After Matara

We left Matara to head to the Methmal Orphanage at Hambantota the following morning and Rev. Ratanasiri decided to come with us so that he could show me the work he had done in repairing the orphanage and what his plans were for the future for the children and the building.
It was a beautiful drive to Hambantota, we followed the coastline of the Indian Ocean through Tangalle and then again as we approached Hambantota.  The waves lapped at the shoreline and just a few fisherman with their boats could be seen on the beach.  It was very quiet.  I'm wondering where all the reported tourist are, but alas, that's another story for another day.
After driving for about 3 hours, stopping on the way to buy grapes for the children we arrived in Hambantota.  We had decided to visit the new Principal at the Galwewa school to indroduce ourselves to him.  He had heard about this Australian lady and was calling Raja all the time to make sure that we would stop and see him.
It was a good but short meeting with him.  I asked if he would tell all the children to attend school the following day as we would again visit and bring gifts for them.  Bribing works well.
We then proceeded to the orphanage where all 14 of the boys were waiting for us.  It was very nice to see them again and they were very excited to see us also although this time, they didn't recognise us immediately as we were in a van and not in Raja's car which is familiar to them.
After greetings with the children, Manager and the two female staff, we started to unload the van. This is always the exciting time and we have many helpers.
I decided this time to give the children a colouring page of Pirates of the Carribean to colour while Raja and I set up all of the things to give out,  Believe it, this part can take about an hour and to have 14 excitable boys anxiously awaiting gifts is difficult, so I decided to give them something to do to keep them occupied.
Very soon, things were ready and the distribution started.
First the serious stuff, education items.  They loved them but knew that there were toys.  So I didn't keep them waiting too long.  Each boy received a pack of cars, then some kind of dinasour collectables and other items.  The older boys got wallets.  It all went really well and for such a small group, the noise was at fever pitch.
Now came the time to hand out the underpants and toiletry bags.  I felt it was better for Raja to give these items to the older boys, he could check for sizes.  I would manage the smaller children. 
It was such a great afternoon, there was lots of laughter and cars zipping across the floor at all speeds, and cries of "Madam Julie, look".  Of course it was to show me how well they were managing to race the cars with each other.
While we were doing out work, Rev Ratanasiri went to the shop to get us some lunch.  You can't imagine how hungry one gets from unloading, sorting and handing out gifts and then paying attention to everyone for a few moments. 
After we lunched, we walked the grounds of the orphanage to see the changes and to hear the news of the improvements to come.
Rev. Ratanasiri is hoping to build a training facility on this site which would incorporate computer training, English lessons and industry training.  This would be a replica of the orphanage and training facility he has at Matara.  It all sounds wonderful and I think his vision is wonderful for the children and he is positive it will happen within the next 1-2 years.  This man had a great heart for the betterment of these orphaned children.  It was a pleasure to meet him.
It was now around 4pm in the afternoon and we needed to leave to go and find a place to stay for our time here.  We bid the Manager and children farewell and tell them we will return again the following day after visiting Galwewa school just along the same road.
We went to Tissamaharama and found a reasonably good hotel to stay for a couple of days.  The system in Sri Lanka is the driver/guide will stay and eat free but my problem was, I had two people, Raja and Gihan.  This place was good, they decided to give free accomodation and I would just pay a small amount for their meals.  Raja is great, he tells everyone about our work and that in itself makes people feel kindly toward us.  I was happy with their offer and of course will use that same hotel again next visit. 
The next morning, we proceeded to Galwewa School where the children were waiting anxiously for us.  They had prepared a small welcoming ceremony which was very nice.
After that, we had a meeting with the Principal and then proceeded to arrange to give out gifts to the children.  They were all eating the chololate and biscuits we'd bought for them whilst patiently waiting for us to start and then grade by grade, we called them to come up and receive their gifts.
As usual, they were happy with the education packs but the biggest hits were the gifts.  Dolls for the girls and cars/trucks for the boys.
By the time we'd finished, they all had a bundle of things to take home.  There were smiles all around and by now a few parents had come and they were very pleased with the educaiton packs as you would imagine.
Once the process had finished, the children wanted to do a small concert for me.  They are so serious when performing traditional Sri Lankan dance and folksong.  It's delightful to watch as they go through their routine.  I suppose, they don't get to perform in front of a foreigner very often.
Immediately the official part of the day was over, the boys grabbed the cricket bats and balls and were off into the playground for a game of cricket.  They beckoned me to take the bat, but alas.....  I'm not much good at batting so let them have all the fun.
Unbelievably, the time has flown and it's 1.30pm and it's hometime for the children and we need to move onto the Orphanage so we bid them all farewell for this year and promise to see them all again next year.  Except of course for those children in grade 5, they will be moving on to a higher level school for gade 6 and beyond.

Along the road at the orphanage, the boys are waiting for us.  They've arrived home from school, washed and changed and are just waiting. They see us coming and run out into the drive area, waving and shouting...
At the same time, a tuk tuk (small passenger vehicle) arrives with a family of 5 adults and a baby.  It's the babies 1st Birthday and the family are doing Alms Giving (providing a gift) of lunch for the orphan children as a celebration of the childs 1st birthday.
They have cooked a feast of curries and rice which is quickly served to the children.  The plates are piled high with 3- 4 assorted vegetable curries, chicken curry and eggs as well.  The children struggle through most of it but as usual, kids eyes are too big for their bellies and they also know to leave room for desert.  Today its ice cream and lots of it.
It's a lovely occasion and I'm happy to have met this family and to have shared in their special day.  I chatted with most of the family members and then afterwards they asked us to join with the staff to have lunch.  We declined at first and then after sometime and lots of chat with Raja, we accpted their offer.  It was such a nice gesture and how could we not accept, it was their happiness at their babies 1st Birthday.
After all of this is finsihed, the family leave and the boys have cleaned up the lunch things.  We eat and then it's time for me to spend some extra time with the boys.  They all want me to look at their Pirates of the Carribean colouring pages that they'd been doing.  A few of them wanted me to take them and bring them home to Australia, I felt bad, but how could I refuse them.  I asked the other's to display them on the wall above where they sleep, that's a better option.
They boys chatted with me and showed me their sleeping places...  they raced their cars along the floor and bounced balls against the walls.
Before too long, it was time for us to leave.  A very sad moment for me.  I bid them farewell explaining that I would be back again next year.  One young man with a little English, said:  "Yes, I know Madam.  I felt very happy to know that the boys were confident that I would be returning to see them.  One young man, Akila, watched and waved until we turned onto the main road and was out of sight.  I have his drawing with me with his name on the back.  A great memento.
Tomorrow I'll continue with our journey to Panama and then to Wandinheliyaya.