Found In Ceylon

The Beginning of This Journey

Adam — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:01:36 +0000

I never explained how I first came to Sri Lanka. My journey started with an e-mail that I blew off for three months. It was an e-mail from my mom titled “Fwd: Deaf & Blind Orphanage,” a forward from my parents’ good friends Jim and Julie Regan. They had written to their friends about an [...]

“Deaf Can!” So Say The Rohana Special School Children!

Adam — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 06:16:41 +0000

During one lesson in the Deaf Studies class, I showed them a short video from California School for the Deaf’s Middle School PAH! Day celebration. The children were so inspired that they wanted to make a video themselves. I suggested the “Deaf Can!” theme and they ran with it. About half of the footage were [...]

The Video Dictionary Non-Project

Adam — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:31:13 +0000

I made some mention of a video sign language dictionary filming project in partnership with Ruhunu Sumaga Circle of the Deaf. I would like to update everyone and explain that this did not happen after all due to a succession of reasons. But the last reason is the best one of all: the Central Federation [...]

It’s Not All Bad…

Adam — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:23:58 +0000

Of course, I don’t want to leave the impression that returning to this country only fills you with deep, unanswerable questions. There’s a lot of joy to be found in every single day in Sri Lanka. In the last seven days, I’ve: Gone to Mr. Abeygunawardana’s mirith, a house blessing where twelve monks chant all night [...]

The Observer Effect, Among Others

Adam — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:47:00 +0000

The thought has crossed my mind that perhaps I shouldn’t visit Sri Lanka anymore after this trip. Perhaps it’s just a temporary feeling of moroseness brought on by the clouds and torrential rains that have pounded Matara the past three days, but there are real issues at work here, both personal and social. First: There [...]

Deaf Studies Programme, Week One

Adam — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:44:48 +0000

Monday, 26 May Plan: Outside Activity: Do the trust fall activity outside; first, in pairs and on the ground; second, with groups catching pupils falling backwards off tables. Introduce Deaf Studies. First activity: Pupils pick a playing card, read its number, then tell that many unique things about himself to the class. Second activity: each pupil [...]

The Sinhalese of Reason, Revisited

Adam — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:43:54 +0000

(This is an update to The Sinhalese of Reason post, March 2007.) I didn’t notice Kasun’s absence right away on the first day I came back to the school (it was their Buddhist day prior to Wesak), and I don’t think I made note of it until the next day. I even forgot his name sign, [...]

Rohana Boys Discover Photo Booth

Adam — Mon, 26 May 2008 03:05:23 +0000

This is the third time that I’ve tried to upload this video clip and I’m glad it succeeded this time (but not before heavily compressing it to less than 3 MB!). It’s Monday morning. School begins again today after the long Wesak holiday. The week feels full of promise, despite the fact that the sign [...]

17 Days and Counting

Adam — Fri, 23 May 2008 04:46:21 +0000

Mala arrived two nights ago! Volunteering at Rohana Special School is fun, but it’s always so much better when you’ve got a buddy, a partner to do it with, and I’m lucky that I get to have Mala around for the next two and a half weeks. Wait a minute. That’s all that’s left? Just 17 [...]

An Interview With The Author On His First Day Back At Rohana Special School

Adam — Mon, 19 May 2008 04:51:39 +0000

Q: When you got to Matara Thursday night, did you go visit the school the next morning? A: Yes. I wasn’t sure at first what time I should visit. I got to thinking I didn’t want to disrupt classes. They don’t get out until 1:30. I imagined this scenario where the children would come pouring [...]