the long winter

What to say to you, dear reader, at the end of a 2 year journey?

I'm sorry for the months I didn't post.
I'm glad I had you to help me stay aware of time passing.
I love you, as I loved you from the day I first freaked out at Johannesburg airport because I had to unpack my luggage in front of the lady I had just met who was giving me my passport. Maybe more since back then.

I'm flying out tomorrow at 5:30 and I cannot wait. I am honestly not sad to go. I am nothing but excited and overwhelmed and humbled by the love waiting for me when I land. I cannot imagine the joy of arriving home to my friends and family after not seeing them for so long.

Korea has been a life I did not expect to have. A world I did not expect to explore. I have seen new things, felt new things and heard some really strange stuff from my students, you wouldn't even believe. I have grown and I have learnt things.

Here is my wisdom from the east:

1. Long, quiet walks in nature really do have restorative properties. 
2. The internet is no place to start fights.
3. Being by yourself is everything you need, once you've mastered this being with other people is no longer like scratching an itch, it's a lot more like having your cup overflow with blessings.
4. Human beings are hard to kill, hard to break and hard to swallow.
5. Anything you can do Koreans can do better.
6. Distance means very little.
7. Tea: always tea. Just tea. It's a wisdom of it's own. 
8. Little Korean kids are easy to bribe with English games and candy.

I cannot wait for face time with all of you. Put me in your calendar. Invite me out, I'll come I promise.
Can you believe it's been 2 years!
TTAAABBBLLLLEEE     MMMOOUUNTTAAAAAAIIIIIINNN


Love in buckets
The now unemployed Bashti Teacher