Déjà Vu

Well, here we go, another Evacuation. This time, it's for real and there's no turning back. Last time, it was _only_ the insurance companies that freaked out, but if you give them enough money they will let you stay. This time, however, the Government and ultimate employer is freaking out. Fearing parliamentary inquiries ("Mr Dooschbag, please explain why you would let our nations youth and future into potential conflict area in nothing but a helmet, flack jacket, big 4x4 with sirens and flashy lights, and a sticker saying 'No Guns'?"), they pulled out the four volunteers quicker than you can "WTF?". Sri Lanka in the North and East is now on the same footing as Iraq, Afghanistan, and all those other nice civil and unjustified wars around the world (1).

So out of Ampara we go, and back to Colombo to reside. Emma's basically job less.. and well, sadly I still have a job. Fortunately, Emma's family were here visiting at the time and so she preemptively packed up part of house before she left (unlike some of the other evacuees, who have nothing but the shirts on their backs.. .and pants). So instead of mulling over all the lost friends and lost work and the like.. we decided to head down south to party on the beaches of Tangalle (re: next blog and phlog entry).

So, where to from here? Well, Emma has the option of finding another job or going to her head office. I myself will just relocate my belongings to Colombo, and continue travelling around the South and the East as if nothing has changed. Meanwhile, we will get the most out of our free months accommodation in Colombo while looking for a new place.. and of course, use this as a good opportunity to completely flaunt my organisations internet connection. Abusing their cheap ass narrowband connection.. yay!

To all the fans out there in Ampara: World Vision, see you here soon and we can party likes its the evauation of 99! To everone else, who will inevitably hang around while bombs drop next door ("I'm not a war tourist! I'm committed to development!"), keep the party going and I shall be there soon and often.. if for no other reason than my big remote control car with flashy lights and sirens that go wooo wooo woo and little flags is still at Bills place.

(1) It is important to differentiate the North and the East in Sri Lanka. The island might look small on a map, but it's as big as Tasmania! There are significant differences in the North and East, for example the existence of a Tamil community as the majority; as opposed to the South, West and Central Sri Lanka which is dominated by the majority, the Sinhalese. I don't want to get into the politics, but feel free to Google it or even read the World section of your local paper (what a novel idea) and read up on it for yourself. But for the purpose of Byron and Emma, we are safe in Colombo and there is plenty of scope to dodge bombs from where we are. And besides, they don't want to kill white people - we are on the top of the pecking order, the highest caste their is.. we would only be collateral damage.