On Strike

DSC04185
Originally uploaded by Rob@SFU.

Well the university went on strike this week. The black flags you can see represent the striking workers. Strikes here are very different. There are no picket lines set up and the workers still get paid. They just don't show up to work. They shut off our water and power every now and again but there isn't a real urgency to get things solved. Very interesting...

Friendly Vendors

Friendly Vendors
Originally uploaded by Rob@SFU.

More photos available on Flickr
here

So the government sort of collapsed today. It’s a long story but the short version is this.
Billions of dollars in aid money has been given to Sri Lanka for the Tsunami recovery – yes, the one that was almost 6 months ago – but it won’t be handed over until the government agrees to a plan of how the money is going to be distributed. One party who hold a number of seats in the government threatened to resign if the President signs the agreement as they believe it will both add huge funds to the rebel government in the north and also acknowledge that they are a formal government. So the President is caught between saying no to billions of dollars or potentially throwing the country into a civil war. Things were very quiet last night as most people expected a curfew would be imposed so they stayed off the streets. There are even more military and police than usual and everyone is a little tense. The party who are pulling out control all the trade unions so they are threatening to shut off the water and power to the country. Interesting times to say the least. Today the Universities were also on strike for a completely different reason. Sad. Interestingly, when unions strike here they still get paid for the days they are on strike. I should add that we’re very safe so that isn’t a concern at all. I think there is a lot of fear mongering going on by all parties involved. The government wants the public to think that if there is huge problem that it is the fault of those who resigned. The President released a statement that was strongly worded, stating "The Marxists "will have to bare the responsibility for any adverse repercussions this decision may have on the country,". Then those who resigned want the public to believe
that the President has put the country in jeopardy by negotiating with the LTTE. It's a mess.

The Canadian Consulate in Colombo is in a luxurious house in a swanky part of town. I’d heard and then experienced first hand that the people who run the social club are a bunch of idiots, embarrassing really. We went to a social last month at the house. I had heard from another Canadian working in Colombo that you could use the pool so I asked who I had to speak to about finding out the rules and times etc. I was directed to the chair of the social committee who is the wife of some third rate civil servant. So I introduced myself and then asked what the rules were for using the facilities (a huge air conditioned gym and then the pool). This social committee (anti-social committee) chair then gets all puffed up and starts telling me about her life in Colombo and how she lives next door but has her driver drive her next door when it is really hot out blah blah blah. I may have gotten off on the wrong foot when I mentioned what a waste of time that was as every car has to be searched inside and out (mirrors on poles looking under the car). Anyway, she went on to tell me all about how you had to ask the right person because the facilities were for Consulate staff only. She went on and on about how you had to sweet talk the right person blah blah blah and that they might consider letting a non-staff member use the pool – not the gym, just the pool. I wanted to say something that ended in YOU, but was a bit more polite. I refused to kow tow to some non-consulate staff member who thinks she wields all the power of who can use the pool so I played dumb and didn’t ask her. I changed the subject to ask about a Canada Day party and was told it was only for staff and their families. Can you believe that! Oh I was mad. Still am! They
are off my Christmas list! AND when I open the Tim Hortons here I will NOT
give them free refills in their Tim Mugs! I may try to show up at the gate with my military ID and see if they’ll let me in. I’ll let you know if it works… I may take an Oh Henry bar or two with me (Thanks for the good idea Carl!).

Anybody reading this?

Hi there, if anyone is reading this ever drop me a note - you have my email address likely :-) Just curious.... Rob

Shopping Spree Winner!

Shopping Spree Winner!
Originally uploaded by Rob@SFU.

I was at this new mall near where I live today because
there was a grand opening celebration. Last night when I was at the
grocery store the manager told me to come back today as there were
going to be contests and prizes etc.. So I ended up there and entered
two contests. The first was to count the fish in four of the five HUGE
fish tanks they have. The tanks are about 10' X 10' X 5' and have
varying sized fish. Counting them was a bit problematic as there are a
lot so without the help of Sophie (mom and dad used to have a schnauzer that loved fish in ponds and tanks) I made my best
guesses and submitted my entry. I also entered a contest where you are
given a list of grocery items and you compete against one other team
to see who can get the most items. My number was drawn so down I went
(the party was in the food court on the 5th floor and the grocery
store is on the first floor). So my competition was two young ladies
who were eager shoppers. They were racing around the store working
together but the manager was helping me out as much as he could, it
was being filmed by the local tv station so he had to be careful!
Anyway, I ended up with 8 of the 20 listed items and they ended up
with 7. But then I learned that it wasn't a competition just with them
but you had to be the overall winner to win. I was let down. I hung
around anyway to hear the results of the fish count and found I had
lost so I decided to get a freshly squeezed mango drink. I only had a
1000 Rupee note on me and the juice place couldn't change it so I told
the guy to make the drink and I would get change from the grocery
store on the first floor. I was waiting at the elevator when the news
anchor got off, she asked where I was going as I should stick around…
So I waited only to learn that I wasn't the third place winner, or the
second place winner, but THE winner!! I won 2000.00 Rupees PLUS all
the 8 items! Not to mention all the glory of beating the locals in
their own shop J The news anchor made a big deal that a foreigner had
come in and cleaned up. Lots of fun! I walked for miles today to go to
the tourism board to find out about trains out of the city only to
find the office closed – they advertised it being open until noon on
Saturdays… Anyway, that is my day so far!