The English are known for their bad teeth. Many jokes are made about the distinct visual that is a bad British mouth. In my travels I've seen some bad teeth and some trends of bad teeth but nothing compares to Sri Lanka. As a nation, and speaking in generalizations, no country has worse teeth than Sri Lanka.
The epitome of the bad Sri Lankan mouth has a horrendous overbite, multiple teeth missing, the remaining teeth crooked, and grotesquely discolored. It can be a bit distacring to look at and slightly uncomfortable, until the smile.
A smile is much more than corners of the mouth doing a small curve. The energy and love behind that curve of lip, the emotion that fills a person's eyes, and body language that defines the smile all go into the experience of receiving the smile. Nobody gives better smiles than Sri lankans.
Most places in the world that give a traveller a smile is simply a courtesy, a basic acknowledgement of existence. In India, the smile went one step further and was more good natured. But, the Indian smile had a slight twinge of humor to it. As though the Indian smiling is laughing that you're there in that moment and in their country. The Sri Lankan smile is totally open and filled with love. The smile says 'you are welcome here' and 'I'm happy to see you.' Think about that. When was the last time you saw a smile that said 'I am happy to see you.' Not often does a smile come off so welcoming, especially when you don't know the person.
An example.
We got on one of several local busses we have taken in Sri Lanka to see that all the seats were taken and only 2 people were left with no choice but to stand. Well on me and my friend walk, the only white (western) tourists on the bus. I said to my friend "the main attraction to the zoo just showed up." I was leading us down the cramped aisle with my beard in full lusciousness and sporting a sarong like that worn of many local men. I was a sight to be seen and the eyes of the bus patrons reflected accordingly. All eyes on this guy! I knew there was no malice in the stares I was receiving so I took it as an opportunity to connect with the people I was sharing the space with, albeit nonverbally. I slowly made eye contact with many of the people on the bus looking upon me and once I had eye contact, using a technique I learned in India and have been working on since, wagged my head.
*The head waggle is used as a form of non verbal communication that typically means casually 'yes' but can also be used as a friendly greeting*
As I worked my way through the people waggling my head and receiving waggles in return I received many great smiles. All the smiles filled with welcoming and warmth. In fact, a number of Sri Lankans offered to get out of their seats for us so that we may sit. We politely declined the offers until seats naturally became available. We felt so welcomed, and this is onto a public bus.
There is no lingering or concealed emotions hiding behind the Sri Lankan smile. It's only ingredients are warmth and welcoming. Is there a better formula for a more endearingly received smile?
Of course, not every single person I've interacted with has been welcoming. Sri Lanka, like anywhere else, has had its travel obstacles and interactions that are in not duh to be replicated. Yet, if we are talking in generalizations about the atrocious condition of Sri lankans oral care then I speak even more strongly about the generalizations of Sri lankans having the absolute best smiles of any nation I've come across.
The epitome of the bad Sri Lankan mouth has a horrendous overbite, multiple teeth missing, the remaining teeth crooked, and grotesquely discolored. It can be a bit distacring to look at and slightly uncomfortable, until the smile.
A smile is much more than corners of the mouth doing a small curve. The energy and love behind that curve of lip, the emotion that fills a person's eyes, and body language that defines the smile all go into the experience of receiving the smile. Nobody gives better smiles than Sri lankans.
Most places in the world that give a traveller a smile is simply a courtesy, a basic acknowledgement of existence. In India, the smile went one step further and was more good natured. But, the Indian smile had a slight twinge of humor to it. As though the Indian smiling is laughing that you're there in that moment and in their country. The Sri Lankan smile is totally open and filled with love. The smile says 'you are welcome here' and 'I'm happy to see you.' Think about that. When was the last time you saw a smile that said 'I am happy to see you.' Not often does a smile come off so welcoming, especially when you don't know the person.
An example.
We got on one of several local busses we have taken in Sri Lanka to see that all the seats were taken and only 2 people were left with no choice but to stand. Well on me and my friend walk, the only white (western) tourists on the bus. I said to my friend "the main attraction to the zoo just showed up." I was leading us down the cramped aisle with my beard in full lusciousness and sporting a sarong like that worn of many local men. I was a sight to be seen and the eyes of the bus patrons reflected accordingly. All eyes on this guy! I knew there was no malice in the stares I was receiving so I took it as an opportunity to connect with the people I was sharing the space with, albeit nonverbally. I slowly made eye contact with many of the people on the bus looking upon me and once I had eye contact, using a technique I learned in India and have been working on since, wagged my head.
*The head waggle is used as a form of non verbal communication that typically means casually 'yes' but can also be used as a friendly greeting*
As I worked my way through the people waggling my head and receiving waggles in return I received many great smiles. All the smiles filled with welcoming and warmth. In fact, a number of Sri Lankans offered to get out of their seats for us so that we may sit. We politely declined the offers until seats naturally became available. We felt so welcomed, and this is onto a public bus.
There is no lingering or concealed emotions hiding behind the Sri Lankan smile. It's only ingredients are warmth and welcoming. Is there a better formula for a more endearingly received smile?
Of course, not every single person I've interacted with has been welcoming. Sri Lanka, like anywhere else, has had its travel obstacles and interactions that are in not duh to be replicated. Yet, if we are talking in generalizations about the atrocious condition of Sri lankans oral care then I speak even more strongly about the generalizations of Sri lankans having the absolute best smiles of any nation I've come across.
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