Going North

Back in Colombo now working out how we'll deliver all the things I have for Goonapitiyawa and Wellaragama school and include the things for a new school further North to Kilinochi.  All the things won't fit into Raja's car so we need to have an alternative plan.
Time is of the essence as his son Sasitha's wedding on on October 27th and Raja needs to be back in Colombo to organise a suit for himself for the wedding and take care of any other last minute things.
We decide to visit Goonapitiyawa school for the official opening of the toilet, ask the Principal of Wellaragama school to take the measurements of the childrens feet for us to collect and order at the footwear distributer for collection the following week, this will give us the opportunity to travel to Kilinochi to meet with the Education Division Secretary to get informaton about a small school in that area for us to visit. 
Because a weekend will occur, we decide to make the journey to Jaffna which is about 47k's further on than Kilinochi.  It will be my first visit and Raja's first visit in more than 20 years.
Kilinochi and Jaffna were badly effected during the war period by both the LTTE and Sri Lankan Military forces so I'm not too sure what I'll be greeted with.  Anyway, we've decided to go there.
We eventually get the car packed for our departure on Wednesday morning.  It's hot and we're delayed so don't leave Colombo until about 11.30am.  It will be a long day of slow travelling to Anuradhapura for us.  The weight of the goods in the car ensures a slow drive.  It's just 200 k's but with the road surface being so bumpy and some major roads are under reconstruction with lots of detours and delays our trip will take all day.
On the 1st of October, seatbelts for front seat passengers became compulsory and if caught without, a fine will be issued.  It's hard for Raja to fall into the habit of wearing a seatbelt so I'm always reminding him.  It's uncomfortable for him to have the constriction of a seatbelt but he knows that if he's caught without the belt on, the Police will issue a fine.  It's revenue raising for both the Police and Government coffers so we shouldn't give them any reason to try and issue a fine.
We arrive at Kurenagala for lunch but now it's almost 2.30pm.  We've still got a long drive ahead so we don't spend too much time eating.  Just a quick rice and curry although I do have reason to question the bill.  Its expensive and after a big discussion with 3 staff members, the bill is reduced and I'm reasonably happy.
We continue our journey through the hills and by ways until we are pulled over by the Police.  Raja was overtaking 3 trucks and a bus on a section of hill road that was being resurfaced.  I'm shocked and so is he.  Neither of us could work out what he did wrong and he even had his seatbelt on.
He gets out of the car to go and speak with the Police officer and another comes over to me.  He asks all sorts of invasive questions, I answer because I don't want to make the situation any worse.  This Offier's English is good so I ask him what Raja did wrong.  He says, "he over took on a hill".  I say, there were no solid lines, single or double so how were we to know not to do that.  The vision was clear for him.  I also tell him  I am a driver in Australia and know the laws, they are the same for us there as they are here.  I also tell him that Raja is a good driver and if he is fined, I will go to court with him as his witness that he did nothing wrong.  There were no lines marked and no other warning signs not to overtake.  I told him also that they shouldn't be fining people if there are no signs or road markings.
He walks off to talk with the other officer and I hear Raja's raised voice also.  This officer comes back and I repeat my message, he says to me, "Madam, we will not fine him, just checking his documents". I say good, because he did nothing wrong and he is a good driver.
Raja comes back to the car, we drive off and then he tells me the story.  When he also protested that there were no lines marked on the road and no signs warning no to overtake in this area, the Police Officer asked him is he would be happy to tell that to a Judge.  Of couse he said yes, take me to court.  At that time, the Officer who spoke to me told the other officer that I said I would be Raja's witness in Court.
What a laugh, anyway, we're on our way again and we stop at Dambulla to get some drining water as the water at Anuradhapura is not good for drinking and who knows whats available for us further North.
It's late in the evening when we arrive at the Hotel and we take the items from the car that are for the school at Kilinochi.  We do this because the roads to the Goonapitiyawa school are dirt and we don't know the condition as to whether the car can go there with such a weight.
The following morning we go to the school to meet the new Principal, see the condition of the toilet that In My Heart Serendib funded and to ensure that all the children will attend school the following day for the official toilet opening ceremony, ha ha..
We've been invited to have lunch with one of the teachers and her family.  We meet them all and have a very nice rice and curry, cooked to my taste.
After we bid them farewell, we visit the Principal from the Wellaragama School to collect the prints of the childrens feet so that we can order the school shoes for them.  To my surprise, this Principals wife is pregnant and due to have the baby on 11th October.  I hope to be able to see the baby just after it's born because we will be coming back to this area the following week.
We head to the shoe distributor so place the order.  I select the shoe style and arrange to collect the shoes the following week on Wednesday or Thursday.
