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Young Sri Lankans living abroad

by Himangi Jayasundere
Travelling overseas maybe fun, while being an enlightening experience. Yet for some young people who leave their friends and family behind in order to get a better education, it can sometimes be a tough and isolating experience.

But everything has its ups and downs, and while being away from home can sometimes be traumatic, it also teaches one the essential skills of life, while also widening one’s horizon and offering new perspectives.

"The Sunday Island" spoke to a number of young Sri Lankans who have spent a part or the whole of their youth overseas.

Nilmini 19 and Ruwan 14 who have spent a big part of their childhood in Sweden say that there is a lot of freedom and no pressure or competition at school in Sweden. To have some fun, teenagers go out to night clubs on Friday nights. Most of them also do part time jobs. Every child in Sweden until the age of 18 receives assistance from the government, in the form of a study allowance every month, which most kids use for recreational activities. The biggest difference between kids in Sri Lanka and those in Sweden is that in Sweden they don’t have any major exams like the A/L’s, nor do they have a lot of pressure like in Sri Lanka. What they learn in school is enough, and they have a really good time. Nilmini says that they are now in Sri Lanka because her father felt that they should adapt to Sri Lankan culture as well.

By the time they are nineteen most kids in Sweden move out of their homes and share an apartment with friends. At the age of 16 about 80% travel around the world with the money they have earned doing part time jobs.

"In Sweden even the stupidest kid can get a job because the government takes care of it’s youth," she says.

For Harsika 22, in Pokhra, Nepal, probably the nicest thing about the country is its mountains. The cost of living in Nepal is relatively cheap while living standards are much higher in Sri Lanka, she says. There is no entertainment and television stations have very few programmes in English, one of the few exceptions being MTV she says. Here in Sri Lanka we are exposed to so many things through the media, perhaps it would be similar in a city like Kathmandu, but Pokhra, where her University is situated remains an isolated and untouched area.

"The Nepalese are alright but they mostly stick to themselves and the Sri Lankans mostly stick with each other, " she says. One of their special outings is to take a cake at twelve midnight whenever a friend celebrates his/her birthday. "Of course I miss Sri Lanka," she says adding that it is nice to receive a letter or an e-mail from home. She says that she and her friends are hoping to climb a mountain close to her University next semester.

Unfriendly Brits

Malsri 25, who lives in East-Ham, England says that young people living alone there are exposed to a lot of evils because a lot of things, including drugs, are freely available.

"It’s upto you to decide which way you want to go" he says. Kids in England do not get the kind of support those in Sri Lanka get from their parents. Some parents even ask their children to leave home or pay rent .

He says that an ironic situation exists in England now, where youngsters engage in attacks on people, just for fun, while parents and the authorities are unable to do anything about it due to strict regulations that have been imposed to protect children.

The British are not very friendly, and most of them are quite cold. "They always make you feel separate. Although I have lived in England for about 9 years there is not a single Englishman that I can call a friend" he adds.

Those who have completely white or black skin colour are alright, but it is those who are in-between in colour that have difficulties, he says. "If you put on an English accent, go out clubbing and try to be one of them they accept you, but not if you want to retain some of your own ways".

The blacks are respected because the British are afraid of their size and their rough nature. "Asians are not very accepted in England" he says. "There is a lot of discrimination against Asians because the English find Asian culture and customs strange."

Sandrena 15, from Melbourne Australia, who is in Sri Lanka for a holiday says that there is a big difference in the life styles of the people in the two countries. Speaking about her shopping expeditions at the malls in the city, she points out one of the notable differences. "In Australia if a guy is interested in you he just comes up to you and asks you but here in Sri Lanka they just follow you around and give telephone numbers".

She laughs as she adds that that she picked up about four telephone numbers, just walking down the road in a tennis dress.

In Sri Lanka people are judged by what they wear and where they go, but in Holland these things are not very important, everybody has their own independent lives says Marc 18 a Sri Lankan living in Amsterdam, Holland. He says that young people are independent and not spoilt by cars, as everyone rides a bicycle. People are also able to do any kind of job without thinking of it as a menial job. There are many outdoor activities, like concerts, street parades, music festivals and rock concerts. There is also a traditional Dutch carnival called "Kermis" which is held once a year. The family unit in Holland is very close.

However it can also be dangerous growing up in Amsterdam and one has to learn how to keep out of trouble, says Marc.

