Afternoon off

Yes, it is now confirmed. We are going to have to leave our lovely orphanage and get relocated to other ones. But we don't know where yet, so we have this afternoon off. We're gonna try and find some cheap iPod speakers, because we really miss music, and some Sri Lankan man skirts (sarongs).

Imagine the freshness and freedom in one of these

Pretty busy bus ride on the way there

Yesterday at the Sri Lankan home for birthday celebrations was an experience. After 1 hour on two different buses, we were in the middle of nowhere. Everyone was really friendly and welcoming. There were 6 of us (all 24 of us could obviously not be invited. We were the chosen ones haha), and the girls did the mistake of getting there hungry. But Robbie and I remembered that in Sri Lankan culture you leave after you've eaten, the socialising comes before, so our bellies were filled with delicious, yummy rice and curry. Everyone were having a really good time, Arrak quickly consumed, and joking about cultural differences and so on (banter), until they asked: "Are you staying the night?". Huge miscommunication, as we thought they'd sorted out transport for us home, but they thought we didn't want to. After an hour of frantically calling different tuk tuks, taxis, vans, friends (it's apparently quite impossible to find transport after midnight so far away from the big cities), our host jumped on a motor bike into the jungle darkness and came back half an hour later with a minibus. Success! What a host. Got home a bit late and one massive experience richer.

Socialising, birthday girl Natasha to the left (will be having a baby in a few weeks!) and Mr DJ to the right. Volunteers from left: Robbie, Rachelle, Faye, Harriet & Yasmine

Saved by a magic minibus

Tomorrow there will be no projects as there is a big national youth day in Colombo. Even the president will attend. I'm well excited.