Well I think I'm finally almost done getting ready for this trip. I'm very excited and just a little nervous. The only part I'm not too sure about is how I'm going to get myself from the airport at Negombo to the hotel at Dalawella. I mean, I know it will be in either a car or a train or both (I haven't decided yet), but I'm not too clear on how I'm going to get money exchanged and negotiate with a driver in Sinhala and end up where I need to be. But that's ok - those little situations are what the experience is all about. I am going to be seriously roughing it, so I know anyone reading this will feel really bad for me. I can't believe how nice a place this is. For about $30/day I'll get a nice room, a breakfast buffet, and dinner each evening, along with a private balcony overlooking the Indian Ocean. It almost makes me feel bad considering why I'm there, but I intend to work hard during the days. From what I understand, construction on the houses has gone very well and since I'll be arriving near the end of the project, I'll be mostly involved in plastering, painting, and general clean-up. Not too hard and I probably could have been of more use had I arrived earlier, but this is the time I'm able to go.

I have heard nothing but great things from Chris about the people of Sri Lanka and I can't wait to meet as many of them as I can. Chris has done so much to really help people there, and although I don't feel I'm doing much to contribute, I think it can't possibly be a bad thing to show up and let people know we think of them and care deeply about the profound devastation they suffered. I look forward to experiencing life from a completely different perspective for a few weeks and I'll be updating this blog all along the way. Ayubowan gehilla ennam!