Week 8 - Christmas!
- Dec 28, 2017
- 4 min read
Wow, what a week! Within the last 7 days, I’ve moved 8 hours north in Sri Lanka, said goodbye to my first set of friends, had Christmas and Boxing Day, survived my first team trip, and at the same time, still managed to have fun!
The start of this week involved me carrying on my lessons with my students in Colombo (Wattala), where they were coming to an ending point - we have spent a lot of time focussing on English and Maths, and great progress was made with one particular student, and I hope he manages to keep up the good work, now that I have left. He wants to finish school by April, and with a lot of hard work and focus, I don’t see that being a problem. Now I’m up in Jaffna, I no longer have to contend with A-Level further maths, French or English Language Theory (until I begin my ESL lessons I guess!).
I know I will miss Wattala, but Jaffna for me has always been a special place, and somewhere I know there is a calling for me. I feel like now is my time, and I plan on grabbing this opportunity with both hands, clinging on for dear life, and enjoying every second. There will be times where I want to relax, and sitting, reading my book for an afternoon doesn’t mean I’m not making the most of this experience. I’m here for a year, and whilst I want to be busy all the time, I know there will be periods of rest and relaxation required… But not until I am fully settled.
This week has also included my first Burger King experience in Sri Lanka, and perhaps not something I will re-visit. It just didn’t quite meet my expectations and the mark of McDonalds, but fast-food was required, and a great way to treat those who have helped make Wattala home for me.
Sarah and Roy (The Dust Project Founders) arrived in Sri Lanka this week, and alongside their wider family, arrived in time for Christmas celebrations in Jaffna. I headed up to Jaffna with them on Saturday, along with boxes, suitcases and bags full of stuff for the Christmas program and DP Stores. Our van was chock-a-block and there was no chance of getting anything else into it! It was a comfy drive, and definitely fun with the gang. We stopped at the classic restaurant Seedevi, which always stocks the best cake and snacks. After consuming juice, tea, sugar buns, jam buns, rock-biscuits and cheesecake, we headed back on the road and made it to Jaffna in good time.
Christmas sure is a special time here in Sri Lanka, and not just for Christians. I have driven past several Buddhist Temples and seen Christmas trees, fairy lights and nativity scenes. Strange!
Unlike usual team trips, this one was a little more relaxing, with time to hang with the team, get to know them and just lounge about. I spent Christmas Eve with Sarah and her family, and they insisted I stayed in the hotel with them, so I didn’t wake up alone on Christmas Day. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and I really did appreciate it - it definitely made me more relaxed and comfortable about being away from my family at Christmas. For the festive period, I guess you could say I traded families!
We helped to decorate the church in preparation for Christmas Day and the program, as well as finishing off gifts for the children who would attend the program, and church ministry team. We wrote cards, packed present parcels and in line with decorating, made metres and metres of paper chains.
Christmas Day here in Sri Lanka is completely and totally indescribable. It is used so successfully to demonstrate the love of God to each and every person who attends. A warm welcome encases you as you walk through the entrance of Church, the entertainment of dances and dramas of the Christmas Program gives those who watch joy in their hearts, and the free food makes sure the 1000 strong attendees do not go hungry on Christmas Day. Love in action, and love in practice. Everything The Dust Project and The Paalam Project keep at the core of their visions.
A rather different christmas diner for me this year: curry, naan and chips. Delicious, but not on the top of my list of what I’m wishing for next Christmas!
Boxing Day was also a great time of relaxation, but amazing to spend with the team and home girls. We visited the Ice-Cream parlour, and went swimming at The Valampuri. It was great fun, and Reena, the little girl I am living with (but is under Paalam’s care) actually managed to pick up kicking her legs in the water. The water was freezing, and the wind sure did make it uncomfortable to be in, but the joy on the girls’ faces made it a wonderful afternoon.
This next week should be interesting, with the team leaving and no school I guess I will have to find a way to occupy myself. Perhaps I will see if I can go exploring. Thanks for reading my blog again, and I hope you all also had fabulous Christmases!
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