so I grew up on a small island now in this island there was a beach that I’d
this island there was a beach that I’d
this island there was a beach that I’d used to go to
used to go to
used to go to now this Beach was filled with seashells
now this Beach was filled with seashells
now this Beach was filled with seashells and some of those seashells but very
and some of those seashells but very
and some of those seashells but very interesting and those ones I’d pick up
interesting and those ones I’d pick up
interesting and those ones I’d pick up you see every seashell that I picked up
you see every seashell that I picked up
you see every seashell that I picked up was like learning something new gaining
was like learning something new gaining
was like learning something new gaining a new experience if you will of course I
a new experience if you will of course I
a new experience if you will of course I was only a little kid back then so that
was only a little kid back then so that
was only a little kid back then so that Beach that I’d used to go to as a child
Beach that I’d used to go to as a child
Beach that I’d used to go to as a child was as far as I was concerned it my
was as far as I was concerned it my
was as far as I was concerned it my border if you will of course I’ve grown
border if you will of course I’ve grown
border if you will of course I’ve grown a lot since then and as I’ve grown I’ve
a lot since then and as I’ve grown I’ve
a lot since then and as I’ve grown I’ve learned and as I’ve learned I’ve been
learned and as I’ve learned I’ve been
learned and as I’ve learned I’ve been able to erase a lot of these
able to erase a lot of these
able to erase a lot of these misconceptions so today ladies and gents
misconceptions so today ladies and gents
misconceptions so today ladies and gents I’d like to take you all through a
I’d like to take you all through a
I’d like to take you all through a journey across some of the borders that
journey across some of the borders that
journey across some of the borders that I have been privileged to cross now I
I have been privileged to cross now I
I have been privileged to cross now I use the word privileged because it’s not
use the word privileged because it’s not
use the word privileged because it’s not easy for someone like me to travel of
easy for someone like me to travel of
easy for someone like me to travel of course there’s a big problem of getting
course there’s a big problem of getting
course there’s a big problem of getting across that big blue sea but there’s
across that big blue sea but there’s
across that big blue sea but there’s also this which is my passport
also this which is my passport
also this which is my passport you see I hold a Sri Lankan passport and
you see I hold a Sri Lankan passport and
you see I hold a Sri Lankan passport and if you rank this passport amongst all
if you rank this passport amongst all
if you rank this passport amongst all the other types it comes in at 186 now
the other types it comes in at 186 now
the other types it comes in at 186 now the problems worse because there’s only
the problems worse because there’s only
the problems worse because there’s only about 200 countries out there so it
about 200 countries out there so it
about 200 countries out there so it doesn’t help me much at all if I want to
doesn’t help me much at all if I want to
doesn’t help me much at all if I want to travel there’s often a long tedious visa
travel there’s often a long tedious visa
travel there’s often a long tedious visa process that often ends with me pulling
process that often ends with me pulling
process that often ends with me pulling a few hairs but why was this the case
a few hairs but why was this the case
a few hairs but why was this the case why was my Sri Lankan passport rank so
why was my Sri Lankan passport rank so
why was my Sri Lankan passport rank so poorly you see to answer this we rewind
poorly you see to answer this we rewind
poorly you see to answer this we rewind back a bit to when I was born so I was
back a bit to when I was born so I was
back a bit to when I was born so I was born in the midst of a civil war a
born in the midst of a civil war a
born in the midst of a civil war a gruesome war that endured for 30 long
gruesome war that endured for 30 long
gruesome war that endured for 30 long years and entire industries like tourism
years and entire industries like tourism
years and entire industries like tourism in which both my parents happen to work
in which both my parents happen to work
in which both my parents happen to work in suffered and life became hard see the
in suffered and life became hard see the
in suffered and life became hard see the war was essentially
war was essentially
war was essentially about drawing a line within the country
about drawing a line within the country
about drawing a line within the country building a wall but what it did
building a wall but what it did
building a wall but what it did inadvertently was made the existing line
inadvertently was made the existing line
inadvertently was made the existing line my seashell field Beach thicker and
my seashell field Beach thicker and
my seashell field Beach thicker and harder to cross but what could we do
harder to cross but what could we do
harder to cross but what could we do about it how could we make life better
