TravelStream™ news feed for member markstothers on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/markstothers en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:33:44 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1214155860/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1214155860/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1214155860/tpod.html Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:33:44 -0400 The return to Sri Lanka

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Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

The last few days.

Well here we go. Apologies for this being so late but I have had no idea what I was going to write. It was harder leaving this time than it was last time for so many reasons. The kids had gotten cuter which didn't help. Then there were the teachers who I had bonded with more in 3 weeks than I had in 3 months last year. Then there is of course the lovely Jasmine and Anne, both of whom I will miss terribly!

The last week was a terrible mix of emotions, and it was like being on some kind of mad roller coaster- and me and roller coasters don't mix in any way whatsoever. And also time flew by at a speed I have never ever seen. Whoever said that time is a constant lied. Darn scientists.

Monday was my last day of teaching as I had Tuesday and Wednesday off and was never going to be in a fit state to teach on Thursday. Taught the letter M (for Mark Uncle) which went well. Tuesday was spent running around Hambantota getting supplies for victor's self imposed visit- he had invited himself to dinner on Sunday. And by himself I mean his whole family- and getting last minute things I might need for the long trip home. Also bought my first- and last- sari. Before anyone gets worried, it was for Jasmine. Not me. I have my limits. A skirt is fine; a sari is going too far! Though turns out it was a wedding Sari. Whoops.

Victors visit was surprisingly awkward. We didn't seem to have much to talk about so he came, ate Jasmines noodles and left. Though his kids were relatively quiet. Then again they were plonked in front of the TV for half the night. And we discovered that they are the only family of Sri Lankans who do not like curd. So there we were shovelling down curd and they were not eating any...

Wednesday was spent watching the girls dancing- still brilliant and Anne and Jasmine didn't do too badly either - and the guys doing a talent show. They are getting ready for the open day which is coming up in the next few months. The girls apparently need more practise than the boys. Teh talent show was quite random at times- people falling over and being beaten up and the such. Probably did not help that I didn't understand a word they were saying!!

Didn't get much sleep on Wednesday night as it was my last night at the centre. The girls cooked me my last supper (almost like I was getting executed in the morning) of spaghetti Bolognese. Was delicious- especially because i helped cook it. Well I chopped a few vegetables..

Spent a lovely evening with Anne and Jasmine and then before I knew it, it was Thursday morning. Spent the early part of it praying that Ronali would not arrive for the first time ever. But she did. Then the teachers prayed over me at the prayer time which brought a small amount of tears to my eyes. Though I am a man so did not cry.
The preschool was nice and I gave Rifasa a big goodbye hug- which alas was not reciprocated. I did not mind though. She has grown up over the past 7 months and is starting to rule the roost so I know she will be ok and said goodbye to the kids. Paroties last lunch was pumpkin. So nice. I will miss her cooking!

I spent the afternoon floating between the kids and Jasmine, knowing that the next few hours would be ridiculously tough. After class, Nyani explained to the kids that I was going home and gave a speech essentially wishing me all the best. I stood there fighting back the tears and was succeeding until she told them to leave and they all came up to me saying bye mark uncle bye. Then I turned and about 6 of the girls were standing with tears streaming down their faces so that set me off slightly. But managed to cover it fairly well I thought by getting one of the boys to punch me. Hence giving me a reason to cry!

Then it was time to leave, saying goodbye to Anne was hard and then I had to say goodbye to Jasmine which was ridiculously hard. Harder than saying goodbye to anyone else. The only thing that got me through it was knowing that I would see her again in a few months! But I struggled through, said my goodbyes, threw my bag on my back and then I was gone.

The journey back was mostly uneventful though the pilot on the flight home seemed to take the bumpiest route possible. I honestly thought we were going to crash. Especially when he told the cabin crew to get their asses on their seats cause we were in for a bumpy ride. Not in those words but that was the essential meaning of it.
After that it was smooth sailing back to England, and after a stint, at Gordon's a smooth stint back to Ireland where my mum and dad picked me up from the correct airport!

