INDONESIA: Early start this morning. I spent most of the night imagining all sorts of weird and not so wonderful insects crawling over me but was happy to realise on waking that I hadn't in fact been wrapped in a cocoon by giant spiders . . . I was just tangled in my sleeping bag.
After a generous helping of bread and jam we were packed into the van which brought us to the other volunteer hotel for an orientation meeting. It was a great opportunity to hear inspiring first-hand stories from volunteers that have been on site for the past few weeks.
Back into the sardine tin again for a trip down to a refugee camp at 10am. The bubbly chat and laughter came to an abrupt halt when we arrived as the reality of the tsunami damage appeared before us.
A small group of us followed a man to the site where his house used to be. Only a shell remained. He was able to point out on the inside wall exactly where the water level had reached - it was less than two inches from the ceiling.
When the tsunami hit on December 26th his daughter was only 1½ months old. Although he and his family survived the wave, they are rapidly losing any hope that may have existed in the aftermath about the family's future, especially as his tools, used for his job as a technician, were washed away.
With no form of income, apart from the ration stamps provided by the government, they are forced to live in a small tent in this intense heat, which will only be relieved when the monsoon begins in about three weeks. Along with this temperature relief, however, comes the desperate fear of flooding so many of these refugee camps will continue to suffer.
Before heading back to the hotel, we stopped off at the reconstruction project site in Dadalla.
There was much excitement there as a ceremony was being held to celebrate the completion of the first Global Crossroads house. A tiny old Sri Lankan woman watched in tears while the ribbon was cut on the doorway of her new home.
Outside the house a monk, along with one of the woman's sons, lit a wick covered in coconut oil which was set in a small dish of a cultural statue of Sri Lanka's national bird.
The GC volunteers produced a doormat for the front entrance which read "Home Sweet Home" as a present for the new owners. The excitement was absolutely contagious.
One family on the site invited some of us into their home, which was damaged but is still standing. They offered us a cup of Sri Lankan tea with lemon-puff biscuits and we were invited to share dinner with them on Sunday night to experience real Sri Lankan dining.
Their kindness and generosity never ceases to amaze me. They have nothing and yet they would give you their last crumb.