Culture Shock

Well my first day in Colombo was just about being fed. The hotel just kept giving me food and you all know me not the greatest of appetites. They serve coffee and tea with mounds of sugar. Lunch at the hotel was a plate full of rice plus five different dishes. AT about 5 they asked me if I'd like an orange juice and along with it came a pastie, spring roll, samosa and a meat ball, he then asked me what time I wanted dinner.
The cost of living here is ridiculously cheap - I went to the local fashion store and bought a really nice skirt for 3 pouns

Anyway I survived the 6 hour journey from Colombo to Polonnaruwa and saw quite a bit of this very green country. Was welcomed by Ranjani and Nimal and their 2 daughters Nuwandi and Kamali, they are lovely people who are always smiling. There are 2 other volunteers here - Jenny and Rowena from Oban in Scotland.

Ranjani and Nimal grow most of their own food - there is rice in their paddy fields and Avocados,Mangos, Guava, Coconuts, Bananas, Jack fruit, Sour sop, cinnamon, curry leaves ginger tea and chillis all grown in the garden. Any fish we have for tea is caught in the local lake. They eat the main meal at lunchtime and they stand and watch you eat - it's very strange, though Rowena assured me it will wear off.

There are loads of mossies, ants and possibly rats (though I've not seen any of those)
A 3 striped squirrel eats from the rice table in the garden
You don't wear shoes in the house
They don't use toilet paper
There is no hot water so showers are cold and quite often you share the shower with the resident toad. The cold showers are welcome though as the heat here is so humid - I've sweated from every pore in my body.

Yesterday I wasn't feeling too clever - I think all the spicy food and lack of fluid and travelling so long gave me a touch of the runs but today I feel a lot better.

That's my update for now. Mam - hope you got on OK at the hospital.

My phone does work here but you must remember that I am 4 and half hours ahead of you and we are often in bed by 9.

At least I know I can get to the internet but it won't be as often as South Africa.

Love to all. Sue. xxx