Back to School

Term 3, the third quarter of this school year, started today. Chloe is back to the uniform, maroon and light blue. Uniforms are an oxymoron to me, because on one hand they eliminate the sparks, the personality print each kid shows when they decide what clothes to wear, yet, they create a baseline "uniformity" on which whatever unique feature a kid might have suddenly stands out. A very blond tomboy, or china-pink cheeks, a worn out pair of sneakers or a sharp sight. School uniforms are so representative of the culture, too. If the majority of schools here re-enforce wearing the uniform, in the US very few schools do so. The British system, uptight and cold, versus the American system, liberal and unconstraint. Today's picture? Just a pretty hibiscus flower...