about it how could we make life better
about it how could we make life better to give you an idea of what life was
to give you an idea of what life was
to give you an idea of what life was like back then let me tell you about a
like back then let me tell you about a
like back then let me tell you about a birthday present that I once received
birthday present that I once received
birthday present that I once received for my birthday I received an eraser now
for my birthday I received an eraser now
for my birthday I received an eraser now that’s all my parents could afford at
that’s all my parents could afford at
that’s all my parents could afford at the time and I didn’t know its cost but
the time and I didn’t know its cost but
the time and I didn’t know its cost but its value was immeasurable to me it
its value was immeasurable to me it
its value was immeasurable to me it could have just as easily been a
could have just as easily been a
could have just as easily been a PlayStation 4 and it didn’t seem to do
PlayStation 4 and it didn’t seem to do
PlayStation 4 and it didn’t seem to do much but oh it could erase lines so I
much but oh it could erase lines so I
much but oh it could erase lines so I was a pretty excited kid back then but
was a pretty excited kid back then but
was a pretty excited kid back then but luckily things did get better so before
luckily things did get better so before
luckily things did get better so before long I had an opportunity to go overseas
long I had an opportunity to go overseas
long I had an opportunity to go overseas and this is when I met with this strange
and this is when I met with this strange
and this is when I met with this strange yet amazing machine it was big it was
yet amazing machine it was big it was
yet amazing machine it was big it was white ladies and gents I had seen an
white ladies and gents I had seen an
white ladies and gents I had seen an aircraft for the first time in my life
aircraft for the first time in my life
aircraft for the first time in my life now being the little kid I still didn’t
now being the little kid I still didn’t
now being the little kid I still didn’t understand how this works so how does it
understand how this works so how does it
understand how this works so how does it work how does it fly
work how does it fly
work how does it fly wait a second can I fly it I would ask
wait a second can I fly it I would ask
wait a second can I fly it I would ask my mom and her trying to explain to me
my mom and her trying to explain to me
my mom and her trying to explain to me she would tell me that this large bus of
she would tell me that this large bus of
she would tell me that this large bus of sorts would be able to take us places
sorts would be able to take us places
sorts would be able to take us places places where the food was different I
places where the food was different I
places where the food was different I was told places where the people were
was told places where the people were
was told places where the people were different places where life was better
different places where life was better
different places where life was better because there was no war so it’s then
because there was no war so it’s then
because there was no war so it’s then that I realized that no matter how great
that I realized that no matter how great
that I realized that no matter how great a wall someone builds this aircraft
a wall someone builds this aircraft
a wall someone builds this aircraft thing could simply hop over so drawing
thing could simply hop over so drawing
thing could simply hop over so drawing the link there I kind of knew what I
the link there I kind of knew what I
the link there I kind of knew what I wanted for my next birthday so in all of
wanted for my next birthday so in all of
wanted for my next birthday so in all of this we were boarding the aircraft and I
this we were boarding the aircraft and I
this we were boarding the aircraft and I realized my mom actually failed to
realized my mom actually failed to
realized my mom actually failed to explain to me how it actually flew so I
explain to me how it actually flew so I
explain to me how it actually flew so I kept pestering her and then she kind of
kept pestering her and then she kind of
kept pestering her and then she kind of settled for the easier answer it’s a lot
settled for the easier answer it’s a lot
settled for the easier answer it’s a lot of very important magic now shut up and
of very important magic now shut up and
of very important magic now shut up and buckle up
buckle up
buckle up stake
stake
stake right you I said okay I had to listen to
right you I said okay I had to listen to
right you I said okay I had to listen to Mum anyway
Mum anyway
Mum anyway undeterred to find this magic behind
undeterred to find this magic behind
undeterred to find this magic behind flight many years later I got my
flight many years later I got my
flight many years later I got my passport stamped I hopped on an aircraft
passport stamped I hopped on an aircraft
passport stamped I hopped on an aircraft and I flew off to Melbourne Australia
and I flew off to Melbourne Australia
and I flew off to Melbourne Australia now of course when you travel at such a
now of course when you travel at such a
now of course when you travel at such a young age you’d have people calling you
