Teaching in Sri Lanka - Joanna Gwaspari & Josie Barton

Deshastra Balika Vidyala

We ran onto the bus soaked to the bone, clothes rapidly going see-through which greatly amazed our favourite bus driver. However, he then proceeds to grab our umbrella in exchange for the bus keys and disappear. After much deliberation we decided it was best not to hijack the bus as driving in Sri Lanka is somewhat perilous. This is one of many random events that occur from time to time as a volunteer in Sri Lanka.

Onto everyday life, our school Desastre Balike is proving to be a mixture of banging our heads against a brick wall and having very rewarding experiences with both the girls and their teachers. The children are very cheeky, really funny, incredibly friendly and simply brilliant. We have been included in their various school traditions, one being the donning of a saree for which we have now become experts. Having said that, this particular tradition does involve getting up half an hour early so our cook can wrap us around before we waddle off to school like penguins. It is worth it just to see the smiles of everyone's faces. The general laid back attitude of the teachers takes a lot of getting used to, but it's best just to go with the flow. In our afternoons we go to Kalutara North Tsunami Camp which before we ramble on has been the most incredible and rewarding experience of our lives. The kids are fantastic, the parents are lovely and the situation devastating. We attempt to bring a little ray of sunshine into their lives through numerous games of Hoky Kooky, Simon Says and Duck, Duck, Goose. We just hope that kids have as much fun as we do.

We have taken the attitude that when it comes to Sri Lankan food that one must try everything once and probably not again. By this, we are not saying that we do not like the Sri Lankan cuisine as our cook is a master in the kitchen and her rice and curry is to die for. However it is the more random delicacies that we speak of, one such example greeted us at school hidden under a sheet of a newspaper. Two large plates piled high with chick peas, coconut shavings and chili paste. This was not one of our best experiences but gave us something to write about. Life as a volunteer in Sri Lanka has fulfilled many of our expectations and more. We are looking forward to the inevitable weird and wonderful experiences that will be coming our way in the next six weeks.


Joanna Gwaspari & Josie Barton

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