2018 Aug 14
Whether it be for work or studies, some of us have had to leave this beautiful little island we call home and embark on the next chapter in our lives. Yet, this little island with all its quirks, will always linger at the back of our mind. It is true that our loved ones’ absence is what we will feel the most. However, once you are overseas, nostalgia hits hard. Here are five of the many things our little island has, that make people out of the country miss the land they call home:
1. Lanka’s unique cuisine (No surprises there!)
Living overseas will have you trying a variety of food, and sure the first few days it’s really exciting, but after a while you find yourself wanting a nice hot kotthu that has just left the “takata takata” stove, or the feeling of having a crispy hopper crackle away in your mouth after a long tiring day of work. Moreover, you begin to wonder how the locals in the new country enjoy their meals with very little spice. Even the so called spiciest of dishes have us Lankans questioning, “Are you even trying, bro?” Furthermore, we randomly tend to crave delicacies such as Hot Butter Calamari, ‘Roast Paan’ and even at times a packet of ‘Tipi Tip’! However, there’s absolutely no food in the world you will find that you miss more than Ammi’s cooking, served in the family dining room.
2. Tuk Tuks
Every Lankan’s friend and foe – the tuk tuk. While it may be annoying to drive alongside a series of tuk tuks, you must admit that there are no complaints when you’re the one being transported in one of them. Having travelled around in air-conditioned public trains, buses or even an Uber gets you thinking what a nice change of pace it would be once again to continuously hear the engine of a trishaw running and feel the wind gushing past your face as you scurry through traffic. After all, is there a faster, more readily available, to-your-doorstep, and cheaper way to travel a short distance in Lanka than a tuk tuk? Besides, having the opportunity to read the exceptionally mind-boggling quotes and phrases printed on other passing by tuks will surely make your day!
3. The Gentleman’s Game
Having grown up in a country that treats cricket as a religion, you will miss the hype that is associated when a series of matches is going on. Whether it is your school’s big match or an international one, the longing to be home during the match time is real. Sure, you can live-stream the match online, but any real cricket fan will know it’s simply not the same; getting together over the weekend to watch the match on television, the tactical talk sessions that you hear everywhere, from the radio to the stranger seated next to you on a bus, and most importantly – the atmosphere in the ground itself when going to spectate. The level of patriotism you feel as you see waving flags, screaming fans and the blasting papare music is overwhelming. Owing to the priority cricket has to Lankan fans, it is difficult to replicate this experience when you’re out of the country.
4. Baila!
You could break your pocket going to all sorts of clubs and parties anywhere in the world, but I can guarantee that you will not enjoy it as much if there wasn’t a baila session to top it off with. As Lankans, almost all of us know what it’s like to bust out the special dance moves and sing along with the widest of smiles on your faces when the baila comes on. You need not worry about not knowing the lyrics since everyone around you is enjoying the moment and not really paying attention anyway. Not only yourself, isn’t it an absolute delight to watch the drunk uncles out on the dance floor, enjoying too without a care in the world? The thrill and happiness that transpires when baila is played, or even sung, cannot be matched with any other kind of music in the heart of a lankan.
5. Last, and certainly not least, Public holidays!
Public holidays play a very important role in Sri Lankan calendars. Let’s be honest, as Lankans, is this not the first thing you check for as you tear away the previous month on the calendar? Due to its rich cultural diversity, Mother Lanka is the country with the second highest number of annual public holidays in the world! In addition to this, you are over the moon if you notice that these holidays fall on adjacent to the weekend. Therefore, living in a country where the working hours maybe longer and even at odd times, it is natural that you miss these extra days you get off if you were home.
