Photos: Sports Day and My Sweet, Sweet Children

This week my school, as well as many other schools in Korea, held Sports Day. Put simply, Sports Day is an entire day devoted to a mass competitive P.E class. The students get together and they compete in different physical events. The groups who win the most events receive a small prize. This year was my first Sports Day and I had an amazing time. Luckily,  I didn't have a designated job like the other teachers so I  was able to circulate among my students, watch them compete, cheer them on and take as many photos as I could.

Photos of a few of the events

6th and 5th Grade students

3 leg race

Ball carry race

Pig Hop Wrestling (Last man standing = winner)

When the teacher blew the whistle the students had to rotate clockwise with out letting the sticks fall to the ground.

The students had to pass the balls backwards one by one and put them in a basket at the finish line.

Jumping Rope. Team with the most consecutive jumps wins.

Capture the flag. Students had to take the flags off their opponents backs, last team standing wins.

Shoe throw. Students took turns kicking off their shoes trying to land them in a circle  for points.

Photos of my Sweet, Sweet Children (mostly my 6th graders) ^^

My favorite 6th grade class

Some of my favorite boys.

If I had to adopt children, they would be them. 

My school year has so far been absolutely amazing. Despite the at times demonic 2nd graders, my students really do make my day, everyday. As the 2/3 mark of my contract approaches, the question is, will I re-sign for a 2nd year?

#CHEERS2MYSWEETSWEETCHILDREN

Hiking *unedited

Korea is a very mountainous country. A quick google search informed me that in Seoul alone there are 37 mountains. I quickly discovered that the "mountains" back home that I am familiar with are more like small piles of dirt. Korea has real mountains and this weekend I hiked up one.

A friend of mine who is really into hiking invited me to join him on a group hike that was being held for his friends' birthday. He always has spoken so highly of hiking and how much he enjoys it. He, like me, is very into fitness and staying in shape and spoke highly of the good work out that hiking was. The only "hiking" that I have done is Cowel's Mountain back home in San Diego. Cowel's Mountain is enjoyable but it is very much like San Diego's weather, nice, easy to deal with but in no way does it prepare you for the rest of the world.

My friend and I arrived at Dobongsan (the mountain that we hiked) before the rest of the group, so we had enough time to sit and grab coffee. It was an absolute beautiful day and we were able to sit outside on the coffee shop's patio. The coffee shop was located at the base of the mountain near the entrance so sitting outside allowed us to watch all the people that were going on one of the various trails the mountain had to offer. Before this hike I had a preconceived belief that hiking was a walk in the park because of the type of people in Korea who were "hikers." Sitting at the coffee shop just reaffirmed that belief. About 5 percent (rough estimate) of the people that I watched head up to the mountain  were people who looked remotely in shape. The other 95 percent were old men and women that were wearing florescent hiking jackets with matching pants, carrying hiking sticks, wearing visors or big floppy hats, strapped in big burley boots and fit with a "hikers" backpack. There were also small children, a few men wearing work blazers and young females who looked as if the only physical activity that they ever engaged in was getting out of bed every morning (and that could possibly be a struggle).

I sat there drinking my coffee silently mocking this whole notion of hiking as a work out. Walking up hill, I doubted that I was even going to sweat, anything a 60 year old 5'0ft woman could do, I could do backwards with one leg. I am in very good shape, I work out everyday alternating between various activities, weight training, circut training and cardio. I was so confident in how easy this was going to be I texted my trainer to possibly see if he could keep the gym open so I would be able to get a REAL work out in after the hike.

And then half way up the hill I felt my lungs about to collapse.

If I were hiking at the pace of the average hiker I would have been okay. But I am too competitive. If Mattle were to make a Barbie inspired by me it would be Competition Barbie, and she would be wearing yoga pants, two sports bras, obnoxiously bright colored sneakers and her accessory would have been a trophy that loudly displays #1.

