An Experiment

A few days of the week I try to walk home from school. I work at one end of town and live at the other. It's a nice walk..about an hour through the city. A new road just opened allowing me to walk on a back street of sorts instead of a main 6 lane road. While I wander home, i walk through a few neighbourhoods and business areas (in my city, they're one and the same really). Anyway, at first I would just keep my eyes on the road and bop along to my ipod. Then I started to take notice of all the interesting things i pass along the way. I see many school children walking home and gathering at road side vendors (usually out of the back of a truck) with awnings and stools. They typically sell meat on a stick or deep fried this and that. I also commonly see older women carrying garden baskets on their heads or little kids gathered around an outside video game. Many of the faces I passed were blank and almost intimidating..this makes me very uncomfortable. (wanna freak me out..just give me a blank stare...) During the last two weeks, I decided to preform a little experiment. I thought I would try giving everyone I passed a big old smile and "annyong haseyo/hashimnika" and count how many bright smiles I would receive back. Day 1: I passed 10 people and got 7 big smiles. Day 2: I passed 8 people and got 8 smiles. Day 3: I passed around 15 people and got 10 smiles, 3 non responses, and 2 or 3 confused looks. It is so fun. I love it when I say hello and give a bow to an OOOOLLLLLDDDD women and her wrinkled up face (that appears pretty pissed off) transforms into a big smile. It really brightens my day, which is important during the dark, rainy days of the rainy season. So, my message to you..whether you're having a good day or bad, whether you can speak someone else's language or not...SMILE. It will make you and the recipient feel great.

I have crossed over to the other side.....

I don't really remember how it happened. I think i was probably tricked into it, or maybe it was the lure of a really comfy chair and snacks. Anyway, this past weekend I spent close to 20 hours laying around and making "guy love" jokes and watching the extended versions of ALL the Lord of the Rings movies. Now, many of you might know of my history with the RINGS and wonder how this would happen. For those of you who don't know...well, I watched this story as a child..(in cartoon) and proceeded to have related nightmares for most of my adolescence. So, i was very apprehensive about viewing this movie..I did however go to the theatre to see the first movie when it was originally released. I watched most of the flick with my hand over my eyes (Gollum...gross, he's like a more repulsive version of ET who i also despised and was terrified of as a kid). I don't deal well with any scary movie..and yes i did think that Lord of the Rings was kinda scary.

However after taking a triple dose of it (mostly in daylight hours) I must say, they are quite enjoyable. I am not yet the "Middle Earth" nerd that some of my fellow weekend viewers are..lol, but i did enjoy the films. Thanks again for answering all my questions and giving way to much background on everything in the movie. Did you really do your degree in music? not Middle Earth studies?

July is looking good!

Well folks..my time in Asia is quickly coming to an end. I'm very sad that i am leaving but also happy to be coming home..MY FEET ARE STILL ITCHY!!! THere are so many places i want to experience..but my days of travelling without my Mike are over.....Well, almost over..Japan (solo) and Bali with Drea in July, then i'm done. One year...7 countries...WOW, i can't believe it. Where to next?? Mike gets to choose. Almost every day is planned from now until head home.

I will certainly miss the FANTASTIC people that i've met here..and hope to cross paths with them again someday. I've seen and learned so much. I like to think of it as a big research trip..for my future teaching Geography ..lol. I'll definately have to travel more of Canada and the world in the years to come in order continue teaching geography ...right?