“What is the feeling when you're driving away from people, and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? -it's the too huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.”It's hard to believe a year has come and gone. A year in Korea. A year with my monsters. A year with some of the most amazing wonderful people in the world. It's hard to believe I have taught my last class at Banji. It's hard to believe I've said goodbye to some people I may never see again. It's hard to believe I am moving out of my apartment. And, above all, it's just hard.
- Jack Kerouac
It's hard because a year has come and gone. An experience has been had, and nothing quite the same willl ever be had again. This moment will not come back. I will not get a do over.
So, from a dim cubical in a PC Bang, with hardcore Sta-craft-uh action on my left and right, I look back on a truly amazing spectacular, life changing experience. I look back on friends that, somewhere in this chaotic, ridiculous, endearing world, fell into a comfortable rhythm with one and other. I look back on the students I have seen progress (and the ones that have not.) I look back on chance meetings on a bridge in suburban Korea, and friends I never knew I could have had the last four years in Madison. I look back and I smile (with tears in my eyes) because even if I did get to do it all over, I wouldn't change this year for anything.
And, just as the tears well up and start to spill over (which is probably awkward for the Korean teenager next to me) I look forward. I look forward to more adventures, and disasters, and surprises, and life lessons. I look forward to the next two months. I look forward to beaches and motorbikes and elephants and ruins and rivers - to Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia (gotcha!) And, somewhere down the road, I look forward to planting my feet on US soil.
It's been a rad year my friends and I truly hope you enjoyed reading about my life as much as I loved living it. As it is, I may be signing off of the blog for a while.. or not. We'll see...
On a final note, I'll leave you with a little insight as to how some of my chingus are dealing with our impending departure...
"My heart hurts. goodbye my students, i love you, 사랑해요."-Kelley
"f---ing saddest day ever" - Matt
"last meal eating full grilled garlic cloves dipped in hot fermented bean pepper sauce, shamelessly popping clove after clove? one can only hope not" - Amanda
"Today is the definition of bittersweet." -Alex
"it makes me happy that it makes me sad to leave.." - Mike
"I have without a doubt, hands down, the best students in all of Korea." - Ali
I'll see you when I see you.
For the last time...
안녕히 계세요
emily
