Leonid Meteor Shower

For the Leonid Meteor Shower on November 17 (the best viewing hours for Korea were scheduled for pre-dawn November 18th), a group of us foreign teachers went on a midnight hike of Mt. Cheongryang. It's a small "mountain" right in Yeonsu with a wonderful observatory structure at the top. Armed with blankets, hot tea, flashlights, and cameras we were prepared for a show. One teacher even brought yummy sweet potatoes. At the observatory there is an amazing view of new Songdo.

We misjudged the timing of the show and arrived at the observatory a little before 1am. We huddled together and got ready. And waited. And waited. Every 20 min or so, someone would "swear they saw one." It was terribly cold and windy at the top of the mountain so we started singing 80's songs and TV theme songs. Turns out, the meteor shower just wanted a soundtrack. While singing Fresh Prince, Madonna, Family Matters, Crystal Waters, and The Pretenders, our group saw about 5 decent meteors and at least 10 more small, quick ones. Granted we were up there for a little more than 2 hours, but it was worth it. Nothing like lacing up new hiking boots, meeting up with a bunch of people you barely know, climbing to the top of a mountain and singing one-hit-wonders. With extremities becoming numb and some of the teachers having to work in the morning, we called it quits around 3am.

It's a rare condition, this day and age,
to read any good news on the newspaper page.
Love and tradition of the grand design,
some people say it's even harder to find.

Well then there must be some magic clue inside these tearful walls
Cause all I see is a tower of dreams
real love burstin' out of every seam.

As days go by,
we're gonna fill our house with happiness.
The moon may cry,
we're gonna smother the blues with tenderness.

When days go by,
there's room for you,
room for me,
for gentle hearts an opportunity.

As days go by, 
it's the bigger love of the family.