young age you’d have people calling you
young age you’d have people calling you up and saying beware of culture shock so
up and saying beware of culture shock so
up and saying beware of culture shock so I said okay and what did I do
I said okay and what did I do
I said okay and what did I do I downloaded an app on my phone and all
I downloaded an app on my phone and all
I downloaded an app on my phone and all it did it was it converted Sri Lankan
it did it was it converted Sri Lankan
it did it was it converted Sri Lankan rupees to Australian dollars that should
rupees to Australian dollars that should
rupees to Australian dollars that should do it I thought to myself and luckily
do it I thought to myself and luckily
do it I thought to myself and luckily for the most part it did it was okay
for the most part it did it was okay
for the most part it did it was okay going to Australia was essentially like
going to Australia was essentially like
going to Australia was essentially like little me going to a whole new beach
little me going to a whole new beach
little me going to a whole new beach there were so many opportunities and
there were so many opportunities and
there were so many opportunities and experiences lying there ready for me to
experiences lying there ready for me to
experiences lying there ready for me to just pick up like seashells whether it
just pick up like seashells whether it
just pick up like seashells whether it was the simple things that fascinated me
was the simple things that fascinated me
was the simple things that fascinated me like waterproof plastic money or the
like waterproof plastic money or the
like waterproof plastic money or the more serious stuff like the strict gun
more serious stuff like the strict gun
more serious stuff like the strict gun laws they’re enforced which have been
laws they’re enforced which have been
laws they’re enforced which have been very successful
very successful
very successful they had a brilliant legal system and it
they had a brilliant legal system and it
they had a brilliant legal system and it truly earned its rank as the second
truly earned its rank as the second
truly earned its rank as the second highest in human development but after
highest in human development but after
highest in human development but after this experience I was hungry for more so
this experience I was hungry for more so
this experience I was hungry for more so I gathered a bunch of my friends or
I gathered a bunch of my friends or
I gathered a bunch of my friends or other mates and signed up for a study
other mates and signed up for a study
other mates and signed up for a study program abroad so you know the drill I
program abroad so you know the drill I
program abroad so you know the drill I have to staff my past but every single
have to staff my past but every single
have to staff my past but every single time I hop on a plane and this time I
time I hop on a plane and this time I
time I hop on a plane and this time I was off to Nanjing in China of course I
was off to Nanjing in China of course I
was off to Nanjing in China of course I had met more people by now so more
had met more people by now so more
had met more people by now so more people would call me up to say beware of
people would call me up to say beware of
people would call me up to say beware of culture shock and it was three times
culture shock and it was three times
culture shock and it was three times loud I kid you not so what did I do
loud I kid you not so what did I do
loud I kid you not so what did I do I do what I did last time but instead of
I do what I did last time but instead of
I do what I did last time but instead of one i download three translation apps
one i download three translation apps
one i download three translation apps that should surely do it that should
that should surely do it that should
that should surely do it that should make me a Chinese scholar I thought oh
make me a Chinese scholar I thought oh
make me a Chinese scholar I thought oh boy was I wrong
boy was I wrong
boy was I wrong see this is what happened on my first
see this is what happened on my first
see this is what happened on my first night there so I ran across the road to
night there so I ran across the road to
night there so I ran across the road to the grocery store I typed what I wanted
the grocery store I typed what I wanted
the grocery store I typed what I wanted in English press play it set it out in
in English press play it set it out in
in English press play it set it out in Chinese before you know it I’m back in
Chinese before you know it I’m back in
Chinese before you know it I’m back in my room with three essential
my room with three essential
my room with three essential items bread butter and milk so let’s
items bread butter and milk so let’s
items bread butter and milk so let’s dine right I open up the box of butter
dine right I open up the box of butter
dine right I open up the box of butter and I realized something the butter is
and I realized something the butter is
and I realized something the butter is liquid see I had bought oil didn’t do
liquid see I had bought oil didn’t do
liquid see I had bought oil didn’t do too well it’s okay
too well it’s okay
too well it’s okay so I just took the bread out try to
so I just took the bread out try to
