In Their Own Words –
Girl Scouts From Sri Lanka

by Melinda Howard Flores

Thulashi, 10, and Thushi, 9, are two Maryland Girl Scouts who wrote to tell us about a normal day in their home country of Sri Lanka. Thulashi and Thushi are sisters, as well as sister Scouts.

The girls' native language is Tamil, which uses a different kind of alphabet than English. However, Thulashi and Thushi have learned to read, write and speak English – which means they've learned a new language AND a new alphabet!

Thulashi and Thushi came to the U.S. two years ago after their hometown of Trincomalee, on the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka, was hit by a tsunami (tsoo-nah-mee). A tsunami is a very large ocean wave caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption. Here's what Thushi and Thulashi had to say.

Hi this is Thushi and Thulashi, and we're from Sri Lanka. We are going to tell about the everyday life of a girl in Sri Lanka. We help our family – for example, sometimes we help our mom to cook in little ways, like taking the onion covers off.

We help to clean up or sweep our house. We take care of our brother when our mom goes to wash clothes. Sometimes Thulashi rides her bike to the store to buy little things. Sometimes she walks, because stores are close to our house.

We play and go to temple with our cousins. We play cricket and hide-and-go-seek. We do our homework. We don't have homework every single day so we read books. Sometimes we wash our faces before we eat dinner, or sometimes we wash our faces after we eat dinner. We change into our pajamas and go to sleep.

Thushi and Thulashi are from Sri Lanka, but you might find they're a lot like you. Do YOU help your family by sweeping or peeling onions? Do YOU take care of younger brothers or sisters? Do YOU play hide-and-go-seek? Do YOU wear pajamas at night?

Click here for more facts about Sri Lanka.

On World Thinking Day, we think about our Girl Scout sisters all over the globe. Click here for stories from girls who are making a difference – in another country, and at home!

Want to tell the world about YOUR Girl Scouting experience? "Share the News" and send your story to us at share@gogirlsonly.org!

Don't forget to include your name and age.
We look forward to hearing from you!

― the Girls Only Team

	What do the Czech Republic, Lebanon, Mexico, Rwanda and Sri Lanka all have in common? Girl Guiding! These five countries, all members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), are the focus of World Thinking Day 2007. What's World Thinking Day? February 22 is the special day set aside for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to think about their sisters around the world. February 22 was the birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Boy Scouting, and his wife Lady Baden-Powell, the first World Chief Guide. To honor our sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries, each year girls participate in activities, games and projects with global themes.