It’s Thanksgiving and although I wish I wasn’t sitting
at my desk at work but sitting with my family around a table full of food
that has never sounded so delicious (especially some apple pie), I’ve been
reminded several times today how much support I have back home. Whether it was the simple tweet, card in the
mail, or email I responded to today, I was reminded of how blessed I am to have
such wonderful people in my life. I’m
writing this post three months until the day that I leave Korea. For a little while there, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it, but I’m
already nine months in. I said several
times when I left that I wouldn’t be able to do this without all of the support
I have at home and that is so true. The excitement and encouragement from so many people was the extra push I needed to keep going and to know that the day I about
cried because I couldn’t find butter or the weeks it took to understand how to
recycle all of my trash (which really is quite a process) were going to be worth
it. And the simple hellos I get from
people at home just checking in are my favorite.
My sister likes to remind me how big of a deal it was that I
just got up and left her. I mean, that is slightly true. I ditched her for a
whole year (and missed the trip to Atlanta for her 21st birthday),
but even though I got up and moved around the world (and missed weddings of
friends so important to me), I have more support than I could have ever asked
for. Even from the people who didn’t
like Plan A (move to Korea, obviously) and really wanted me to come up with a plan B.
But I needed to come here.
I will be thankful for this experience for the rest of my life. There’s so much to learn when you’re taken
out of the surroundings you call home. I
have learned an incredible amount about myself and so much more—what I never
really appreciated at home but now look at in a much different light, what I
miss about teaching at home or have learned to appreciate because it is so
different here, and the importance of enjoying time with the people around you
(and pets in my case) when you are with them.
Not only has Korea taught me quite a lot, but this experience has also
given me friendships that I know I will always have. Even though I’m three quarters of
the way through the year, sometimes I can’t believe I actually made this
happen. I couldn’t be more thankful for
this year or for the quick hellos and how are you doings from home because they
really have made a difference. Not to
mention the great friends I've made in Korea (especially having one of them as a neighbor) who have also played a big part in that.
As for Thanksgiving, the workday is almost over and I don’t
have any special plans for dinner, but I’ll be eating some turkey and apple pie
(and obviously so much more) on Sunday with the church family I’m so thankful
to have here. Happy Thanksgiving!
