so many thoughts.  not enough words.  this is only a tiny fraction of thoughts swirling in my head.

it must be the natural ambience of being in the country.  minimal street lights.  wide array of nature sounds.  i'm inside and i can here the birds chirping.  the columns and looong porches on almost every house.  the friendliness everywhere you turn.  the genuine hellos and how are yous. 

there, i feel like i'm a pretty friendly person.  striking up conversations at the check out counter.  but here, that's just normal.  i don't get looked at akwardly for it.  everyone's just so...nice.

the kids i've been working with have really opened my eyes.  the manners that are instilled in these kids are remarkable.  yes ma'am.  no thank you.  miss amanda.  respect is huge...as it should be.

the kids all think i'm abnormal for not being engaged or married yet.  haha.  "but aren't you old enough to be married and have a kid yet?"  while i may be old enough...i'm just not quite to that point in my life, although it's happening all around me.

just ten hours away, and such a different culture.  incredible.  absolutely incredible.  i guess it's true what they say: you can take the girl out of the south, but you can't take the south out of the girl.