so I just took the bread out try to slice Oh I had bought cake not bread no
slice Oh I had bought cake not bread no
slice Oh I had bought cake not bread no I wasn’t doing too well but I still had
I wasn’t doing too well but I still had
I wasn’t doing too well but I still had the good ole wholesome milk to get me
the good ole wholesome milk to get me
the good ole wholesome milk to get me through the night so I opened up the
through the night so I opened up the
through the night so I opened up the carton take a big gulp see it was a lot
carton take a big gulp see it was a lot
carton take a big gulp see it was a lot thicker than milk I had bought yogurt
thicker than milk I had bought yogurt
thicker than milk I had bought yogurt thinking it was milk luckily I had
thinking it was milk luckily I had
thinking it was milk luckily I had swiped and I pulled from the aircraft on
swiped and I pulled from the aircraft on
swiped and I pulled from the aircraft on the way so I didn’t actually starve that
the way so I didn’t actually starve that
the way so I didn’t actually starve that night but it was evident that me and my
night but it was evident that me and my
night but it was evident that me and my friends had to get basic Mandarin
friends had to get basic Mandarin
friends had to get basic Mandarin lessons and this is interesting because
lessons and this is interesting because
lessons and this is interesting because this is the first time that I was forced
this is the first time that I was forced
this is the first time that I was forced to learn a new skill or pick up a
to learn a new skill or pick up a
to learn a new skill or pick up a seashell of that sort I was it was
seashell of that sort I was it was
seashell of that sort I was it was necessary for survival but it was
necessary for survival but it was
necessary for survival but it was interesting because before you know it
interesting because before you know it
interesting because before you know it we were out in the market screaming tie
we were out in the market screaming tie
we were out in the market screaming tie gala it’s too expensive and trying to
gala it’s too expensive and trying to
gala it’s too expensive and trying to bargain down the prices or in our spare
bargain down the prices or in our spare
bargain down the prices or in our spare time we’d be learning more useful
time we’d be learning more useful
time we’d be learning more useful phrases for day-to-day life like Neha or
phrases for day-to-day life like Neha or
phrases for day-to-day life like Neha or sequin vain you anyway
sequin vain you anyway
sequin vain you anyway it’s interesting how all this ties up
it’s interesting how all this ties up
it’s interesting how all this ties up because in learning Chinese I had a
because in learning Chinese I had a
because in learning Chinese I had a local friend and one day as friends do
local friend and one day as friends do
local friend and one day as friends do we sat down to share a meal now during
we sat down to share a meal now during
we sat down to share a meal now during this time I was trying to tell her about
this time I was trying to tell her about
this time I was trying to tell her about that beach that I’d used to go to as a
that beach that I’d used to go to as a
that beach that I’d used to go to as a little child all those three shells that
little child all those three shells that
little child all those three shells that I’d pick up but I realized something she
I’d pick up but I realized something she
I’d pick up but I realized something she wasn’t quite getting the picture you see
wasn’t quite getting the picture you see
wasn’t quite getting the picture you see in all her life she had never seen a
in all her life she had never seen a
in all her life she had never seen a beach this is a map of Sri Lanka and if
beach this is a map of Sri Lanka and if
beach this is a map of Sri Lanka and if you put this outline to scale against
you put this outline to scale against
you put this outline to scale against the outline of China that’s what it
the outline of China that’s what it
the outline of China that’s what it looks like from where she was she could
looks like from where she was she could
looks like from where she was she could have traveled for days on end and not
have traveled for days on end and not
have traveled for days on end and not reached her own country’s border let
reached her own country’s border let
reached her own country’s border let alone a beach on the East Coast see it’s
alone a beach on the East Coast see it’s
alone a beach on the East Coast see it’s only then that I gained a true sense of
only then that I gained a true sense of
only then that I gained a true sense of appreciation
appreciation
appreciation for that Beach that had so easily go to
for that Beach that had so easily go to
for that Beach that had so easily go to as a child eventually she did manage to
as a child eventually she did manage to
as a child eventually she did manage to overcome her country’s borders and I had
overcome her country’s borders and I had
overcome her country’s borders and I had returned back to Melbourne and finally
returned back to Melbourne and finally
returned back to Melbourne and finally learnt the magic behind flight so then I
learnt the magic behind flight so then I
learnt the magic behind flight so then I thought I’d done it when I scored an
