Picture of the Delegation at St. Benedicts

Patrick Devery - Last Day in Sri Lanka

Our last day in Sri Lanka has been a sad one. My girlfriend, Melissa and I visited her cooperating teacher, Sennani. We were picked up by her and took a tri-shaw to her home. I believe I can speak for Melissa when I say that it was a truly touching, yet a little uncomfortable. But after we spent several hours at her home we became comfortable. Her families home was not a posh American home. It was one level with one bathroom, one bed where the entire family slept, and a kitchen that had many flies buzzing around. I had culture shock really for the first time because our group has been pent up in hotels and western places the entire time we were here.

We have only seen glimpses of what Sri Lankan home life is like. Her family was great. Her husband was a cordial man who asked plenty of questiuons regarding America. Her children where cute little kids. One 12 year old boy, and two 8 and 4 year old girls. They loved Melissa and I. We played soccer or futbol in their dirt yard in front of the house. They fed us more than enough food. Breakfast and lunch Sri Lankan style.

Leaving them was depressing. The ride home Melissa and I could not get the images of her home and the family out our minds. It was a memorable experience. Melissa and I will be keeping in touch with the family. I hope that this relationship can blossom into something special.

A Close Look at the Effects of the Tsunami

Where does the time go. We have returned from our weekend in the
southern part of Sri Lanka and back to St. Benedicts. Our weekend was great. We were saddened to see the devistation caused by the Tsunami yet glad to witness first-hand the resiliency of the Sri Lankan people and the world humanitarian community in rebuilding this region.

The picture depicted here was one of the beaches where 15 minutes of a tectonic event originating off the coast of Sumatra caused devistation never before experienced in this small country of 20 million people.

The following are some facts and statistics on the devistation of the Tsunami:

HUMAN TOLL
• Number of fatalities: 35,322. (Source: Government of Sri Lanka, November 2005.)

• Number of IDPs: 516,150. (Source: Government of Sri Lanka, November 2005.)

• 14 out of 28 districts were affected. (Source: Government of Sri Lanka, August 2005.)

IMPACT ON VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
• 40,000 widows, orphans, elderly, and disabled individuals were left in need of long-term or permanent income support. (Source: International Labor Organization [ILO] Sri Lanka, June 2005.)

• 65 percent of men have regained some source of income and 55 percent of women have. (Source: ILO Sri Lanka, June 2005.)

DAMAGES AND LOSSES
• In the affected areas, 90 percent of working men and women lost their sources of livelihood. (Source: ILO Sri Lanka, June 2005.)

• 23,449 acres of cultivated land were affected, including 9,000 acres of paddy, 645 acres of other crop fields, 27,710 home garden units, 559 acres of vegetable farms, and 317 acres of fruit trees. (Source: Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO]; Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, August 2005.)

• 65,275 houses were completely damaged and 38,561 houses partially damaged but are still habitable. (Source: TAFREN, November 2005.)

• 16,919 fishing boats were damaged or destroyed, representing approximately 75 percent of the total fishing fleet. (Source: Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture; FAO Sri Lanka.)

• Some 100 hospitals/dispensaries, Ministry of Health offices, and health centers were completely or partially damaged. (Source: World Health Organization [WHO] Sri Lanka, August 2005.)

• A total of 195 educational facilities including universities and vocational training centers were damaged with 59 schools totally destroyed and 117 partially damaged. (Source: TAFREN, August 2005.)

• More than 60,000 wells were contaminated or destroyed. (Source: World Bank/Asian Development Bank/Japan Bank of International Cooperation, Joint Needs Assessment.)

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
• Total estimated value of damages: $1.5 billion. (Source: Joint Needs Assessment, January 2005.)

• Total estimated needs for long-term recovery: $2.15 billion.

• Total funds pledged for long-term recovery: $2.95 billion. Funds from NGOs comprise approximately $853 million of this figure. The remainder comes from multilateral and bilateral donors. (Source: External Resources Department, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Government of Sri Lanka, November 2005.)

• Total funds secured for long-term recovery: $2.24 billion. (Source: External Resources Department, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Government of Sri Lanka, November 2005.)

