Umbrella Brigade

After quite a bit of time without a good rainstorm, we had a drenching this past week. Being from Idaho tends to make you show little interest in things called umbrellas until you come to a place like Korea. Now I not only have one umbrella but two. Various sizes depending on the storm. This week was a big umbrella day.
What I came to notice, as is often the case here, is that the true personalities of Koreans come out in their accessories which include umbrellas. Many times you see friends or just acquaintances sharing time underneath one of these colorful devices. There is quite an area in each department store that is dedicated to these items. I know that there will be days when I am caught out and about without my shield from the epic downpour that is Korean showers, but for now I am happy to say that I have been safe from harm. Now if they only sold galoshes in my size I would have it made!

When the kids don't have their umbrellas 

they make the shape of one over their heads

with their hands. I am not really sure how 

effective it is but it is cute. 

 I also cannot wait to see what they do when the winter months come. It could be a whole new kind of adventure watching them drive in snow as well as the walk to work. I guess I better start bracing for it now as the weather is turning cooler. Never know when that first flake will fall.

Moving Day!

Not for me,  at least not yet I hope. That is the tricky thing about living in rented apartments. Sometimes the landlords want to sell out to somebody else. That can mean you can go or you can stay according to what they do. So from time to time you just have to remind yourself that the place you call home now might not be home for long.
Just the other day I watched what looked like a window washing contraption rocketing and I use that word for reason up and down outside a building. I wasn't sure what it was and it looked like something I did not want to be a part of. I am all for a little adventure and have been on my fair share of roller coasters, but this had trouble written all over it. The other night I saw it again outside another building. Now I know its purpose.

This is how you move in Korea. This ladder/platform moves baskets and small boxes of items down from your balcony to the waiting truck. Most are small boxes and that may be because larger ones are hard to find? Also most of the time, new occupants will throw out brand new desks and tables and beds and anything from the previous owners because they don't want that energy in their home. It makes dumpster diving really fun and they actually usually encourage it just so something doesn't go to waste. Many times our apartment guards will set nicer things apart so people can look through items and take what they need or want. Some of the guards are nicer than others, but if it has a yellow sticker on it it is free game.
I see why they use this method because the halls and elevators are quite narrow and small. I keep my eye out for items that may be of use in my apartment but nothing comes to mind as yet. I don't want the space cluttered but I do want it to start feeling a little more homey. Many suggested plants but I kill every one I ever get so I will have to find some other ways to decorate. That in itself could be an entire new adventure.

Framed and Yogie-o buttons

Just a couple of quick thoughts for you today my friends. First, HALLELUJAH Monday is over this week.
Second, I had a couple of new experiences at the end of my day that you might be interested in. The first quest involved getting two of the pictures I have taken during my travels enlarged and framed as I have absolutely nothing on the walls of my apartment and one can only handle so much white to stare at. So for a total of $50 in won, I was able to get two pictures enlarged and framed while I waited. Sometimes it is a very good thing to be in Korea as these would have set me back much more money if I had them done in the states and I think this might be a fun new tradition to have some of my own pictures on the wall. The one of the dancer from my time in Singapore seemed to really catch the eye of the owner of the picture frame store. He was explaining how I ended up getting that shot. First he was surprised that I took it. (So was I quite frankly) He then told me that to get that motion I moved the camera at the exact same time and in the same direction as the the dancer which is how I got the flag work to rotate like that. Who knew? But I can totally see myself doing something like that, not necessarily on purpose but in this case it was in my favor that it worked out.

 This next little item is a Yogie-o button. I am sure it has an official name but I call it that because of what it does. You see them in some of the restaurants around town. We found this one in a new burger joint we found called Mr. Big. Yogie or Yogie-o quite literally means Here in Korean. So if you want the the taxi to drop you off, you usually say Yogie-o to mean stop here. This is also how you call for a waiter or waitress. They usually do not just come and ask you your order or give you a check. You have to call them and you do that by saying Yogie or Yogie-o. This button replaces that whole thing. You just press it and someone will come to your table. Kind of a nice little feature and of course, most tend to be musical in some way. The only trick is where they put it on the table. Sometimes it is hiding behind the napkins or someplace like that. Other times it is right on the corner of a table. Right where you tend to rest your arms, which my friend Amy found out. Then you end up calling the poor guy up the stairs for no real reason. But it is at least a lesson for most of you in how to dine out. If you ever want your order taken or you want to leave and pay the bill just shout out Yogie-o.

