Our first full week has been packed with visits to some of our adopted communities. From Hiththatiya to Kirelawela, I have found the various schools to be completely different, with each having their own characteristics and uniqueness. For instance, Kirelawela had a sense of tranquillity to it and hence I had personally found the teaching atmosphere to be very enjoyable. The fact that it is a fishing village interests me a lot and it probably is the reason I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Hiththatiya, on the other hand, is very different, beyond the mere fact that it is bigger and has more students. The week ends with a visit to Vikumgama and it has be the highlight of the week as the whole team is fed by the school until we could eat no more. We got given a bag full of rose apples to take home and the bus journey back to Matara was utmost enjoyable as it wasn’t packed with people but more obviously, because we have a generally good day and our stomachs completely stuffed.

As our first weekend off is coming to an end, I thought I’d share with you the highlights of the two days we had all been anticipating after an eventful week. First it was our little getaway to the city of Galle on Saturday. We hopped on a bus from Matara and began our rustling journey towards the city. By the time we arrived in Galle, everyone was hungry and, before anything else, decided to look for a KFC. After having gorged ourselves with fried chicken and sundaes, we resumed our plans to explore the city. From the famous fort to the picturesque Old Town, Galle certainly did not disappoint. As we strolled down the streets, we noticed the quaint shops and cafes and almost without realising it, became handful with gifts to take home for the folks. It was an exciting day to be out and about, away from the Matara area and I had a snooze on the bus home, knowing that the others would wake me up if I did not. Today has been a restful day, with many hours spent on the beach and generally slouching around the house. Tomorrow will be the start of a new week and I cannot wait to experience what lies ahead, now that I have had a lot of sleep and good food over the weekend.