Okay, I think that I was mistaken. Anyway, stage 2 of 3 is almost over. My classes are coming to a close, my papers are due, the dance/drum performance is soon, and I'm organizing independant study. For those of you who haven't heard, I'm going to be doing it on Angampora, a native Sri Lankan martial art. It was taught and practiced since ancient times by the soldiers, with certain styles reserved for princes and royalty. In some periods of history, it was also practiced as a blood sport in gladiatorial arenas. The style includes both armed and unarmed combat. In ancient times there were 21 weapon styles, but due to Colonial interference most of the weapon styles were lost. Now, weapons are mostly restricted to the sword, dagger, staff, spear, and serrated whip.
When the British finally conquered the Kandian Kingdom (the last part of Sri Lanka to be conquered), they outlawed the practice of angampora. Anyone caught teaching or practicing was shot in the kneecap, so the art had to be continued in secret, mostly along family lines. Only recently has it re-emerged, and I've found a couple of teachers that I can learn from.
I'll be spending part of my time in the village of Dewalegama, and part of my time staying just outside of Columbo and commuting in, as long as safety permits. I'll be checking regularly with the embassy on that one, and my program director and everyone at ISLE has contacts all over the place, and they have a careful eye on the situation, so...yeah. I should be fine. I don't want to get intimidated by the situation here. I'll keep a very careful eye on the situation, and be hyper-vigilant and aware of my surroundings. But...you have to live life. As I was telling Ben (my brother), if you're born and you're alive, you run the distinct risk of dying someday. But that doesn't stop you from living. Even if you had a choice of whether or not to be born, I hope you would choose to. Just so, you need to live life to the fullest, as long as you're not a damn fool and do something completely reckless for little gain. Anyway: Pictures! (from the cultural triangle tour)

This is why we didn't go all the way up to the lion's paws in Siigiria. About 20 German tourists were up there singing at the top of their lungs. Nice sign though, no?

Monitor lizard. Very, very cool. I want one of these in my bathroom.