Somehow we have come to the end of our last full week in the village. What a range of emotions that has brought! Whilst we are all looking forward to being reunited with our family and friends, the thought of leaving the village and all our friends here is a very sad one. In fact it is something that I have tried hard not to dwell on recently. Fortunately, we have been so busy this week that our minds have been distracted from thoughts of our imminent departure.Over the past seven days we have continued with our numerous England classes and after-school club activities, had a day out to Koggala with our good friend and village Chairman, Janacka, planned a community day on the beach, and been joined by Dishan, one of the Sri Lankan students studying at Durham. As ever it has felt like we were busy every moment of the day, but at the same time laughter always seemed to be bubbling under the surface. Even when I am exhausted or frustrated or just feeling a bit down, it seems impossible to be sad here. Smiling must definitely be infectious. One of my favourite things about the village is the spontaneity of events. At the end of an English lesson the other morning, the children put their chairs into a huge circle, divided themselves into two sides, a drum appeared and some kind of singing competition began. I am going to miss this so much. The noise that fills your head, the energy that fills even the most tired body with the desire to dance, the laughter of thirty children. All Sri Lankan people seem to have music in their soul, it is a light that shines inside them and brightens up even the darkest of rainy days. Of which we have had quite a few this week.The rain continued into our second community day, this time held on the beach on Saturday. Despite the rather English weather (raining of course!), a great time was had by all. Children of all ages came with their parents for a day of sports, games and swimming in the sea. After living here for eight weeks I think we take for granted the beauty of the area in which we have been so fortunate the spend the summer. But yesterday as I stared into the Indian Ocean I was again struck by its beauty, and tried very hard to imprint a picture of it into my mind, something to return to whenever I close my eyes at home. We had lots of races – the sack race was definitely memorable. As was the level of cheating going on during the lime and spoon race (a cultural variation on egg and spoon!). Rain stopped play with the cricket, but the volleyball and dancing carried on regardless. In the evening, we went to the temple for a Bodi Puja that the teachers from after-school club had arranged for us. All occasions here seem to involve so many senses. The smell of incense and coconut oil. The sound of chanting monks. The light of a hundred candles. I wish I could explain it better. I hope I will remember it always. If this weekly update sounds a bit melancholy, it is not meant to. Maybe it is the weather. Maybe it’s the thought that soon we have to leave behind so many people and so many things that we love. Whatever the reason, my overriding thought of this week, like all the others, is that it has been a great one.Laura Coates