Now it's dark so we head back to the hotel for the evening.  It seems to me that we've done very little but somehow the day is over.  How many times have I contemplated this, driving in Sri Lanka consumes hours of your day.  To travel 12k's to this little school takes almost 1 hour.  We're driving slow, there's roadworks and the other roads are in a poor condition.  You would think now that I'd be used to this but I don't think one can every get used to how much times is spent on driving from point A to point B.
I prepare everything for our school visit the following day.  We're also visiting the little Montessori (kinder) that feeds Goonapitiyawa school.  There are 13 children at the Montessori and 8 of them will go to this little school in 2012.  I want the parents of these children to know that I am supporting this school and if they send their children there, they will receive the gifts of help of education items from In My Heart Serendib each year.
We spend about 45mins with these little kids.  They're so cute, some are just 3 years old.  They are typical of their age group.  Crying when the mood takes them, not sitting when asked and just generally being 3 -4 year olds.  Anyway, they love their little gifts, I've given each of them a little backpack, 1 exercise book, pencil and some simple pre school books for learning Egnlish.  I've also left some crayons, texta's and puzzles with the teacher for use with the children.  Her English is no so good but I feel that she can manage with the simple ABC, 123 & time.
Next it's on to the school which is a short distance away.  They're waiting for us in the school yard and jump with excitment as they see us coming.  This time Raja decides to drive into the school yard.  This has been difficult because of a dip but he moved a few rocks the prevous day to make it possible today.
We ask the children to help carry all the things into the classroom and then Raja and I are asked to come to the office to have tea.
I am surprised when I walk in to see one of the teachers who last time was pregnant.  She had come along with her little baby who is just 5 months old.  She's also brought her 4 year old son and 8 year old daughter.  It's lovely to see her and fortunately I'd brought with me a gift for her and her baby.  I just didn't have anything for her 2 other children but I'm used to doing the loaves and fishes so I manage to prepare gifts for them as well.
I check the toilet and there's been a red ribbon placed across the door which will be cut by me and a grade 5 girl at the opening ceremony.  I ask, "who is going to be the first to use the toilet", they all laugh and say no no no....meaning not one of them.  I understand fully as I wouldn't want to be the first one to use it either knowing that everyone will know.
Next it's into the classroom to start the gift giving procedure.  Lots of parents have arrived which is wonderful, I know most of them from previous times.  I decide that they should also join in the handing out of the things to the children.  Why should it always be me.  They are very supportive of me and I want to share with them.
I'm really happy to know that we have 100% attendance today.  Each child is very happy to receive their school bag, books, reading books, library bag, pencils and other items that we've brought for them.  They laugh and chatter to each other and then I give the toys.  This is always the highlight for the children.  They love the little toys as all children love toys.  I even manage to give the babies a little toy as well.
I've given balls, cricket bats and balls, skipping ropes and general playground equipment.  One of the teachers teaches the children English so I've left some basic reading, writing and math books for her to use for her lesson preparations.  It's very hard to get good material to use so she's thrilled with these books,
The Principal makes a speech and the children listen intently, Raja then speaks, he's done this many times before asking that still all the children should come to school everyday.  He tells that this lady(me) is very happy when I hear that the children are at school and I want them to get a good educaiton so that they can go to University.  It's so true, if only one of these children makes it to University, all of this work will have a purpose. 
Children in these very poor rural communities often dont' have the chance of further education and very few make it to year 9.  They end up working on the farms or moving away from their villages to find labouring work in other area's and the girls usually end up marrying at a young age with very few skills that will get them paid employment.
I then talk to the children about how happy I am to keep coming back to this little school and I can remember when the grade 5 boy was in grade 1 and now he is going off to the big school next year to start grade 6.  It's hard to believe that I've been visiting this school for 5 years to see that progress.  I was also able to point out other children whom I've known since grade 1 and now to see their progress is makeing me very happy.  They all understand as Raja is translating for me.  I also tell them that I hope that in 2012, they can tell me that one of the children has sat and been awarded a scholarship.  This would be fantastic and the parents all clap at hearing this.  In Sri Lanka, a scholarship is a wonderful thing to be awarded and the Principal also agrees that that's also his wish for these children and this little school.
Soon it's all over and we are invited to eat lunch.  The parents have prepared a very nice local lunch for us.  I'm hungry by now so enjoy what they've prepared for us.  Unfortunately the meat is fish so I don't eat that but the rest is very tasy and hot which I like.
We leave the school at about 3.30 to head to the hotel but drop the teacher with the baby at ther home on the way.  It's hot and her husband had come with the motorbike.  They had so much stuff to take with them plus themselves, 2 adults, 2 children and 1 baby.  The car is airconditioned so much more comfortable for the baby and of course no dust.
We bid them all farewell and make our way back to the hotel to prepare for the following days journey to Kilinochi and Jaffna in the far North of Sri Lanka.
What to expect, I don't know.