Vissers, Sarah

"On the Road in Ceylon: The Travels of Three Foreigners"

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Major: Hospitality Leadership, with a concentration in Event Management

Senior, College of Business

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Abstract

This paper explores the travels of three foreign women through Ceylon, present-day Sri Lanka, during three distinct time periods. Written in the form of three letters, each letter demonstrates the thoughts and attitudes of the Western travelers to the culture, people, and environments they encounter. The women share their experiences in the city of Colombo and surrounding areas with their respective friends, giving the reader an understanding of their personal sentiments. The letters were written during defining and significant times in the country’s history, including British occupation of Ceylon in 1910, Ceylon’s independence in 1948, and the height of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 1996. The language and tone used by the women display the perspectives of Western foreigners on the region over the course of history.

Course: Honors 301

Professor: Carolyn Goffman

Department of English