Meet the Ocean Stars 2014 team and their pre trip thoughts!
SAMEENA RAMSDEN
I cannot contain my excitement to go back
to Sri Lanka. I was so lucky to get the opportunity to volunteer last year but
the chance to go back is something else! I can’t wait to see all the lovely
students in the schools and to see Cobra (Madushan) and God (Gihan) again! I am
ready to create more memories and help the other guys face the challenges of
Sri Lanka
OLI SHAFTO
I’m really excited to visit Sri Lanka this
year. I have never visited the eastern side of the world. I’m really looking
forward to exploring a new culture and visiting a climate/country out of my
comfort zone
JACOB IVERSON
I am SO excited; it’s crazy to go back to
Sri Lanka! I cannot wait. I am really looking forward to planning lessons
IMOGEN BINELLI
I am really excited to be returning this
year, I am hoping to visit all the children we met last year and meet new ones.
I can’t wait to see the tour guides and see everyone.
SOPHIA B
I am so excited about Sri Lanka. I can’t
wait to see all the elephants and see all the wildlife. I am sure it will be an
unforgettable experience, especially teaching all the children and learning
about the culture. I hope it makes me understand more about how Ocean Stars
help change the devastated lives in Sri Lanka. It will be interesting to try
the spicy curries! I am looking forward to the hot weather.
STORMIE THRUSSELL
I am really excited to go to Sri Lanka
because I want to experience a new culture. I also am looking forward to
teaching children, as it will be a good experience. This trip will make me more
independent and it is going to make me realize how lucky I am. I am looking
forward to seeing elephants because I love animals! Most of all I am going to
enjoy the trip, have new experiences and make new friends. I am pleased I am
going on this trip because I can visually see what my and everyone else’s
fundraising has gone towards and what a difference it will make. I am a bit
nervous about what food I will be eating and how hot it will really be!
RHIANNA
I am not looking forward to the travelling
as I will probably feel ill but will have lots of water (and getting chapped
lips)
I am looking forward to this trip because
it means something to my family and the team will make a difference to some people’s
lives.
SERENA MANDAL
I am not looking forward to the long
journey in the cars and I get quite bad jet lag. I’m looking forward to meeting
and teaching the children in the schools because I would love to find out what
life is like for them in Sri Lanka.
LUCY CHARLES
I am not looking forward to the long
journey and the jet lag. I am looking forward to meeting the children and learning
about their culture and way of life. Also the Sri Lankan wildlife would be
great to see.
I could bring resources that would give the
children more to use in their lessons & give them new words from the
English language. I am feeling very excited about the trip as it will be a new
adventure and a great experience
RACHEL SHIPTON
I am so excited for the trip – especially
knowing that I will be helping people. My main worry is that I won’t be able to
raise the money and that I won’t be able to control my class in Sri Lanka
I decided to go on the trip because I have
always wanted to travel and help people who are forced to live in poverty
GEORGIE BARROW
I’m really excited about going to Sri Lanka
I’ve never been before so it will be great to see the country and I’m really
looking forward to meeting the little children.
I have a few fundraising ideas such as the
London to Brighton bike ride and a cake sale in the London B & Q where
Faye’s dad works. I want to do lots of fundraising because it’s for a good
cause.
I am nervous about a few things such as the
plane journey because I am just not the biggest fan of planes but apart from
that and a few other little things I am just so excited!
I can’t wait to go and experience new
things such as food, new culture, elephant sanctuary, new children etc. I
cannot wait!
LEANNE MAIN
I am really excited about the trip to Sri
Lanka. I can’t wait to stay in a completely different culture with the children
to see how they live. I know it will be hard to see the conditions they live in
but we will try our best to make all the children laugh & smile.
I was really interested in the trip because
I am intrigued to see how other people in the world live. After going to Egypt
and staying in a completely different culture for a week, I have always wanted
to return to a less fortunate country to help.
Also, the places we visit sound really fun
and interesting, for example the Elephant Sanctuary. I will take lots of
pictures and videos and hopefully create a video of the trip to keep as a
memory. Teaching the children will also be amazing, as we will get to
experience what their everyday school life is like and ensure they have fun!
I know the Sri Lanka trip will be an
unforgettable experience. We will have so much fun and make so many memories,
whilst building friendships and helping a good charity – Ocean Stars.
FAYE SKENE
I’m feeling extremely excited about going
on this trip because I can’t wait to see the differences in the landscapes and
also I can’t wait to work with the children.
I’m most scared that maybe the children
won’t like me; I know of course the children will love us being there, but I
still have that thought.
From what I’ve heard from the people who
went last year, the trip sounds super amazing and especially because I’m going
with people I’m close to, my experience can be shared with them too.
The things that we will see out in Sri
Lanka sound so exciting and I really can’t wait to see everything and see all
of the amazing animals and buildings. Also, I think the culture will be
fascinating to learn.
MR WALKER
I’m looking forward to seeing a totally
different country from our own, the sights, sounds and the people.
I’m hoping that we will be able to raise
lots of money through fundraising and donations so that we can take lots of
musical instruments to the students.
I was part of the Ocean Stars 2013 team and I fell in love with the country and all the people! The minute I left Sri Lanka was the minute I decided that I had to return. The duration of the 10 days gave me insights that I could not have learnt from a textbook. In so many ways my eyes opened up to a world where people don't necessarily live in the best conditions but they are some of the happiest people I have ever met.
I am very eager to go back to Sri Lanka as I realised how much our communities can learn from and support one another. Meeting the children in Sri Lanka helped me to realise how the money that we raised by organising simple fundraising tasks can help people in a very practical way. 
I am not the only student planning to return to Sri Lanka. Fiona Lincoln, Jacob Iverson and Imogen Binelli will also be participating in the trip for a second time. Although we have many memories from the previous trip we do not wish to dwell on these too much. In fact we wish to move forward and use our previous knowledge to help the new students enjoy the wonders of Sri Lanka!
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