Calling all American Idol fans

I know lots of you out there (especially former students) enjoy the social phenom of American Idol and all the country spinoffs. Sri Lanka had their own idol and the winner embodies a very Sri Lankan sprit. This is an article that appeared in the local UNHRC Reuters news. I think it encapsulates some of the dichotomous nature of Sri Lanka and the world. I think the text speaks for itself.

BATTICALOA, Sri Lanka, (where we live) August 27 (UNHCR) – The face of Sasiskaran, a newly popular singer from Trincomalee district in eastern Sri Lanka, shines with happiness. The most extraordinary thing about this raw talent is not that he beat 5,000 others to win a nationwide talent show, but that he was an internally displaced person (IDP) when he became a music idol.

Sasiskaran, 27, won the "Shakti TV Superstar" competition broadcast by a Tamil-language television station last month – without having any musical education. Holding his trophy, his face beams from posters all over the capital Colombo, but very few Sri Lankans know the real story of this young singer.

Sri Lanka has been mired in conflict for more than 25 years. Things have been especially hard for the population in the eastern and northern provinces since April last year, when fighting between the Sri Lankan army and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) intensified.

Thousands of people were displaced, including Sasiskaran and his family, who had to leave their house in Batticaloa district, also in the east, in February due to clashes between the two sides. Sasiskaran had moved to Batticaloa after marrying a young woman from this district.

"We had to run away from our home due to the shelling, and seek refuge in a school close to Batticaloa town," Sasiskaran said. "Living in the school was very hard as the building was in bad condition, also there were no trees around and during the hot days we had no shadows to hide from the sun."

Singing was Sasiskaran's childhood dream. But it was not just a hobby for him and, aware of his talent, he participated in many singing contests searching for the opportunity to become popular. Thus, the singer was not surprised to be selected for "Shakti TV Superstar," having previously made it to the final rounds of other music competitions. What was surprising for him was that he made it at a time of war and displacement in the east.

Like the other participants, Sasiskaran chose some popular Indian songs in the Tamil language for the competition. "It was very difficult for me to find a proper place for singing practice in the school," he recalled.

"As the conflict was continuing in the first three rounds of the competition, I had to travel from the school to Colombo in order to participate in the programme. But after winning the third round, we left the school and were able to move to Colombo, from where I continued the competition."

In the first six rounds, participants were voted in through SMS texts from the public. "I was concerned because the people in the east, who I thought would most likely vote for me, did not have mobile signals at the time due to the war," he said. "I only became confident of my chances in the final stages, when a jury was asked to choose the best among the final participants."

The young singer is thankful for the public support he received: "Even with the conflict going on, people did not take into consideration my background or origin, only the way I performed. This makes me really happy and grateful to them."

A Sri Lankan young man who followed Sasiskaran's performance on TV said, "He has a good voice even if he does not have a basic knowledge of music." His colleague added, "During the competition the members of the jury told him that he has the right voice qualities to be a good singer in future."

Recently, Sasiskaran went home to Batticaloa, joining thousands of IDPs who returned when fighting in the east ended in May this year. He can now enjoy peace in his house in the company of family and neighbours.

"My dream turned into reality when I won the competition and I passed from being an IDP to a popular singer," he said. "My plan for the future is to produce my own music, but before that, I would like to do studies in music."

Make it a great day

UNHCR news

Barber Shop Shave

Well today you get to meet one of the people who provides me with one of my favourite services in Sri Lanka – a barber shop shave. The Samaritan’s Purse Livelihood team has helped about 25 barbers recover the livelihoods they lost in the tsunami. We have provided these shopkeepers with the basic tools to restart their businesses.

So I’d like you to meet this week’s barber - Joseph Jebamalai from the village of Thalankudah. This husband and father of two ran a small barber saloon. (they don’t call them salons which can cause a little confusion for donors who think they are sponsoring barbers you drink and cut hair) The 2004 tsunami struck and destroyed both his house and his shop. The first wave of the tsunami caused everyone to panic and run. Joseph tried to save his shop possessions and was struck by the second wave and was nearly drowned and the third wave sent him flying and broke his leg. Once he recovered Joseph tried to restart his business with the few items that he could salvage. Joeseph told us that people did not want to his dillapitated little tin saloon and so he was struggling to provide for his family. SP came along and noticed thr plight of this member of the untouchable class and we provided him with the basic tools to launch his business. In addition SP partnered with the owner to fix up the shop and we cemented over the loose tsunami rubble that had served as a floor. This new shop and tools have given Joseph the foundation to launch his business and support his family.

So once a week I take one of the guys from my team to go and visit one of the SP barbers. I get a shave while the team visits and develops a stronger relationship with the barber. Why do I enjoy going to the barber so much? There are a pile of reasons but it really is more than the normal boring old man barber back home. Here you get a haircut, a straight razor shave, head massage, face massage and a chiropractic neck snap. All for less than a dollar!. I of course am a little skeptical of their chiropractic ability so I politely decline that part of the service. .

It really does become a bit of a dog and pony show while I am there. Usually the beneficiary is very nervous and takes way more care than necessary. I mean look at my hair style! In addition, a small throng of onlookers come to see the white guy getting trimmed. This becomes a significant social event and a real moment of pride for the barber. Really, just a whole lot of fun while we are helping people like Joseph out.

Make it a great day

The Incredible Hulk

No I am not painted up for a Riders game or doing my best impression of the Incredible Hulk, despite the striking similarities. I am still battling with this crazy excyma nonsense and so one of the guys on my team made me this herbal concoction. Basically it is just some smashed up leaves called curiapaya. You take this smushed leaves and its juice and basically slather it all over your body. It is supposed to be a natural remedy to all your skin ailments. Women back home pay big bucks for such ayeurvadic spa treatments. So far all it has done is dry out my skin and stain my entire body with a gentle hue of green. (It’s not easy being green.) So we will give a try for a couple more days and see what happens.

Thanks to all of you who have sent mail, email, skyped, blogged, or facebooked comments with kind words of encouragement or home remedies. Currently my skin is the best it has been in three months.

Make it a great day

Wedding Anniversary

Well this last weekend I had the opportunity to celebrate 5 glorious years with the man of my dreams. As all of you know he really is quite remarkable. Scott is ever so good looking, humorous, and intelligent ahhhh how I could go on and extol his virtues! I really am lucky I was able to snag him. My prospects were bleak before I met Scott. So as a lonely and desperate young woman I literally had to stalk him for two years before I finally wore him out and he just gave up and agreed to go out with me.

We decided to celebrate how great Scott is and my unending love for him by heading off to Hill/tea country. It was great to get out of the heat and have a chance to shiver in the 15 degree weather. For us the temperature was so cold that we decided to buy jackets. We were able to find a local market and were each able to buy Columbia soft shell jackets for 10 bucks!! I was also able to find a designer jacket that normally sells for 150 bucks back home and bought it for 7$. Really a lot of fun to do that kind of shopping.

The town where we stayed is called Newar Ellya and is the heart of tea country. The heart of tea country is also the heart of all things English. In the town you see old colonial mansions, rose gardens and British restaurants. We stayed in a Banff Springs like classic Tudor hotel that had been built back in 1854. Sorry no pictures I forgot the camera charger in Colombo. I think my heart must have been a flutter at how romance my glorious husband is.

While we were there we went out to the London Grill and exchanged gifts. Scott designed and ordered this awesome amber necklace (my favourite stone) and I purchased a wedding band to replace the one we lost sea kayaking. So all and all a perfectly romantic weekend with the perfect man. What could be better?

Make it a great day