I was raised in a family with too many kids to count, that there is a natural breeding habitat for competition. Sibling rivalry was and constantly is INTENSE. The street that I grew up on only had boys who were my age, me being the only girl I was constantly proving myself to be "just as good" (or in my case better) than the boys. Who could run the fastest, eat the fastest, win the most games, fight the best, who was the strongest, smartest anything that we did growing up we managed to turn into some type of competition.  I have also played sports for as long as I could remember. All I know is competition. I am the girl at the gym who races the people next to her on the treadmill. I was the girl who TRIED to bust the curve in my classes. My friends and I compared test grades, SAT scores and constantly tried to one up another. I have NEVER let my nephew or niece (younger by 8 and 12 years respectively) beat me in anything, they had to EARN their wins. I am that competitive.

In our group of hikers we had a gentleman who was from Colorado and had been hiking all of his life. He was also about 6'1 with long powerful legs. That man floated up the mountain. He looked as if he were walking on clouds. He kept a stead pace of about 100 MPH and avoided the mobs of Koreans with ease. I accepted the fact that there was no way in hell I was going to be able to beat him. This was my first time hiking and he was native to it but I am too competitive to settle, if I wasn't going to beat him I was at least going to keep up with him. Each 1 of his steps was 3 of my own. I matched his graceful steps and composure with thunderous stomps  and ragged breathing. But I kept up. We were moving rather quickly so a few times we had to stop and wait for the rest of the group. I cherished these breaks. They gave me time to collect myself and slow my pounding heart down a bit. I was dripping in sweat, I looked like death and I felt as if there wasn't enough oxygen in the world to satisfy my need at that moment. It was one of the hardest workouts that I have had in a very long time.

The last leg of the hike kicked my butt, literally. My entire legs, hamstrings, quads, calf muscles and knee tendons were on fire. Each time I had to lift my leg to take a step up felt like I were lifting tree stumps. By this time all the boys were a bit of the way ahead of me. Mr. Colorado kept telling me to imagine like I was a Mountain Goat.  I felt more like a remote control car that was running out of battery power, my pace was steadily declining and the end just seemed to NEVER come. When I was near failure, ready to take my own break and sit down a bit, my friend shouted down from up top. "Come on Kala keep going." The older Koreans behind me heard him say my name and were witnessing my slow death first had. They them chimed in and gave me words of encouragement. "Okay Kala!" "Fighting." I couldn't quit then. My pride was on the line. My competitive flame was relit and I dragged myself up that hill. In my mind I told myself that I was NOT going to let a mountain defeat me and if it did I had better die trying to conquer it.

And I conquered it. I, along with the rest of the group, made it to the top. The physical challenge alone was enough of an accomplishment for me. I loved the feeling of success. I had pushed myself beyond my limits and overcame the challenge at hand. But in addition to the feeling of accomplishment at the top of the mountain was an AMAZING view. We were over-looking the city and could see for miles upon end. Spring has just started so the mountain was covered in fresh blooms and green leaves. It was absolutely breath taking.

At the top of the mountain we rested, we ate, some napped, we chatted and soaked up the scenery before we had to begin our decent down. Going down is much easier than going up in the aspect of physical pain because there isn't any. But again, I was keeping pace with Mr. Colorado and his friend who was a graceful as a ballet dance. She pranced down this mountain like a deer would across a grass felid. I am not poised or graceful so I instead bulldozed my way down the mountain. I felt like a child taking it's first steps, with each on I wasn't sure if I were going to remain upright or go tumbling down like a boulder. But I made it, was able to some how manage to keep myself upright the entire time and avoid injuring myself.

By the end of the hike, my quads were unsteady, my lungs were raw, my knees were sore and my feet were cursing me. The Hour and 30 minute trek home was a battle to keep myself awake to avoid taking a nap on the stranger's shoulder next to me. And by the time I got home I wanted nothing more than to lie in my bed and watch trashy TV.

