With the Project Sri Lanka 2011 programme drawing to a close, the resident Monk at Gandarawatte invited the whole team for a farewell meal.  Not long after arriving, the pre-school teacher, Daya came over to the Monks house with all of the pre-school children to wish us all the best.  It’s a custom in Sri Lanka for children to bow down on hands and feet and touch their teachers feet as a sign of respect.  In return, the teacher touches the child’s head to show their approval of the child.  The children seemed quite shy in such a large crowd of adults, but one of the more confident boys began bowing to each of the team in turn, touching our feet.  We felt quite sorry for him, because there were so many of us, meaning he had to get up and down 16 times to show his respect for each member of the team.  He also lost count of whose feet he had touched and ended up bowing to some of us twice!

Saying goodbye to the teacher was difficult and she had tears in her eyes as she hugged us goodbye.  It was sad to see her so visibly upset, but also moving to think we had come to mean so much to her in the few weeks we have spent in Sri Lanka.  Many of the villagers came to help with the preparation of food to help give us a lovely send off and to show their appreciation of our work in Gandarawatte.  The feast which was laid out covered a huge banquet table and is probably the biggest meal I’ve ever eaten.  It was all delicious though and reminded me of just how much I am going to miss Sri Lankan food once I get back to the UK.

Before saying our final goodbyes to the people in Gandarawatte, the Monk gave us all a blessing in the form of a white cotton bracelet which he tied whilst speaking a Buddhist prayer.  Afterwards the Monk translated his words into English for me, explaining that as well as the traditional wish for a long, pure life and good health, he had also voiced his hope that I would return to Sri Lanka soon.  This is my wish too and so I am hoping that the blessing given yesterday will speed my journey back here again.