So that was my trip to Sri Lanka. It really was a blessing me coming back. I felt God working through me the whole time I was there, and in Jasmine and Anne and the teachers too. He renewed friendships, gave the opportunity to see the school in full flow and being used as it was intended. He managed to get me there single and return with a beautiful girlfriend (well return is slightly wrong. She is not back for another long 2 months) who I love very much. I thank god for every blessing he has given me in Sri Lanka and since I have returned home. I Have felt revitalised an encouraged and God has truly blessed my life in so many ways, not least by putting Jasmine in it but also by letting me have the privilege of working for Smile again. this is Mark signing off.. again!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1212327240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1212327240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1212327240/tpod.html Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:35:49 -0400 The return to Sri Lanka

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Hambantota, Sri Lanka

Wednesday to Sunday!!

Wednesday,

Today was reading day for the after-schoolers. Ideally this is a time when all the books that the school has are left out for the children to read quietly together. In practice, this means that the children pick up a book, pretend to read but are really plotting some mischief to carry out later in. Then by 4.00 the place is in chaos! Still meant I had nothing to do for the afternoon, so I messed around with the preschoolers who were still there for an hour. That's much more my level.

Thursday- Anne took exercises today which was hilarious cause wasn't sure exactly what she was doing and the kids sort of stood there with perplexed looks on their faces. A special mention to Jasmine today as well who made her fist cup of Sri Lankan Tea, (with a little help from Paroty who had just returned from her sickbed) which in all honesty tasted not too bad!

Ronali arrived down today as well, which is always a pleasure. Jasmine had this strong desire to play monopoly so after a bit of goading, Ronali was challenged to a game- and cleaned us out. My reliance of the orange ones proved to be my downfall, as no one ever landed on themL

Friday was a good day. We went to the local prison in the morning. Not to bail one of us out, but to go with Ronali to leave some gifts for the inmates- interestingly included cricket bats, which if I was an inmate, would look upon quite favorably next time I saw a guards head. But that's just me. We had a chat with world's shortest chief Jailor- made Jasmine look tall at 5 foot. There are only actually 108 inmates- none of them woman- in a prison designed for 200. However there is also 250 more awaiting trial in a judital system which moves at the same speed as the sloth who has just one the laziest sloth competion. Well he would have won only he was so lazy that he didn't turn up... Anyway... the system moves so slowly that there are 250 people waiting for judgement and more are added all the time.

Conditions in the prison are awful with up to 50 prisoners squeezed into a space for 20 at the most and locked in their cells for 12 hours from 6 to 6. Compared to our prisons it was hard to look at.

On Friday night, me and Jasmine had a camp out in the school building. Anne, who is quickly developing the reputation of the sensible one, decided to stay indoors in the air conditioned building. Luckily we both managed to avoid major mosquito bites or dog attacks so were ready for the water fight that we had on....

Saturday...

Which I think I escaped with being the least wet though my T shirt was slightly damp. It was at this point I realized that ALL my clothes were in the washing machine, which meant I had to borrow one of Ramesh's t shirts- Tommy Hilfiger apparently.

Sunday!

Today we went to church and saw victor for the first time which was nice though he still has the Knack for subtley as he invited himself for dinner on Tueday evening! The congregation in Hambantota has grown but the services are still the same. Afterwards we went to the Peacock where after a refreshing paddle in the pool I treated the girls to lunch which they seemed to enjoy!

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1211983680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1211983680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1211983680/tpod.html Wed, 28 May 2008 10:13:58 -0400 The return to Sri Lanka

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Hambantota, Sri Lanka

Yesterday and today were normal teaching days, though for whatever reason today was a bit of a chore. Me and Jasmine decided we were not tired last night so watched a few DVD's and before we knew it it was 6am! So slightly tired today and i think Jasmine was lucky not to fall asleep in the preschool this morning. Yesterday I had the day off teaching so i headed into town to get a few things - chief task was to try and find the missing bankcard for the bank here in Hambantota. The house had been turned upside down b ut it was nowhere to be seen. Tehn Jasmine had a brainwave and remembered we had been in food city teh day before it dispappeared so a trek sown there in teh midday sun was successful in locating the card.

