Issues of community livelihood and environmental science are the areas that American expat Jessica focuses on professionally in Sri Lanka. She tells us what life is like for her in this colorful Asian nation and shares her thoughts on topics such as interaction with the locals and prices of products and services there.	Jessica Leas

-Where were you born?
I was born in Ocala, Florida, U.S.A.

-In which country and city are you living now?
I currently live in Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka, just outside of Colombo.

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I live in a house with other employees of the Sewalanka Foundation.

-How long have you been living in Sri Lanka?
I've been here since July 3, 2007.

-What is your age?
I am 32.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Sri Lanka?
I was hired to do a job I thought sounded interesting. I recently completed a masters in environmental science and despite having several years of experience working abroad, I was having a difficult time finding a position that fit my interests. I wasn't looking for a particular location, but I did want to work abroad on environmental issues, preferably wildlife conservation. This position is not focused on wildlife, but rather on community livelihoods -- which indirectly addresses my concerns.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
No, Sewalanka obtained the visa and work permit. It is getting difficult without local support -- I could not get a resident visa until I arrived in Sri Lanka. I came on a tourist visa.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
I have emergency evacuation insurance from an American company. They will not cover me if I am injured by an act of war (which is a concern in Sri Lanka), but I am covered for acts of terrorism, which is as good as I could find.

-How do you make your living in Sri Lanka? Do you have any type of income generated?
I found this position via Idealist.org. It is an actual job with Sewalanka Foundation, but as this is a local NGO, I am paid a local salary. This is rather difficult in Sri Lanka as foreigners are charged more for things and thus staying within my budget is a huge challenge. I bicycle for transportation as the tuks and taxis are now out of my price range due to the recent bout of inflation.

-Do you speak Sinhala and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I do not speak Sinhala and it seems that one can get along here without learning it. I would like to learn, but the only classes offered are by the British Council and they are overpriced for a local salary. I think it would be useful to learn because it does seem like the real conversations on what needs to occur and project development are held in Sinhala and translation is not always available.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I miss my family and friends in the U.S. a great deal. I have met several people here and hang out with them when possible, but as I make a great deal less money than everyone, it is sometimes difficult for me. I'm female, so it is slightly inappropriate to hang out with Sri Lankan men and Sri Lankan women tend to not leave home in the evenings, so friendships have been limited with local people, who are on the same salary as me.

Colombo has a great deal to do and see, especially if you have money. There are several movie theaters that do play films in English. There are theaters and museums. There are several nice coffee shops (for those of us with an addiction to coffee -- coffee is not common here).

I am currently taking a photography class, which is interesting and has a very nice mix of people.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
I'd like to continue to doing environmental work overseas. I don't mind living on a local salary, but eventually I will need to pay my student loans and therefore cannot do so forever. I could see transfering to a INGO after a year in order to better provide for my future. Hopefully my next position will be more closely aligned to wildlife conservation.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I live in a house provided by Sewalanka. I do not pay to reside here.

-What is the cost of living in Sri Lanka?
Although paid considerably less than I was paid in the States, many prices are similar. An enormous amount of my budget goes to just purchasing food. Transportation is very expensive, especially for foreigners as many tuk drivers think you are made of money. Always agree to a price before departure or you will be charged too much. Some activities are reasonably priced, such as the movies or the theater. Some tourist sights charge a foreigner rate, which is incredibly expensive if you are on a local salary. Technically I should be charged the local rate as I have a resident visa, but I have already found this to not always work.

-What do you think about the Sri Lankans?
Most Sri Lankans are very nice and helpful. I've taken several wrong turns on my bicycle and many people have helped me find my way. Sewalanka staff (though apparently not management) recognize that I get charged more for certain services and thus have helped me get things done, such as repairing my bike, to ensure I don't pay too much.

There is a problem with men here who seem to think that every foreign woman wants to sleep with them -- this is a particular problem in Colombo. You will be stared at non-stop and you will hear many rude comments. The best advice is to absolutely ignore all men on the street. This may seem rude at first, but a simple "hello" from you might provide them with encouragement. I was followed back to my hotel room one night for returning a hello in Matale. We called the hotel manager, but he did nothing to remove the two men from outside our door. Since this incident I have not spoken to another person on the street -- I have heard this same tale over and over again from other female expats.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Sri Lanka?
Certainly the unwanted and unwarrented attention from men is a serious negative. Eventually you learn to completely block it out, but it takes a few months.

The cost of living here is very high and thus, living on a local salary makes life difficult. If you are paid an expat salary, then you can live extremely well.

The food is generally pretty good. Not as varied or spicey as Indian, there are several dishes that I have learned to love.

The climate is very nice. Although warm, it isn't dreadful and even during the monsoon season it doesn't rain all day, so you can still enjoy outdoor activities.

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country. The biodiversity is incredible with many different ecosystems to enjoy. Tourism is very low right now because of the war, so you occasionally feel like you have the country to yourself. Even though I have several projects in the east, I haven't experienced any negative effects from the war.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Sri Lanka?
Make sure you are paid well. Understand that the culture doesn't really have a way to say "no" to something, so people tend to tell you they will do something with no intention of doing it.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Sri Lanka?
My blog is http://expatwithelephants.blogspot.com.