Prostitution and drugs are legal in Holland because the government is liberal, and as a result young people also grow up with open minds, he adds.

For Stefan 20, who has been living in Oman for 8 years it’s probably a great relief to be back in Sri Lanka. Although the Sri Lankan school he attended there had a much more open atmosphere about it, it was out on the streets with Oman society which could turn quite violent on foreign residents, that he had his troubles.

If you look too long at a man in Oman you run the risk of having the man coming on to you. They hate foreigners. He adds that there is segregation between foreigners and locals. You might even get run over by an Oman national driving a car when you’re crossing the road. Even the police is prejudiced against foreigners and would take the side of the locals, he says.

So what did you do for fun in Oman ? Went fishing with my friends and go-carting.

Little opportunity

Ruwanki 19, who is resident in Sydney Australia and now in Sri Lanka for a holiday says that the main difference she sees between the lives of young people in Australia and Sri Lanka are the opportunites youngsters in Sri Lanka lack once they leave school. In Australia every body goes to University while they also have many other avenues to continue their studies, but in Sri Lanka it is very hard to get in to university and it is difficult even to find a job unless you have contacts, she says.

It is a lot more fairer in Australia she says.

Speaking on the restrictions on the freedom of young people, she says that this appears to be changing "but some people are going overboard with it, by trying to be someone else she says.

What is most special about New Zealand for Shehan 24 who has been living there for about 7 years are the cafes in New Zealand where you could just walk in and start a conversation with a stranger. He misses just living life without having to worry about what other people think. "It was a carefree atmosphere".

He describes Wellington, where he lived, as a city which was "a pure celebration of youth culture." There were film festivals every week, bands playing and the theatre, "it didn’t matter how you dressed or what your opinions were," says Shehan.

Banglore is a happening place for a teenager says Harini 20, who is studying in India. She says it is a mixture of a lot of food joints, snooker, bowling, dancing and studying. However she adds that Banglore is probably an exception because it is cosmopolitan.

"However hard you try you can’t get uncultured here" she says adding that "culture is in the people’s blood in this part of the world and they take tradition very seriously".

Ramanan 14, living in Bonn, Germany says that life there is "pretty good". There is a lot of entertainment for teenagers, says Ramanan who has a lot of American friends because he attends an American school and lives close to a flat for American diplomats. He also spends a lot of time at a big park close to his home, where he plays American football and pool with his friends.

Germany has a lot of traditions but they have been modernised to suit the times, he says. One of the well known events in the German calendar is "OctoberFest", a huge carnival, he says. He adds that driving is systematic in Germany and that traffic is disciplined. Those who go over the speed limit or cause pollution are detected by cameras installed for this purpose .

Singithi 19, who has been studying in England for the last three months says that about 99% of the young people there are not religious and most of them are atheists. She says that young people in England are very independent and individualistic. She adds that Sri Lankans don’t value their culture. "We ape the west and are not ourselves".

A visit to Majestic City brings one face to face with people who are all dressed alike. She adds that there is variety in the people she meets in England. She adds that she is waiting to come back home as she misses her family and friends.

Palm Springs international film festival
Harriet Robbins on foreign films, subtitles and the Nortel Networks

by Zanita Careem from Palm Springs, USA
With the support of the Palm Springs Community, foreign films are a welcome sight during the Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival (NNPSIFF).

The NNPSFF’s presentation of many of the official foreign language submissions for the Academy Awards and the great number of international films shown at the festival creates a special emphasis on the importance of these films for audiences.

Many foreign films screened at this festival have gone on to become Oscar winners: Cinema Paradiso (Italy 1992), Indochine (France 1993), Belle Epoque (Spain 1994), Burnt by the Sun (Russia 1995), Antoma’s Line (Netherlands 1995), Lolya (Czech Republic 1997), Character (Netherlands 1998) and Life is Beautiful (Italy 1999).

This year the festival has expanded their support of the wonderful films produced outside of the United States by opting to reduce the numberof American films screened to a maximum of 25 and adding more foreign films to their roster.

"As director of acquisition for a film company, and later as a journalist, I attended film markets and festivals throughout the world. Cannes, Shanghai, Tokyo, Toronto, Montreal were on my "beat". I was captivated by the wonderful films at these fests and deplored the fact that so few of them reached the audiences in the United States.

My husband Sam Robbins, had the same view. We were convinced that American audiences were being deprived of excellent global film fare" said Harriet, most popular film critic in Los Angeles.