thought I’d done it when I scored an
thought I’d done it when I scored an internship to yet another country so of
internship to yet another country so of
internship to yet another country so of course stamped my passport hop on a
course stamped my passport hop on a
course stamped my passport hop on a plane and this time I was off to Hamburg
plane and this time I was off to Hamburg
plane and this time I was off to Hamburg in Germany and much to my surprise I was
in Germany and much to my surprise I was
in Germany and much to my surprise I was told that I’d be working there on the
told that I’d be working there on the
told that I’d be working there on the world’s largest passenger jet that’s it
world’s largest passenger jet that’s it
world’s largest passenger jet that’s it right there
right there
right there so if the aircraft were like erases I
so if the aircraft were like erases I
so if the aircraft were like erases I was thinking this is as big as they come
was thinking this is as big as they come
was thinking this is as big as they come but that’s when something interesting
but that’s when something interesting
but that’s when something interesting happened see a fellow bunch of interns
happened see a fellow bunch of interns
happened see a fellow bunch of interns and I we took a trip to a small town
and I we took a trip to a small town
and I we took a trip to a small town called started one day it was a
called started one day it was a
called started one day it was a beautiful day and I remember taking this
beautiful day and I remember taking this
beautiful day and I remember taking this picture after spending some time there
picture after spending some time there
picture after spending some time there we made our way to share a meal as
we made our way to share a meal as
we made our way to share a meal as friends do so we sat down had a meal and
friends do so we sat down had a meal and
friends do so we sat down had a meal and the waitress noticed us and at the end
the waitress noticed us and at the end
the waitress noticed us and at the end of it she walked over and said you lot
of it she walked over and said you lot
of it she walked over and said you lot look like a lovely bunch where are you
look like a lovely bunch where are you
look like a lovely bunch where are you guys from so then we took a step back to
guys from so then we took a step back to
guys from so then we took a step back to scan our faces figure out where each and
scan our faces figure out where each and
scan our faces figure out where each and every one of us was from when we
every one of us was from when we
every one of us was from when we realized something there were eight of
realized something there were eight of
realized something there were eight of us from 8 different countries no repeats
us from 8 different countries no repeats
us from 8 different countries no repeats that means we had 8 different childhoods
that means we had 8 different childhoods
that means we had 8 different childhoods different accents different passports
different accents different passports
different accents different passports but we hadn’t even realized it we were
but we hadn’t even realized it we were
but we hadn’t even realized it we were all there at one table over a common
all there at one table over a common
all there at one table over a common language and that’s when I realized that
language and that’s when I realized that
language and that’s when I realized that one common language was a bigger eraser
one common language was a bigger eraser
one common language was a bigger eraser of cultural borders than that large
of cultural borders than that large
of cultural borders than that large aircraft hard-working day in and day out
aircraft hard-working day in and day out
aircraft hard-working day in and day out with this great revelation I had to
with this great revelation I had to
with this great revelation I had to return back to Melbourne and of course
return back to Melbourne and of course
return back to Melbourne and of course when I travel I have to stab my passport
when I travel I have to stab my passport
when I travel I have to stab my passport hop on a plane but this time was
hop on a plane but this time was
hop on a plane but this time was different this time I didn’t get a call
different this time I didn’t get a call
different this time I didn’t get a call no one warned me about culture shock
no one warned me about culture shock
no one warned me about culture shock because of course I traveled a lot by
because of course I traveled a lot by
because of course I traveled a lot by then no one thought it was necessary
then no one thought it was necessary
then no one thought it was necessary but that’s the funny thing about culture
but that’s the funny thing about culture
but that’s the funny thing about culture shock you never know when it will shock
shock you never know when it will shock
shock you never know when it will shock you and this time it hit me hard because
you and this time it hit me hard because
you and this time it hit me hard because as I was going I was thinking to myself
as I was going I was thinking to myself
as I was going I was thinking to myself if I was molded and shaped by all these
if I was molded and shaped by all these
if I was molded and shaped by all these experiences from all these countries
