant is happy and loyal.
If the master is difficult, the assistant seems happy and loyal.
Class is more divided. Categorized is a good word.
All societies have differences, some are aware and recognize it, others do not.
Phone Call from Pussellawa
After returning to town and the vicarage, I found a shop with IDD (international direct dialling)phones I was somehow able to call my parents.
This was after what I understood to be a short visit, and after 3 hours of thinking, and laughing, "There is no way I'll make it back to Kurunegala in time to call them." Because of my passing the Hindu temple and not being "strong" I was 200 rupees short, and that cuts the call by about 5 minutes. Drat! So I was thinking" There is no way to call them" and "I didn't bring enought to call them."Turns out, there is some kind of time shift in the Northern Hemisphere that does not happen at the equator, so even when I called I was 13 hours ahead, thanks to the time zones.At 6:30 am US time my mom, clearly having been woken by the phone, tried to convince me she was wide awake, almost as well as a drunk person can convince someone who is sober they are good to drive. After my father came on the phone things were much better, and mom went to get her coffee.I taught my dad 2 phrases I had just learned that day, "bathroom engay?" and "pear enna" both of which share the root en, which shows is a question. I had learned a few phrases from the Father and his family, and my sharing it with my parents was a way to "give back" to the US.Now, if they ever come to Sri Lanka or parts of India they can ask for the bathroom, and for the person's name.My parents were supposed to ask what this meant at church, we'll see if they did.
This was after what I understood to be a short visit, and after 3 hours of thinking, and laughing, "There is no way I'll make it back to Kurunegala in time to call them." Because of my passing the Hindu temple and not being "strong" I was 200 rupees short, and that cuts the call by about 5 minutes. Drat! So I was thinking" There is no way to call them" and "I didn't bring enought to call them."Turns out, there is some kind of time shift in the Northern Hemisphere that does not happen at the equator, so even when I called I was 13 hours ahead, thanks to the time zones.At 6:30 am US time my mom, clearly having been woken by the phone, tried to convince me she was wide awake, almost as well as a drunk person can convince someone who is sober they are good to drive. After my father came on the phone things were much better, and mom went to get her coffee.I taught my dad 2 phrases I had just learned that day, "bathroom engay?" and "pear enna" both of which share the root en, which shows is a question. I had learned a few phrases from the Father and his family, and my sharing it with my parents was a way to "give back" to the US.Now, if they ever come to Sri Lanka or parts of India they can ask for the bathroom, and for the person's name.My parents were supposed to ask what this meant at church, we'll see if they did.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Pussellawa
This week I visited Holy Trinity Church, Pussellawa. It was spectacular. The priest there is a younger fellow and is someone I respect very much. He is the closest I have come to someone my age, with a similar education. The other Fathers are great too, and several stand out in particular as very wise individuals. The Sri Lankan education system really sifts through the people so only the really smart (even gifted) people pass through. It is extraordinarily difficult, and you can be assured the people who reach tertiary education are extremely gifted.
In Pussellawa they do not have internet yet. I stayed in a 150 year old bungalow, for the night, after a long day of a 2 hour bus ride, walking to the Church, being urged to donate to a Hindu
temple, and arriving in about an hour before the 8 oclock service (do the math, I left Kurunegala around 5 am...).After the service we visited the tea plantations. Yep, the people
who pick our tea. It was truly insightful. The day's visit was truly incredible, in the sense the circumstances and situation was truly mind boggling to a foreigner.The multinational corporations offer job stability, but the pickers, who are more or less born into the system, receive only about $1.70/ day (200 Sri Lankan rupees).
The Father I was visiting is from this Indian Tamil community, and somehow got out to pursue his higher studies and now is wanting to provide a link to them.
During the visits to the tea plantations Father Shelton who was recently transferred to Holy Trinity conducting his first Sunday of official duties, checked the premises of one of the churches belonging to his parish. It is an old building built on the tea estate itself by the planters for the Church of Ceylon, and now is disused. Thought it was fixed up and repainted for a Diocesan Anniversary, the location of it, at the very centre of a tea estate, makes it difficult to serve the needs of the people on the estates.
Basically, due to the reality of the situation, it is too financially draining for the Diocese to meet the needs of the estate people.
Families without transport after the service, in front of their provided quarters.
Limiting factors include time and fuel cost.
ch. The reality of the situation is the Diocese is stretched in terms of personnel and resources. Father Shelton's vicarage is adjacent to Holy Trinity Church, which is on the main road in town. In contrast, this small church building lies at the centre of a tea estate, accessible only after an expensive ride on a trishaw. The people on the tea estates, have no money...
This is the reality situation.
The Diocese of Kurunegala (Anglican) has no money.
Who will serve their needs?
In the absence of the Church of Ceylon's (Anglican) shrinking capacity to reach these people, there are several Hindu temples. There is an Assembly of God Church with a pastor, and the Diocese remains challenged as to how to reach these people.
The Church of Ceylon, with its historic presence as a domestic church, is not able to meet its mission and requires outside assistance for its survival.
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