thunderstorms

What are the most lovable aspects of kids? It's something to think about for someone within a embarkment into teaching. I thought of one of those somethings as I walked through the streets today greeting students and not-students. It is perfectly acceptable to display what would equate to the happiest day of your life upon seeing... and greeting... a child. I suppose for a youngster...you don't have to have a reason to be happy...or a reason to be toooo happy.

Rather, it is more typical that a smile a bit too big from me to a stranger or a friend is apt to set their mind wondering.. what the joke is?...or... whats going on?
what are you smiling about? what are you thinking about?
ehhh?

There are no questions or suspicions. Just a reason for that child to become exceedingly happy. It makes me feel a little more at place.

Friendly thunderstorms take some time getting use to.
Even since i arrived here thunderstorms have lurked around many an afternoon corner. And, as walking to destinations is a daily activity there is an inevitable confrontation.
(rainy season will hit full swing this month)
As I come back from the market,.. scattering drops and thunderbolts are enough to set my mind to worry with subsequent thoughts of jogging. But,... as I look around I see old women peacefully picking lettuce in their gardens, people tending rice fields, and a soccer field of children.
From past experience, those last moments before a thunderstorm can be quite breathtaking as the wind whips up, the sky becomes beautiful and threatening, and those lucky; few; first;... -bigdrops- find your forehead.
But, as i was getting to, thunderstorms are liable to hang in the air all night here before hitting in the morning. And, furthermore, weather overall is just much more a way of life here. Rain for an hour, or a couple days..there doesn't seem to be much of a concern.

....The way we get by

COOL BLUE REASONS... Brightly colored shirts, lining occasional streets.  Neon greens contrasting against bright pinks.  -Inside them are Koreans who greet every passing car with a deep bow and a cheerful phrase. 

Here in South Korea, we are within a week of elections.  A serious politician, knows nothing of planting crowded rows of plastic signs along the highways,... rather his advertisements are alive and surprisingly happy to be out and about on the streets greeting people with repeatedly surprising and sincere smiles.  Big box trucks roll through neighborhoods and past rice fields with megaphones full of poppy catch tunes....  they display larger than life faces of  politicians whose images are surely too happy. 

BASKETS OF RED leaf lettuce and many tasty leafy green things with names unknown to me are being served steadily with lunch the past couple weeks - which is more often than picked by the principal?....then prepared by the lunch ladies...which consist of an odd mix of students, assistants, and the occasional vice principal. 
There is a stricter sense of hierarchy here.. but it is served with consideration and humbleness.
The schools garden is producing a tasty harvest.

SHINY NEW GYM, is where i now play badminton once a week with my local friends.  It is hard to complain...I am always meeting new people who are all at once very friendly.  And I am sliding slowly into eating better and exercising more...next weeks project...start taekwando lessons.