GETTING STARTED

Six months in and we can actually start getting our hands dirty. Looking back, we have achieved quite a bit but one of the things that has been on our list for the entire time has been our visas. With that behind us it really feels like all systems go and we can start being truly constructive and seeing results. Having our visas delayed had its benefits; we have made good relationships and we are prepared to get stuck into things when the country was as sure as we were about us staying.

I was quite surprised how much the lack of physical confirmation had been weighing me down and consuming my thoughts and activities. It was difficult to keep preparing for something that may not actually happen and learning the language was hard enough without feeling like it was pointless. Then we had parents coming out in August and we often joked about the irony that we might be back in Australia when they were here. It was such a relief to have that passport stamped or, as was mistranslated to me, chopped. Can you imagine being told that my passport would need to be chopped? I almost swallowed my tongue!

It feels like we are just starting, with the added benefit that we are adjusted to the country and know our way around. We are excited that we can now start showing, as well as telling, people here what we are doing. One part of this has been stuck on the docks in Australia. Before leaving we received items that we were going to start utilising here but had to wait until we had visas. So we can now receive all these items and get the resource library up and running (see "Weekend at Colombo" for more details). Plus, our personal belongings will arrive. Hayley has been cooking everything in one pot and frying pan for our entire time here. We were constantly commenting, "It's OK, our stuff will be here soon". So, all in all, I'm excited about the future.