Not Prepared
Since starting the entire process of coming to Korea EPIK and my recruiter have done a pretty good job on helping me to prepare for this adventure. From getting interviews set up, helping me with all my documents, lesson planning, teaching, and Korean culture they are all things they we were told about. No, nothing could really prepare any of us for the adventure we were beginning but everyone involved tried really hard to help us along the way.
Since coming to Korea I have found my little Korean family. I have met so many people these past 9 months and I'm thankful that I have found a family in Korea. We speak on a regular basis, we see each other daily or weekly, we have traveled around Korea together as well as to different countries. Being away from your family and friends at home is scary and hard, but having this adventure with all these people has been and I'm sure will continue to be an amazing time together is something we all need to cherish a little I think.
Yes, coming to Korea I figured I would make great friends and meet plenty of amazing friends. This is one thing I have been right about. I knew that friends would come and go at different times and we would have to say goodbye. I also knew that we would all be from different countries so it might be hard to see each other again once we leave this crazy country of Korea. Although knowing you have to part with these good friends and actually doing it, I don't think you could have prepared me for that.
I have had to say good bye to someone in Sangju in August, and yes it was hard to say goodbye to her. We had gone on a few different trips together, including our rafting trip to Muju. However, we had just started getting really close a month or so before. It was sad yes and I wish she could have stayed longer because she is an incredible girl, however I was ok with her leaving. Friday was my first real goodbye. It was something that I knew was coming for the past month (well really longer than that but that's when the flight was booked) but I tried not to speak of it because it just made me sad. Alan, is a guy from the States, pretty close to St. Louis. We started hanging out with Alan about six months ago and we all started to get really close to him. He would come with us on our weekends away to the different cities, joined us on the booze cruise, and our trip to Sokcho. Alan was one of the guys that I talked to on a daily basis and that person that just has a good heart. He was always up to do anything and honestly one hilarious guy!
We were planning to go to Seoul this past weekend for the Phantom of the Opera, but Saturday was also the day Alan left so we went up Friday night. We decided we would take Alan out for one more night of soju, beer, and dancing. I got up there early and Alan and I walked around Hongdae and went to his favorite park for a beer. We sat and talked about going home and things he would miss in Korea. We then met up with our friends to get our night started (yes, it was a little after midnight by this point). We were having a great time the entire night and we were all trying to forget about it being his last night and just making sure he had a good time.
I happen to check my phone at one point and he asks me the time...it was 5:00am. He got the big Alan grin on his face and said 'I have 30 min until I can get the subway to the airport!!!!' This is when I lost it. Here I am at 5am, drunk, and sat in a bar sobbing! Beth, Alan, and I went outside and there were plenty of tears shed by Beth and I. I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye and it took a while for me to even quit hugging him (I'm sure alcohol had a little part in this). Needless to say Beth and I went back into the bar crying and hugging each other. We both looked up and said what do we do now? Well....what better way than to take a shot of tequila and cheers to Alan. One final shot and the teary walk home ended our night around 6:30am.
It was an emotional time, and I'm getting sad now just typing this. I have already talked to Alan once, and he hasn't even been gone 24 hours. Good thing when I come home he has already told me he's ok with being roommates out west. Don't know if he was serious but I was serious when we talked about it ^^
Since coming to Korea I have found my little Korean family. I have met so many people these past 9 months and I'm thankful that I have found a family in Korea. We speak on a regular basis, we see each other daily or weekly, we have traveled around Korea together as well as to different countries. Being away from your family and friends at home is scary and hard, but having this adventure with all these people has been and I'm sure will continue to be an amazing time together is something we all need to cherish a little I think.
Yes, coming to Korea I figured I would make great friends and meet plenty of amazing friends. This is one thing I have been right about. I knew that friends would come and go at different times and we would have to say goodbye. I also knew that we would all be from different countries so it might be hard to see each other again once we leave this crazy country of Korea. Although knowing you have to part with these good friends and actually doing it, I don't think you could have prepared me for that.
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| Halloween cruise in Incheon |
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| Sokcho trip |
We were planning to go to Seoul this past weekend for the Phantom of the Opera, but Saturday was also the day Alan left so we went up Friday night. We decided we would take Alan out for one more night of soju, beer, and dancing. I got up there early and Alan and I walked around Hongdae and went to his favorite park for a beer. We sat and talked about going home and things he would miss in Korea. We then met up with our friends to get our night started (yes, it was a little after midnight by this point). We were having a great time the entire night and we were all trying to forget about it being his last night and just making sure he had a good time.
I happen to check my phone at one point and he asks me the time...it was 5:00am. He got the big Alan grin on his face and said 'I have 30 min until I can get the subway to the airport!!!!' This is when I lost it. Here I am at 5am, drunk, and sat in a bar sobbing! Beth, Alan, and I went outside and there were plenty of tears shed by Beth and I. I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye and it took a while for me to even quit hugging him (I'm sure alcohol had a little part in this). Needless to say Beth and I went back into the bar crying and hugging each other. We both looked up and said what do we do now? Well....what better way than to take a shot of tequila and cheers to Alan. One final shot and the teary walk home ended our night around 6:30am.
It was an emotional time, and I'm getting sad now just typing this. I have already talked to Alan once, and he hasn't even been gone 24 hours. Good thing when I come home he has already told me he's ok with being roommates out west. Don't know if he was serious but I was serious when we talked about it ^^
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