A Saturday Off in Korea

It is still a curious feeling to have a day "off" during my week. I still haven't quite figured that out. When we do get to the weekend here though, we tend to make the most of it. It also seems that most Koreans also have the same idea in mind. Yesterday we decided to travel to Taejeon again to seek out the famous "jewelry lady". I am happy to report that the weather was MUCH nicer than it was before. So four of us set out to our first plan, the bus. We found out quickly though that we would have waited a good 90 minutes to get the bus so we changed tactics to the train system. The train system is fantastic here, except everyone seems to know that secret as well. When we got to the station we could choose standing room only or just bag our plans so we went with standing room only even if it was over an hour ride. Well as you can see we found "seats" anyway and made the best of it. I must say it was fun to watch people walk between cars and see four white people sitting there. Not many could keep a good poker face on that one.

 The train porters were quite nice and let us sit in between stops and it was a different perspective on a lot of the country side. Once we reached Taejeon, we went in search of a few friends at our sister school at TCIS and then off to a local coffee chain for a quick drink and a bit to eat. There are a lot of little coffee shops all over Korea and you soon learn the favorite spots to be. From there we did seek out and find the elusive Jewelry lady. Moving through Taejeon must be the very closest thing I might ever feel to being famous. They simply do not see foreigners of any sort really. It is not considered rude to flat out stare at foreigners either. For most we are nothing more than a curiosity. Many just want to know where we are from if the speak any English at all. Those who find out that we are teachers all assume that we teach the English language and it does surprise some that we teach in a variety of subjects. It is the younger ones that find us the most interesting. With my friend Kim especially, they are quick to play peek-a-boo or laugh and giggle which in turn makes their families laugh and breaks down some of the barriers between our cultures. But I digress..


We did find the jewelry lady after a bit of walking
She makes some beautiful hand beaded work in all forms. She does about every type of jewelry you can imagine but she has various types of "chimes" and chandeliers and lamp covers of all colors. She is also quite a painter and it is easy to see that she takes pride in her work. I am surprised she consented to a picture being taken by Amy but considering our purchase I think she was okay with it. Most do not like to have pictures taken so I feel this is pretty special. I really enjoyed "talking" to an actual artisan. I like watching them work as well. I prefer to buy things from them because I know where and how it was made. It was a great trip overall and it may have been a full day but it was fun and hopefully fun for my travel companions. There is so much I still have to see and do, but getting out of town, even if it is just an hour away does help to refresh the mind and soul a little bit. These days every little bit really counts. Thanks Amy for introducing me to the elusive Jewelry Lady.

The randomness of my random life...

No pictures or epic words of wisdom today my friends. Just wanted to share some things that have gone through my mind today. No, I am not losing my sanity, anymore than was already gone to begin with.
First I thought I would just mention one of our smaller vans not only plays Fur Elise when it backs up, the driver has a horn in it now that plays the whinnying of horses and the woody woodpecker laugh. I am serious. I was not the only school member to witness this either. It made us all pause for a minute before crossing the street. It might be hard to capture the sound of this elusive musical van but I shall try my best.
Next on the list..a  phone. Yes friends and family I have an iPhone. Let us not discuss the fact that all of the instructions are in KOREAN. Not that this wasn't an expected issue. Still it is rather frustrating all the same.  Now there is rampant discussion amongst many of us on how to use this that and the other. The first issue is how to get the phone to make everything appear in English so we can even begin to understand the workings of the phone. Some of my colleagues are acting like Christmas has come early and are frantically trying to figure it all out now. I will be getting it figured out over the next few days and once I do I will happily share the information. I am still in the "how to turn off and on phase." It's a new and fun thing to have but it is just not top priority tonight.
Today I had three classes give presentations for me on musical composers and pieces and describe the historical context in which they were written. I cannot describe how amazed I was at not just one or two presentations but several of them. Just absolutely astounding in their quality for grade 9 especially. It makes me wonder if I can keep my expectations high enough?
Tonight I helped adjudicate some of the 11th and 12th grade students at their fall recital. For those of you in the music know this is what was played.... Flute Quantz Concerto in G Major, Piano Chopin Scherzo No. 3 Op 39, Clarinet Weber Concertino in E-flat Major, Piano Chopin Scherzo No. 1 in b minor. To say that this is college level is kind of an understatement. It is the end of September and this is what these students prepared to this point. Again...amazing. So I put in a good 12 hour day just physically at school.  A little bleary eyed now I still am amazed at it all. Still it was a nice walk home after dark with a colleague. Winding my way through the apartment complex that I am learning now. I always like to walk by this one particular guard stand at night. There are usually two yellow kittens and the mama kitten I would imagine. They are usually close by the shack. It isn't uncommon to find cats in and around the area but these three are usually out every evening I walk by. Tonight I discovered why. Under the shadow of darkness there is a tiny bag of cat food out. I cannot say who it is that left this treat for the kittens. All I know is that I am not the only one who enjoys seeing them around. Funny little place I am living in now. Sometimes it puts a smile on my face.

