Temple life a 'surreal' adventure

Jonny lost his golden locks on arrival at his new home in Sri Lanka

Jonny Beirne, 18, from Bearsden, near Glasgow, has taken a year out to work in Sri Lanka, before attending university.

Here, in the second of a series of articles, he talks of his new home, a temple in Sri Lanka.

The past few months have been taken up by the most bizarrely incredible moments, situations and people I have ever encountered.

The madness began on touchdown at Negombo airport - I was drained from the journey and the careless whirring of my emotions.

I had left behind my family and friends and then met the people I will be spending the next year with.

My weariness was driven away though as I received my first glimpse of Sri Lankan life through the windows of our bus on the way to the hotel - roadside markets, packed with fruit and local produce, insane tuk-tuk drivers, horned cows roaming the streets and locals drifting in sarongs and saris.

After one last night of luxury and comfort at a four star hotel, I headed off to my home for the next 11 months.

Teaching and cleaning

On arrival at the temple, I was given the most overwhelming welcome.

People from all over the village had come, decked out in traditional white dress.

I was adorned with a garland of flowers before starting down the path where children had aligned themselves in rows leading all the way to the temple door, bowing and greeting us as I passed.

Teaching at the temple is mixed with the 'mundane' jobs

Nearly three days of travel had culminated in standing in front of the temple, face to face with the chief monk Nayaka Thera.

On my first day of teaching I was left at the mercy of a 35 strong pack of screaming children with not so much as a lesson plan to hand.

Thankfully though the kiddies are all little darlings and are blessed with heads, shoulders, knees and toes as well as an unending willingness to sing about them.

Away from the classroom, I've already found myself a part of many of the festivals and events that go on throughout the year.

Poya day, the monthly celebration on full moon day, the village perehara and more than a few almsgivings have all been previously unimagined experiences that I now feel privileged to have been a part of.

Day-to-day life in the temple is a surreal experience - whether taking part in a marathon 40 minute non-stop chanting pirith, or just going about the normal, seemingly mundane everyday things like washing clothes or cooking a spot of lunch.

I regularly find myself taking a step back from the situation and think - right, okay, I'm in a temple, standing next to a chief Buddhist monk as I brush my teeth.

I like this. All is well in Meegammana.