Because it's fairly time consuming getting to the internet cafe in Galle, I'm not able to post as much as I'd like. And with each hour that goes by I feel the details of my experiences escaping me. In a way it's frustrating because I so want to communicate how amazing it is to be here, along with all the sights, smells, emotions, etc. Yesterday I played cricket at an elementary school near where we're building the houses. It took me a while to get the hang of it, but by the end I scored a few runs and even pitched ("bowled") six pitches ("overs"). After playing cricket we ate rice with our fingers and drank lots of beer, which eventually turned into singing and dancing to the beat of rocks clinking against beer bottles. I tried to come up with a word to describe how I felt during those moments (moments that for some reason had me a little choked up), but I don't know if there are any. Present? Pure? I don't know. Karen, one of the other volunteers, left yesterday and had formed close friendships with several of the workers. I got really choked up when Godage starting crying because he was so sad to see Karen go and climbed into the van as we were leaving. To say that was touching is an understatement. I will be forever thankful that Chris D. was adventurous enough to do this and encourage me to come along.

Today was the first day of work and I am definitely tired. I'm not even doing the hard stuff because most of it is done, although I did get down and do some digging in a six foot deep hole that will eventually contain a septic tank. That was tough. The rest was just painting and mudding some cinder block walls, but when it's 95 degrees and humid, everything is hard. I think I'll get used to it though. Most people here are saying you don't really hit your stride until after about two weeks, which is when I'll be leaving. But I plan to get some good work done while I'm here. I have a lot of amazing photos, but because of the slow internet connections here I think I'll wait until I get back to post them. Well I wish I could say more, but I've been thinking about what to write in this post for two days and I just can't collect my feelings well enough to adequately describe them. And I'm starving. Time jump in a tuk-tuk and head back to the Sri Gemunu for dinner and an early bedtime.