The hike has made me make two promises to myself.
1-I will never again talk trash about the hiking gear wearers in Korea.
2-I will remain physically active for the REST of my life. The old Korean hikers are proof that there are NO EXCUSES.

#CHEERS2CHALLENGES


Here are a few pictures from the hike.

*unedited

Nuclear War and the lack of panic

My everyday routine consists of having a cup (or two depending on the extent of my soju consumption the night before) of coffee while reading news. It is a habit that I picked up from my father. I am the furthest possible thing from a morning person. The coffee and news is my way of slowly allowing myself to become a decent being. Anything and everything before those cups of coffee are subject to my wrath. This routine has kept me up to date with current events,  I wouldn't consider myself the know all of anything but I do hold a basic understanding of what is going on around the world.

All major news lately has been focused on North Korea and their numerous bomb threats.
 "South Korea is in a panic." "Foreigners are being told to evacuate." "Seoul's defenses are up." "North Korea will attack." "North Korea has won."

As I sat this morning and skimmed through these headlines I couldn't help but laugh...hysterically. South Korea in a panic? That wasn't an entire lie, Psy did just release a new single and held a concert yesterday which was a BIG deal. 50,000 people attended and dressed in white while the concert was streamed live via YouTube and Naver (Yes I did watch). But in a panic over North Korea threats? If I didn't consciously keep up with what's going on in the world, I would have no idea that South Korea was even receiving threats of any kind.

Life here has not changed a single bit. Despite the numerous and exaggerated articles and stories that have flooded Western media with talks of hysteria, bomb threats, evacuations ext. the biggest worries of my days continue to be surviving being eaten alive by my 2nd grade monsters. I'd take a threat from those little monsters more seriously than I do from Kim Jong Un.  My lack of fear and worry come from my surroundings. Discussing North Korea with my co-workers has only happened once and it was because I initiated it. In the midst of talking about the latest fashion I asked, "Should I be worried about North Korea." And the answer that I received was, "No." with our conversation immediately steering back to us complaining about the lack of a spring time which has inhibited us from showing off our new spring outfit purchases.

With all of this media hype that the Koreas are getting I do look forward to the days when I am older and this is in the youths textbooks. I can't help but wonder how I will describe living in Korea during the tensions. Will I take the truth route and inform them that life in Korea wasn't altered what so ever or will I be like my father and exaggerate (he had to walk 5 miles to and from school in knee high snow up hill BOTH ways) to be that "cool" aunt who stared at fear directly in its face?

In the past few weeks I have receive messages from people that I haven't spoken to in years asking me what it was like living in a war zone, what I was doing to stay safe, what I was doing to prepare myself for the war and if I was going to evacuate. Everybody's worries are sweet and touching. We are about as worried that a war will break out as people in Hawaii are about having a snowstorm.  So my dear friends and family, don't worry all is well here.  Now let's just hope I am not eating my words in the future. :)


#CHEERS2ALLBEINGOKAY

Being picked up by a 6th grader....

Today in class I heard the greatest pick up line ever. Too bad the person who used it on me is a CHILD (and my student) because it might of worked if he were 10 years older.

Student: "Teacher are you a gay?"
Me: "No"
Student: "Then why do you wear that?" (I wear a rainbow bracelet)
Me: "Because I like it."
Student: "Do you have a boyfriend?"
Me: "No"
Student: "Why?"
Me: "Because I haven't met the right guy."
Student: "But you meet me."

 I love my 6th graders.

#CHEERS2MYSTUDENTSMAKINGMYEVERYDAYS

Meeting my match.

Somebody at my school hates me. I don't know who or what I did to them but they accomplished the sweetest revenge.

Fridays are known to be everybody's favorite day, everybody but me. I have come to loathe Fridays. I look forwards to Friday's arrival about as much as I look forward to having teeth pulled. I'd actually prefer to have my teeth pulled EVERY week than have to come into work on Fridays. Fridays are the closest thing to hell on earth for me. On Fridays I teach 2nd grade.

