Journal Entries : 1 | 2

Entry 1 - January 4, 2006

Today was our last full day in Sri Lanka. Wow! The time has gone by really fast and I can't believe that we are leaving to go home tomorrow.

We started off the day with a short tour of the city of Columbo. That's where most of our Sri Lankan friends are from, Upali (the tour guide) and Darshe and Nadee who have helped us understand and love Sri Lankan culture all through out this trip. It was nice to see Columbo and all the surroundings. We stopped at the independence hall, which Sri Lanka got on February 4, 1948. It was a nice monument with very detailed engravements and art on the ceilings. I could ponder at it for a long time because there was something new around each column.

We were treated to lunch at the house of the Seneviratnes, who are friends of Dr. Webb and John Rose. They so graciously welcomed us into their wonderful home, feeding about 24 of us travelers. We were able to talk intimately with both Nihal and Shrima from everything to the Tamil/Tiger ethnic issues, to the role of the woman in a Sri Lankan household. They are both intelligent people, but they were very kind and down to earth, often kidding about how Shrima rules the house saying, "men play the tune, but women dance they way they want." She was a lovely woman. Seeing their home was a nice treat, but we had to rush off to see the boys of the orphanage.

We spent the rest of the day playing at mini amusement park with about 15 boys from the orphanage. It really is an amazing story about how one man felt it is his purpose in life to tend to these boys, after he had encountered much success in life, he didn't feel fulfilled. He was a very kind man. Rebecca and I were able to give him lots of Meredith Soccer gear (courtesy of Coach Paul Smith) and we chipped in some of our own personal gifts as well. I can't wait to see the pictures of them wearing and supporting Meredith College. Although it rained most of the time, that didn't stop us from riding the merry-go-round, as well as riding bumper cars. That was so much fun. Those kids can make any situation fun. It was a great feeling to see them smiling and having a good time. They are the most kind-hearted children I have ever met.

Tonight was bittersweet. I got to see Darshe and Nadee all dressed up and was able to spend dinner with them one last time. I don't want to leave Sri Lanka. I feel there is so much more to discover. However, I am very blessed to have come on this trip. Not only have I learned about a beautiful country, that in a time of disaster has proved to so many that they can overcome catastrophe, but I have also made many new friends. There are not enough words or time to say what I have discovered from this trip. It was truly an enlightening experience, one I hope to share and keeping sharing with people around me.