University of Ruhuna

Jenise and I are having a great time working with the teachers and the students at the University of Ruhuna here in Matara, Sri Lanka.

Ocean view from campus

Monkey on the roof

The University Campus is beautifully designed by a famous Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. The buildings are tiered up the side of a steep hill with magnificent views of the ocean from almost every building. Monkeys and wild peacocks perch on the red tile roof tops calling to you to watch them.

Another ocean view from campus

Every day we walk the one km. to the campus and up the hill to our units, stopping under the shade of a tree at the top to drink some water and revive before we head inside into the rather hot and sticky rooms. Along the way students say hello and then giggle with their friends when we greet them back, making us feel like we have celebrate status.

Students on their way to class

Jenise works in the English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) and I work in the Career Guidance Unit (CGU). Jenise has the very difficult job of reforming the ELTU completely and is making great progress working with the teachers and administrators. I am working with the two Career Advisors, one of whom had a baby on December 3 and will be gone until March. Besides doing workshops on job interviewing and resume writing I helped organize a Job Fair for 350 students with only 8 companies attending. Needless to say there was speed interviewing going on.

Margaret with student at Job Fair

Margaret working with a student at the Job Fair

The students love to practice their English and quiz me about American culture, like why do so many people have guns in the US? Not easy to answer. I also get lectures from them on Buddhism and University systems. Not easy to understand.

Jenise and the head of her unit

Job Fair Student Committee Members

Everyone is so kind to us. The woman I work with, Sujeewa bought me a sari and had her mother make me a blouse for it so I could wear it at the Job Fair. Her mother is also found of making me lunch, rice and curry that comes wrapped in a banana leaf and then newspaper which keeps it warm until noon.

Staff and Students Margaret works with