My first semester of teaching I only dealt with 5th and 6th graders. At the start of the new school year because we now have fewer 5th and 6th grade students I was given 2 back to back 2nd grade classes on Fridays. My first week with them wasn't a complete failure. I managed to teach them all at least one new English word, kept them entertained, alive but most importantly my sanity remained intact. Last week was the polar opposite.

My first class went well. The kids participated, they learned, they had fun but most importantly they behaved.

I was on a teacher's high after the first class. I managed to handle 30 2nd grade students who speak little to no English on my own. It was a feeling of triumph. I felt as if I were invincible and I could conquer ANYTHING. But then came my second class.

The kids filed into the classroom and began to take their seats. The two boys who I had already come to know as trouble makers, immediately began an MMA match over a seat. By the time I was able to navigate myself through all of the munchkins one of the boys had the other in a choke hold and refused to let go. After physically prying them apart I sat them both in the front of the class so I could keep an eye on them.

Because of the EXTREMELY low level of English that these students speak,  all of my lessons have many quick and simple activities that teach the students easy concepts. That particular day I was teaching the students animals names and the sounds that they make.

The first part of the class the students were supposed to look at photos of the different animals, hear the sounds that them make and imitate them. My first 2nd grade classes LOVED this, we barked, we mooed, we snorted and had a great time. My second 2nd grade class started off well, the first few animals all of the students participated in repeating the English name and making the animal sounds. But then came the horse. They horse was the beginning of my crash and burn.

I showed the class a photo of a horse, played the sound that horses make and then did a gallop for the students. The gallop was a bad idea. My gallop resembled the gallop that PSY does in the Gangnam Style dance and the students quickly picked up on this.

"WHOAAAAAA Kala Teacher GANGNAM STYLE!"

Me galloping apparently translated into me allowing one of the trouble makers to get out of his seat and gallop around the classroom.  It was cute, the first time. I was able to get him to return to his seat and I continued my lesson. The next animal was a dog. We chanted dog, we barked like dogs and we were getting ready to move on to the next animal but the other trouble maker decided that he wasn't finished with dog yet. He climbed on top of his chair and barked. and barked. and kept barking. High pitched barks, low pitched barks, long barks and short barks. This student mimicked them all. His classmates found him absolutely hilarious which just egged him to continue barking more and more. It took a while but I finally was able to coax him to take a seat. As soon as I turned my back to take my place back at the head of my classroom to resume my lesson I heard another bark. I turned around and the same student was sitting looking at at me trying to stifle his laughter. I gave him "the look" and continued my way back to the front of my classroom but before I could even take 2 steps, he barked again. This time when I turned around he was standing up and he continued to bark. The other students began to laugh. I told him to stop but instead he got louder. And the rest of the students began to laugh louder. I repeated myself and he got even louder. I was beginning to lose my patience. I finally sternly told  to sit down and he did. But rather sit in his chair, he instead got on all fours on the floor began to wag his "tail" and continue to bark like a dog at me.

This set the class off. It was as if there was a competition, who would be the student that makes Kala Teacher lose it. My previous galloping student got up and began to gallop around the classroom again. The other boys began to pretend that they we different types of animals as well. The usually sweet and innocent girls were either laughing hysterically at the "animals" or fighting to keep the "animals" away from them. It was a zoo and just kept escalating. Kids began to climb on desks, throw chairs, fight, do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that your ARE NOT supposed to do in a classroom.

I began to lose it and start hollering at the students which did NOTHING. I don't know what I expected, they don't even speak English why would they respond? I ended up dragging the two trouble making boys into the teacher's office and begging my Co-Teacher to call their homeroom teacher to get the monsters away from me. I had completely lost it.I couldn't handle it. I had finally met my match.

