[Music] I was four years old when I first walked
I was four years old when I first walked
I was four years old when I first walked into my dance teachers apartment the
into my dance teachers apartment the
into my dance teachers apartment the funny-looking anklets and the bright
funny-looking anklets and the bright
funny-looking anklets and the bright yellow walls remain fresh in my mind as
yellow walls remain fresh in my mind as
yellow walls remain fresh in my mind as though it was yesterday little did I
though it was yesterday little did I
though it was yesterday little did I know that those funny-looking anklets
know that those funny-looking anklets
know that those funny-looking anklets would mesmerise me for the rest of my
would mesmerise me for the rest of my
would mesmerise me for the rest of my life for the next 13 years I learned a
life for the next 13 years I learned a
life for the next 13 years I learned a beautiful form of art known as birthmark
beautiful form of art known as birthmark
beautiful form of art known as birthmark young ballerina theum is the oldest form
young ballerina theum is the oldest form
young ballerina theum is the oldest form of Indian classical dance it is as old
of Indian classical dance it is as old
of Indian classical dance it is as old as time is now let me tell you why my
as time is now let me tell you why my
as time is now let me tell you why my mother enrolled me in dance classes I
mother enrolled me in dance classes I
mother enrolled me in dance classes I was born in the middle of a civil
was born in the middle of a civil
was born in the middle of a civil conflict in Sri Lanka belonging to the
conflict in Sri Lanka belonging to the
conflict in Sri Lanka belonging to the minority it was imperative for me and my
minority it was imperative for me and my
minority it was imperative for me and my family to hold on to our cultural roots
family to hold on to our cultural roots
family to hold on to our cultural roots and both Natyam met that criteria
and both Natyam met that criteria
and both Natyam met that criteria perfectly it was a combination of the
perfectly it was a combination of the
perfectly it was a combination of the Hindu mythology and the Tamil culture
Hindu mythology and the Tamil culture
Hindu mythology and the Tamil culture however the war had a huge impact on me
however the war had a huge impact on me
however the war had a huge impact on me people were dying on a daily basis I
people were dying on a daily basis I
people were dying on a daily basis I went to school every morning not knowing
went to school every morning not knowing
went to school every morning not knowing if I’d returned home alive and all I
if I’d returned home alive and all I
if I’d returned home alive and all I could think of was my family being next
could think of was my family being next
could think of was my family being next years and years of thinking like this
years and years of thinking like this
years and years of thinking like this got me thinking how life would be in a
got me thinking how life would be in a
got me thinking how life would be in a country where there was no war my
country where there was no war my
country where there was no war my parents sent me to an established school
parents sent me to an established school
parents sent me to an established school in Sri Lanka they had a number of
in Sri Lanka they had a number of
in Sri Lanka they had a number of different extracurricular activities
different extracurricular activities
different extracurricular activities including Model United Nations moderate
including Model United Nations moderate
including Model United Nations moderate admissions is the simulation of the
admissions is the simulation of the
admissions is the simulation of the United Nations however students played
United Nations however students played
United Nations however students played the role of conch delegates they then
the role of conch delegates they then
the role of conch delegates they then come together to draft resolutions and
come together to draft resolutions and
come together to draft resolutions and that then go on to solve some of the
that then go on to solve some of the
that then go on to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems such as
world’s most pressing problems such as
world’s most pressing problems such as climate change a teacher who picked up
climate change a teacher who picked up
climate change a teacher who picked up on my fear of public speaking
on my fear of public speaking
on my fear of public speaking coached me and sent me to these
coached me and sent me to these
coached me and sent me to these conferences
conferences
conferences in March 2013 our school got to
in March 2013 our school got to
in March 2013 our school got to represent Canada at Colombo model here
represent Canada at Colombo model here
represent Canada at Colombo model here and admissions can you believe it we got
and admissions can you believe it we got
and admissions can you believe it we got two reps in Canada and by the end of my
two reps in Canada and by the end of my
two reps in Canada and by the end of my research I had concluded that Canada was
research I had concluded that Canada was
research I had concluded that Canada was the epitome of a happy country people
the epitome of a happy country people
the epitome of a happy country people were always smiling and the Sun was
were always smiling and the Sun was
were always smiling and the Sun was always shining and no Google does not
always shining and no Google does not
always shining and no Google does not show images of the wind and the snow
show images of the wind and the snow
show images of the wind and the snow unless you look for it and I didn’t
unless you look for it and I didn’t
unless you look for it and I didn’t in June of 2013 I graduated from high
in June of 2013 I graduated from high
in June of 2013 I graduated from high school and I was looking forward to
school and I was looking forward to
school and I was looking forward to attend any university in Canada but the
attend any university in Canada but the
attend any university in Canada but the tuition fees were really expensive so my
tuition fees were really expensive so my
tuition fees were really expensive so my parents couldn’t afford the tuition fees
parents couldn’t afford the tuition fees
parents couldn’t afford the tuition fees I was on my way to then enroll myself in
I was on my way to then enroll myself in
I was on my way to then enroll myself in a private institution in Sri Lanka
a private institution in Sri Lanka
a private institution in Sri Lanka luckily on that very day we met a
luckily on that very day we met a
