Homeward Bound

For the past week I've been in heavy duty preparation mode for my departure. I spent Saturday cleaning my room and going out for some "lasts" with my roommates. That evening I went to my last young adults service. They invited me up front, sang a song to me, and asked me to say something. It was sweet. Then several came up to me and told me not to forget them. That's a great group of people. Sunday was full of more goodbyes at church and afterwards. Soo-young, "Jane", "Rainy" and I went out for one last noraebang session, and sang all the traditional songs :). Good times. I tried to go to sleep really early that night, because of the soccer game Monday morning. More specifically, at 4 am Monday morning! Yes, my last crazy late-night stunt in Korea was going out with Abra and Se-rok to see the Korea vs. France soccer game. It was fun. The best moment came when Korea finally scored a goal in the last 10 minutes of the game. All of the Koreans went NUTS screaming and hugging each other. You would've thought they had just won the entire competition. But no, they had just tied up the game :). As you might imagine, I was rather dead for the rest of Monday, but so was most of the country. It was especially nice that many of the naughtier boys were tired, and thus not so noisy ;). Today began the goodbyes to all my students. Each class today and tomorrow is my last of that particular class. My second graders were quite excited about the jigglers I brought them. My third graders were quite distraught that I was going to the US and that there was no plan to return to Korea. My fourth graders also enjoyed jello (one of them changed her name to "Tracy" when Tracy left, and I think another one has threatened to change her name to "April" when I go). My fifth graders put on a party for me- they decorated the room with balloons, bought treats, bought me earrings, and each wrote me little notes. It was so sweet. My 6th graders were a little more greedy- just hoping that it meant a party for them. Tonight I hung out with "Brian" for quite awhile- just talking about everything. We've had a lot of good conversations over the year honestly comparing Korean and American cultures. Tonight was no different. Other activities of the past few days have included bank chores, going out to lunch, packing suitcases, weighing them, repacking suitcases, and sending a package of all my heavy stuff home :). Tomorrow is my final day of teaching. Unfortunately, all my favorite classes were today :). My final class of the day is adult class, and rather than normal class we're headed to a student's apartment for a party. Hooray! Thursday I believe us roommates are going out for lunch, and then I have to catch a 3:20 bus to Incheon. Once there, I'll stay in a hotel near the airport. I'll be there ridiculously early, so maybe I'd better bring a book. I'm also thinking about going to sleep right away to get started on readjusting my time zone. Friday morning I'll go to the airport. My flight leaves at 11:15. From there I head to Tokyo, have a 2 hour layover, then onto the LONG flight to Atlanta, where I have another 2 hour layover, and finally to Cleveland. Then begin reunions and late night conversations and paper work and other chores and wedding shopping (for Paula) and appointments and phone calls and travelling and weddings and more reunions... Yeah, my system is in for a shock when my pace of life suddenly speeds up. :) Thank you for your prayers as I head home. Not only for travel details, but also for all the adjusting when I get home. In some ways I really don't know what to expect from the transition. I will talk to you again when I'm back on the other side of the world!