We arrived in busy Colombo after a scenic trip from the South Coast not really knowing what to expect. The purpose of our week in Colombo was a cultural exchange with the pupils of Colombo university, and that was certainly what we got!We stayed with the students in university ‘hostels’ – very competitive, almost free (and very basic) accommodation. The students have very long days of lectures, even on the arts degree – often 8 am to 6pm lectures. We spent a long time talking to the girls in our hostel about differences in degrees, what they’d change about their education system (and we about ours), relationships with families and they’re boyfriends. Most of the girls were older than us and had long-term boyfriends they were hoping to marry! That was quite a surprise for two single girls from Durham. The culture in the student accommodation is very different from the UK – it’s very much concentrated on study, rather than the social and independent experience. And most of the girls return to their family homes, no matter how far away, every weekend. We finally got the chance to show our lovely guide Udari a taste of British student life with a trip to the British pub in Colombo, complete with steak sandwiches and a roast dinner. Our week in Colombo was definitely an experience and an eye-opener, and I’ll very much miss our Colombo friends!