luckily on that very day we met a professor from Memorial University and
professor from Memorial University and
professor from Memorial University and he was willing to give me a scholarship
he was willing to give me a scholarship
he was willing to give me a scholarship and that’s how I got to maan in winter
and that’s how I got to maan in winter
and that’s how I got to maan in winter of 2014 as soon as I landed in Canada I
of 2014 as soon as I landed in Canada I
of 2014 as soon as I landed in Canada I experienced this strange sense of
experienced this strange sense of
experienced this strange sense of liberation and freedom I want to have
liberation and freedom I want to have
liberation and freedom I want to have everyone who moves away from home feels
everyone who moves away from home feels
everyone who moves away from home feels that way I mean you feel like a whole
that way I mean you feel like a whole
that way I mean you feel like a whole new person all of a sudden I collected
new person all of a sudden I collected
new person all of a sudden I collected my luggages and as I was walking out of
my luggages and as I was walking out of
my luggages and as I was walking out of the airport I was treated with a slap on
the airport I was treated with a slap on
the airport I was treated with a slap on the face by none other than the wind in
the face by none other than the wind in
the face by none other than the wind in say Jones was quite a long welcome I
say Jones was quite a long welcome I
say Jones was quite a long welcome I must say I was gonna live on campus so I
must say I was gonna live on campus so I
must say I was gonna live on campus so I collected my keys and I opened the dorm
collected my keys and I opened the dorm
collected my keys and I opened the dorm room but my dorm room was the opposite
room but my dorm room was the opposite
room but my dorm room was the opposite of excitement it was so empty it was so
of excitement it was so empty it was so
of excitement it was so empty it was so empty that I could literally hear the
empty that I could literally hear the
empty that I could literally hear the echo of my own footsteps in that room
echo of my own footsteps in that room
echo of my own footsteps in that room and I had never felt never felt that
and I had never felt never felt that
and I had never felt never felt that alone in my entire life
alone in my entire life
alone in my entire life and by then I had come to realized that
and by then I had come to realized that
and by then I had come to realized that I was not the only / by then I had come
I was not the only / by then I had come
I was not the only / by then I had come to realized that was the room that was
to realized that was the room that was
to realized that was the room that was not just empty I was empty from within
not just empty I was empty from within
not just empty I was empty from within wasn’t easy everything around me
wasn’t easy everything around me
wasn’t easy everything around me reminded me that I was not at home I
reminded me that I was not at home I
reminded me that I was not at home I looked different compared to a lot of my
looked different compared to a lot of my
looked different compared to a lot of my classmates I have a different accent and
classmates I have a different accent and
classmates I have a different accent and the food in the dining halls tasted
the food in the dining halls tasted
the food in the dining halls tasted nothing like what I was used to and a
nothing like what I was used to and a
nothing like what I was used to and a few days later I received an invitation
few days later I received an invitation
few days later I received an invitation to attend the scholarship ceremony to
to attend the scholarship ceremony to
to attend the scholarship ceremony to accept the scholarship that I had
accept the scholarship that I had
accept the scholarship that I had received that I bought me there here in
received that I bought me there here in
received that I bought me there here in the first place even though I should
the first place even though I should
the first place even though I should have felt proud of myself I experienced
have felt proud of myself I experienced
have felt proud of myself I experienced so much of grief seeing the parents of
so much of grief seeing the parents of
so much of grief seeing the parents of other scholarship holders the pain of
other scholarship holders the pain of
other scholarship holders the pain of not having my parents with me was much
not having my parents with me was much
not having my parents with me was much more than receiving my scholarship
more than receiving my scholarship
more than receiving my scholarship itself and by now I had come to realize
itself and by now I had come to realize
itself and by now I had come to realize that the happy arrangers Canada was
that the happy arrangers Canada was
that the happy arrangers Canada was slowly fading away reality was striking
slowly fading away reality was striking
slowly fading away reality was striking in day by day I started believing that I
in day by day I started believing that I
in day by day I started believing that I had made a mistake I thought that I
had made a mistake I thought that I
had made a mistake I thought that I should go back home where I was wanted I
should go back home where I was wanted I
should go back home where I was wanted I thought that my parents would take me
thought that my parents would take me
thought that my parents would take me back anytime
but then the bit of determination left
but then the bit of determination left in me convinced me to stay back and I
in me convinced me to stay back and I
in me convinced me to stay back and I did I’m really happy that I did I mean I
did I’m really happy that I did I mean I
did I’m really happy that I did I mean I wouldn’t be giving this debt off I did
wouldn’t be giving this debt off I did
wouldn’t be giving this debt off I did go home right I was finally settling in
go home right I was finally settling in
go home right I was finally settling in because the grief had become manageable
because the grief had become manageable
because the grief had become manageable at this point they Stern in two weeks
at this point they Stern in two weeks
at this point they Stern in two weeks weeks turned into months but my
weeks turned into months but my
weeks turned into months but my homesickness remained and that’s when I
homesickness remained and that’s when I
homesickness remained and that’s when I heard about the multicultural show at
heard about the multicultural show at
heard about the multicultural show at Memorial University international
Memorial University international
Memorial University international students from across the campus were
