Volunteer Abroad in Sri Lanka

I had an incredible time volunteering in Sri Lanka with Projects Abroad over winter break. From the minute I stepped off the plane, I was welcomed by very friendly staff in Colombo. I quickly met other volunteers, and then traveled to my host family's house to meet them. There were eight other volunteers living in my house, and some of them are now my lifelong friends. My host family was incredibly kind and welcoming, and was always available to answer any questions we had. Dinner was delicious every night, and there was plenty of filtered water for all of us. During the day, I volunteered at various hospitals in Panadura. It was a little intimidating to be a college student surrounded by medical students, fellows, and doctors, but they were all very kind and excited to help us learn. We also spent a lot of time at the children's home, where we taught them about healthcare and helped them prepare for the Christmas holidays. Over the weekend, we traveled to Kandy where we visited an elephant reserve and many local markets. I am looking forward to returning to Sri Lanka to explore more of the beautiful countryside.