She is a member of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and Los Angeles Film Teachers Association.

Harriet said: "When I became a member of the Los Angeles Film Teachers Association (LAFTA), a prestigious screening group headed by Alice La Deane, I initiated a special program introducing foreign and independent films to this group.

"It has become a staple of their programming and an outstanding success. Through this program, a variety of international films have been screened that otherwise would not have seen the light of day in the United States.

"What better way to understand the world around us than to find the univesal link through films that we can share.... films reflect the human condition, the more we know, the more we understand.

"I also believe that the use of sub-titles is a must for foreign films. Reading the titles and viewing the film at the same time is an excellent tool that only enhances the film’s enjoyment. It aids in developing speed — reading skills as well. The trick is to look at the whole picture and absorb the words immediately. Practice makes perfect. Young and old, alike, benefit from this experience".

"There is great pleasure in hearing the native tongue while absorbing its wisdom through the subtitles. A grand international tour awaits all who experience this great adventure in film.

Craig Prater, executive director of the Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival and his excellent staff of dedicated associates, make films to other cultures. They share their knowledge and wisdom with us.

"I am proud to be known as a ‘foreign agent’ and to have been instrumental in bringing so many quality foreign films to American audiences.

The Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival, with its wise and forward programming position, leads the way to opening the doors of the world through film" said Harriet Robbins.

HIGH FASHIONS
Inner wheel get-together

by Kirthi Sri Karunaratne
The Chairman and Members of Inner Wheel District 322 hosted the inauguration of the Millennium District Conference at the Lanka Oberoi recently. This event which was meticulously organised with Renuka Amalean as district chairman was a great success in all its aspects which ranged from the formalities to the speeches, to a tea time break, followed by a lunch, to the Kandyan sarees worn by the usherettes in the theme of blue and white symbolising peace.

Renuka herself wore a oyster Kandyan saree elaborately worked on the ‘ihe’ and the fall in a design of diamond motifs in lace and outwork embroidery, all in white. The sleeves of the blouse had stripes of lace insertions. She wore pearl jewellery and a corsage of blue flowers at the shoulder, the blue echoeing the colour of the ribbon on which her medal of office was suspended.

Three shades of blue from the palest of sky blue to two darker tones worked in a variety of designs in beeralu lace reembroidered in pearls and sequins made the smart ensembles the usherettes wore. All of them wore pearls for jewellery.

A grey saree patterned in an allover mosaic in black, had the borders and pallu in a red weave on the saree Chrissy Rosairo wore. The body of her blouse was in red, and the sleeves in grey. For jewellery she wore two gold necklaces and earstuds to match.

Fresh and perfect for the morning was the pale mint green saree, visitor from India Anita Aggarwal wore, bordered in cream with the pallu in cream patterened in rectangulars of the green, with subdued gold motifs within them. Her blouse was in the cream and she wore two strands of pearls for an ornament.

The Kandyan saree in a pale of rose Lalini Alwis wore had the ‘ihe’ and the fall worked in grey guipure lace and grey pearls for sheer elegence. She too wore a necklace of pearls with earstuds to match.

A Bohemian outlook

The ambiance at the Gallery Cafe was bohemian, and the ideal location for an exhibition of photographs of India and Indians by Marcus Leatherdale at a brunch hosted by Udayshanth Fernando on a Sunday morning. A group of Sri Lankan musicians enhanced the atmosphere, and clothes though casual made a startling impact.

Making heads turn was the outfit worn by Sandra Long, a regular visitor to Sri Lanka from the United States, who makes her own statement of style. Sandra’s long tunic top which was high necked and long sleeved was in a lemon yellow embroidered in an all over design in white thread. A yellow pyramid made her hat, and masses of green jade beads and matching drop earrings added a streak of colour. Her pants were held up with a ornate antique silver belt, and she carried a fan of brown toned feathers.

The world renowned photographer teamed a black tee shirt with deep blue jeans, belted in black with silver studs on it.

Cool and crisp was the salwar kameez outfit Upekha de Silva wore. The cotton kameez was out on the princess line, and the dupatta was in simple white. She wore beaten silver shoulder length eardrops for that special look.

Art above fashion

The Gallery 706 held a cooktail time exhibition of the recent paintings and drawings of Anup Vega at a private viewing last Thursday. The work which this artist who has never had any formal training did, were mostly in sepia tones, and my favourite was a picture of a solitary hand holding what looked like a conch shell. Once again fashion was secondary to the work on display. Even though highly priced, the exhibits drew much attention and comment.

