Maldives: where blue waters take our breathe away

COUNTRY: Maldives
PROGRAM: UniBreak
PROJECT: Teaching & Swimming Coaching
WRITTEN BY: Jessica Moyes

After over 24 hours of travel, we arrived in Thinadoo. The crystal clear blue water took my breath away. It looks exactly like pictures and tv shows depict. Thinadoo is just like a rural community in Australia. Everyone knows their neighbours, and the mothers and fathers know each other at school.
Our first meal was a challenge to most of us, especially as a couple of us don't eat fish regularly. In fact, most meals are a continual challenge as seafood is the main part of each meal. However, as a group we are rising to the challenge. We have all tried each type of fish, and are willing to taste each curry. Food alone has expanded my comfort zone and I am far more willing to experience different flavours without fear. This still doesn't change the fact that I am not overly fond of tuna!!

Our first day at school was interesting. We arrived at 7:30am for a school assembly to begin the term. We were seated on the stage as special guests. We were then paired with a class teacher for the day to introduce us the school. We also were involved in a welcome ceremony with the teachers and each received a lei and a coconut.

On the second day we were allocated with a teacher for the duration of our stay. I was paired with Aminath who has a grade 3 class. The children in 3B were so keen to learn, and so interested to know about Australia and my home. The first thing that caught their attention was my dog as dogs are not allowed on Thinadoo.
Lauren had brought beach balls that were decorated as a globe and I spent half a lesson looking at the counties of the world. They were amazed that I had come all the way from Australia to the Maldives. They were also confused by the fact that I am Sri Lankan but don't live there.

As swimming wasn't organised to begin until the second week, our group of girls made plans each afternoon to either swim at the beach, jump from the wharf or play soccer. We spoke to iku who is one of our supervisors and he organised for some locals to meet us at the stadium on two afternoons, which is an oval with a grandstand. This was a highlight of mine. The smaller children sat behind the goals and cheered while some of the older kids and teens joined in on the game. This was the first time that I personally felt part of this wonderful community.

In the evening after dinner we play cards or celebrity heads. As a group we are becoming friends and building relationships amongst one another.

Towards the end of the first week we had a lot of rain. I asked Aminath if it rains a lot, she said that when it rains, it pours. And it did! We were tip toeing past puddles and getting splashed by motorbikes rising past us. As uncomfortable as it was, this added to the experience and we laughed as we were splashed with muddy water.

I am now looking forward to the weeks to come, which will include more classroom time, swimming with the children, and a possible trip to an uninhabited island and a resort. This is the rest of the post