Life Lessons in Sri Lanka

I’m often asked why on earth I would want to take a group of teenagers on an international trip – sometimes I ask myself the same thing! But then I go, and the answer is clear. Let me tell you about Sri Lanka.

Our first night in Negombo, on the outskirts of Colombo, offered our first glimpse into the beauty of Sri Lanka, the resilience of the people and a sensory overload as we toured fish markets, wandered the beach, wove through a labyrinth of streets and tasted our first curry for the trip. Students soon found a common connection with the locals and, back at the hotel, the side alley became a cricket pitch – at one point I’m sure all the hotel staff were part of an impromptu match!

Cricket gave way to elephants and safari as we headed to Tissarama, our base for the next four days and where the most special memories would be made. At times it felt as if we could reach out of our jeeps and touch majestic creatures – we spotted a leopard lounging in a tree, saw mongoose playing and marvelled at new bird sightings (well, some of us were excited at the hornbills and bee-eaters!). We wandered the back streets of the town, adjusted to the humidity and shared incredible meals together.

It would, however, be our three days at the village school, which would define the trip – reminding us why we were there and how travelling to unfamiliar places teaches the best life lessons. No one will forget our welcome as we walked towards the school – smiling faces, peels of laughter, colourful floral bouquets, small handing clasping big ones – we were overwhelmed!

Our students had fundraised for many months, and to see the tangible results and positive impact of that money was, for many of our students, life-changing. The money raised allowed us to buy paint and brushes and we worked alongside one another painting school furniture, each classroom a different, bright colour. We were also able to contribute to food packages – enough rice and provisions for every family in the school. We laughed when there seemed to be more paint on us than the chairs, we played between bouts of working, teaching each other games and finding those we had in common. And then there was the cricket! The oval was whipper snipped, the teams formed and the village crowd arrived. After the painting was finished each day, Sri Lanka and Australia took to the pitch. A shared passion requires no common language, it is the language! Another life lesson learned through fun and friendship.

It was hard to leave Tissa and our new friends but we headed back to Colombo and after some adjustments to the itinerary due to the cyclone, we journeyed to Kandy, the cultural heart of Sri Lanka, where we immersed ourselves in ancient Buddhist rituals at the Sacred Tooth temple, marvelled at fire-eating dancers and wandered the streets searching for bargains. Habarana’s amazing cave temples, a bike ride in the rain and clambouring to the top of Sigriya Rock with its royal history offered amazing memories.

It was then time to head south again to the beauty of Galle’s old centre. More history and lessons were learned as students asked about roadside markers and contemplated the answer – mass graves for the those who died in the Boxing Day Tsunami.

Journeying to Sri Lanka with 14 wonderful young people was rewarding – for them and for us as teachers.

To watch young people grow more confident in a completely different environment. To know they have learned that language doesn’t always matter but connection does. To see their growing awareness of their own good fortune and abundance. To observe subtle changes as they greet one another with a traditional Sinhalese phrase or instinctively thank locals with an ‘Isthuti’. And to hear them voice a desire to return to explore more, volunteer more, learn more.

That’s why we travel with young people, that’s why global experiences, which can be challenging, are so important – now more than ever!