• Outstanding pledges (promised but not yet secured) from multilateral and bilateral donors: $710 million. (Source: External Resources Department, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Government of Sri Lanka, November 2005.)

Veronica Bickmeyer Reporting from Sri Lanka

O Sri Lanka. What to say it is so exciting and we have all been very busy. We have visited many tourist sites and spent a few days at St. Benedicts with all of the friendly students and staff. I didn't know what to expect and I am pleased with my experiences so far. I miss New York and the comforts of home, but our accomodations are very nice. I was terrified by my 3rd graders, but after spending more time with them they have gotten over the excitment and have begun to cooperate and behave. I am looking foreward to this weekend in the southern region of Sri Lnaka I hope we spend a lot of time at the beaches. Our adventure is already half way over, it has flown by very quickly.

Report: Adam in Sri Lanka

There is so much to say about Sri Lanka, I do not know where to start. I think I will write about random things about the past 10 days on the other side of the world. I have seen more than fourty elephants bathing in a river (ridden on one as well), a cobra, a scorpion, a chameleon, so many monkeys, and even walked up a mountain inhabited by killer bees. On the weekend trip to Kandy, Anarandpura, Sygiria- I must explain to you our tour guide. His name is Dudley. He is a white Sri Lankan. He has a skin disease which makes him white, yet he is as Sri Lankan as anyone else. He is the funniest little man I have ever met. He is our Yoda of Sri Lanka. He will be our guide for this weekend when we go to the southern part of the country. Hmm...what else? Milkshakes are cheap here, and very good. The soda is better here- they have a brand called Necto which is simply delicious. The students in class have told me what they know about America. Most of it revolves around rap music and wrestling. Rap music is very popular with these kids. 50 Cent eminem and all the rest- this is what they listen to. They know some popular rock, but it is not nearly as big as rap. Some of their music choices would be considered funny in America, or Europe. They know classic rock, yet they only know the Beatles, the Eagles and Abba. They have never heard of Led Zeppelin?! Aside from their lack of knowledge of Zeppelin the students are very nice. They always want us to sing. In classes I had to sing Hotel California, Let it Be and Heal the World by the world's most popular white black man- Michael Jackson. After I write this, some of the students are going to play a game of cricket with us. Oh yes! I must be going, I need to show these Sri Lankans how to hit a home run- or a 6 pointer in cricket. I hope it's snowing stories in New York.

Kelly Hartman

Sri Lanka has been an amazing experience and the group of people who have come together to experience it have been wonderful. Together we have climbed a mountain, ridden elephants, gotten massages at a spice garden, and have even visited a home in the jungle. It has been quite an adventure, nothing like I could have ever imagined. And teaching has been quite an experience here too. The kids are all quite receptive and bright and it has been really fun getting to know them. I wish we had more time here to get to know them even better and to explore the rest of the country. Tomorrow we are heading to Galle which should be wonderful. Can't wait!

Peter Smith Reporting from Sri Lanka

Today i taught my first lesson ever, Sri Lanka or anywhere else. I was very nervous going in though this was mixed with a bit of excitement. I was all set yesturday but the 8th graders were down at the school grounds doing athletics. I was suppose to be teaching in this beautiful open classroom on the bottom floor of the newest building here, but the side with the chalkboard was taken and was forced to locate a lecture hall on the 2nd floor of another building. It was strange to have my first lesson be in a large lecture style room, especially since it was only about 20 8th graders. Everything went well though. This school is so nice and all the children are very smart and eager to talk and learn from us. I look foward to teaching more classes here.