Well now I can cross that one off....

 So you know that set of stairs I was thinking about in a previous post?
Well today was the day to find out where they go. At first I was just waiting to get yelled at for being in the wrong place. I don't know who was going to yell at me but I figured it would happen. From the photo perspective as wall as in real life these stairs look like they lead to nowhere. That I found out is quite the opposite as you will see. I found it the pathway to finding a piece of home. It may not have sounded like it or smelled like it but for a split second it felt like it. Walking a dirt path with pine needles underfoot. Hearing the fluttering of the doves as they fly over. I just felt like it was reminding me that where I am from and where I am are not so very far apart. They blend quite nicely.

 I did come to find out why the path was there. Interspersed with all of the trees, there are vegetable garden plots that are carefully tended to. I don't know who does the work but you can tell it is done with love. After a good ways in I came literally to a decision. Do I continue on the path or take the hint to step back and return the way I came? I mean my Momma didn't raise no fool. She did, however, raise a curious child who just had to go and look around the next corner.

I am really glad I did because I got to see the biggest garden yet and a new special place that I know I can go to when I want to feel a little bit closer to home while I am here in Korea.
Sorry Mom if I made you worry, but I was expected for a dinner this evening anyway and somebody would have come looking for me if I didn't show. Next time I think I might actually have a phone with me!
Find your special place today friends. Wherever it may be.

Homesickness Blues

I can see why they call this a sickness. Not fair really in how fast it can sneak up on you and how it can really make you heart sick and physically sick. It is just a sadness for me. I guess it comes in different forms for everyone. It is my hope that it abates as quickly as it sets in. There is so much to be done. No time for being tired or down and out. At the same time isn't it reasonable to expect to "crash" a little when I haven't had such large doses of happiness like I have in so long? I can only hope it balances out in some form soon. So today I was trying to find ways to start pulling myself back up and keep going. I think it important to give myself an evening to have a bit of wallow but tomorrow is coming quite soon.
So I decided to look around just my walk to school and took a few pics of things I wonder about. We all have adventures sitting in our own backyards that we need to conquer.
For example:

 This is a sitting area of some sort that is hiding behind the gates to the local high school. I haven't ever seen it in use. I wonder if the students even use it but it seems as though it has been there for some time now. I wonder what it has seen and how much trouble I would get in if I wanted to take a closer look.

These are some stairs I pass every single day on the way to school. They go up the hillside by the school but I don't know where. It could be a hiking trail or gardens or a home or nothing at all. It seems tame enough for me to investigate one of these days. The point being, how many times do we walk right by stuff like this and never even wonder much less think to explore?







And finally when all else fails, leave it to kindergarteners to at least put a smile on my face as they do their first song of the day. I think they like learning about loud and soft music and the movements, don't you? Here is hoping that tomorrow has a little less longing for home and a maybe two smiles on my face instead of just one.

Bali the Finale

So as I am writing what I feel will be the final chapter on my Balinese adventure I am thinking about what was the most important thing I am taking away from this adventure? What is the most memorable thing? Honestly it is the people. It was wonderful taking in all of the beauty that the island life has to offer. I will seriously consider going back because there was so much to see. But the people. The people in my traveling group and the people of the island are what I will remember most.

But isn't that how it should always be? Enjoying the people you are with and around. I know that isn't always easy (lady who cut in front of me at the Kuala Lampur airport and her friends who were polite enough to stay behind me). Honestly when you think about it all the best memories in life usually include some other person. Someone you may barely know or someone you feel as though you have known all your life. We come in so many sizes, shapes, and colors. Our backgrounds are uniquely our own. For me, especially in the past year, I look at all the people I have met and realize that even for a brief second they are making a difference in my life. Some will be for many years to come and not even realize it. So yes, the beaches were beautiful. The sunrise was epic. But the people. The people made all the difference in the world!
So wherever you are and whatever you do today, you are effecting those around you. Try with all your heart, to make it a positive effect. You never know what might come of it in the end.