Last night, Ranesh took us to the beach in Hambantota. we sat on teh sea wall and it was lovely and calm. A place i could go to escape lifes troubles I feel!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1211939940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1211939940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1211939940/tpod.html Tue, 27 May 2008 22:01:09 -0400 The return to Sri Lanka

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Kandy, Sri Lanka

Friday was a typical school day. The kids pre-school kids were cuter than they had ever been and the after school kids were hyper as anything I have ever known. Must have been that Friday feeling!

The following Saturday though, we began our Smile Staff Field Trip to the hills! A relatively modest 6am start (once again I had been expecting a 4am start but I think that Anne beat them down to 6) saw us along the road to Kandy. Saturday was a long but a brilliant day. We stopped at a Waterfall where a nice Sri Lankan talked me into buying 5 stones for 300r which upon closed inspection I could have made myself with a rock and some hair dye. Was a beautiful waterfall though so well worth it though the view was slightly spoilt by the man having a shower underneath it.

From there we headed further into the hills and further upward where we had the most unnerving experience of my life. We were headed to a monastery and turned the bend and jerked to a halt with 3 Sri Lankan soldiers there one guiding us to a stop where the other 2 pointed there fully automatics through the windscreen at me and the driver. After my heart had removed itself from my mouth, I discovered that it was a security point similar to the ones at the airports. We got out, got searched got back in again and proceeded to what turned out to be a plantation house owned by the brits back in the early 20th century. It had a weird picture which actually followed us as we moved around the room... Views alone were worth the hassle though! The final stop of the day was the botanic Gardens just outide Nurwa Elyia. Lovely, despite God unleashing the heavens onto us. And all the teachers wanted their photos taken with the flowers!

We stopped for the night in the town itself. The teachers cooked us dinner while Jasmine entertained herself by teaching the kids to call me Mark Auntie. Very amusing. My revenge for that one will be sweeter than sugar candy. Anyway up in the hills, it is tea country and this is because the temperature at night drops to about 15 degrees. In Hambantota the lowest it drops is around 28 degrees at night so the teachers all had their winter woolies on. We stayed the night in a hotel which had the novelty of having not only no air conditioner ( Which to be fair was not really needed) and brown tap water. Still it was nice and much better than what the teachers had. After much searching they had found a Buddhist Monestary to sleep in, which was cold, dark and crowded. And apparently there was a mattress shortage so people kept coming and stealing mattresses which if I spoke Singala I would have had a few words to say about!

The next day as we met the teachers in what was essentially an ice freezer that they spent the night in, stopped at a Tea factory which was interesting- especially as we were surrounded by mile upon mile of Tea trees. Turns out that the factory employs 2000 people and houses them all and pays for medical treatment and everything. Think I might ask for a transfer here.

We then headed to Kandy down the hills again, stopping for lunch at the side of the road and eating with our hands which for us Johnny foreigners was quite the novelty, but I feel that we blened in well and any passing Sri Lankans would not have noticed the difference between us and the Sri Lankans!

Arrived in Kandy with a rather ill Paroty (appartenly windy roads don't agree with her) and went to the Gardens, where it was so hot it was unreal, but beautiful at the same time. Only downside was that the suspension bridge was closed for renovation. And there was no rain this time which was good. Then headed to Kandy and stopped to have lunch at the lake- my favorite place in Sri Lanka. It is cool and beautiful scenery. If I earn enough I am buying one of the houses on the hill overlooking the lake when I am older. Anyway, after another roadside meal, we headed to the temple. We had to remove our shoes, and I swear my feet burnt as I crossed the courtyard. The temple was very grand though (Still full of con artists who wanted money for me taking a picture). Apparently the Buddhas's tooth is there and the Sri Lankans go and worship it. Very odd if you ask me. According to the story boards, the tooth was pilfered by the british and only returned 100 years ago too.

