Comments on: Kataragama or Bust http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/ A deaf American volunteer goes to Sri Lanka to work at a school for deaf children in Matara. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:56:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Uncle Jim http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/#comment-186 Uncle Jim Sun, 17 Dec 2006 20:56:25 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/#comment-186 Sad that I chime in on the bodily function element with so much more to comment on, but I must say your normally, never-illogical Dad has missed the forest for the trees (much as, according to Anne (Adam you need to thank her for her those clarifying ("rinsing" in fact) instructions), you are missing the trees for its leaves......bad, I know). The reason we use paper is because we flush away the soiled tissue, rather than throw dirty towels in the laundry--yes its another sign of our our throw away society (see diapers)but it's easy and time- saving (and most of us do shower at least daily, so...), and people would rather not have soiled cloth piling up in laundry bins. Enough of that. Adam your writng is amazing--enjoying the cultural and geographical tour! It is fascinating how the Hinduism and Buddhism fuse--would that other places where religions share space learn that lesson! The memorial for the Tsunami victims at first blush looks like several children's slides (I'm probably not the first to make that observation), just further alluding to the terible loss of children's lives, and of childhood itself for those that managed to survive but who lost parents or who lost children. We are very proud of you! Sad that I chime in on the bodily function element with so much more to comment on, but I must say your normally, never-illogical Dad has missed the forest for the trees (much as, according to Anne (Adam you need to thank her for her those clarifying (”rinsing” in fact) instructions), you are missing the trees for its leaves……bad, I know). The reason we use paper is because we flush away the soiled tissue, rather than throw dirty towels in the laundry–yes its another sign of our our throw away society (see diapers)but it’s easy and time- saving (and most of us do shower at least daily, so…), and people would rather not have soiled cloth piling up in laundry bins.

Enough of that. Adam your writng is amazing–enjoying the cultural and geographical tour! It is fascinating how the Hinduism and Buddhism fuse–would that other places where religions share space learn that lesson! The memorial for the Tsunami victims at first blush looks like several children’s slides (I’m probably not the first to make that observation), just further alluding to the terible loss of children’s lives, and of childhood itself for those that managed to survive but who lost parents or who lost children.

We are very proud of you!

]]> By: Gail Covitt http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/#comment-185 Gail Covitt Sun, 17 Dec 2006 20:29:38 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/#comment-185 Adam--thank you for your most insightful writing-- Your shared experiences remind me that after traveling, I still carry extra tissue--just in case--and decades later! Some experiences always stay with us-- And the tourist prices---doesn't Disneyland give a discount by zip code?--just not quite that enormous! I marvel at your maturity--and truly appreciate that you are sharing with us-- Thank you again-- Adam–thank you for your most insightful writing–
Your shared experiences remind me that after traveling, I still carry extra tissue–just in case–and decades later! Some experiences always stay with us–
And the tourist prices—doesn’t Disneyland give a discount by zip code?–just not quite that enormous!
I marvel at your maturity–and truly appreciate that you are sharing with us–
Thank you again–

]]> By: anne http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/#comment-180 anne Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:52:23 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/#comment-180 Mmmm well I'm not sure whether to add any details ... but here goes: Adam, I don't think you've got the technique right. You're meant to do the needful with a WET hand, splashing the water on the dirty part and WASHING! That's why they have either a small shower spray next to the loo, or a bucket of water with a small bowl. You scoop the water into the small bowl, hold it behind you over the loo and splash / wash. Gosh! That's the first time I've given THAT sort of lesson! ...and of course the moral of that story is: Check before you go that you have either a) tissue b) water or c) a handful of leaves? Sory folks - probably too much information... Mmmm well I’m not sure whether to add any details … but here goes: Adam, I don’t think you’ve got the technique right. You’re meant to do the needful with a WET hand, splashing the water on the dirty part and WASHING! That’s why they have either a small shower spray next to the loo, or a bucket of water with a small bowl. You scoop the water into the small bowl, hold it behind you over the loo and splash / wash. Gosh! That’s the first time I’ve given THAT sort of lesson!
…and of course the moral of that story is: Check before you go that you have either a) tissue b) water or c) a handful of leaves?