Bali Part 4...how to relax

So if you are in Bali, you really shouldn't have to have suggestions on how to relax, but here are a few anyway. If you are like me, the concept of relaxing is extremely foreign. There is always something you should go see or do, but if I have learned nothing else, I have learned that doing nothing in the right company is the way to go.
The first two are rather obvious...pool or beach? Either place you can read a book or take a snooze (only if covered in SPF 10,000), or take a swim in beautiful waters. From time to time folks selling hats and sarongs and shirts might look for a quick sale but they don't bother you too much.

 This next bit of relaxation may not be for the faint of heart but is a must when coming to Bali or even in Korea. In Korea it is known as Dr. Fish. I don't have a clue what they call it in Bali but this was our first experience with this concept. What happens is you put your feet with all these little fish and they nibble all of the dead skin off your feet and ankles and stuff. Now before you get too grossed out you have to give it a try. It is the oddest feeling and can be ticklish at first. If you are worried about cleanliness, fear not, your feet are wiped down before and after the process. From what Eka told us, these fish are very sensitive to keep alive as well. These particular fish are from Turkey and there the practice is quite common. You just have the pool the right temperature with the the right air circulation and all. It is such an odd feeling and you get even odder looks from people walking by but it really works. Your feet feel amazing when you are all done.

 There are combo deals at the place we stopped by. We could do the Dr. Fish thing which was awesome and then we could also do massage and reflexology. For those of you who don't know, reflexology focuses on the feet, hands, and sometimes ears. It is designed to stimulate the systems in your body, something closer to acupuncture. It helps balance the body internally which really does seem to help you relax more. When we asked the technicians if they could feel where we were more tense or our circulation was poor, they would say yes and usually they work on certain areas where they feel that tension.  Unfortunately, due to my neglect of constant reapplication of sunscreen I could not partake in the neck and back massage. But while I was getting extra focus on my hands, I watched my new friends nearly fall over in a relaxed stupor. It was amazing to watch their bodies just start to slump so quickly. Let's just say that after these experiences (which we did twice on our trip) we went back to the hotel droopy, drowsy, happy, and relaxed.
I cannot speak for the balinese massage. My friend Kim had that done, and although there was no screaming, there was definitely some slapping and beating going on back there that I don't know all the details of. She seemed no worse for wear by the end of that though. So in short, you can fully relax in Bali for $0-$20 dollars US. (That's right $20 bucks) and if none of that appeals to you then you might need to try a better local my friends.

Bali Part 3....Gili Adventures

Ok so you may have to zoom in and follow the dotted red line but that is our impromptu destination place to the Gili Islands. It is about a 90 minute jet boat ride from Bali out to the islands. I felt very Miami Vice going that fast in a passenger boat. We caught some serious waves and air during the trip. I am so thankful to the makers of Dramamine for that little jaunt! To get on the boat, you have to literally creep around the sides to make it to the back entrance. The only other way is through the luggage bay and that is reserved for little children. They send em down the hatch so they can get into the boat easier. 

Due to the off season in regards to tourism, the speed boat only runs once a day so we opted to stay over night, find a room to sleep in and barter to do some snorkeling around the three islands. (I know SO me right? Wrong) BUT luckily my new friends are young enough to take on such an adventure and some have had experience in haggling. So off the boat we went on to a fishing village that caters to divers and snorkelers. We did not have the time to take full dive lessons but we were able to negotiate a boat and four snorkel sights with gear and four hours of time for a total of $91 American dollars. (That is total to split between five people folks) So off we went in a wooden boat with our guides Tommy and Joe. I only wish I could describe the clearness and beauty of the water to you. The differentiations when you are in deep water and the coral reef areas. You can see so far below. After getting used to the snorkel equipment we saw some beautiful underwater sights. Every "Finding Nemo" fish you could imagine was in sight and you could swim amongst them. My absolute favorite was swimming amongst two sea turtles. Will happened to find them at one of the sights. They are so amazing to watch and just swim beside. I WISH I had a waterproof camera to catch that! We also came upon two ship wrecks which were great areas for fish. We had some crackers with us and ground them up at one sight and the fish would literally come and eat out of our hands! Talk about a magical experience! I could have never dreamed up such a time much less done it before this!  After a long, hot, and amazing afternoon we were off to find a room to stay in. 

