| While I was lost in the beauty of the scenic Indian | | | | seated at one corner of the table facing the |
| Ocean’s panorama, some movements in | | | | Indian Ocean.When I reached the table, she came |
| the restaurant draw my attention.Casting a glance | | | | out and asked me whether I wished to be in her |
| over there, I noticed that Marita Kantar is just | | | | place or to be in the upper platform of the |
| wandering there, thinking of something seriously in | | | | restaurant to deliver my speech.I said I would |
| the center part of the restaurant.She has come | | | | prefer her place as I would be able to see all the |
| back again to continue her research after two | | | | students from there and being close to them |
| months away from the Resort in Germany.Marita | | | | whereas the upper platform would have distanced |
| is a dynamic student from the then East German | | | | me.She agreed and sat in one of the chairs, which |
| part of Germany.She was doing her | | | | was vacant.She was kind enough to help me |
| undergraduate studies in the field of managing | | | | develop a rapport with the internship students |
| social sciences at the Wismar University in the | | | | within a short while.As most of the students |
| scenic Wismar City of Baltic sea area.She | | | | came from Germany recently, I was not close to |
| coordinated with me to organize the | | | | them that much.The student-team with whom I |
| “Night of a Thousand Dinners” - a | | | | went on our tsunami-relief mission to the northern |
| success at the Aquarius Sports Resort Hotel.While | | | | region had already left the Island.I had met Marita |
| I was approaching her she was surprised and said: | | | | only once before while we were having breakfast |
| “It is nice to see you again”.I too | | | | at the restaurant and thereafter once at the |
| felt so and as was the first day of the New Year, | | | | discotheque.I didn’t have enough chance |
| I greeted her with New Year Best Wishes.I once | | | | to become friendly with her.But her caring nature |
| again thanked her for her valuable coordination in | | | | towards me by listening to my ideas and then |
| organizing the event.I recalled memories of two | | | | translating them into reality instantly amazed me |
| months ago.At the event “Night of a | | | | as to how she and the German people are so |
| Thousand Dinners” I gave a brief speech | | | | accommodative.Suddenly interrupting my thought, |
| on various issues ranging from landmines to world | | | | a small girl around four to five years came |
| affairs.I can’t forget those moments | | | | screaming and shouting towards us.She had come |
| when the German Praktikum (Internship) students | | | | with her parents from Germany for the New |
| were spellbound listening to my speech.I was | | | | Year vacation.She was playing with all of us |
| amazed by their eagerness to know about | | | | around there.Eva was holding one of her hands |
| contemporary world issues affecting Germany | | | | and hugging her.They were standing near the |
| and around the world.Having delivered my speech | | | | dinning table next to our chairs.When I looked at |
| and moving away from the table, the way the | | | | her and said: “Hallo” she too |
| students were greeting me by tapping slowly on | | | | repeated it with a smile.After I wished Eva a |
| the table is ever memorable.The simultaneous | | | | happy New Year and extended my hand towards |
| tapping on the table was creating a new kind of | | | | the small girl, she so smartly took my hand and |
| melodious music.I accepted their greeting with a | | | | greeted me with gentle smile.I was surprised by |
| smile.I was really amazed by their greetings and | | | | her etiquette.I just rubbed her upper shoulder and |
| the way they did it.After being there for few | | | | asked: “How are you”, she broke |
| more moments, while I was leaving the dinning | | | | into a lovely smile as an answer to my |
| table, Marita was coming towards me.She greeted | | | | question.When Marita extended her hand, she |
| me in a soft manner and shook my hand saying: | | | | wished her with great cordiality.The following day |
| “thanks for your speech”.When I | | | | when we were at breakfast, she was running |
| saw Marita, still those memories came to mind | | | | around every table and telling a number of stories |
| and I was able to re-live them.Her kind remark | | | | to each and every one around there.She came to |
| was an added encouragement to me and was | | | | me and was waving a coconut-leaf said that it |
| coming to mind.I remembered those moments of | | | | was a “snake”.I was wondering as |
| my speech and the excellent coordination of | | | | to where she has seen a snake whether in |
| Marita to make the event a success.I met Marita | | | | Germany or in Sri Lanka or in a zoo.Walker was |
| at the Aquarius Resort lobby to brief her on the | | | | translating to me all her stories, which she was |
| final arrangements relating to the “Night of | | | | narrating to me in her mother tongue, |
| a Thousand Dinners” and the purpose of | | | | German.Her father was watching from a distance |
| having it.I explained to her in detail about the | | | | at the restaurant with a smile.I felt from their |
| event and how she will have to explain to the | | | | joyous mood that they were relishing their trip to |
| students before my speech.I told her that I would | | | | Sri Lanka.Her mother was tenderly hugging her |
| be there in a short while and went to my | | | | infant son on her lap.A driver of the Aquarius |
| room.When I was walking down the narrow | | | | Resort approached them and greeted them |
| passage towards the restaurant, I observed | | | | affectionately.The whole atmosphere in the |
| there were around twenty-five students at the | | | | restaurant was one of love and fascination. |
| lengthy oval-shaped dinning table.Marita was | | | | |