After the temple we began the long journey home- a whole 7 hours of it. The driver also went a bit mad. In Kandy, he tried to jump the queue for roadworks, and was caught by a policeman who made us sit and wait for about 20 mins. He got off with a warning, butr this seemed to flick a switch in him and he drove like the hounds of hell were on his tail. The only respite came when we stopped for food and were served by a man with no front teeth who seemed to be quite confused by a hopper that kept being passed from our table and Milani's. In the end he just gave up trying to follow it and turned incredibly grumpy when we only ate 5 of his hoppers!

Arrived back after dropping the teachers off to a locked gate and no matter what yelling or ponking of horns there was, we could not rouse Gourie to let us in. I ended up risking my life by climbing over the fence and into the darkness where anything could have been lying- dog, chimp, lion- to open it from the other side. Ended up going to bed about 115 with Anne in a frantic search for the bank card, which appears to have gone grown legs and walked away!

Today was another typical school day. We welcomed Liz to the school who is here for 2 years with her husband and looking for something to do and has chosen smile to keep her from going barmy. The preschool kids still adorable and the bleary eyed teachers held up against the tiredness admirably. Jasmine spent the morning annoying/getting in the way of the teachers in the kitchen to such an extent that they ended up throwing her out! Today was also the first day of teaching. I had the job of teaching the letter J to the small children which was a good experience and think that they took it in.. AND We had pumpkin today so so full! A brilliant few days all round!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1211457060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1211457060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1211457060/tpod.html Thu, 22 May 2008 22:37:45 -0400 The return to Sri Lanka

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Carrickfergus, United Kingdom

Ah Sri Lanka. A place where it is hot enough to fry your brain, the people are lovely and you can always rely on a power surge to blow the computer. It was only fixed last night so apologies for the fact that there has not been any entries since my adventures with Gordon's grandchildren!

The flight went ok though I had the most frustrating man in the seat beside me. For 10.5 hours he literally sat there rocking back and forth like a crazy person. Only for the last 30mins of the flight did he discover the TV in front of him and by then the films had ended. He also didn't endere himself to me by whacking me on the head with his briefcase when he pulled it out of the overhead locker. Not amused!

Got off the plane (and as usual my bag was last off the plane!) and Ronali had a big hug waiting especially for me! IT was great to be back. Even when i got outside and the heat proper knocked me for 6. How could I have forgotten how hot it was here! Stayed the night in the Indra regency in teh centre of Colombo which was good as it was a frequent haunt when last there. Went to the Galle face for dinner which was brilliant. A lovely place whihc has not changed at all! THe next day Ronali let us lie in and picked us up at 2, so we had the morning to do what we wanted. I took the girls to the Galle Face, where we were accosted by Sebastian who insisted on taking us to see the elephants. Which of course there was none! Then by VJ who said that he was from the Sri Lankan tourist board.. which of course he wasn't. Alas, it was third time lucky for the Sri Lankans.. Percy wandeed up and said we should go and see something and called a tut tut over.. I wanted to get rid of him so we clambered into the tut tut but Percy jumped in too and proceeded to take us on a whistle stop "unofficial" tour of Colombo. Ended up costing 2000r- about 10pounds..

Anyway arrived in Hambantota on Tuesday night and wednesday the kids arrived. Preschool first and it was mostly change for them. Rifasa adn a few otheres are there but most of theme are new ones that I have never seen before, so it will be fun getting to know them over the next couple of weeks. the routine has not changed though when the kids go out, there is a brandspanking new playground for them ot play with!

The afterschool was great too. The kids all welcomed me back with cries of Mark- uncle and lots of hugs. Some have disappeared in the past 7 months but most were still there. It really was fantastic to see them all well. They no longer get the bus but they walk home and brought back many happy memories when I was seeing them off. Which made the near fatal dose of food poisoning i had feel alot better!

