In full confinement,
the series that turns to others.
Asanka is 28 years oldHe's Sri Lankan. He has always shared his daily life with his mother, father and grandmother in a very small village that even with GPS coordinates, We had a lot of trouble finding it. Seeing the modest conditions in which Asanka lives, most would say that he doesn't have much. What we love about him is that he thinks he has everything.
Until now he was helping his family in the fields. In parallel, he volunteered English classes in the small school in his village, convinced that the future of these children depends on their ability to express themselves in this language. Now like many Sri Lankans, Asanka turned to the tourism sector to be able to support these needs: he had to leave his students to manage the booking a hotel 3*, but he believes lucky to have work. To sum it up in a few words, we would say that he is one of these people. than once we met we no longer wanted to leave. The kind who is happy to sleep on the floor to let his bed to two strangers.
With honesty, modesty and wisdom, Asanka here demonstrates the firmness of her Government in a country far less affected than ours. He tells us about restrictions and his family, how religion the pandemic... And his own convictions.
What you will find in this article:
→ The testimony of Asanka, who takes us to his country for the time of an article, Sri Lanka.
→ The way we met.
→ Links to other testimonials of the series « *Based on true stories », when each day these appear :
> Pavel, Russia | Tseegii & Zaya, Mongolia | Geoffrey, Japan | Biplav & Dipesh, Nepal | Yana & Maxime, South Korea
« This pandemic makes us realize three things:
1. Money has no value.
2. We cannot escape our Karma.
3. People should be rich in feelings,
experience and emotions. No money. »
Where
It all started.
Our first exchanges with Asanka took place between 2 bags of rice: we remember this moment when we saw him sitting at the back of the family van when the fields returned. Before any presentation, he had to look in silence Unload the huge bags. Surrounded by his cousins, he had made a point of refusing our help. Once the operation was over, he had each brought us a plastic chair to sit down. « Wait, I'll get you some tea. We need tea first! ». And that's how we found a cup of sweet tea in our hands on our two plastic chairs, surrounded by Sri Lankans who did not speak our language and about ten bags of rice.
We only had to spend one night with Asanka, who had agreed to host us. We finally spent several days with him. and he changed the course of our trip to Sri Lanka. We told you: he is one of these people we meet and then we are unable to leave. The days spent with him with his family, the sunsets on the shores of the lake of his childhood and the English classes given to the children of his school will remain imperishable memories.
Are you comfortable?
We're leaving you with Asanka now.
→ Can you tell us about the situation in Sri Lanka in the face of this pandemic?
« It is better than in Europe*. Given our health situation and the disasters in other countries, our Government very quickly took steps to take no risk The country closed its borders early and very strictly. Since then, everything is closed here. We are ordered to stay home until the day we are told that we can go out. If we're surprised outside, We have to pay a fine and the authorities are confiscating our vehicle. We have an authoritarian government that ensures that all measures are implemented in the letter... They also test a lot of people.
As far as schools are concerned, the situation is quite unequal... Some teach by WhatsApp, video calls, other send homework by mail... But others like my village are completely closed, and nothing is insured. Every 3 days, we have water and essential foodstuffs that are deposited in front of our houses. Nurses also come to study us, one by one. On TV the subject of virus and barrier gestures rotates in a loop constantly, to avoid being contaminated or contaminate each other. Mobile operators have also given us free reload cards so that we can access the Internet without leaving our home. A whole bunch of singers come out of the songs to unify the country and every Religious leader do not stop crying that only his religion can save the population. »
* Number 237 cases, 7 deaths and 63 cured of Covid-19 in Sri Lanka (according to the figures of 15 April 2020 of theEpidemiology UnitMinistry of Health, Sri Lanka).
→ Many believe in religion against the Covid-19? What do you think?
« Many people turn to religion here in Sri Lanka. All their actions, all their actions are dictated by what their religious leader tells them. However, in times of confinement, we must ignore certain rules: like going to pray in groups to temples for example. At funerals, we can no longer pray for a long time as we did. Government forces us to burn all bodies quickly.
Personally, I think that the situation in Sri Lanka in the face of the pandemic is better than in Europe because we closed our borders early. But I also think that our climate does a lot It's very hot all the time. This heat helps against the virus, it forces its spread. Besides that, we drink hot and Let's eat very spicy Every day, it is an extension of this heat in our body and we believe in this efficiency. Finally, in Sri Lanka we also have a lot of herb-based drinks (I think you've already heard about the Ayurvedic medicine ?). Everyone drinks this for a lot of energy, because we think the virus n. »
→ How are strict measures perceived by the population?