Sory folks - probably too much information…

]]> By: LARRY http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/#comment-179 LARRY Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:59:19 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/#comment-179 Wow, what a detailed account of your recent trip. It's a good thing I wasn't eating when I was reading your blog. I think you were the perfect candidate to go all the way out there to Sri Lanka. Cuz if it was me, I'd be holding my bodily functions til I got back to the States. One question though. How old are the Deaf schools? Are they relatively new or have they been around for quite some time? Ok, that was 2 questions. Wow, what a detailed account of your recent trip. It’s a good thing I wasn’t eating when I was reading your blog.

I think you were the perfect candidate to go all the way out there to Sri Lanka. Cuz if it was me, I’d be holding my bodily functions til I got back to the States.

One question though. How old are the Deaf schools? Are they relatively new or have they been around for quite some time? Ok, that was 2 questions.

]]> By: Adamzdad http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/#comment-175 Adamzdad Fri, 15 Dec 2006 04:19:11 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/#comment-175 Great 2-day adventure here, vacation-boy. This was such an enlightening "day in the life" or "road flick" as you've given us. Nice to hear all the excruciatingly-detailed details about your bodily functions. So glad you didn't decide to use streaming video to add a dose of reality! :) Along the line that Soph said above...why would we Westerners think that the proper way to clean ourselves is w/ soft paper? When we come home from the gym, do we wipe ourselves down w/ Kleenex? Do we clean our bodies when they're sweaty or grimy by wiping them w/ paper or a towel? (Can I hear a resounding "NO!!!" please?) No, when we're "dirty," we wash ourselves down w/ water or wipe our bodies w/ a wet cloth. But not near the toilet. So why is our culture so enamored w/ cleaning our most bacterial-laden area w/ only two-ply and then thinking we're clean...and superior? Illogical, Mr. Spock. You need to resolve this super-high price for foreigners before your sib arrives. Talk to the Prime Minister please. Imagine if we tried to do that (altho w/ the French, it might not be a bad idea...but then again, at least the French use a bidet rather than merely TP and a leftie swipe!) Love you, boyo. Keep up the great work. Great 2-day adventure here, vacation-boy. This was such an enlightening “day in the life” or “road flick” as you’ve given us.

Nice to hear all the excruciatingly-detailed details about your bodily functions. So glad you didn’t decide to use streaming video to add a dose of reality! :)

Along the line that Soph said above…why would we Westerners think that the proper way to clean ourselves is w/ soft paper? When we come home from the gym, do we wipe ourselves down w/ Kleenex? Do we clean our bodies when they’re sweaty or grimy by wiping them w/ paper or a towel? (Can I hear a resounding “NO!!!” please?) No, when we’re “dirty,” we wash ourselves down w/ water or wipe our bodies w/ a wet cloth. But not near the toilet. So why is our culture so enamored w/ cleaning our most bacterial-laden area w/ only two-ply and then thinking we’re clean…and superior? Illogical, Mr. Spock.

You need to resolve this super-high price for foreigners before your sib arrives. Talk to the Prime Minister please. Imagine if we tried to do that (altho w/ the French, it might not be a bad idea…but then again, at least the French use a bidet rather than merely TP and a leftie swipe!)

Love you, boyo. Keep up the great work.

]]> By: soph http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/#comment-173 soph Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:42:22 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/12/15/kataragama-or-bust/#comment-173 At first i was like ' any need for the toilet stories?!' but i appreciate it added to highlighting the struggles of that day! Hard to beleive sri lankans think we are unclean for using paper and not washing every time!! Anyway, another brilliant blog adam, i so love reading them and look forward to the next one, hope you have a wicked time with your sister. Soph x x At first i was like ‘ any need for the toilet stories?!’ but i appreciate it added to highlighting the struggles of that day! Hard to beleive sri lankans think we are unclean for using paper and not washing every time!!
Anyway, another brilliant blog adam, i so love reading them and look forward to the next one, hope you have a wicked time with your sister.

Soph x x

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