Eboni's Sri Lankan Adventure: My Rockefeller year in Sri Lanka

***Hey does anyone know how to use blogger so I can improve my blog??*** It's strange.  It's strange being in a foreign land. It's strange because half of you comes from that land. it's strange because it should be your land too.  It's strange that your family, whom by definition ought to be familiar, is composed of strangers.  It's strange because people look like you,  but they don't talk like you. It's strange because I am a mix of old and new. I am an uprooted sappling, full tree grown going to meet her roots for the first time.  I met my family on both my grandmother's and grandfather's side when I came with my mother. Maybe I didn't notice it because my mom was there and could translate,  and she bridged the 18 yr gap of communication,  maybe I didn't notice because I hardly spent anytime with them except to eat, and went gallivanting off to tourist sites and ancient ruins. So now, being among them really getting to them I n...

Finger Food  In Sri Lanka everything is finger food. Rice and curry, fish, lentils you name it, its all finger food.  (Personally I think food tastes sooo Much better from your hand).  Because of this, very early on I realized that almost every house has a sink in the dining room, or near the dining room. At Auntie Chuti's, who is my Grandmother's niece, she brings out a finger bowl and a towel to clean your fingers after you eat.  Quick Background: I am staying in Maharagama which is about 15 km from the Capital city of Colombo.  Maharagama is very near to Nugegoda, which is where my guru lives.  (Now that that's all cleared up) I went exploring Colombo with my distant cousin whom we shall call Sadhu-aka. She introduced me to her friend who, as it turned out, knew my grandmother from  17-20 years ago. He knew her from church as the Christian community is quite small in Sri Lanka. (he looks like he's 30, but he must be in his late 40's)....

Dear anyone who is reading this, First off I am not sure how often I will be posting. I will decide that after I get to Sri Lanka.  My hope is that I will write every day and post once a week with pictures, but realistically it will probably be every other week (I won't have the greatest access to wi-fi) I will also attach my photo library once I make one (either on Flicker or Some other photo-sharing site. If you have suggestions, please feel free to post them below). Thank you to all my friends/family who have supported me hitherto.  I love you all so much. Best, ~Eboni White Day 1: Going Fun Facts that I learned the Hard Way: Go with your gut. Pack light, and DON'T wait to pack till the night before! See I went out till 4 am with friends and then came home crashed and then tried to pack. Then a different groups of friends came over that night to say bye.  They stayed till almost midnight I stayed up till 2 am then woke up at 5:30 am. My paternal Grandmother...