« Well... The most educated people, who have a good situation, always respect the rules. But this is not true for everyone. There are many people who don't understand. Many who don't want to... And other who have nothing to do. At first, it was very complicated. Now we have found a better dynamics And people better respect the rules.
It's strange, It even has positive effects. Some. It's something I've noticed in people with addictions for example: those who have problems with alcohol, drugs, etc. Previously, these people argued that they could not stop. But since these people were confined, strangely, They're much better.. Because being strictly blocked at home leaves them no choice but to cut short their addictions. This is the case for my father, who previously absolutely needed to smoke every hour. With confinement he was forced to dispense with this "drug". Now he no longer smokes, he no longer feels the need and even says Don't want to go back when we can get out again. »
→ How do you envisage the future? Does that scare you?
« Honestly, I was scared for a while.. Especially as I used to house strangers. A little more than a month ago I had hosted an Italian couple, which made my family, my neighbours very afraid (I am the only one in our village to be in contact with strangers from time to time...). Since I had to stop, however, my family and I continued always be scared by this virus. And why don't we, after all?
So it was my first feeling: fear. But I ended up thinking differently. Today I think that this situation is there because it had to happen and that it is just the normal sequence of things. I think humanity needed to be refreshed. I believe in karma and will continue to believe that everything that happens to us is subject to its law: We only reap what we sow.
The positive point is that this pandemic makes us aware of three things:
1. Money no value.
2. We cannot escape to our Karma.
3. People should be rich of the feelings, experience and emotions. No money.
There's a lot, a lot to say about this. Neither my English nor my level of education allow me to talk about it in depth enough. »
We asked Asanka if he wanted to add anything to his testimony:
« Yes! I have an anecdote. It's pretty funny to tell. I'm stuck at home and my hair grows fast (and even if I had been able to get out, I would have been too afraid to do it anyway), so I started to Make a special myself « Hair style ». How to say... It wasn't as stylish as I imagined. Not at all. So I cut at all: result? That's my head now! »
Listen, learn, share, relativize.
Go away.
This testimony belongs to Asanka and it alone cannot be judged. For every person in the world and for every country the situation is different. It is not a question of imposing ideas here, but of share opinions, realities and Ways to Think.
In a time when we all face ourselves this series is made to open up to others : listen, learn, share, relativize... and open the mind. Finally, do what the trip offers us the opportunity to escape while enriching one another.
What's next?
The rest goes to the Nepal, China, South Korea, Japan, in Mongolia, Vietnam, Russia. Every day a new testimony will appear here, « *Based on true stories« .
Until tomorrow, you can escape with the other stories we have to tell you.
Don't hesitate to share your feelings, your own situation, your thoughts, your questions in commenting on this article. We always answerAnd we can even ask Asanka your questions.
Bonjour Delphine et Maxime 🙂
c’est toujours un plaisir de lire vos reportages. Le témoignage de Asanka est touchant. Il ne se trouve pas assez « instruit » pour discuter de la situation mais au contraire , nous le trouvons très juste et empli de bon sens. Nous ne connaissons pas le Sri Lanka, mais nous avons une approche de l’Inde et nous retrouvons toute la sagesse et l’esprit de ce pays si proche. Ce témoignage est d’une grande Valeur ! Ce serait un grand plaisir de découvrir cette île jusqu’au village qui n’apparaît même pas sur un gps de Asanka.
PS : dites lui que ce n’est pas grave sa coupe la boule à zéro, ça lui va bien aussi et de toute façon les cheveux repousseront très vite ;-). Bises de loin
Sandrine et Luc
Tout-à-fait, et merci de le souligner. Asanka a été très modeste en disant, au contraire nous aussi nous trouvons qu’il nous en apprend tellement. Nous ne lui avons dit.
Le Sri Lanka est effectivement très, très proche de l’Inde culturellement. Vous retrouveriez beaucoup d’aspect je pense.
Nous lui transmettons le message pour sa coupe haha ! ça nous a fait si drôle de le voir comme ça alors qu’on l’a connu avec tous ses cheveux.
Prenez soin de vous, merci pour votre retour sur ce témoignage 🙂