Farewell Korea

I've gone over what I wanted to write for a "farewell blog" time and time again, but somehow it never seems to stay with me long enough to write it down. To say Korea has been an amazing opportunity is an understatement. I'm not sure a word actually exists to describe this past year of learning, teaching and growing. It's been surreal at points, unbelievable and devastating all at the same time. My expectations have been far surpassed and my knowledge of Korea has increased by 200%. I never thought I'd be in Korea teaching English and I doubt anyone would have even expected it from me, the habitual mind changer. A year in one place and I'd have to stay? I did it! And I want to shout that from my rooftop to the city that bustles below the haze of pollution and ever present neon lights.

Still, the question remains: what do I write to sum up a year of living, teaching and learning in Korea? A list of things I'll miss? A well thought out essay style piece of blogging? Nothing? Theoretically, this should be my longest piece of blogging, a summation of a year in Korea. So here goes.

Goodbye food: kimchi, bulgogi and rice, donkas, curry and rice, mandu guk, kimchi mandu, dokkbokki, twigim, jjajagmeyon, ramyeon, kimchi jjigae, kimbap, bibimbap, samgyeopsal, omurice and so much more. Butterfinger Pancakes, On the Border and McDelivery. Goodbye shopping: COEX, Myeongdong, Dongdaemun, GMarket, Namdaemun, Yongsan (illegal DVD's!!) and subway stations. Goodbye efficent public transportation: subway (which seriously ROCKS), buses and cheap taxis. Goodbye fun stuff: affordable movies, Dr. Fish, photo booths, board game cafes, people watching at Subway, noraebang, baseball games, Hongdae and Gangnam. Goodbye cheap weekend getaways: Jinju, Jeonju, Samcheok, Busan, Damyang, Boseong, Boryeong and the DMZ. Farewell to my job: adorable children who love me unconditionally, a great boss who would help with anything, teaching and shaping young minds, crazy moments where I have to ask why I did this, funny things children say, steady and reliable income, friendly and fun co-workers, a nice place to live and a free gym. Goodbye inexpensive international travel: Japan, China and Thailand. Goodbye people: people shoving on the subway, people bumping in the street, people helping in every way they can even if they don't speak English, people bowing, people looking out for each other, people drunk in the street, people without umbrella manners, amazing bank man, people who I have grown to respect. Goodbye things I don't like: dried squid, fish flavored crackers, grubby kid hands, communication mishaps/lack of communication, surprise apartment visits, the exchange rate, yucky street smells, lack of central air and monsoon season. Goodbye convenience: transferring money via ATM, street food, ice cream in a bag, convenience stores everywhere, transportation everywhere and key less apartment entry. Farewell to things I love: my friends, cheap medications, affordable national health care, Korean food, ondol floors in the winter, my apartment, random acts of kindness, public transportation, cheap food, soju cocktails and bus travel. Goodbye to things I've grown accustom to: Korean beer, grubby kid hands, communication mishaps, soju, language barriers and overcrowding.