Explore Sean’s Essays:

Polonnaruwa

Two transfers and eight hours in transit, its 11:47pm and I’m back home in Trinco. This morning I woke up early and headed to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. When I arrived it was about noon, and I spent a few hours walking along the ruins, and really enjoying landscape. Two...

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Swinging in a sari

Face painted gold to lighten and brighten. Bangles rattling on her arms. Adorned in ounces of gold. This girl had just performed a dance at Sarvodaya's Trinco New Year's party. She was tired, sick of sitting in the auditorium, and ready to play outside.  

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A Sri Lankan Dinner Party

The Americans cooked Sri Lankan curries. The Sri Lankans prepared American pastries. Last night I had my amma (Sinhala for mother) and mallis (Sinhala for younger brother) over for dinner. This family found me the house I am renting, and has been looking out for me. Amma was...

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We all bleed red

Looking down at my watch I realized it was past 8:30 in the morning, time to get to work. I had lost my sense of time as I was consumed in my thoughts while sipping on a real cup of coffee. I headed out the door, and crossed the street. On the corner of Champa Lane and Kandy...

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Why Should I Care?

There have been several times during the past few weeks when I wonder why I should care about teaching. When I walk into class and a student yelled, "No Sir, please no lesson." When my class lied for fifteen minutes about not having notebooks that day When I walk into class and...

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New Year’s Party

Women were adorned with countless kilos of gold and dressed in vibrant glimmering saris. The men had new shirts on, and their shoes were spiffily shined. I rang in the New Year with the staff and students from Sarvodaya's Trinco District center, and it was quite an event. On...

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A Vagabond Year

2012 will cease to exist when the Aleutian Island chain off of Alaska crosses into 2013. According to the International Date Line, this will be the last place to leave 2012 behind for the New Year. Looking at a map, I can't determine why this was chosen as the end...

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An end to limbo

After living in Trinco for about two months, I have finally found a home. It was a frustrating, and long process. But it taught me a lot about the city I'm living in. While searching for a home I've met with Trinco's Mayor, the head of Trinco's Economic Development Council,...

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The World Is Shrinking

How is it that with seven billion inhabitants this world is still a small place? Sure, the internet has shrunk the world considerably, but I'm amazed at the amount of times I've crossed paths with acquaintances. From running into a classmate from high school at a bar in Beijing...

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