OH COLOMBO! By Koluu

It is often said that human beings adapt very soon to any situation. This is very true and as time goes by we become to accept so much  that it becomes  the norm.  Working and being around Colombo circles one gets used to all the bragging and showing off  that goes on if willing to sit and give ear to some  conversations. In time people who they should avoid at any given place unless they wish to give ear to the braggers’ latest achievements, purchases etc. Name dropping is also a favourite amongst some and they will bore the ears of others with anecdotes of who they hung out with.  Then there are some other groups.  Those who have faded over the years and are done with, who are no longer doing well or nouveau riche and are no longer recognized as they were in the past.  All these groups spend time doing is talking of the past and their associations with the hoi polloi of yester year, driving those around them to abject boredom. Some of the younger generations who are subjected to these conversations are completely ignorant of these characters of yesteryears  but are too polite to walk away from them.

Mr. and Mrs. Cultured, regular visitors to Sri Lanka who love all the good things and the beauty of our island have a wide circle of friends in the country. Coming from an European country where they do not discuss their finances and possessions were completely aghast with some of the people they meet. “I am a wealthy businessman and own this and that and have houses in such and such locations and when travelling only fly business class and I am a frequent flyer of the more glamorous airlines,” was the opening line of a person they were recently introduced to.

This introduction was certainly a culture shop to the couple who merely listed and acknowledged the man’s conversation while looking around for an excuse to get away from it.  At the first given opportunity they took off from the impresario.  Unfortunately, such escapes were not possible to them when they were seated with a bragger at a dinner table.   

Another story that was told to us was of a high flying couple where the wife was so bored with traveling on first class on domestic airlines leant over towards her husband seated at the dinner  table and said “Honey it is time we bought that private jet we were talking about.” Good luck and wishes to such people. 

If one has made it to the top it is an absolute achievement but the rest of the world does not want to hear of their wealth. Gone are the days when people spoke of others great achievements and who or what they are; the current lot are not happy unless everyone around them know what they have and do. It is such a joy these days to come across modest people who have great wealth and do not flash it around but instead do loads of charity work on the quiet and lead a great but low key lifestyle. Sadly self-importance has become a way of life for many and I guess we have the option of either putting up with it or walking away.