Friday, July 14, 2006

The Sri Lankan Peachtree Race

On July 4, 2006, the three of us who constituted the WRBC Tsunami team carried an Atlanta tradition to the other side of the world, literally. We had been serving in Ambelangoda, Sri Lanka for a week at this point and we were chatting about the Peachtree Road Race, which is held every year in Atlanta on Independence Day. Lamenting the fact that we were not able to celebrate the 4th of July with family and friends, we decided to run the 6.2 miles in solidarity with our brothers and sisters back in Atlanta who were walking, jogging and running thousands of miles away. The torrential rains of late-monsoon season did not deter us, as we completed the 10 K around the time that Atlanta was kicking off its perennial competition.

In an area of the country that does not see a lot of Americans, we drew immediate attention as we jogged through the crowded streets. Our warm smiles and friendly waves elicited commensurate responses from the Sri Lankan onlookers. As we ran through the crowded streets of Ambelangoda, amidst Tuk-Tuks, motorcycles and passenger buses, I felt like we were ambassadors of good will to the people of Sri Lanka. Everybody was smiling and waving as we ran through the villages and countryside. Kids gave us high-fives and everyone wanted to know where we were from. It was an experience I will cherish for years to come. Peace.

<< Home