Bill and Wendy's ickcillint adventures

The use of toilet paper here is a big no no. Sewer systems and indoor plumbing are just coming into vogue in direct relationship to the upward economic mobility of the country. Most of the homes in our region still use outhouses attached to the house or out back of the property, like we did in Canada years ago. While plumbing might now be in a home or restaurant, the plumbing is not always working so well. So, those homes and restaurants that do offer indoor plumbing are quite strict about the use of paper products in the toilet. When I say they are strict, I mean: There is no toilet paper provided in the restaurants, at the hospital or in people's homes There is a spray nozzle that looks like a garden hose with a nozzle attached to every bathroom toilet. You are invited to use this if you wish to clean up. Now, I have not had luck with the spray nozzle. Firstly, I have to hover over the toilet (if there is a toilet) to avoid contact with germs. Secondly, and most often, ther...

Dogs are everywhere in Sri Lanka. I mean absolutely everywhere. Entire litters of puppies grow into adulthood continuing to live in family of origin groups. These dogs belong to nobody. They "live" at dustbins. Dustbins are concrete structures about the town where household rubbish is placed by villagers. These dustbins are the dog's food tray. They are garbage dogs and eat leftover rice, curry, bones and vegetable scraps they find within the bags thrown into the dustbin. When throwing our household trash up over the concrete wall, there if often an answering yelp as the trash bag lands on a dog scavenging inside the dust bin. Hopeful dogs, patient and cowering, wait for humans to deposit their trash in the bin. Once we turn our back, they leap onto the bag to extract any nourishment they can from our scraps. As we do little cooking, the best they can find is poopy toilet paper (another story). We have seen dogs licking up human vomit and other animal excrem...

How many 81 year old people do you know that ride an elephant? My mom, my daughter Tanya and my 18 year old niece, Tia were all here, in Sri Lanka for two glorious weeks. It was Bill's and my first opportunity to host company from home and to play tour guide. Given the age span from 18 to 81, we had to vary the activities to interest an 18 year old who will be off to university this fall (anthropology), a 34 year old who wants thrills but who is afraid of them and an 81 year old who is up for anything. So, we had them busy. We subjected them to the raucous, noise, clamour, smells and chaos of Pettah market in Colombo, we sat on the surf's edge and sipped cold white wine at the famous Galle Face Hotel, we walked the Galle Fort walls, and we purchased some gems in Colombo. We suntanned on the beach in Ganesh Gardens and cooled ourselves in the Indian Ocean. We rode Safari in a 4x4 and gaped in wonder as we drove past wild elephants, crocodiles and exotic birds like ...

I have some new bling. Actually, I have some amazing bling, but here, in Sri Lanka, I am ashamed of my bling. However, between you and me, I am secretly thrilled. Bill has always been reluctant to spoil me. I had to beg for an engagement ring and finally, three years after we were married, my bullying finally secured me a modest diamond trinity ring. So, it was with delight that I accepted a personality change in him that left him an impulsive gem stone shopper. Rare and precious gem stones are mined and sold here in Sri Lanka. He bought me a few baubles. However, there is no real delight in having these lovely possessions here. At home, a shiny piece of bling is a reflection of what we choose to do with our disposable income. Some people buy fancy cars, a motorboat, a place at the lake or a boy toy of some sort. We show them off as symbols of our success and their purchase, in no way, affects our ability to secure our food, housing or security. Here, however, the bling I wear...

Here, in Sri Lanka, marital status is all important. Small talk greetings, like: hello, how are you, where are you going, are invariably followed by the more nosy inquiry, Oyage bandala innawadh? (Are you married?). This marital status is (of course) not so important for men as it is for women and it is reminiscent of our old Western standards of Miss and Mrs. For women, but only Mr. For men. In Canada, we largely use Ms. now to eliminate the vagaries of a woman's marital status thus ensuring that marital status cannot be used in a discriminatory way. Here, marital status is so important. We have been dismayed that even empowered female physicians hang out their shingles with names listing their marital status, for instance: Dr. Mrs. Jayanthe Singhe. These Victorian era handles hang from medical shingles all about the country and Bill and I have both scoffed at this unnecessary distinction of women. What does marital status have to do with the practice of medicine? Bill has b...