Having left Heathrow at 9.30 on Wednesday 4th July we arrived in Colombo, weary after hours of travelling, on Thursday afternoon. We were warmly greeted in the airport by members of Colombo Mid-City Rotary Club who escorted us to the YWCA hostel that was to be our first base in the country. We went to bed with the mounting realisation and excitement that we were actually here, in Sri Lanka, after months and months of expectant preparation. The next morning we were introduced to Mr Peres and other key Colombo Rotarians and over the next few days, in Rotarian care, were escorted around Colombo, seeing many of the amazing sites the city has to offer with our efficacious and friendly guide, Veena. Friday evening we had the privilege of participating in a Rotarian meeting which was followed by an informal and delicious curry buffet. The Rotarian participation in our first few days in Sri Lanka opened so many doors to us that would otherwise have remained closed in our short time in the capital city and gave us a very warm and reassuring welcome to this friendly country. The generosity we have seen in the individuals we have met, towards us and in their Rotary work, has been really moving and inspiring. Escorted by both Veena and Mr Ari on Saturday we were able to visit the NGO Sarvodaya. It proved a touching experience for all of us as we gained invaluable insight into the far reaching and inspirational work of the biggest NGO in Sri Lanka, the organisation through which our presence here has been made possible. Sunday saw us on the road and we left our new Rotarian friends comforted by the knowledge that we were soon to see them on our first day in Moraketiara, at the school which Columbo Mid-City Rotary Club so generously built and in which we will be helping both staff and students in our time in the country. Heading towards Dambulla we were led by our invaluable and seemingly infallible guide for this stage in the journey: Mr Claude. Over the next two days we experienced a stimulating mini-tour of some of the main attractions in the areas around Dambulla and the historic city of Kandy before, on the road again on Wednesday, undertaking the nine and a half hour journey to the southernmost region of the island. Arriving at the University of Ruhuna on Wednesday night, inspired by the many and various experiences of the last week, we were all eager to begin the Project.