The homeroom teacher arrived quickly, I pointed her to the back office where the two boys were  sitting and focused on getting the rest of the class in order. A couple of minutes later she exited my office with the boys, told her class to line up and walked up to me with an apologetic look on her face and hugged me.

After her and her students left, I calmly walked to the bathroom, locked myself in the last stall and began to cry. My cry progressed into me balling out my eyes complete with me sobbing. I couldn't stop the tears. I couldn't control myself. For 30 minutes I sat there, wallowed in self pity, drown myself in tears and cursed the day those things were born.  By the time I could finally pull myself together enough to exit the bathroom my face was swollen from crying  and I had missed lunch.

I got back to my office to find that my Co-Teachers were genuinely concerned. One had brought me some pumpkin up from the lunch room and the other hovered around repeatedly asking me if I were okay. I deeply appreciated the gestures but I felt ridiculous. I let 8 year old children make me cry harder than I have ever cried in my life. No death, no ex-boyfriend, no injury, nothing had ever caused me to cry as hard as I had cried.

As I sit here finishing up my Monday I have developed a new appreciation for my 6th graders. Never again will I complain about their occasional smart mouths or laziness. Never again will I feel sorry for myself in having to deal with them going through puberty and developing attitudes. I now shall welcome all of that with open arms because at least they will never bark at me.


#CHEERS2FINDINGADOCTORWHOWILLTIEMYTUBESNOW

Special thanks to Toni, Dee, Sariska and my Sister for all being there for me at my most desperate time of need.

English names

School is officially back in session. Today marks the beginning of the new school year. My angelic 5th graders have now become my demon 6th graders and I have a new batch of wide eyed, easily impressed and absolutely adorable 5th graders who make me think for 40 minutes that I actually might want children.


This year I am now teaching my 6th grade classes with Mc. Dreamy, my young and extremely attractive office mate who to my benefit sits at the desk right across from me. (NOT only is he dreamy he is also an amazing teacher/disciplinary). Mc. Dreamy came up with the idea to allow the students to choose English names.

When I explained to the children that they could pick their own English names I expected them to take a few minutes to get into the activity, I was wrong. As soon as I finished the sentence "Today I want you to pick your own English names." One student's hand shot in the air. If this were me 6 weeks ago, I would have gracefully skipped calling on this particular student, but 6 weeks makes you forget.

Me: "Yes?"
Student: "Call me ZOMBIE!"

I had passed around a paper for the kids to write their new names besides their Korean ones after my beloved Zombie announced his new name the students began to fight over the paper. Actually, the boys began to fight over the paper. It was as if he opened the flood gates for their imaginations. I had to pass out a second sheet just for the girls because they refused to partake in that madness. I sat on my desk answering spelling questions that were being thrown my way, helping some students choose respectable names, denying inappropriate requests from others but mainly avoiding getting myself caught up in the middle of the insanity. After 15 minutes I called order.

Boys: "insert Korean phrase for more time here"
Me: "Say it in English."
Token boy who speaks English (later named Captain Korea): "Can we have more time please Kala Teacher?"

I am a sucker for English, especially when it is polite, so I easily gave in and gave them 10 minutes longer.

I collected the attendance sheets and quickly scanned them over realizing that like so many other English teachers before me,  I had made the mistake of letting the students choose WHATEVER name they would like. But here I was, I couldn't go back on my word.

The girls names were mainly normal. Most of them asked for my help and are currently named after people I know, my high school basketball teammates, my old coworkers and of course Beyonce, Madonna and Hilary (Clinton). The few girls that strayed on the wild side chose names such as, Hello Kitty, Tom and Queen Coffee.

Joe was a popular name among my students and I had to have a Rock, Paper, Scissors battle to see who would get to claim it in 4 of my 5 classes. I didn't understand why out of ALL names in the English language they would choose Joe. I dated a Joe (his English name) who also was an ESL student (learned English as his second language) and never asked but I always wondered why he didn't choose to be Michael, Sean even Joseph, something that was more than just plain ol' Joe. So I asked my students why.

