You may be wondering what exactly I’m doing in Sri Lanka, why I am here, what my raison d’etre is. I hope this post clarifies some of these FAQs.

Sri Lanka is something else. I’ve lived in foreign countries before, on my own, and with study abroad—so it’s nothing I’m not used to. I think most of all, though, is that this is the first time I’m living overseas on my own for an extended period of time. It’s definitely fun and exciting and I’m enjoying all of it. Just last night there was a Diwali celebration on the street outside our house. it’s basically like this long parade with banging drums, dancing and fireworks—you know the kind of drums in Lord of the Rings when the gremlins come up with their cave troll in the mines of Moria. THUMP THUMP THUMP.

From the way tuk tuks/3 wheelers have meters and the their obeisance to traffic signals, to cuisine and culture, Sri Lanka is different from India in many stark. It’s more than that people don’t generally try to rip you off that makes Sri Lanka “India Lite.” There’s something about the “feel” here. Comparing cultures is always a game of apples to oranges, but if one thing’s for sure, it sure as hell isn’t India. I do have to remind myself not to over-compare, as that becomes droll.

My reason for coming to Sri Lanka, the impetus for this sojourn, is Sheela. The rest, I figured, would fall into place. It has, surprisingly seamlessly. Within a few weeks I have found a steady “occupation” (working on my visa is a no-go), if you catch my drift, and I have found writing time to work on a book about the Bengal Gazette, the first newspaper in Asia. I’m in Colombo here with Discover Borderlands. Salary is $230/month as a copywriter for their website, but that goes a long way when my rent is only $96 a month.

I hope to complete this book project sometime within the next year or two. Saying I am writing a book as an occupation is not something I have been comfortable with—it is kind of something I have felt defensive about—I would have to explain my project to people even when I’m not too sure about it myself. Moreover, how do I actually make 18th century English?, which is my whole point. In addition to both of these things, I have been taking Sinhalese classes with the great teacher Michael Meyler so I’ve been kept very busy.

I’ve applied for a Fulbright to do research on British Colonial Newspapers and the Bengal Renaissance in Calcutta, so fingers crossed for next year if I’m lucky enough to be accepted!

Enough writing for now. The midday heat is coming on, and things slow down due to its overbearingness. Over and out, folks.