Commence The Almost-Island-Wide Tour
Liz arrives tomorrow–sometime between 3:15 PM and 5:15 PM, depending on which website you check. I really cannot completely express how much I am looking forward to her visit. As remarkable as it may sound, she will be the first full-blooded American I will have seen in three months. But that’s not why I’m so excited (I could care less about nationality if it wasn’t for that stupid accent-lipreading issue).
I sorely want to talk to another person–if that person happens to be my bestest and lifelong friend, then, all the better–in my language without always trying to make myself understood. Whether it’s in spoken English or signed Sinhala, it gets exhausting after months and months. I imagine all the words boiling and bubbling and spilling out of myself as soon as I see her exit the long corridor at the passenger end of Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB for those of you who are avid aviators).
I’m so excited to show her off to the Pointe Sud crowd, to my deaf friends in Matara, to the Beach Inns, to the Rohana community, to Mr. Abeygunawardana the principal, to Thusarra my three-wheeler driver, to Indika my scuba diving instructor, to Duminda and Jamna the computer shop proprietors, to Rosy in the rebuilt tsunami village of Madiha West, and more. I cannot wait for them to be astonished at how alike we look and how cool it is to watch us furiously speak to each other in ASL.
I’m crying even as I type this–it’s overwhelming to even think about it. I really can’t wait to see Liz and travel a new country–a new side of the land I have grown to know and love the last three months–with her.
We will be visiting the following locations: Colombo, Matara, Kandy, Sigiriya, Polonnuwara, Pinnawela, Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak–read Jenny’s stirring account of her climb up the sacred peak), Nuwara Eliya, Galle, Hikkaduwa, and all the assorted sights within each location. Put Ambalangoda, Ratnapura and Yapahuwa on that list as optional locales if we’re feeling up for it. Some may notice the absence of Anuradhapura, but it’s pretty far north and I was told that the very ancient city is harder to appreciate when compared to the younger Polonnuwara.
It will be a grand trip!
oh how exciting!! i am sure she is bursting too.. how long will she be there for? have fun!!! i know i dont have to remind you to take lots of pictures
Hey Adam! Leaving a comment here mere hours before my take off to Sri Lanka.
My suitcase’s absolutely loaded. 1/4 of the contents is just my clothes. The rest is all YOURS. Your outlandish requests and demands have been diligently checked off. I’ll make sure you won’t forget it, little bro.
BTW, you’re getting some goodies as well from the States. How nice that I get to bring ‘em. Including a little magnet that could…
Can’t wait.
And oh, I checked my ticket—it says 3:00p. I checked the site where I booked my flight—it says 5:15p. I checked the airline website, it says 4:45p. I checked the e-mail reminder from the website I booked my ticket from where it says 3:15. So, be sure to have your driver ready to roll btwn 3-5:15. But you’ll get a buzz from me soon with more current flight information, natch.
See you real soon!
And folks, just mebbe, I may blog somethin’ if Adam lets me.
Yes, it will be a grand journey. I’d love to be on it.
Liz, once you empty out all of Adam’s stuff, you will have plenty of room for trip momentos!
Adam ,I know you will blog your readers whenever you can. We are all anxious to hear of your travels to new places with your big sis!
Hope the new processor works well for you.
Wish you and Liz all the best within the holiday visit! I kinda envy both of you for the brotherly-sisterly closeness and ability to travel overseas. Deaf Sri Lankans would appreciate your unique sibling relationship to show how special and beautiful yours is.
I hope that Liz will not bring any replacements for your CI device. You need to learn how to survive without using the CI all the time. You probably have your own fate bringing you to Sri Lanka which could lead you to discontinute your CI use.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
lol RLM, you just won’t give up, will ya? :p
It doesn’t change who he is, so leave it be.
It doesn’t affect his “survival” at all.
Anyway, forgive me for turning this into another debate like the other blog. So I’ll just shut up and say how I also envy you on the closeness of family.
That I do agree with RLM - can we be friends? Not that close, but…anyway.
Have a great time with your sister and please do let us know about the trip! I’m really curious about the deaf culture there!
Happy holidays to everyone!
Sure thing about being friend! Smile!
RLM
YOU WROTE: “Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB for those of you who are avid aviators). ”
Ha!
Just came across an aviator in new book AGAINST THE DAY by Thomas Pynchon…as he is described: Chick Counterfly, inventor of aerial torpedo (a Contrabuoyancy Device) and scientific/interrogations officer of The Chums of Chance, an aeronautics club (five ascensionaries) flying in a hydrogen skyship called Inconvenience under the earth…
Meanwhile I trust you and Liz are enjoying all those “outlandish requests” she fulfilled for ya!
peace from here to heaven in 07,
HAR