Me: "Why do you all like Joe?"
Joe (the Rock, Paper, Scissors champ): "Because I can spell it."

I don't know what I expected the answer to be but I now completely understand why Joe is popular among the ESL crowd.

After I eliminated all of the duplicate names I began role call. I was going to hold a typical role call where the teacher reads the name and the student raises their hand but I didn't have faith in myself not to laugh hysterically after seeing some of the names I would have had to read. So instead I had the students go around the class and stand up and introduce themselves with their new names. I wasn't sure if I thought that this would make it easier for me to keep myself together, but it didn't.

The students in this particular class were extremely animated when introducing themselves, in character if they were named after somebody particular or loud if they were extremely proud of their invented name.

The first three boys stood up together and stated their names,


Student1: "I am Monday."
Student2: "I am Tuesday."
Student3: "I am Friday!"

I understood Friday, who doesn't like Fridays? But Monday and Tuesday...weird kids.

Student: "I am Sorry."
Me: "Why? What did you do? You don't have a name?"
Student: "MY NAME IS SORRY."

Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Sorry......

Student: "I am SOJU!"
Me: "No."
Student:  "I am WHISKEY."
Me: "No again."
Student:"I am CIGARETTE"
Me: "No, you are Candy"

Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Sorry and Candy (who is a male)....


One table of boys decided to go with an Avengers theme, Loki, Captain Korea, Hulk and Spiderman. I told him Spiderman wasn't an Avenger but according to him I "don't know anything cool." I decided not to argue but I do plan on showing the Avengers midway through the semester to prove Spiderman wrong.

Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Sorry, Candy, Loki, Captain Korea, Hulk and Spiderman.....

One of my girls decided to be Sugar Lips. I couldn't figure out an appropriate way to tell her why she shouldn't want to be called that name so I just let her keep it. I am sure I am the only person who speaks English well enough at my school to understand the potential inappropriateness of it anyways.

Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Sorry, Candy, Loki, Captain Korea, Hulk, Spiderman and Sugar Lips..... 

But having a 12 year old Korean boy slam his hands on the desk, stand up and proudly state "My name (dramatic pause) is Ba-raCk Insane Obam-A (He meant Barack Hussein Obama) was the icing on the cake to my already hilarious day.

So in this particular class I now have Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Sorry, Candy, Loki, Captain Korea, Hulk, Spiderman, Sugar Lips and Barack Hussein Obama.

With in all of my classes it just so happens every single one of the guys names that I have dated was selected, I just happen to unintentionally included their names on my list of example name the kids could use. Coincidentally my 3 most favorite girls are named Toni, Dianne and Krystle (the names of my three best friends). I have one boy named Potter and his best friend is named Harry. Edward, Bella and Jacob are all in the same class. Kobe Bryant and Lebron James are deskmates and they sit across from Hurricane and BadBear.

My students names range from Sally to Larva, John to Flower Fairy, needless to say this is going to be an entertaining school year.


#CHEERS2CREATIVITY

(I stand corrected. According to my nerdy neighbor Spiderman IS an Avenger in the comic books)

Boracay

My 10 days in Boracay feel surreal now as I am sitting at my desk back in Korea. As I begin to write I can only hope that I am able to capture and explain adequately the marvelous and life changing experience that I had while I was there.

I arrived on the island midday well rested and ready to begin my adventure. I briefly stopped at my hotel to drop off my luggage and then set out. I walked the length of the beach and was in compete awe. Here I was for 10 days in a literal paradise. It was the perfect mixture of old and new, local and tourist. A little over my first hour on the island I met a group of locals who I ended up spending much of my vacation with.

