MY LAST DAY. I cant beleive ive been here for all of this year so far!! So sad to go. Its a beautiful day here in sunny sri lanka.
I would like to begin with my thank you’s. There are so many people I’ve met throughout this trip that are amazing. Every one of them has their own story, and I was lucky enough to know a little (or a bloody lot) of theirs.
From my HUGE volunteer family I would like to thank:
Josie
Rachel
Leah
Jenny
Sue
Kayla
Matt
India
Yvonne
Vann
Ric
Zoe
Taiwan
Yegor
Liza
Pernille
Linh
Dave
Ally
Franzisca
Bryony
Bridie
Betty
Jenny
Jeokim
Clara
Emma
Eliza
Ric
Kartia
Debby
Steven
Lucien
You all have been so great. Thanks for looking after me (and putting up with me). Helping, giving advise, making me laugh (even howl in laughter). I have so many amazing memories and every single one involves one of you! That’s why we are a family!
Of the staff who, by the way, are such, such nice people I would like to thank you! Everyone who works for the hatchery have been welcoming and helped me settle in so fast. This trip would not be the same if the staff weren’t as good as you guys.
Dudley
Prisantha
Ruwan
Wije
Jayantha
Chandra
Karuna
Nmiska
Iresha
As well as the locals i became good friends with, the woman who owns the shop down the road, all the children at the schools/temples, and generally every helpful, friendly and genuinely nice Sri Lankan person I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.
This trip has been the most perfect thing ive ever done. I have not only learnt a bloody lot about conservation but this kind of trip improves your interpersonal skills, travelling skills and confidence. I am now a better, more well rounded person because of it. There has been scary moments, sad moments, but the well majority has been fantastic. I cant beleive ive done it!!! 3 months! I properly feel like a local now, walking round the towns i have a lot of local friends and all the staff in the shops know me! (And give me local price haha) i think it helps because my tan is TANTASTIC if i do say so myself 😏.
Highlights have been trips on weekends and releasing big turtles. I cant even begin to say how much i love all the volunteers i met. Volunteering is a way of life and very specific people only meet the criteria: happy, open minded, hardworking, accepting, fun and generally nice people and everyone was all those and more.
So in all, sri lanka is now my favourite country. I would recommend any sort of volunteering to everyone because its such a character building exercise! I shall miss it soooo much but i hope to return to the hatchery some time in the future! ☺️
wherejackwent 