Totes Emosh! This phrase sums up today so perfectly. Today was our last day working on the Funglish Café project, the last day in the Udamalaya school and sadly, the last day with our buddies. The heart of our time here in Sri Lanka has beat to the rhythm created through the strong bonds of friendship that each one of us has created between each other and between our buddies. Needless to say the project in the school was hard work but finished with a flourish. Working as a real team with no distinction between where we had come from, we created a room which was a fantastic place for learning and if the excitement that was seen today is to go by, the students who learn there will be inspired to be their very best. I cannot truly capture the range of emotions as we handed the project over and left for the last time so I have asked the students to each write a sentence summing up how they feel about the day.
There were smiles and a lot of tears, from the buddies and us; it has been an amazing experience working at the school and getting to know the community there and I have no doubt that Udamalala school and all our new friends will stay in my mind forever, I now want to return in the future to see how their English has progressed and also to maintain what I know will be lifelong friendships (Yes Mr. Skinner, that was one sentence)
Molly
It’s hot: pizza please… only joking I won’t just write that. The past few days have been a life changing experience for us all and I’m not going to labour on about all the details; I’m sure we’ll all do that when we get home, but I can say for us all that none of us will ever forget this experience and I just want everyone to remember that you should never be said that it’s over, instead, be thankful that it happened. See you soon J
Natasha
The experience has been amazing and these people forever have a place in my heart: their smiles, laughter, generosity and genuine warmth has been a world away from England yet its managed to feel like home and will be sorely missed.
Rebekah
We have had lots of laughter and happiness but today that changed when we had to say goodbye to truly amazing people that we have not only met but befriended. Tears were shed but a good day we have had. Everyone we have met will be missed but one day we will meet again, life in Sri Lanka is honestly indescribable and I cannot begin to explain how amazing this experience has been on all of us, Sri Lanka….WOW!
Lucian
Sri Lanka has, honestly, been such an amazing opportunity for all of us especially me. This trip has inspired me to do something like this in the future, hopefully as my fulltime job, helping and changing lives of people in developing countries, less fortunate than ourselves. It has really hit my heart and reminded me that we are so lucky. I am hoping to come back here and visit Udamalala School again and see all the buddies and see how much their English has improved since this visit and hopefully repaint and decorate another classroom at this same school. Everyone has learnt so many skills that they never knew they had. Today was the last day and virtually everyone was crying, including some of the parents of our Sri Lankan Buddies, it was such an emotional time that I didn’t expect to be that bad. Everyone who I have met in Sri Lanka will always be in my heart and I will continue to reflect on my amazing experience and the people who I shared it with.
Beth
In the build up to Sri Lanka I was so excited and I was constantly exclaiming how I thought this would be the best trip of my life. Now that I’m here I can actually say that that is true! Meeting my buddy Dhanuka was incredible; his English was brilliant for a 14 year old; and saying goodbye today was so emotional! I tried to stay strong, putting on a brave face, but when all the Sri Lankan buddies burst into tears it was too hard to withstand. I’ll really miss every last one of them. The experiences I’ve had out here are unforgettable and I shall carry some of the lessons I’ve learnt here for the rest of my life. Our hosts, the Janoda foundation, have been amazing and have provided food every day. Now, as we leave here to go stay somewhere else tomorrow, I can’t help but think we’ve built a little home here. I also can’t help but think that the end is drawing near and although I’m not quite ready to come home yet I have to admit that I’m missing a few things. My bed for one! But obviously in particular I’m missing my family. I hope Adam had a great birthday- missing you bro- and I’ll see you very soon! Oh, and love you mum, love you dad!
Elliot
I’ve loved all of it, it’s been amazing! Experiencing a new culture, making new friends and strengthening current relationships. Sri Lanka is a truly beautiful country but until today I didn’t realize the beauty of our work and partnership here in Hambantota. When we handed the project over to the school and said our final goodbyes, all our buddies were overcome with tears. This helped me understand why we came here and my own sense of purpose. Helping redecorate the Funglish café was done to assist in the teaching and learning of English – that was why we came here. Serving others through friendship and love – that is my purpose.
James McDermott
I think I can say this trip has been absolutely life changing so far, still with a few days to go! We have experienced a completely different culture to our own; there are so many different traditions out here compared to England. For example it is the norm to be eating with your right hand. When we first arrived to Sri Lanka we all got onto a coach and begun the 6 hour bus journey to the Janoda Foundation house: I don’t think time has ever passed quicker! On each side of every road always lay something astonishing to look at. Meeting the school students for the first time was a unique, once in a lifetime experience. Being greeted by dancing, an assembly, a buffet, some games and gifts really does describe the extent to how unique the trip has been. However today we had to say our goodbyes to our buddies! This was so hard because of the strong bonds we have formed with them over just a week. Many tears were shed from both the buddies and us. We handed the project over to the school today and hopefully their English skills will develop further because of it. This experience has meant so much to me because I knew we have had such a positive impact upon the school and we have hopefully gave them a better chance in life through learning the language more.
James Clarke
After spending 5 days with my buddy and a day before that travelling Sri Lanka has so far been one of the most memorable times of my life. Every day has bought new experiences that I have captured on camera to cherish forever. Whilst initially the culture was baffling I quickly became accustomed to the tantalizing traditions and embraced every activity we partook in.
Freddie Filz
I can honestly say that this has been the most eye opening experience I have ever been lucky enough to have. Whilst we have been providing our buddies with the tools to improve their English skills, the generosity and kindness I have felt from them has given me memories that I will cherish. Experiencing another culture has been fascinating and I hope to return one day to see how my buddy, Hiruni, and all the other buddies are doing with not only their English but their life as I feel the bonds we have made with them will not easily be broken.
Dani Bernard-Carlin