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Kunsan, Korea |
Venturing
off the base on a bicycle, I rode past a small town with a
few buildings, then out into the country. The Yellow Sea was
close by, so I rode out to see it. Later, I found a mountain
trail, parked my bike and started walking up the hill. I was
about 2/3 of the way to the top, when 4 young Korean kids,
out for a day of flying kites, came running by me, laughing
and giggling loudly as they ran. My Nikon said, "Well, are
you going to use me or not?" So, I began snapping some
pictures. Who was I to argue? Down
the hill, out of sight a mother was a little concerned as
she watched her children briefly interact with this
"American long-hair." The hill was perfect for a controlled
downhill run ... for kids, that is. As they passed and then
disappeared, I gazed out upon the beautiful rice fields of
Kunsan, that I had overlooked while climbing the
hill. Somehow,
these kids brought a big smile to my face. I had hoped that
I would find happiness and contentment here, but wasn't
really sure what the reality of life in South Korea would be
like. Of course, one can't generalize, but happy kids are a
good sign that peace and love are the same all around the
world.
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