the raw honesty of community

I had a fantastic time earlier today. My students conducted a community health education seminar to pre-school kids and it was incredible. Kids are just amazing. They're so honest and unassuming. The minute they hear a popular tune, they immediately start to dance. My son is exactly like that.

I've always loved being exposed to close-knit communities. Despite the generally cynical and pretentious environment of the academe, the most fun and comfortable periods of my life as a teacher are when I do field work and meet honest people. Blue collar employees. Housewives. I'm intrigued but at the same time intimidated with them, because I know they're very good judges of character.

I'm very poor in spirit, but everytime I'm in a middle or lower-class community (in terms of income, not of dignity....I actually think that people in this bracket are the most distinguished people in the world), I experience some sort of high...the sort of high one gets when amidst high officials or celebrities.

I have very high regard for people who are in-touch with reality. People who always struggle and yet overcome struggles constantly. Those who work as much as they earn. I'm sorry, but I'm not very impressed with people who sit in air-conditioned offices, wearing suits and basically earn ridiculously high paychecks and live extravagant lives (that remark just included a few people I know, but I'm speaking of those who do not know the value & meaning of work).

Now I realize that being educated is a bane. If one is not alert, too much education and superficial titles can actually cloud one's principles and lead to tunnel vision. Of course, that's a case-to-case basis.

I'm envious of people who are unsuspicious, not self-righteous, secure, altruistic, & unafraid of disappointment. The complete opposite of who I am.