Classes

Sinhala Language:
Monday – Thursday
8:00am – 9:40am
This class is team taught by Sandamali and Amare, both wonderful teachers and people. The class goes by pretty fast because they keep us engaged and interested in the materials. I am better at writing than I am at speaking, because we don’t get too much practice outside of the home or classroom. It is hard, as a white woman, to speak to people on the street like the boys, because it can be seen as sending the wrong message. But I think I am improving slowly, but surely.

Art, Drama, and Poetry
Tuesdays and Thursdays
10:20am – 12:00pm
This class is also team taught, but I have only meet one of the professors, Mr. Ashley Halpe. He is a famous artist in Sri Lanka, has the best modern art collection in the country, and we get to take our class at HIS HOUSE. It is up on the top of the hill, looking over all of Kandy. His house is beautiful, with its walls covered with all sorts of art, three pianos in the entry way and first living room, and a coy pond in the middle of the house! His wife is a musician and runs a local choir in Sri Lanka. She offered to let us join, but the concert is the day I leave. The only way I could do it would be to change my ticket for a couple of days later, which I’m sure grandma would not agree to. Oh well. For the class, we will be studying art, drama, and poetry of Sri Lanka as a means to understand the inner life of Sri Lankans, past and present. Ashley is a genius of a man, and the class is wonderful so far.

Images of the Feminine and the Social Experiences of Lankan Women
Tuesdays and Thursdays
1:30pm – 3:15pm
This is the best class here, in my opinion. We are learning about the ways in which society portrays women through media and art, verse how women actually experience their gender in Sri Lanka. All of the readings are amazing, the Professor, Dr. Carmen Wickramagage, is a brilliant and engaging woman who is passionate about what she teaches and makes me feel like I am back home with my wonderful Whittier professors. Oh how I miss Platner Hall! Her assignments even remind me of Professor Jason Carbine – 6 response papers and a personal/analysis paper. I look forward to this class every time I go, because I learn more about the status of women in Sri Lanka and the “Reproduction of Mothering” within the culture.

Kandyian Dance
Monday and Wednesday
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Imagine squatting for one hour, while moving your feet back and forth to the beat of a drum, and adding hand movements. This is what I am doing, and I love it. It is so much fun and it is a wonderful workout. I come out of every session looking like I just ran through the monsoon rains. The dance is elegant, yet somewhat tribal and masculine. I am not sure how to describe it exactly. Some of the steps and hand movements remind me of Tahitian dance, and others are like nothing I have ever seen. I think I am doing pretty well too. I am not the best in the class (that would be Val, the director’s wife) but I am not doing terribly and the instructor nods in approval at my stance and movement, so I think this is a good sign. Unfortunately, we have to get good fast because our performance is on the 7th of November! Aiyo!

Batik
Tuesday
4:00pm – 5:30pm
First step: trace a very intricate design on a piece of cloth.
Second step: Place hot wax on all parts of the traced drawing that you want to be white. Note, this does not include one’s own skin or feet, as I have learned. I do not need more help being white here. Third step: Give the batik to the woman….I don’t know what happens after this because it hasn’t happened yet, but I think she is doing the colors for me…Batiking is so much fun. It’s like having a knitting circle once a week with all the girls and Pete. We chat, talk fem shop, and do crafts! So fun! I wish I had brought my knitting needles. Pau!