For those of you who don't know I traveled to Sri Lanka for 2 1/2 months over the fall semester. Okay, wait? Did you hear what I just said, TWO & a HALF months! Can you imagine having to pack AS A GIRL for 2 and a half months... AND having to keep in mind of the culture difference and NEW attire I'd have to wear for volunteering. When I tell you my suitcase was well WAY OVER its weight limit... ya girl paid the money because I had already gone through and re-gone through everything in my case.. but I absolutely needed everything in it AND to my own surprise I actually used everything I brought (when does that actually happen lol) and even ended up with not enough culturally appropriate clothes and had to buy more. Haha, I did leave many of things there for other volunteers to use so packing to come back home was much less stressfull and my suitcase actually zipped shut.
Sri Lankan attire is very different from how we dress here in America.
Because my experience wasn't just a travel opportunity & vacation, myself and the rest of the girls whom I lived with and took part in the organization had to dress modest & appropriate in honor of the Sri Lankan culture & religious preferences.
For work (volunteering) the SLV Organization wears long pants, a button up collared shirt, and covering all tattoos. We were to have no visible tattoos due to the Sri Lankan culture they are a sign of criminal activity. So crazy, right? One thing I thought was odd was that we were to wear sandals or toms only to work everyday. However, sandals meaning NOT flip flops because they were seen as unprofessional. It still seems silly to me but only because I grew up in America and sandals are unprofessional. BUT honestly it was so hot in Sri Lanka it was nice to wear sandals.
During the weekends as long as we were in a touristy area we were allowed to wear what we pleased. We would cover back up for our journey's home to be culturally appropriate for when returned. Following these rules were so important because we were there to volunteer, and we wanted to have the upmost respect from the locals.
The last week of my journey in Sri Lanka came and the organization threw a beautiful graduation party where all volunteers wear Sari's the traditional woman's attire in Sri Lanka. It was one of my bests nights in the country filled with music, food, and beautiful people. One day I plan to return to the beautiful country.
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