OSI - Pamunugama
Pamunugama
Christmas The
day began with our children sleeping as late as they pleased, exhausted
from our holiday Colombo
excursion for them the day before. In the late afternoon, we
kicked things off with one of the kids' favourite activities, -a visit to
the nearby Pamunugama beach. After playing ball and tag on the beach
and watching a beautiful sunset, we walked the 20 minutes back to the
home. Santa had apparently visited during that time, as underneath
the tree were piles of gifts for every child. But first, the kids
enjoyed their favourite dinner, catered chicken "kottu",
followed by cake and ice-cream. Then we gathered 'round the tree and
each child made remarkably short work of finding the gifts with their own
name on them. They were a bit slower in opening their gifts, seeming to
wish to savor the fun, and it was a very pleasant, happy time for
everyone!
Below are a few photos to share the day with you. Enjoy!
22 December 2006
Christmas
traditions are among the more positive remnants of Sri Lanka's British
colonial past. In December Christmas trees suddenly appear
everywhere in balmy Sri Lanka, with "Let It Snow" heard daily on
the radio, humorously enough. It is largely a children's holiday,
with moms and dads putting wrapped gifts for their children under the
tree. But for our kids, it can be a melancholy time. December
is also a one-month break between the end and beginning of the school
year. Many of our children go away to relatives, and for those who
remain behind, there is a feeling of being left-out, in addition to the
normal boredom of their "vacation" time. Thanks to some
generous donors (see "Acknowledgements" below) and to the care
of each child's OSI sponsor, we were able to make Christmas a very special
and memorable time for our Pamunugama children this year.
Click on the photo for a larger image...
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Walk
to the Beach
On the 20-minute walk from the home to the beach... |
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Arrival
at the Beach Gazing at the sea... |
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Watching
the Sunset Malani, Nadeeshani, Iresha... |
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Sitting
on the Beach
Amali, Nadeesha, Chalika, Gangani... |
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Piling
Sand Don't know what inclined them to this, but in the end they were enormously proud... |
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Beach
Pose With two of the wonderful staff members... |
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Christmas
Dinner Special order of catered chicken "kottu," the kids' first choice and favourite meal... |
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Our
Tree With lots of gifts underneath... |
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Scrambling
for our Gifts Looking for our names!... |
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Opening
Our Gifts Gangani, Sakunthala, Sewwandhi... |
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More
Gifts For Nimanthi, Deepika, Vishaka... |
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Buried
in Wrapping Paper Smiling Gangani, Sakunthala, and Sewwandhi... |
OSI-Pamunugama Site Page - With more photos, maps, and information about OSI-Pamunugama...
Our Pamunugama Christmas celebration was provided by OSI Treasurer Nicholas Tummillo and his fellow employees at the New Jersey Department of Health Laboratories in the USA, as well as by a donation from Lisa Bernard and family in the USA. Besides the Christmas tree and decorations, catered meal, and loads of goodies, each child received a gift from each of the above donors, as well as a special individual gift from their sponsor.
A huge, much-deserved thank-you to OSI-Pamunugama liaison Anita Priyadarshani for buying and wrapping so many gifts! -and for coordinating the entire event. We could not have done this without Anita's hard work! Thanks as well to the home Matron and her loving staff for always making such events extra special!
Thanks to all of you and to the children's sponsors for making Christmas very special this year for these very special children!
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