Justin returns

I was surprised to look up from my stretching this morning and see Justin, stretching out across the dojang from me. I went across to greet him and welcome him back.

He's been in France for the last month travelling with friends and staying with French families.

A month is a wonderful amount of time to spend in a foreign country. If you're there that long--and living with natives, as Justin was--the country becomes a little bit of "home," not so foreign. You have somewhere to park your toothbrush, is how I described my long-term stays abroad.

"So did you spend the whole time speaking French?" I asked.

"About two weeks of it," he said.

I peppered him with questions, but I really would like to hear more about the trip--with some visuals like a map and some photos! Having been in that situation before, I know it's hard to answer the question "how was your trip?" in a polite 2-3 sentences that most people want.

And here's the annoying thing: after 4 weeks of not doing TKD--or much of anything, according to Justin himself, he still did the best across-the-floor moves of anyone there! Natural athelete, I thought to myself. And it doesn't hurt to be 18.