Nakdong River and Running (or Not Running) Half Marathons

I've mentioned before how much I love running or walking along this river.  This park is about a five minute walk from my apartment and exactly what I needed to have so close by.  I often find myself distracted and stopping to take pictures when I go out for a run, but it's just so pretty.  And how can I not be motivated when I'm out there?  I'm really going to miss this place but am so thankful to have had it right here this year.  Here are some of my favorite pictures I took over the course of the year.

 

 

Before I came to Korea, I said that I wanted to run a half marathon here and I finally had the opportunity (except it didn't go as planned).  I signed up for a half for the beginning of November.  I was running but admitted I just wasn't going to be ready.  I hate backing out of things and tried telling myself I'd be fine.  I probably could have run it, but I wouldn't have enjoyed it.  I switched to the 10K and am so glad that's what I decided to run.  Not only was it a better distance for the amount of time I had been running prior to the race, but I would have been so sad to be running a half marathon with the lack of excitement, cheering, and support that there was at the Busan Half Marathon.  It was so interesting to me to see people (including the volunteers) just standing around and not cheering anyone on!  Usually it's so exciting to cross the finish line, but it was almost sad because no one cared.  That's usually where most of the cheering happens!  That took away so much of the fun, but I'm glad I did run a race here to at least experience it.  I can't say that's how all of the races are, though, and I sure hope it isn't!

Remembering the Boston Marathon.

Made a friend at the finish line!

The weather has been pretty nice here lately.  Sometimes a bit too chilly to run outside (at least with the clothes I have here), but I've been able to go back and run along the river the last couple weeks.  I started training for my next half marathon (I think after this last attempt, I really just want to bust one out and run it.)  I'm running it the end of April in Nashville with my friends Kayla and Ellie.  Kayla was one of the girls who was in Korea in April and became a fast friend.  She was here for such a short time, but I'm so excited to see her again and run this race with her.  Ellie is one of my best friends from home and I'm so glad she'll be there too because I ran my first two half marathons with her.  This also means I'll have a training buddy once I'm home again.  I am a bit crazy to take this on I think because I keep wondering who decides to train for this when they are busy moving back around the world and going on a 10 day vacation before actually heading home.  It's definitely doable, and I may be crazy, but I think having to keep running when I get home will be good for me because although I miss home, I know it is going to be an adjustment moving back to the States.  Until then, I'll be enjoying the beautiful mountains, river, and bridge that have provided such a peaceful place at my home away from home.

Tea, Tears, and Transitions

Today was the last day of school.  I can’t even believe I’m saying that.  We had a staff meeting this morning so the twelve out of about sixty teachers who are leaving could say goodbye to everyone.  In Korea, teachers move around to different schools every few years or so.  Several of them started crying as they were giving their mini speeches.  Everyone laughed when I went up to the microphone knowing they wouldn’t understand what I was going to say, but I think from their reactions they appreciated the "감사합니다" I tacked on at the end.

We had a closing ceremony for the first and second graders today and the twelve of us went on stage to say goodbye to the students.  The vice-principal went down the line and said our names and where we are going next.  I was the last one and as I took my step forward and bowed, the vice-principal said I will be returning to the USA.  The collective “Awwwww!” from the sea of faces in front of me brought tears to my eyes.  There were about 500 students standing there in the auditorium and I have had the chance to be their teacher between the two semesters (not to mention a couple hundred more third graders who had graduation yesterday).  It seems crazy to have had so many students, but when you teach each class once a week, it adds up quickly.  I remember going to my first few classes last March and telling them I was excited to be here with them.  They really were just a sea of faces to me then, but as I was standing on the stage today, I saw the two peas in a pod who are always giggling and loved to visit me but would be so quiet in class (reminds me of me actually), the boy wiping his eyes because of the teachers who are leaving and me remembering how impressed I have been with his English as a first grader, the girl with the thick, round glasses who loved mocking me in class but was quite funny, and two others who said, “Ahhh Kelsy Teacher?!” when they realized I was joining the other teachers on stage.  I have admitted that teaching in Korea is not my favorite, but that is okay.  The language barrier really got to me sometimes and I wondered what I was doing on the days when my class would just stare at me blankly and my co-teacher would be checking her hair in the mirror in the back of the room instead of helping me out.  I think it’s impossible to avoid those situations completely with two languages in one classroom, and even though times were frustrating, today reminded me of the connections I have made with my students (and my co-teachers) and how great of an experience this has been.

Following the closing ceremony, the twelve of us had tea with the principal and vice-principal.  I don’t know what everyone was saying of course, but the principal got up and she gave everyone a hug.  I could tell some of the teachers were uncomfortable, but I was okay with a hug!  There aren’t enough of those in Korea.  The vice-principal asked me to share what I’ll be doing next, even though only a few people would understand.  Then for some reason he shared with them in Korean about my dog and how I was upset.  Because he definitely walked in on me a mess that morning at work after I had talked to my dad about Logan.  Of course that sparked more tears and had me joining the majority of the circle in crying at some point today.  Just reminded me of what I had to give up to come here.  A reminder that even though I somehow mustered up the courage to move to Korea and leave everyone and everything I know, it was so worth it.

Today was the last day of school, but my last day of work isn’t until February 25.  I’ll be desk warming until then, which may drive me crazy because I don’t have any work left to do, but I’ll have plenty of time to start looking into things at home.  Until then, I’ll be enjoying my last 15 days in Korea.  Because today it finally hit me a little bit that I’m leaving so soon.  What an awesome journey this has been.