The first month....
Door: Elvira
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Elvira
20 December 2015 | Sri Lanka, Ahangama
Hayya all!!
Been a while...time flies when you are a busy bee and trying to settle in a different culture. Sorry to those i haven't sent any sign of life. I am here, alive, and settling in and finding ground.
The first couple of days i was staying in CafeCeylon (www.cafeceylon.lk) because the house i actually am going to live wasn't ready to actually live in: a bed would be nice and that was lacking, as well as a bathroom that actually has running water. So these first days i enjoyed the luxury of cafe Ceylon, the lovely staff there, and filling my days with getting rid of my tiredness and jetlag, by eating, sleeping, surfing and working on my suntan. Getting to know the locals on the beach, including the regular beach-bum-stray-dogs. And of course the many " hello, how are you, holiday?, married?, want to go and visit places? i have a tuktuk and bring you there, really madam, good price!'. I think after a solid 2 weeks, they finally got it: i am here for a long time and not a regular tourist...
After a few days i moved indeed to the surf house, which is formerly called Kathaluwa Villa, and now called The Center. It's a really beautiful old house, with a lovely garden and many rooms. It's 1 km inwards from the beach, so even a walkable distance. Although after a long surf session and in the 30 degree heat, i must say the road seems endless...
It's a friendly neighbourhood with a broad variety of houses: from rich looking Villas to middle class people, to small houses, and even very basic mud-shed looking places. The whole neighbourhood seems locals only, families, kids, dogs, cows and lots of green around. Many smiles (although this in the beginning excludes some of the dogs; they were quite vicious) and the cheerful hellos and goodmornings from the kids and..well, everyone.
Soon i started picking up the Sinhala language: Ayubhowan, the general hello, the Istuti as the thank you, and many many more words...i won't bore you with those...
The first week in december, just after the arrival of Tim Jones, for whom i am working, i was put in the ISA-training to become a qualified surfinstructor. I didn't pass the test of showing bottom and top turns (front and backhand) in 30 min. Totally bummed out and frustrated about my general waveselection this is what it is at the moment. Definitely not impressed with my own surfskills these last weeks (as it was lately in Holland), feeling a total beginner (kook) and slowly making my way out of that. With ups and downs...
There is time, and one day i will rip those waves! :)
Meanwhile i learn as i go along...Luckily i did impress the guys with my dummy-class i had to do as part of the course. Being trained as a Movement Medicine Teacher definitely is beneficial to me and i feel i can be a potentially great surfinstrucator one day. Patience...
Meanwhile i am settling, finding my way, in the house with the two guys. The people in and around it: Tim Jones; a brilliant surfer, over 50 years of experience!) and a happy, cheerful, passionate coach and very chatty and an infinite vessel of knowledge about surf and alike. Niccolo (besides Tim the other surfinstructor) from Italy; a blessing to have him around as a person and a lovely warmhearted longboarder.
And the two lovely people that seemed to have come with the house: Piyadasa the caretaker of the house and security man, and Ramani, the smiley gentle housekeeping lady and lovely cook for us.
I feel blessed.
And of course Asia living: a busy road with crazy driving (especially after dark), spicy food, mosquitos, etc etc.
Days are filled usually with a surf session and then off to get some work done; varying from waiting, web research, shopping for the house and for food, changing the garden, reconstruction work, etc. Next job is painting the outside of the house...
That's it for now,
Happy holidays, as it is after all 20 dec and i am aware that Xmass is happening soon, although is seems so far away to me....Have fun!!
Big hug, ELvira
Been a while...time flies when you are a busy bee and trying to settle in a different culture. Sorry to those i haven't sent any sign of life. I am here, alive, and settling in and finding ground.
The first couple of days i was staying in CafeCeylon (www.cafeceylon.lk) because the house i actually am going to live wasn't ready to actually live in: a bed would be nice and that was lacking, as well as a bathroom that actually has running water. So these first days i enjoyed the luxury of cafe Ceylon, the lovely staff there, and filling my days with getting rid of my tiredness and jetlag, by eating, sleeping, surfing and working on my suntan. Getting to know the locals on the beach, including the regular beach-bum-stray-dogs. And of course the many " hello, how are you, holiday?, married?, want to go and visit places? i have a tuktuk and bring you there, really madam, good price!'. I think after a solid 2 weeks, they finally got it: i am here for a long time and not a regular tourist...
