4:30 PM March 3, 2009 – Colombo Sri Lank

As I walked off the airplane, I was quickly ushered through immigration, and my bags were the first to arrive at baggage claim. I found the customs office empty, and walked out of the airport with my 30-day visa in all of about 15 – 20 minutes. I was met by 20 or so taxi drivers, all eager to take me to their favorite hotel… for a small cut back to be sure. There were several disappointed faces when I explained that family was picking me up. At first, the traffic situation seemed nothing short of stochastic and life-threatening. As Therese skillfully navigated the weaving busses, cars, motorcycles, pedestrians, and cows – I began to appreciate a method to the madness. I couldn’t believe the number of near misses.

The island is hot, humid, and very tropical. Lush vegetation attempts to take over buildings and roads. Construction is done in such a way that one can’t tell if something is being built, or torn down… it all looked the same. Piles of burning trash would line the road where people may be improvising a roadside kitchen. Dogs line every driveway, and have an uncanny habit of all looking exactly alike. The occasional shanty intermixed with permanent buildings would show families living in the most meager of circumstances. On first impression, I felt that Sri Lanka was unlike anything I had ever experienced, and yet exactly what I was looking for.

The Lotus Buds compound is beautifully built in homestead fashion. Almost every room at the house has an outdoor/indoor garden. I have my own room with bathroom and ceiling fan. The power cuts in and out during the day, but we have wireless internet. Big perk. Lunch today was some of the best curry I have every had. Yes… they have a cow.

Tomorrow I am going to go to the CCS headquarters, and eventually meet Dr. Steve – the medical director. I am catching wind of a project they might have me working on. CCS has recently started a new program helping guide most all the children’s homes in Sri Lanka. The now 700 kids in this network do not have healthcare and no monitoring of development. They need a medical charting system to make sure kids are getting screened through well-child checks and not failing to meet milestones or suffer malnutrition. I’m guessing that in addition to clinical medicine, this will be an opportunity to implement some basic public health infrastructure to help meet the primary care needs of this rapidly growing child-orphan population.

More to come.