Happy (Almost) New Year!

These next few days are going to be extremely busy so I thought I would post now as it'll probably be the last down time I have before being back in the States.

This past weekend I spent Christmas with some lovely people and I wasn't even homesick at all.  My first Christmas away from home.  But it probably helped to know that I would be home in two short weeks. :)

This weekend is NYE.  Tonight, I am heading into Seoul with my friend and co-worker, Miranda, to watch the Cats Musical! It should be fun.  Then, tomorrow we are headed back into Seoul to bring in the New Year! We are going to the traditional ringing of the bells which sounds like the thing to do while in Seoul.

Mon-Wed. I will be busy at school.  It's my last three classes teaching winter camp.  I get the 3rd grade students next week which is always a good time.  Then, after class my co-teacher and I will be busy closing my bank account, phone, internet, gas, electricity, etc.  This means my last 1-2 days in the country will be without phone or internet which is sad and definitely annoying but I'll figure out ways to get things done without it.

Since Wednesday is my last day at the school, Miranda is moving into my apartment bright and early Thursday morning. Which probably means I'll be pulling an all-nighter Wed. to get everything packed and cleaned in time for the movers to arrive.  I haven't bought my plane ticket yet (I'll buy it Monday) but I'll probably be heading back on Friday morning if I get the flight that I want. 

A lot to do and see and accomplish in only a few days so it will definitely be busy. It will be nice to get home and hold my new neice, though! And, of course, see everyone else.

Coming to an end

The classes are ending this week and so the students have started saying goodbye.  I have received some rather touching thank you and I'll miss you cards for the past week. 

One of my favorites says, "I remember the first day of our Korean class."  This made me laugh.  I hope he learned a lot of Korean in my classes as apparently that's what I teach now. :)

Another one that made me smile started out as, "Dear Mr. Jessica, I liked your class very much."  My students in America always called me Mrs. but Mr. is new for me. 

I also really liked this phrase, "Teacher you going to live in the soon."  She meant, "Teacher, you are going to leave soon." but I think I rather like the first sentence.  It's...almost like living in the now, right?  Only living in the soon? I'm going to live in the future? Wait, technically I'll be living in the past from here.

Even though the main classes are almost finished I still have winter camp to teach.  I have the 1st-2nd grade next week and then the 3rd grade Mon-Wed.  I think I will probably be flying out either Thurs. or Friday.

It's crazy to see how near it is for me to leave.  In many ways I still feel as though I just arrived and have so much more to explore and see.