On your marks, get set, go.........

The day has finally come - it was the much anticipated Sports Day for Preschool! It was an earlier start than usual as we had to go down to the ground and I had to get into a Sari. I don't know how people wear them everyday - it took 20minutes for me to get dressed, well for people to dress me! I wasn't the only one in a skirt; Mark also decided to wear one. We were true Sri Lankans for the day; however you didn't see many locals wearing sunglasses with their sarongs and saris!

"Relaxing" afterwards

Overall I think the day was a success.  The children started off in there party clothes by singing "If you're happy" and a singhala nursery rhyme about a kite before doing the "Hokey Pokey". Then they had all their racing games in the appropriate costumes. There was a variety of games - one where they had to collect 8 flags out of a bundle, another where the girls were dressed as nurses and had to give dolls medicine, boys had to catch a fish, dribbling the cricket ball, collecting 5 vegetable out of a pile of fruit and veg and filling their bags with as many toys as they could in a set time. There were a few more but I can't remember. After that there was a game of "Musical Statues" and then the finale was the School Band. To finish of, the parents had a game of Musical Statues as well - a chance for them to show us their dance moves!!

3rd place

Each race had 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes. Mark and I were at the finishing line most of the time and presented the prizes to the children at the end. The prizes were bags with pens, pencils, toys and other novelties. They were all pleased with them and there were consolation prizes so that everyone got something. They all deserved it.

So it's been quite a tiring day, but looking forward to doing it again tomorrow for the afterschoolers. Then after that it a drive down to Colombo for the weekend - you could say it's becoming my second Sri Lankan home!

A true Sri Lankan

All dressed up to sing

Catching fish

Mark an I both in skirts

Nurses race to give medicine to dolls

Parents "Musical Statues"

Ready to sort vegetables from fruit

The school band

There's always cricket

Too cool for school