Sri Lanka - Entry 4

After lunch, I made plans with Pat to go swimming at the Hilton athletic club and Khamal kindly offered to show me a bookstore where I might be able to purchase a tourist book of Iran. I rode in a "took-took," a marvelous little golf cart type vehicles which ferry people around the streets of Sri Lanka, to the Hilton. Pat had not yet arrived, and since the non-member fee was 600 rupees, I just sat near the reception desk and enjoyed the breeze for a while. Soon, Pat arrived and we swam some laps in the large outdoor pool.

I noticed a Mother and three young Asian children, who I realized were Koreans. I remarked to the woman that her children were quite cute, but I was quick to add that I had taught young children in Korea. I think that I wanted to give her some sense of assurance that I was not a pedophile. I tried to say "annyong" to the little kids, but they looked a bit scared and did not respond to me.

After a few more laps, Pat and I sat in the loungers and discussed Buddhist philosophy (which is her specialty and the subject that she teaches). It was probably the most easygoing discussion that I had ever had and I found that we seemed to agree with each other on all points.

Pat left to buy wine and French bread for dinner and I dove into the pool to swim a few more laps. I noticed that there was a cute tan girl who looked Sinhalese, swimming laps and periodically looking at me. I would swim a lap and relax by the pool edge and she would swim over and stand about five feet from me. Then she would swim to the other side and relax by the pool edge and soon I would swim over and stand five feet from her.
We continued this bizarre ritual for several minutes before I asked her if she was Sinhalese. She seemed put off by this comment and responded with a pert "I'm tan. I'm white," and with that, she swam off to the other side of the pool. I swam a few more laps and when I stopped, I found her again, standing five feet from me.

"Yes, now that I have taken off my goggles, I realize that you are white. Just very tan" I remarked.

She laughed and we began to chat. After a few minutes, she told me that she was sixteen and I responded by emphatically blaring the word "really," not so much like a question, but more like a statement from a high tone to a low tone instead of vice versa. She laughed and asked me how old I thought she was and I said nineteen. It was then that I decided the time had come for me to return home.