Ok let me give you all fellow expats in SL some insider tips that probably can make your local contacts (co workers, neighbors, friends etc.) happy, which in turn can lead to keep you happy, because when they are happy they will also make their surrounding happy.聽 聽 聽 聽
Learn some Sinhalese words and also some Tamil words and also some Islamic greeting phrases, (Tamil is the common language of both Tamils and Sri Lankan Muslims). So now all you have to do is to know which ethnic group your contacts are belong to, then you can try your "language skills" with them.聽
Even if your "few words of language knowledge" would not be enough to have a proper conversation, it will give them a very good first impression and make them happy, so happy that they will also tell it to others, so in the end you can harvest all the happiness that your have sown, and you will be able to keep doing it during all your stay in SL, that all by learning few words (so make sure to learn it properly).
You also will get a very good bonus in the form of a some sort of psychological upper hand on the local people, that they always will think twice before any attempting of exploiting you, if they ever would have any intention to do so because of some reason. Basically your few words of language knowledge can save you from potential misery, which without a doubt helps you to continue to keep yourself happy.
