An important aspect of Project Sri Lanka is the exposure volunteers have to a wealth of new and diverse experiences.  As a veteran of the Project, I have come to expect the unexpected surprises that pop up out of nowhere and can result in a forever-altered perception of the world as you know it.  This week was the first week of the Sabaragamuwa University programme and such an encounter occurred this morning whilst finishing breakfast in the canteen.  Whilst going to wash my hands in the bathroom after eating, I thought to use the last opportunity to use a western toilet before heading off for a mornings work in Ihalagalagama preschool.  Just as I was lowering myself onto the toilet seat, I noticed the water in the bowl was unusually black and, even worse, seemed to be roiling in the most unnatural manner.  As I looked closer, a nose, a pair of beady black eyes and some clawed paws materialised out of the abyss of the u-bend.  I am not sure who was the most shocked, me or the creature as it quickly submerged itself before coming up for a second look.  In the frozen moment that followed, all I could think was: there’s a rat in the toilet, what am I going to do?  Why call the chef with a string lasso and a monk armed with a dustpan to rescue the said animal in distress of course, what else?  And moments later, after some hustling and amused laughter from the group of spectators, the rat was successfully lassoed and hauled out of the toilet bowl, across the canteen and out into the gardens dangling by its neck from the end of a string in the most undignified of manners before being released to live another day.  Only in Sri Lanka…………!

The rest of the week at Sabaragamuwa was less adrenaline-pumping but thoroughly enjoyable.  When I came last year, there were staff strikes at Universities nationally so the campus was much quieter.  Having had the cast on my ankle removed in time for me to participate in the University programme, I found myself in my element in front of classes of students and non-academic staff.  It reignited my passion for teaching which I have put on hold this past year whilst completing my Master’s degree.  I particularly enjoyed teaching the first year students as they became really animated and involved in my lesson of persuasive writing and debating of different perspectives on marriage, such as arranged marriage versus choosing your own marriage partner.  It was definitely one of the most successful lessons I have taught since starting work with PSL in 2010.  Without doubt, the highlight of my week was returning to one of ‘our’ villages, Pukakgahawela, a very busy preschool set in front of a hazy, towering mountain range.  As well as being welcomed by the children with huge bunches of colourful native flowers, I also met the lady president of the village Sarvodaya society.  She invited Rose and I to have lunch at her house (made extra hot and spicy to accommodate my tastes!) where we also met her aging mother and teenage daughter.  They were a lovely, welcoming family and ‘Nana’ took a particular liking to Rose and repeatedly cupped her face in her hands, stroking her hair.  After a dinner, the family suggested taking us to visit their local temple in a tuktuk driven by………the Sarvodaya President, the first lady tuktuk driver I have ever met!!!!!  Everyone, including Nana, daughter, us, the neighbour and the neighbours children piled in (8 people in total) and we soon found ourselves on a road trip winding up snaking mountain roads whilst blaring out country and western music, laughing and dancing (well, wiggling from side to side in the limited space available).  It was one of those special experiences where there was a really sense of unity with people that traversed culture and language, created by a connection of laughter and a shared, mutually enjoyable experience that I certainly will never forget.