This is the second in a series of blog posts catching up with our three founding coordinators that have left Hong Kong (click here for the first one if you missed it). The one and only Kayo Chang Black has not just left Hong Kong, but librarianship as well!
Where in the world are you right now, and what are you up to?
Kayo’s new hood. Seems alright I guess…
I left Hong Kong in December 2019 and now live in Sri Lanka. I have left my career as an academic librarian and am now dedicating my time and energy to being a writer/entrepreneur. Currently, I am looking to launch a platform, Pamapara, that tells Sri Lankan stories through antique and vintage jewellery. This project combines my favourite things: writing, research, and jewllery! My husband Derek and I are also currently in the process of launching a creative residency in southern Sri Lanka. The plan is to invite designers and writers to Sri Lanka to do residencies around the country while hosting workshops.
To contain COVID-19, the Sri Lankan government enforced a 2.5-month lockdown in Colombo. During that time, we weren't even allowed to go out for groceries. We spent the first couple of weeks navigating the different social media groups for expats, and eventually found a handful of reliable vendors that would deliver groceries and other necessities. At one point, we were out of soap and I was using laundry detergent to wash dishes! To pass the time, I started a thread on my blog called "My Life and Hard-ish Times," written from the perspective of my antique peacock, Sivan. It is a humorous take that documents our struggles during the pandemic in Sri Lanka.
What do you miss most about Hong Kong?
I miss Hong Kong so much! I miss the convenience of finding anything and everything at any time of the day. If I have to pick the one thing I miss the most, it is probably the food. There was a little shop in Sham Shui Po that had the best pork and tomato dumplings. I would die to have some right now. I also miss my friends in Hong Kong too, of course.
True to the spirit of HK Libraries Connect, have you been involved in any projects/initiatives/networks to connect with other library professionals?
Sadly, I have not connected with library professionals in Sri Lanka though I have visited one of their public library branches and the national archives while researching for my Sri Lanka short stories. Their public institutions have not been modernized since the 30-year civil war that ended in 2009. Therefore, their libraries and archives can seem archaic. For example, since there are no subject headings assigned to any of the items, keyword searching on their OPAC can seem futile at times. Having said that, going to the library and archive is like travelling back in time. Some of their books still have hand-written call numbers!
Are there any resources/tools/platforms (anything really) that you think would be of interest to the readers of the HK Libraries Connect blog?
I don't have too many library-related resources to share. But if you want a taste of life in Sri Lanka, you can check out my blog post: Colombo 101.