There are really not many hotels on an island. Mostly little bungalows that you can rent rooms out by the 

night. You can go up and down and barter for a good price, or again, watch your friends do it the right way. We were able to get two rooms between the five of us in a nice area a little ways back from the beach. It was sparse but clean. No sheets other than the mattress cover. No air conditioning but you had a ceiling fan. It worked for us!  Once dinner was over, we trekked back to are accommodations and laughed and visited, while hearing the Muslim call to prayer in the background. There is a large Muslim population in the islands along with the Hindu and Buddhist settings.  Even though we were exhausted, sun burnt, and cut up from some of the coral, we decided we all would get up early in the morning to see the sunrise because how often can you say you saw the sun come up over the Gili Islands? So after what felt like a nanosecond of sleep, we stumbled, eyes half open, to the beach for one of the most awe inspiring starts to a day I can remember.  This is the photo I captured of that morning. It was so peaceful and calm as the fishermen had not started to come in just yet. An absolutely amazing moment with new friends. One I will not forget and would not trade for all the world. 

So my advice to all of you. Just once in your life, take off for a destination unknown. Trust in yourself, and your traveling companions. Really learn what it means to see a part of the world you never knew you would have wanted to. Dare to dream, grow, and expand your horizons, your thoughts, your hopes. Sometimes the rewards can be so very precious.

Bali 2....what kind of vehicle do you prefer?

In previous blogs, I have talked of the insanity of driving in South Korea. Okay now I know that apparently may the only place I will think of driving in a "normal" sense will be in the US. Once again I am in awe of the travel culture of a new land. Where South Korea likes to play bumper cars, Bali and Gili like to play chicken on motor scooters. It is not uncommon at all to see three or four people on one scooter. The run in, out, and between traffic in a blink of an eye. Most of the them wear their helmets for safety but that might be the only thing on their bodies that doesn't get broken in a wreck. The cars and trucks treat them like pesky flies and there is no such thing as protective space. It is just get there however you can.
There were several times I sucked in my breath not for my safety, but for watching what was going on in front and beside me. Add to this, people coming up and down the middle of traffic trying to sell fruit, newspapers, and all manner of things.
If you are not on a scooter or in a car you are have other options. Foot power is always the first and formost  means of transportation. Then there is the boating culture, and during the off season, you can usually bargain for boat deals with about anybody. You see a fair share of bicycles coming in and out and you listen for their bells or sometimes the riders will just make some sort of random noise to let you know they are there.

The one I found most interesting was the horse transport on the Gili Islands. They are not allowed to have motorized transport on those islands so it is literally horse and cart. Most of the horses are quite decorated and have literally all the bells and whistles. Soon you get used to listening for them and know to move over to the side. Sometimes you just have to stop and wait as there isn't much room to move over for them. So however you like to travel, you can get from point A to point B in an adventurous sort of way. Scary to think that South Korean driving now seems tame by comparison!

Bali Part 1..Have bag will travel.

5 days in one small backpack and
a laptop case

Sorry to all of you for taking a brief intermission from my writings. It has, and still is, taking time to process all of my new experiences over the past 5 days.
I have just returned from Bali for our Chuseok break. Never had intentions in my life to go to Bali for any sort of vacation. It is just something I never thought of doing. That is why it is good to meet adventurous people who are interested in doing things like this.
And so my journey took me from South Korea, to Kuala Lampur, and finally on into Bali. When you look at it on the world map it is super close to Australia. So I can definitely say I have been in the southern hemisphere now.
The people of Bali and the Indonesian culture, are quite nice. They are adapting quickly to this tourist push that has been recently placed upon them, but make no mistake, it is a poor country still and there is a definite line between the have and have nots. Everyone is out to make a living somehow but they are all quick to smile and offer assistance.

My first view of Bali area

This is also a revisiting of the concept of vacation. Not the concept of doing as much as I can in a small amount of time but actual vacation. This idea of walking or sitting on the beach and just being. Of leisurely taking time over a meal. Of laughing and being away from every form of technology out there. So in short, no I did not see everything, and you know what? I am so much the better for it.
I was however in a place of just pure wonder. I really didn't believe places like this did exist. That the colors of blue I saw in the waters were even remotely possible.
That breaking through my fears of meeting new people and doing new things, can really open me up for great adventure and change. This world has so very much to offer and sometimes it is not just the road less traveled that makes a difference, it is the road you never thought of taking that will change you forever.

