Our last week in Pelena was incredibly busy. We visited the Dharmarama school in Ahangama for a final music lesson, and also went to help Giulia and Jason in the other school where they teach. As well as continuing with all our usual programmes – preschool, English lessons, mother’s groups, after-school club and visiting – we were preparing for the community day and cultural show that would mark then end of our stay in the village. Also, as it was our last week in the village, everyone was extra keen to invite us round for meals, meaning that we were incredibly busy with social engagements – even going to various different houses in the village for breakfast!The community day was a great success; although we hadn’t had as much time to advertise it as we would have like, quite a number turned up, including parents and children of all ages. It started after lunch at the community centre, with mural painting, and making flags and banners to decorate the preschool (downstairs) and community centre (upstairs). Then we all went down to the beach for a variety of games and sports, and finished off with the children’s favourite activity –swimming.The next day –our last –was the cultural show. We donned traditional Sri Lankan dress – for Duncan this was “national kit” (shirt and sarong) and for Ros, a saree – and performed a traditional Kandyan dance. The children performed songs, dances, poems and dramas, and the evening concluded with traditional low country dancing (kavadi) in which everyone participated. As the evening drew to an end and people began to leave we had to say goodbye to them for the last time. It was impossible not to cry, realising that we would no longer see them everyday. Once again we had felt so much a part of Pelena that it was heartbreaking to leave. But after spending two summers in Pelena we know that the friendships that we have made with the villagers will continue for years to come.