students from across the campus were
students from across the campus were invited to audition and display an
invited to audition and display an
invited to audition and display an ethnic form of art and I was so
ethnic form of art and I was so
ethnic form of art and I was so interested in meeting new people so I
interested in meeting new people so I
interested in meeting new people so I promptly showed of auditions
promptly showed of auditions
promptly showed of auditions and started talking to people almost
and started talking to people almost
and started talking to people almost immediately and I quickly learned that I
immediately and I quickly learned that I
immediately and I quickly learned that I was not the only homesick person on
was not the only homesick person on
was not the only homesick person on campus there was so many more
campus there was so many more
campus there was so many more international students just like myself
international students just like myself
international students just like myself but they’ve all far more determined to
but they’ve all far more determined to
but they’ve all far more determined to succeed than I ever was I was selected
succeed than I ever was I was selected
succeed than I ever was I was selected to perform at the multicultural show and
to perform at the multicultural show and
to perform at the multicultural show and every two weeks we had these practice
every two weeks we had these practice
every two weeks we had these practice sessions and during these practice
sessions and during these practice
sessions and during these practice sessions I was bombarded with questions
sessions I was bombarded with questions
sessions I was bombarded with questions about multiculturalism I was surprised
about multiculturalism I was surprised
about multiculturalism I was surprised because I wasn’t bought up in a country
because I wasn’t bought up in a country
because I wasn’t bought up in a country where there was a lot of ethnic
where there was a lot of ethnic
where there was a lot of ethnic diversity either so why do people asking
diversity either so why do people asking
diversity either so why do people asking me all these questions I took that
me all these questions I took that
me all these questions I took that opportunity to reflect and learn why
opportunity to reflect and learn why
opportunity to reflect and learn why people felt terrible about me and I
people felt terrible about me and I
people felt terrible about me and I quickly learned that I that they were
quickly learned that I that they were
quickly learned that I that they were not the only people to think that way I
not the only people to think that way I
not the only people to think that way I too had assumed that people from outside
too had assumed that people from outside
too had assumed that people from outside of sri lanka knew a lot more about
of sri lanka knew a lot more about
of sri lanka knew a lot more about multiculturalism than i ever did you see
multiculturalism than i ever did you see
multiculturalism than i ever did you see often times we grow up thinking that
often times we grow up thinking that
often times we grow up thinking that there’s no culture in our surroundings
there’s no culture in our surroundings
there’s no culture in our surroundings we firmly believe that you know you
we firmly believe that you know you
we firmly believe that you know you should travel the world explore new
should travel the world explore new
should travel the world explore new cities new destinations in order to
cities new destinations in order to
cities new destinations in order to understand what culture tradition and
understand what culture tradition and
understand what culture tradition and history really means but there’s so much
history really means but there’s so much
history really means but there’s so much of history tradition culture in our own
of history tradition culture in our own
of history tradition culture in our own city or in our own country we just don’t
city or in our own country we just don’t
city or in our own country we just don’t see it and in my case this realization
see it and in my case this realization
see it and in my case this realization dawned upon me after I moved here to
dawned upon me after I moved here to
dawned upon me after I moved here to Canada people would ask me so many
Canada people would ask me so many
Canada people would ask me so many questions about birth Natyam or sri
questions about birth Natyam or sri
questions about birth Natyam or sri lanka so i had to know a lot of you know
lanka so i had to know a lot of you know
lanka so i had to know a lot of you know i had to know everything about sri
i had to know everything about sri
i had to know everything about sri lankan wants those questions
however regardless of how different we
however regardless of how different we all are there’s something that connects
all are there’s something that connects
all are there’s something that connects all of us na Brasa in bar tanaka means
all of us na Brasa in bar tanaka means
all of us na Brasa in bar tanaka means nine emotions happiness sadness anger
nine emotions happiness sadness anger
nine emotions happiness sadness anger fear disgust compassion love and peace
fear disgust compassion love and peace
fear disgust compassion love and peace these emotions are universal all the
these emotions are universal all the
these emotions are universal all the human beings on this planet experience
human beings on this planet experience
human beings on this planet experience these nine emotions if we all think of
these nine emotions if we all think of
these nine emotions if we all think of ourselves as teapots of different shapes
ourselves as teapots of different shapes
ourselves as teapots of different shapes sizes and color ultimately we would come
sizes and color ultimately we would come
sizes and color ultimately we would come to understand that we would all hold
to understand that we would all hold
to understand that we would all hold water likewise as humans we are made up
water likewise as humans we are made up
water likewise as humans we are made up of emotions and feelings that then
of emotions and feelings that then
of emotions and feelings that then enables us to connect with one another
enables us to connect with one another
enables us to connect with one another embrace it and you’ll be pleasantly
embrace it and you’ll be pleasantly
embrace it and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you can accomplish
surprised by what you can accomplish
surprised by what you can accomplish thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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