I first approached their shop purely out of curiosity. They were selling jewelery that had crocodile teeth, dried bird heads, monkey skulls ext. for pendants. It was a sight to see. Although strange, the jewelery was BEAUTIFUL. Out of the shop walked a girl with the most beautiful henna tattoo on here leg, immediately I decided that I wanted one. I approached the artist and asked him  how much it would cost for me to get one, 500 pesos. Naturally me being stubborn, I bargained the price down to 200 pesos and a beer.

My henna tattoo turned out gorgeous. He freestyled a tribal design that started on my shoulder and crept down to my bicep. But my 200 pesos and beer bought me more than just a temporary tattoo, it also left me with a new outlook on life.

Carpe Diem, Pura Vida, Don't Worry Be happy, Life Goes On are just a few of the many different quotes and sayings that people try to live by. For me, I have always lived by two words, "Why not?" On a school trip in Europe, why not ditch the group and do my own thing? My first college was planning on cutting down a historical tree, why not join the hippies and tie myself to it? Why not take a spontaneous trip up the coast of California the day before Mother's Day and STILL manage to make it back home before the annual brunch?  Close friend is living in Spain, why not on a whim go visit for a week? Why not dance like I am possessed by the DJ?  Fall in love with a guy who is moving permanently to Thailand, why not move there as well?  Things don't work out, why not pick up and move to Korea instead? Why not jump off of a 15 meter cliff? The list of why nots goes on for me. I do not let fear or doubts stop me. Why not do whatever I want? It is my one and only life I see no reason to set limitations.

The locals in Boracay have their own view on life, The Simple Life. When this first came up in conversation I couldn't wrap my mind around it entirely. I am a big city girl who comes from a world that is defined by wealth, education and status. A world where people are constantly trying to get ahead or fighting to keep up. A world where material objects, who you know, where you live and what you do all are major players in people's lives. A world where everyday I stress on trying to figure how I will become not only a competitor but winner in.

 The Simple Life hosts an entirely different concept. There isn't any hierarchical status based on wealth or education. There isn't any competition between the people to get ahead or stay ahead of one another. You are not defined by what or how much you have but rather what kind of person you are.The main objective? To be happy. And there they were, just happy with what they had. They didn't strive to be rich or to have the nicest things, all they needed was enough to survive. They were the richest people I had ever met.

Everyday I spent with them opened my eyes up a bit more. When we would eat, they would pay (as much as I would allow), not because they had more money than me (they did not) but because they could. They did for me, a stranger...somebody they had just met, simply because they could.They didn't need any other reason, they could do it so they didn't see why they shouldn't. If somebody came around their shop looking to get a tattoo but wanted to compare artists, they would tell them who else they should see. There was not any competition to keep the customer or profits to themselves, helping others prosper was more important. If somebody wanted to take photos with their products they let them with no animosity, even if it was obvious the people had no intention to buy. They felt it more important to give the people a good memento of their time in Boracay than to fuss over a purchase.  It was here I learned  the true definition of selflessness and it was here I learned the true definition of happiness.

I was a happy person before Boracay but after spending time there I rethought my reasons for happiness. The locals in Boracay were happy for reasons that could not be stripped from them by others. They were alive, breathing, had each other and enough to get by. These things were the reason for their happiness, things that were not materialistic and things that ultimately really matter in life. Was I happy for those reasons too? Or was my happiness because I am well paid, have a nice apartment and am able to afford finer things? I do not think there is anything wrong with being happy for these reasons but if I lost them, would I still be able to be happy? Or had I allowed myself to rely completely on these?

I could never be sure of my reasons for happiness before but I have embodied the concepts of this Simple Life. I now solely happy because I am able, able to live, able to breathe, able to love, able to give, able to receive and able to do. I now realize the importance of appreciating what is important and I owe it all to my new friends, you have opened my eyes to a new way of thinking. Thank you John Art, Nonoy, Ronnie and the rest of Mari Tattoo for showing me the real meaning of life, Mahal Kita.



#CHEERS2REALREASONSTOBEHAPPY



if anybody goes to Boracay visit my friends at Mari Tattoo!