It was off courde great to see the teachers too. there is a new one Ausha who i don't know but all the others are the same as ever and they are already planning a smile trip to Kandy at the weekend which should rock.

Today was back fighting fit and into teh swing of things with the preschoolers. I don't understand how children here are so much cuter than ones at home! During the afterschool I went with Niani and Gowrie to the kids houses to see what was up with some of the kids who had dropped away. There were various reasons, the most amusing of whihc was my sister goes there. It surprised me some of the ones who had dropped away and for some reason alot of the ones who graduated from Preschool last year had not come back. Alot of them are happy with going to school in the morning and not worrying about anything extra but it would be nice to see them here again! Being down in their houses again reminded me fo the poverty the kids do actually live in and how much they don't have.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1211121900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1211121900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1211121900/tpod.html Sun, 18 May 2008 10:49:47 -0400 The return to Sri Lanka

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Carrickfergus, United Kingdom

Once more unto the breach dear friends.. or somehting similqar was said by shakespere in Hamlet or Macbeth or something. Anyway I am just about to sit down to a final dinner at Gordon's house before heading to madness that is Heathrow Terminal 4. I guess i should be thankful it isn't terminal 5 though. No adventrues involving scary soccer hooligans this year as i have just spent a quiet afternoon running after 3 of Gordon's delightful grandchildren. So i should sleep well on the plane tonight. Though i seem to have quite teh choice of movies to choose from ranging from Golden Compass to Jumper to PS I love you (one will be slept through. Others won't. Guess which!)

Anyway looking foward to tomorrow when I finally arrive into Thunderstorms apparetnly. Still can't wait though!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1209913740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1209913740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/3/1209913740/tpod.html Mon, 05 May 2008 13:52:14 -0400 The return to Sri Lanka

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Carrickfergus, United Kingdom

So here we are again. 7 long months since i departed from Sri Lanka in 2007 (made longer by an atrocious 6 nations display by Ireland) I am once again 2 weeks away from departing for Sri Lanka. It is odd the way that God works. Last year, things fell into palce so easily to allow me to go to, and this year, through answered prayer, God has allowed me to continue his work by allowing to me to go back on the 18th of May.
The things that I learnt about the country last time I was there, and some of the startling statistics of the country are still very much on my mind. The countyr suffered the second highest death toll in the Tsunmi in 2005 after indonesia, and Hambantota province itself lost near 30,000 souls when it hit. The devestation and terror are still there for all to see. They have lived through such a terrible disaster that we in the west can barely comprehend, and yet their faith in God is so strong. The country is a Buddhist country, but there are a range of different religions with the main ones being Muslim, Hindu and Christianity, and having spent time with christian stff at the school, they have such a secure and deep faith in God .
There are many other things which i disovered in my time previous (also thhat it is a place where it is ok for men to be seen in skirts) but the main one is that smile do such good work out in Sri Lanka. Th school when I arived last year worked with 32 preschool children and around 65 older children. When I arrive this year there will be around 50 preschoolers and 120 afterschoolers. Quite a jump but shows what a success the school is.

I cannot wait to go back and i will keep you all updated as to how i get on!! Take care,

Mark
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/oldtrafford2007/1196813220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/oldtrafford2007/1196813220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/oldtrafford2007/1196813220/tpod.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:47:18 -0500 To the Theatre of dreams and back again!

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Manchester, United Kingdom

Stepping off the plane in Manchester, It was obvious that something special was happening tonight. No not the Spice Girls reunion, or Corrie being cancelled (interestingly sat beside Jim McDonald on the plane from Corrie. Slept the whole time though so alas could not talk!). I am talking about Manchester united playing, to which the whole of Belfast seemed in attendance. mine was the first flight of the day, and it was full of fans going over for the match. I was fairly certain that all the rest of them during the day were full too. I have never seen so much red in my life. As ronaldo stood gazing at all before him from the AIG Advertising bored at the luggage carousel, I could sense the atmosphere building.