Dean Merriman's Report

Our group is having a fantastic time in Sri Lanka. I am very proud of the Manhattan College students because they have adapted so well to St. Benedict's School. On their second day at the school, they were already teaching some classes. The St. Benedict's students had many questions for our students. In our afterschool activities, we had many questions for the St. Benedict's teachers. The MC students and our hosts are both learning much about our countries and cultures. Last weekend, we toured many cultural sites in the center of Sri Lanka. Tomorrow, we will go to the southern coast and see the beautiful beaches and the area where the tsunami hit. Yesterday, all the MC students were interviewed by a newspaper reporter and we hope to see an article in the paper this Sunday. Tonight, we will go to a meeting of the St. Benedict's Alumni Society. The alumni are referred to as "Old Bens." The Old Bens have been the most gracious hosts that anyone could imagine. They had an opening banquet for us at a private club and will have a final banquet next Friday. I hope that St. Benedict's has benefitted from our visit as much as the MC students have benefitted from the wonderful hospitality and education about the beautiful country and people of Sri Lanka.

Patrick Devery reporting from Sri Lanka

So Much to tell and not enough time. First, I just want any readers to know that we are very safe and have not felt threatened. The people are curtious, kind, overly generous, and always wear a smile. We have been catered to since we jumped off the plane. Working at St. Ben's the past three days has been a learning experience.

The Manhattan delegates have been teamed up with the St. Ben's teachers and students. The St. Ben's teachers are much different than teachers from the states. They lecture more and use less student interaction activities. Students are extremely respectful of the teachers. They do not call teachers by their last name. Instead they say "Teacher". Also they say "godbless" when you leave.

The students demanded our autogragh upon leaving the class. It was if we were movie stars. Unbelievable! They also want the delegates phone numbers and addresses. I have a feeling we will be keeping in close contact with the St. Ben's students and teachers. My cooperating teacher is a friendly woman who went to college in India. Her name is Mrs. Sashikala. Some of her methods are quite different than mine. Like telling misbehaving students to stand up for an extended period of time. Also she smacked at student with a ruler lightly for talking. It is in their culture.


I do not think it is a bad thing, just different. The students, who are males, are especially receptive to the girls. Melody, Melissa, Meg, Christina, Kelly, Katie, Veronica, and Erin have been making plenty of friends duing the week. The young boys at St. Ben's are friendly and ask very interesting questions about our culture and country. One boy asked me if I knew what Knight Rider was. The show with David Hasselhoff. I could not believe some of the things they knew and did not know. Yesterday I played basketball with the studnets after school. They need some work. But it was all fun and games.

Anyway, I hope more people post comments and ask questions. I would like to answer any questions that are posted. Thanks for viewing.

Patrick Devery's Blog

Saturday.....Waking up to a mountain top hotel. Our Hotel was perched on a mountain top in Kandy. It was beautiful. Our day started with a stop at a porcelain factory called Noritake. We saw the manufacturing process and how they molded shaped and fired the china. After the the factory we went to Sigiriya mountain. This mountain was famous for the ancient King and his palace form the fifty century. The walks up took about an hour and was grueling for some. The views were gorgeous. Next we went a short safari on elephants in the jungle. What a ride. I rode the neck of tour elephant, Karuna. I will Post pictures later.

First Day at St. Benedicts

We are back from our weekend excursion to Kandy and Sigiriya in central Sri Lanka. This past weekend we saw many historical sites including many Buddhist temples. We had the opportunity to compare country life to the urban environment that we landed in last week.
I have tried to upload some pictures (we have hundreds) but so far our efforts have been unsuccessful. The Sri Lankan people have been warm and friendly. We could not ask more of our hosts. They have gone to extreme legnths to make our stay a pleasant one.

The Manhattan College students are now deployed to their assigned classes at St. Benedicts and I am awaiting lunch time where many interesting stories will be exchanged. Our students will be writing blog entries this week as their time allows. That is all for now. Keep looking for more news from Manhattan College in Sri Lanka.

We have been so busy

The last 2 days have been a worldwind of activity. Yesterday we visited St. Bens for the first time. We were given our tour of St. Benedicts by Brother Granville, the director. We then met the teachers in the large auditorium area where we broke up into groups to exchange information.



In the afternoon we visited another St. Joseph's College. This was a beautiful campus located right by the ocean. With our Old Ben's representative we then journeyed to a "Food City" where we purchased groceries. The weather here has been in the 90's and extremely humid. In the evening we journied to the Capri Club in downtown Colombo where we were the guest of Mr. DudleyThambinayagam.