hello!!

sorry for not writing in this in a while...seem to have been busy recently and haven't found the time to fill you all in on sri lankan news...although this may be brief too as i dont have too much time to write this...

ok so think this may be mainly photos...but then again i always say this and get carried away!

last night we went to watch sri lanka v pakistan in the world cup in colombo. spent 2 nights in colombo with emer, tris and finn and had an amazing day at the cricket! although sri lanka lost by 12 runs it was so good - they are mad about cricket here and everyone was constantly singing and dancing! loved it!!!! pretty sky above too...

emer, finn and tris looking "cool" at the cricket...

emer and i with our sri lankan flags at the cricket

we have also been back to our highland families house for lunch and have been tutoring her daughter Ishara - trying to help her sort a cv and plan for ineterviews for jobs in agriculture.

We got stopped by a man on his motor bike in the street who then wapped out a big chunk of cow (or beef as you would usually say but this was practically a cow...) and emer screamed in her acting ways, went on to tell him she was a vegitarian and to put that horrible thing away, then he went on to swing the bag of cow in my face with my "veggie friend" close by...shes not an actual veggie just to keep it clear but funny all the same!

SGV sports day! loads of fun, had to stand at the end of each race and just "catch" 3rd place coming in to the end. Also emer and i ran in the teachers 200metre race!!....in our saris and bare feet! was halirous for us but even more funny for the kids watching.

Emer and the SGV boys after there football match against UMV.

from our room at umv - kids practicing dances for the parade they are doing this friday to the temple!

We have been practicing cycling on one bike...basically one person sits on the cross bar and one sits on the seat and peddles...all the sri lankans are awesome at it...emer and i fell of the bike 3 times in the space of 5 minutes....

we arranged a cricket match for Mhiripenna to play UMV - unfortunately we (Mhiripenna) lost but it was a great game all the same on there pitch - more like a field...did have a cow in it previously, also had a road through the middle and a hill...fun fun fun!

Emer and i went for a cycle to a temple we had not been to near by and met some kids for UMV (the cooks children who are always here after school so see them lots) - they showed us around and had a lovely time with them. then their dad climbed the coconut tree and brought us one each to drink...yummy!

Emer has taken on extra cowricular activities...she is mooooving slowly with her new... pupil

(emer wrote that cheesy pun NOT me.)

we attended a sri lankan grade 3 teachers training day - which we have found actually very useful!

we have been to lunch at 2 other families homes the last 3 weeks and to the post office as weird as it seems for a lunch/arms giving - community spirt!

we have found a new area of galle that is amazing - so different from main street!

we have also taught 2 great lessons outside! one with grade 5s doing directions using blind folds etc and the other with grade 3s doing colours...we had coloured bits of paper made some kids hold them in all areas of the play ground then made the rest stand in the middle while emer and i shouted what colour and they ran to it...this went slightly wrong when the kids with the paper decided it was even more fun to run away with the paper so turned in to a big chasing game...sorted it out well and think colours is going down a treat!

grade 1 still seem to cry a lot but are getting sooooo much better!!

all for now!!

hope everyone is great and having lots of fun! all great and fun here so hope it is with you too!

emers famiily - she is doing amazing, we are having loads of fun together, very lucky to have her! looking forward to meeting you in april!

love kirstin xxxx


emer here...feeling extra settled at the mo couldn't ask for a better partner, been very busy the past weeks (even teaching cows) as you have read. cant wait to see mummy, daddy and orla and to meet kirsts parents and anna banana. love to all e-mcdizzle!!! xxx