During the day, I met united fans from all over Europe. most from Ireland has to be said. But there was also Jock from Scotland, Gandalf from Holland, Gretchin from Germany and the Copenhagen Supporters club had made the journey over. All leading credence to the stories of United fans not being from Manchester.. None of those are their real names by the way.

the excitement built in the afternoon with all sorts of people giving me their tuppence worth on the match. Heard predictions of 2 nil to fulham (obviously city fans) to 7-1 to United which even I thought was pushing it a bit.

finally the time came. Joined in the traditional pie and chips before the game ad then made my way to my seat. At the back of the second tier, but still a brilliant view. Right at the goal line. I challenge anyone to find me a better sound than 75000 united fans welcoming their team onto the field for the match. I have never heard such noise coming like that which came from the Stretford end, and god bless them. they sang theirs hearts out for the whole match! Most of the chants i can't repeat here.. but you can guess most of them.

the game itself was a good match. united dominated, scored in the first 10 minutes then went into autopilot till half time. Then this was repeated in the second half. Its great having 75000 around you with the same views as you. We were all able to join in the abuse that was given to the referee when he booked Ronaldo for a dive when the keeper obviously tripped him, and in particular the useless linesman that had just had eye surgery. At least I hope he had because there is no other excuse for the disgraceful performance that he put in last night. I had the same view as him and he only got 2 offside decisions right the whole game. It is a bleeding difficult jobs that the ref's do but last night any abuse that was hurled at them was well deserved in my opinion. (except possibly the bloke beside me's scream of ' Offside??!??! That linesman needs f##k#ng shot!' which I thought was a tad excessive...

But despite playing against 13 men, w went on to win 2 nil. David Healy came on as a late sub, but couldn't make an impression and all the fans went home on a very crowded bus, very happy indeed. Glad I went and in all likelihood i will be back at the theatre of dreams!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/sl_07/1193744520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/sl_07/1193744520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/sl_07/1193744520/tpod.html Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:26:17 -0500 A trip to Sri Lanka. Where they love cricket and elephants roam free.

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Carrickfergus, United Kingdom

The past week has flown by. Hence the lack of entries. Apologies for that. You have heard people say about experiencing a rollarcoaster of emotions- well this week I have experienced it, and alhtough I would not change any of it, occaisionally it isn't pleasent!

Turns out that Tuesday was our last time teaching the afterschoolers, as on wednesday they were sent home early so the teachers could get a few things done before the prayer meeting. Wednesday morning was the last time that we were with the preschoolers, and once more we practised the hokey pokey and the band for the final time before the opening on Friday. The band had collapsed again, but we put on brave faces and said many many prayers that it would be ok by Friday! Found it hard saying goodbye to the children for the last time at school though.

That night was a prayer meeting from 7 until 2 in the morning for th new classroom. It had originally been planned from 11 to 6 r something like that, but then it was pointed out that there was stil alot to do for Friday and people would be shattered on Thursday to do this so the time was changed by popular demand. I had a friends birthday party to go to, so i turned up 2 hours late with two of the teachers but it was a good prayer meeting. The thing about prayer is that no matter what the language (in essance i sat there for 5 hours, listening to people talk in Singala) is that you can get the general gist of what is going on depiste not speaking the language. Lots of prayer was said and you felt that god was with us there in that room.

Thursday was spent finishing off the grounds in preperation for the opening. The finishing touches were given to the house, where it was discovered that I can not paint, so I helped to remove a tree and lay a brick path asnd destroy an ant hill that had been disciovered. Unfortunalty there are no pictures of me doing this, so you will just have to take my word for it!

Friday was the day I had been dreading because it was my last day. All dressed up in my sarrong and the girls in their saris, we all looked very well. The band went better than we hoped as we marched from the front to the new school with all the dignatories behind us. Then one of the older girls, Sandraka opened the new building and the celebration began! The kids did various dance items, and Richard the TL spoke a bit and Victor and Pastor Lillet from the different churches spoke. It was all very good!