After a few days i moved indeed to the surf house, which is formerly called Kathaluwa Villa, and now called The Center. It's a really beautiful old house, with a lovely garden and many rooms. It's 1 km inwards from the beach, so even a walkable distance. Although after a long surf session and in the 30 degree heat, i must say the road seems endless...
It's a friendly neighbourhood with a broad variety of houses: from rich looking Villas to middle class people, to small houses, and even very basic mud-shed looking places. The whole neighbourhood seems locals only, families, kids, dogs, cows and lots of green around. Many smiles (although this in the beginning excludes some of the dogs; they were quite vicious) and the cheerful hellos and goodmornings from the kids and..well, everyone.
Soon i started picking up the Sinhala language: Ayubhowan, the general hello, the Istuti as the thank you, and many many more words...i won't bore you with those...
The first week in december, just after the arrival of Tim Jones, for whom i am working, i was put in the ISA-training to become a qualified surfinstructor. I didn't pass the test of showing bottom and top turns (front and backhand) in 30 min. Totally bummed out and frustrated about my general waveselection this is what it is at the moment. Definitely not impressed with my own surfskills these last weeks (as it was lately in Holland), feeling a total beginner (kook) and slowly making my way out of that. With ups and downs...
There is time, and one day i will rip those waves! :)
Meanwhile i learn as i go along...Luckily i did impress the guys with my dummy-class i had to do as part of the course. Being trained as a Movement Medicine Teacher definitely is beneficial to me and i feel i can be a potentially great surfinstrucator one day. Patience...
Meanwhile i am settling, finding my way, in the house with the two guys. The people in and around it: Tim Jones; a brilliant surfer, over 50 years of experience!) and a happy, cheerful, passionate coach and very chatty and an infinite vessel of knowledge about surf and alike. Niccolo (besides Tim the other surfinstructor) from Italy; a blessing to have him around as a person and a lovely warmhearted longboarder.
And the two lovely people that seemed to have come with the house: Piyadasa the caretaker of the house and security man, and Ramani, the smiley gentle housekeeping lady and lovely cook for us.
I feel blessed.
And of course Asia living: a busy road with crazy driving (especially after dark), spicy food, mosquitos, etc etc.
Days are filled usually with a surf session and then off to get some work done; varying from waiting, web research, shopping for the house and for food, changing the garden, reconstruction work, etc. Next job is painting the outside of the house...
That's it for now,
Happy holidays, as it is after all 20 dec and i am aware that Xmass is happening soon, although is seems so far away to me....Have fun!!
Big hug, ELvira
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20 December 2015 - 13:24
Rina Oosterling, Moeder Elvira:
Hallo lieverd,
Fijn om zo deelgenoot te zijn van je ervaringen.
Het voelt dan of je dichterbij bent, net als het skypen wat we op onze trouwdag hebben gedaan.
Heel veel liefs en een knuffel van je pap en mam
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20 December 2015 - 15:14
Diana:
He Elvira,
Wat ontzettend leuk om je verhalen te lezen!
En wat balen dat je je cursus niet hebt gehaald -
20 December 2015 - 17:05
Anneke:
Leuk om wat van je te horen, ik was al reuze benieuwd hoe het met je gaat!
Geduld maar met je cursus, voor je het weet gaat het lukken, succes en liefs van Anneke -
20 December 2015 - 21:04
Betty:
Wat fijn om je zo te volgen!
Ondanks dat het hier uitzonderlijk zacht weer is voor de tijd van het jaar, is het toch niet te vergelijken met het zonnige beach sfeertje dat jij beschrijft.
(Alleen de muggen hebben we hier ook, bizar maar waar!)
Vandaag nog op Scheveningen geweest; geen golf te bekennen ;)
Succes en plezier met deze geweldige uitdaging; You Go Girl!!!
X moi
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21 December 2015 - 21:08
Sameiro:
Heey Brave one
Wat gaaf om je verhaal te lezen en je avontuur zo dichtbij te voelen. Dank je wel voor www en voor wie je bent. Heel veel Fun
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