Barbara Sansoni was present herself, to lend support to the artist, clad in a sapphire blue tunic style top and trousers in her much appreciated handloom fabric. Three strands of beads in white, red, and deep blue made her jewellery. The bearded Anup, went for ethnic attire in white, with a long mendicants chain of black beads.

A revelation of the past

The most exciting exhibition for the new century was Regeneration, an exhibition of the 19th century photographs of Sri Lanka held at the British Council. This much talked, of, and written about event, was a revelation of the past brought to the present in an expressive medium.

Lakshman Jayakody, the Minister of Cultural and Religious Affairs and Linda Duffield, the British High Commissioner graced the occasion. Many nostalgic scenes from the past brought a new light in many aspects in the photographs.

At the reception that followed was Ranmali Mirchandani in a saree of grey tanchoi silk in embossed like pattern in ecru on it, with the border and pallu in a pale saffron in a smart combination of colour. A single strand of pearls, and pearl studs finished a well groomed picture.

Contrast of sharp colour was the choice of Reshmi Ukwatte. She teamed her saree of a simple bright saffron hued silk, with a black blouse, which was high necked and had cutaway armholes. She wore a necklace of black beads with a kashmiri pendant on it, and her accessories were in black.

In Your Stars
Good and bad planets for each Lagna

Each lagna or Ascendant sign has specific benefic and malefic planets. The benefics and malefics are determined in order of the lordships of certain house or houses of a person. As a general rule the lordship of a planet which rules second, third, sixth, seventh, eighth, eleventh and twelfth houses will become malefic according to the native’s lagna. A person coming under the influence of benefic will enjoy favourable effects while unfavourable effects are due to malefics.

Accordingly, Arians will enjoy benefic results through, Sun, Jupiter and Mars being they benefics. Jupiter confers best results while Mars is not to that extent. Saturn, Mercury and Venus are malefics. Mercury is the worst planet for Arians being the lord of third and sixth houses.

Taurians will have good effects mainly through Saturn. Mercury, Mars and Sun are also are benefic planets. Jupiter and Moon are malefics as they own eighth, eleventh and third houses respectively while Venus remains as a neutral.

Geminians will enjoy most favourable effects by Venus. Although, Venus rules the twelfth house ill-effects the planet is considered an auspicious as Venus owns the fifth house, a trine with lagna. Moon and Mercury are neutral but, Mars gives adverse results. Sun and Jupiter too are malefics.

For Cancer, Jupiter and Mars are the benefics. Cancer is the exaltation house of Jupiter. Third and Twelfth houses and eleventh belong to Mercury and Venus and therefore they are malefics. Sun, Moon and Saturn are neutral planets.

Sun and Mars bring benefic results for Leos. Mars is the most benefic between these two. Malefics are Mercury and Venus. Mercury owns second and eleventh houses while Venus third to be the malefic. Jupiter, Moon and Saturn are neutral planets though they rule sixth, seventh, eighth and twelfth houses.

Venus is alone the benefic for Virgo. Adverse effects are due from Moon, Mars and Jupiter. Saturn, Sun and Mercury will not harm them.

Librians will enjoy good effects through Saturn, Mercury and Venus. Saturn alone creates Raja Yoga. Sun, Moon and Jupiter are malefics. Mars’s results will be moderate.

Scorpians will have favourable results through Moon and Jupiter. Sun also is a benefit. Mercury and Venus are evil planets. Mars and Saturn are neutrals.

Auspicious planets for Sagittarius are Mars and Saturn. Venus, Saturn and Mercury are evil while Jupiter and Moon are neutrals.

Venus brings best results to Capricornians. Mercury and Saturn are also benefits. Mars, Jupiter and Moon are evil.

Best results for Aquarians also due to Venus as the planet is belonging to the ninth and tenth houses. Sun and Mars are also benefics. Jupiter and Moon are malefics. Mercury is neutral.

Moon and Mars confer favourable results for Pisces while adverse effects due to Sun, Venus, Mercury and Saturn. Jupiter though the lagnalord is a neutral.

Generally, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter are considered auspicious planets while Sun, Mars and Saturn are inauspicious but, according to the ownership of houses of a horoscope the status of the planet is changed. Rahu and Kethu are also inauspicious but their effects are in order to the planet they conjoined or the house in which occupied. - Sugathadasa Jayasekera

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