experiences from all these countries
experiences from all these countries which one of them was I to pick where
which one of them was I to pick where
which one of them was I to pick where was home it’s a deep and difficult
was home it’s a deep and difficult
was home it’s a deep and difficult question to answer and one that I
question to answer and one that I
question to answer and one that I encourage all of you to think about what
encourage all of you to think about what
encourage all of you to think about what frustrates you about where you are right
frustrates you about where you are right
frustrates you about where you are right now what do you think you can do to
now what do you think you can do to
now what do you think you can do to change it if home could be anywhere you
change it if home could be anywhere you
change it if home could be anywhere you wanted it to be where would that be so
wanted it to be where would that be so
wanted it to be where would that be so in trying to pick one of these lines I
in trying to pick one of these lines I
in trying to pick one of these lines I came to realize I didn’t have to stop at
came to realize I didn’t have to stop at
came to realize I didn’t have to stop at for experiences there was a whole world
for experiences there was a whole world
for experiences there was a whole world out there so many other lines to pick
out there so many other lines to pick
out there so many other lines to pick from to continue on and learn some more
from to continue on and learn some more
from to continue on and learn some more things but in that very literal answer I
things but in that very literal answer I
things but in that very literal answer I realized that these were all lines that
realized that these were all lines that
realized that these were all lines that we drew on a map see it’s not often that
we drew on a map see it’s not often that
we drew on a map see it’s not often that we get to look at a map like this where
we get to look at a map like this where
we get to look at a map like this where we have erased all those lines this is
we have erased all those lines this is
we have erased all those lines this is Earth’s landmass exactly for what it is
Earth’s landmass exactly for what it is
Earth’s landmass exactly for what it is the only borders here are those fish are
the only borders here are those fish are
the only borders here are those fish are filled beaches all over the world so
filled beaches all over the world so
filled beaches all over the world so here’s my question to you what limits
here’s my question to you what limits
here’s my question to you what limits you what are the invisible lines holding
you what are the invisible lines holding
you what are the invisible lines holding you back
you back
you back it could be geographical but it could
it could be geographical but it could
it could be geographical but it could also be physical or psychological and
also be physical or psychological and
also be physical or psychological and it’s different for each and every one of
it’s different for each and every one of
it’s different for each and every one of us but the thing is you need a variety
us but the thing is you need a variety
us but the thing is you need a variety of experiences to even realize these
of experiences to even realize these
of experiences to even realize these limitations and you need those erases
limitations and you need those erases
limitations and you need those erases that clear the way for you to make you
that clear the way for you to make you
that clear the way for you to make you go out and get those experiences I was
go out and get those experiences I was
go out and get those experiences I was lucky to have found mine in my passion
lucky to have found mine in my passion
lucky to have found mine in my passion for aviation but we’ve seen today that
for aviation but we’ve seen today that
for aviation but we’ve seen today that that’s not the only eraser out there it
that’s not the only eraser out there it
that’s not the only eraser out there it could have just as easily been that
could have just as easily been that
could have just as easily been that language that song that meal so there
language that song that meal so there
language that song that meal so there are so many beaches out there there are
are so many beaches out there there are
are so many beaches out there there are so many places so many experiences that
so many places so many experiences that
so many places so many experiences that you can get these seashells are all out
you can get these seashells are all out
you can get these seashells are all out there waiting for you
there waiting for you
there waiting for you to pick them up I’m not saying you have
to pick them up I’m not saying you have
to pick them up I’m not saying you have to break the rules or even color outside
to break the rules or even color outside
to break the rules or even color outside the lines but realize one thing that
the lines but realize one thing that
the lines but realize one thing that these lines are there and just as they
these lines are there and just as they
these lines are there and just as they were made they can be changed through
were made they can be changed through
were made they can be changed through experiences thank you
”
Be First to Comment