A day of reflection

This afternoon on my break, Kaylee, a student I taught for 3 years but goes to another school now, came with her mother to see me and say goodbye. I couldn't get over how much she'd grown since I'd last seen her in January! She has always been special to me. I spent a year and half tutoring her on my breaks for free when she was in kindergarten because she was so much lower than the other students and now she is such a great speaker and reader as a result. I used her as subject in the essay I wrote to get into University. I guess I owe her thanks :) Her mom brought me a lovely gift and she and I played games for about 45 mins while her mom went and had some coffee. When it was time for her to leave I realized that I will NEVER see her again..it was such a strange feeling because I've never felt anything like that before, unless someone I cared for died. As she walked away with her mom I went back to my class and broke down a bit. If I feel this strongly about a child I haven't seen in 6 months..how am I to say goodbye to the children I care so much for that are in my life everyday? This is going to be AWFUL. I know going back home to teach will be easier because it is much harder to develop bonds and attachments with students like we do here. Especially when you teach them kindergarten and they kiss and hug you and tell you they love you all the time. It's more like a little family in my classroom here, home I'll be saved the heartache from all of that.

After work on my way home I looked at the potted flowers attached to all the lamp posts, and the lush green mountains and the sunny clear blue sky and felt a pang in my heart. I watched kids walking alone in the street without a care in the world, beans and peppers on large tarps on the sidewalk drying in the sun without anyone around watching them. It is so safe here..people have respect for others and other people's property. Home isn't like that :( Children can't walk alone in the streets carefree and people can't leave things unattended because someone will steal them. I'm really going to miss Korea for that. It really is a great place to live. Now I'm going to lay under my air conditioner and try to cool off because it is so hot it is exhausting me!