by Sean | Nov 6, 2012 | Fulbright, Sri Lanka, Travel
As a 6’1″ tall white guy, I stand out in Sri Lanka. My looks really influence people’s interactions with me here. When speaking Sinhala I take people off guard, as they don’t expect a foreigner to know the language. At the store today I thanked...
by Sean | Oct 31, 2012 | Fulbright, Sri Lanka, Travel
While in Kandy we decided to make the trip out to Sigriya, the ancient rock fortress and monastery near the center of Sri Lanka. From Kandy it was a two hour drive out to the historical site, and we arrived shortly after nine in the morning. It is an impressive site,...
by Sean | Oct 31, 2012 | Fulbright, Sri Lanka, Travel
October 29, 2012 Darkness surrounds me as I’m awoken by the rhythmic sounds of chanting in the early morning hours. I lie awake for some time, and make out the sound of rain falling; eventually my alarm alerts me that five am has arrived, and it is time to...
by Sean | Oct 22, 2012 | Fulbright, Sri Lanka, Travel
This weekend I traveled south to Galle and Unawatuna with a few fellow Fulbrighters. We left Colombo via train and headed south, only to realize that the train we were on was the wrong one; we were able to transfer a few miles outside of Colombo onto a train headed to...
by Sean | Oct 17, 2012 | Emerging Markets, Fulbright, Travel
During my sophomore year at Fordham I traveled to Kenya with a group of students as apart of the Fair Trade Micro Finance program, Amani. There are many challenges to working in a foreign, and many opportunities to unwittingly violate cultural norms. While in...
by Sean | Oct 15, 2012 | Culinary, Fulbright, Sri Lanka, Travel
Sweat rolling down your face. FIrst your mouth goes numb, and then the sensation envelops your esophagus and stomach. Quickly, you reach for water. Then you scoop rice into your mouth to try and balance out the intense heat of the meal you are eating. Sri Lanka is...