The Murse

Something that is of great interest to many of us westerners now in Korea is the "murse" also known as the man purse.
Don't get me wrong. I find that men of all ages are quite chivalrous when helping their spouses or significant others with their bags. If you offer your seat on the bus to another, that stranger will most often offer to hold your bag for you. Not to rifle through it but in a general desire to help one another out.
However, there is a definite trend here in Korea where gentlemen of all ages carry what we call murses with all of their items throughout the day. They are as trendy and as picky as women are when picking out their murse. They come in all shapes and sizes and colors and brand names. Quite honestly it is sometimes difficult to tell if whose purse is whose. I can understand the need though with all the gadgets and things we carry around. Allow me to be clear, they are definitely not backpacks or briefcases. These photos really don't do them justice and I am sure I will have follow up blogs on this topic as well as the stilettos you see every day because it is just such a fascinating trend. Image is such a huge part of identity here and sometimes I am just glad I haven't ever been a fashion plate to worry about such things.

It is just fun to watch how the kids here are different than at home in the states. I am also loving the fact that you do not see baggy pants here at all! It is such a comfort NOT to know what color or pattern of boxer shorts the boys are wearing. You do see some brand name t-shirts at school as well, but it seems like the overall presentation is more important than the brand name you come up with.
I kept thinking how interesting it was that there are mirrors inside every elevator I have been in and how everyone was checking how they looked before heading out for the day. I thought to myself, what for? It is raining like crazy out there, what is it going to matter and then....I caught myself doing it. Sigh...when in Korea do as the Koreans do I suppose....
Updates will follow in time.

Some sounds of SoKo

Well I am going to try and give you a few sounds of Korea. Right now it is Friday night and I worn out but, although some of you already know I am crazy, I wanted to make sure that you realized that not everything I hear is in my imagination. With that in mind here are a couple of clips for you of some of my "run-ins" with sound. I have no idea if you will be able to run them or not.
The first is "The Wall Lady" many of you see my posts on facebook about her. She comes on from time to time to give building wide announcements. The only words I can usually understand at this point are Hello and Thank You. NO clue what else is being said and she has information for me at various times of the day and night. I never know when she will join me in the apartment and usually she starts out with some nice music but tonight she must have been a little busy.

The next is the "hissing" sound of the cicadas in the trees outside. This sound is all over town. The young children are often out in the evening with butterfly type nets catching them. The sound can come up in waves and can surround and overwhelm you at times. It is one of the sounds I now associate with Korea. There really is nothing else quite like it. If this works I will add more audio commentary from time to time. Happy listening!
 (I hope)

SEW Ninja!

Reach the basket=Climb on teacher

Hug a stranger task...

 As our work week is winding down the high school students are participating in SEW (Spiritual Emphasis Week). My role this first year is behind the scenes. Give teachers of small groups a break by feeding the kids, helping to watch over kids during a picture scavenger hunt through town, and any other way I can help keep things running.
One thing I have noticed during this time is that students and teachers alike are learning more about themselves but allowing themselves to actually play and laugh as well. Why do we hide that inner child as we get older? Sometimes when that child comes out, we make the day better for so many others around us!

Ms. Letsche playing a round of catch

Reenact Abbey Road in Korea!

 During lunch the past two days, circles of students would begin to form of all number of students and they would begin this game with one another and sometimes there would be eruptions of laughter or playful banter.
Finally today, I went over to a student and asked about this game they were playing. It is called Ninja. Students try to slap at the hand of any other player but then must freeze in that position therefore are vulnerable to the slap of another player so there is definitely some strategy to this game. Sometimes they are fast paced rounds and at times it is slower to allow new people to learn the

NINJA!

Mr. Lozano is caught!

Ninja Confrontation

game and can play along. The positions that they sometimes can wrap themselves into are quite amazing and seem impossible if they were to do it at any other time or in any other way. There is kind of a playful beauty in watching these soon to be successful adults reach back in time and just play. Reminds me to be conscientious of giving myself my own play time as well. Tomorrow I just might be brave enough to join in on a round of Ninja. Of course we have the water fight tomorrow afternoon......hmmm decisions, decisions.

Now all of you take a few minutes and just go PLAY!