Surfcity

This is where I live and spend a lot of time. Here you can see some of the people working, living and hanging around this place. Picture one shows Johan, a friend living next door and who is here to do some voluntary work. Picture two shows Niluk, a friend who is going to marry norwegian Nina. He is driving a tuk tuk. Picture three shows an old lady who we see around many times. Picture four shows Kahlu with the cute puppy Toffie in the restaurant. He is always around in the area. Picture five shows the view from my veranda. Picture six shows Indika, Ruwan, Ravi and Ajith; some of the workers at Surf. Picture seven shows Duminda, a tuk tuk driver and Sudesh, a friend of the workers and guests at Surf. Picture eight shows me inside my room. Picture nine shows the workers after preparing a nice meal for the guests.

Surfcity has some more workers and guests who are here for longer or shorter time. And we have more people around in the nearby restaurants, hotels and shops who we see every day. And of course some people hanging around. Surf is a great place to live! The people are nice, the sea is lovely and the sun is shining. Life is great!

Surfing

I tried surfing for the first time some days ago. It was a lot of fun and I loved it. I will definitely try again, but I also have to do some work... I went surfing with two dutch guys living at the same guesthouse as me. We went with one of our tuk tuk drivers who took a lot of pictures and videoes. We surfed with two local guys and I had some lessons before I tried alone. So much fun.

Unawatuna

I have thought about creating a weblog for a long time and with some help from Johan (a dutch friend living at the same hotel) I finally got one. I am planning to write a bit about life in Una and about special events and add some pictures.

I have already been here two months and I like the place more and more. I am happy I chose to go to this place to do my studies. Later today I have an interview and I hope I will learn and understand more about culture and life at this place. Sometimes I find it difficult to ask for an interview or to do my work. I have found out that my role is not always how I want and need it to be and that can problemize my studies. But I learn about the culture every day just my spending my time here, observe and talk to people. I misunderstand situations some times, especially when I talk to some people who doesn`t speak much english. One example is when I thought I was going to wash some clothes with a woman from a tsunamicamp. I went to her place early in the morning and we went for a long walk with her dauther and a neighbour son. I wondered what the plan was since she didn`t bring any clothes to wash. We went to a beautiful beach and a nice pagoda and to visit her old mother. It was a nice and long walk to all these places, but I did not really understand the situation. When I got back to the camp the day after with my translater I found out what had happened. They had not meant to wash any clothes, but they thought that I wanted to go for a swim and that`s why they showed me this beautiful beach (jungle beach). I can misunderstand my local friends too (or not understand at all), but I discuss a lot to try to understand. I also discuss reactions and life with my foreigner friends and it can help me to understand more about this culture.

Hello!

Test post!