Afterwards it was time to say goodbye to the children. In a way it was good that they had the thing a few weeks ago because it got all hte emotions out then. IT was hard saying goodbye to some of them, particuly Ashan who had himself wrapped around me all day and Rifasa, who for the past 3 weeks in Preschool has been clinging to me like a limpet.. but managed to get throuugh it ok. After they had all cleared off home, the teachers brought us together and gave us a little preasent and made some speeches and then they were gone. It was a good day and a really nice way to end my time here.

Saturday till Monday were spent travelling home. On the way back to Columbo we stopped at a turtle hartchery which had been destroyed by the Tsunami which was good, then made outr way to the hotel before teh flight on Sunday. I learnt two things from travelling. 1. Airport floors, no matter where in the world are never ever comfortable to sleep on, and 2. Going from 32 degrees in Columbo to 4 degrees in Belfast is not pleasent!!!

So that is my trip over. I am now back in sunny NI. I can safely say that the past 3 months have been the best of my life. I have met people and made friends in places I could not have imagined. I have seen God work in ways that I never thought possible, and I have stared a snake in the face and lived to tell the tale.. I enjoyed every second of it, form the highs of getting to know the kids, to the lows of the last week and saying goodbye. I think it is safe to say that I will be back and I encourage anyone who has even a moments thought of doing something like this to grasp the opputunity with both hands. I almost didn't, but I am glad I did.

Thankyou to everyone who prayed for me while I was a way. I really felt the effect of your prayers and they made such a difference.

This is mark.. signing out.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/sl_07/1193191800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/sl_07/1193191800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/markstothers/sl_07/1193191800/tpod.html Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:38:48 -0400 A trip to Sri Lanka. Where they love cricket and elephants roam free.

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Hambantota, Sri Lanka

days and with 13 people in the house, computer space has been at a premium!

Saturday, we went with teh team to udewalle nature reserve, which was where we went in my first couple of weeks. Unfortunatly this time there seemed to be less elephants and lots of grey skies, but the main thing was I got to see more elephants!! It was a good day and got to know some of the team a bit better. So there will be more people to miss when I leave on Saturday!!

Sunday was our last Sunday School and Church, which was a nice service. The English Contigent outnumbered the Sri Lankans!! It was a nice service and Caroline did a nice little number saying goodbye to the congregation, which i couldn't have done!! Victor was away and his wife did an excellent job of translating everything into english for us foreignners!

After lunch and a swim at the peacock, we went to see the chidrens houses, which was very humbling. Essentially they live on a giant sandbank, which was a blessing when the Tsunami hit because it protected them from the wave. Some of the houses though are so poor looking, that it puts everything in perspective. They are one room houses, with no privacy. This means that the children can see evertything, and with the moral standards being so low this includes domestic violence and fathers cheating on their wives. And often the roofs of the houses were simply leaf or Tarpaulin. It is also a serious case of money mismanagement. The people here have often simply no idea how to manage money. Often they drink it away or waste it on teh most trivial of things. One of the boys houses was pretty grotty on the outside, but inside had a brand spanking new sound system!

Some of the houses were made of brick, but most were made from some kind of muddy bark composite that did not look appealing at all. The nice thing was that the children, for the most part looked extremely happy, despite their poor background.

On Monday night we went up to Victors for a cup of tea. He has been really supportive of us in our time here and it was sad to say goodbye to him and his family!

School over the past few days has been different. The preschool have been practising for the opening, but i think that despite being only 5, some of them have cottened onto the fact that wew are going. Afsha in particular over the past few days has gotten very clingy. It will be hard saying goodbye to them the last time today.

Yesterday was my final class of the afterschoolers. I had the oldest ones but i didn't work them too hard. And they all cleared off to practise anyway halfway through so they didn't even finish it.

Right I am off to prepare the kleenex. There is a 6 hour prayer meeting tonighht at 7 for teh new school building. No idea who will be there, or what it will be like but should be good anyway!
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