Perhaps most people who read this blog have already heard, but I'm coming back to Chicago next week. Yep, my school was nice enough to let me know a week in advance when the new teacher was coming. I don't know anything about her, but I only hope she's got what it takes to handle this place.
While it's easy to forget in the scramble to get everything in order before I go, this marks the end of one stage of my life, namely the one where I tried my hand at teaching. I'm disappointed that it had to end this way, but as I've tried to do throughout this whole experience, I'll have faith that it's for the best.
I came to realize that I'm simply not cut out to be a teacher. I do best when I can work alone, and jobs that require heavy human interaction simply aren't right for me. It's all good. Understanding my strengths and weaknesses is necessary if I want to make a success of myself. I think I'm on the right track.
Do I regret doing this? Absolutely not. I got to see a country I had been interested in for some time, and despite my failings as a teacher, there were many rewarding times as well. Even just being able to make it on my own in a foreign country feels like a big accomplishment for me. Truly, the positives far outweigh the negatives.
What significant things happened while I was in Korea? Well, there were a few:
1) Kim Jong-Il died, though it wasn't as huge a deal as you might think. His son just replaced him as punchline.
2) "Gangnam Style" became a worldwide hit. It's kind of cool to know that I saw that video before most of the world did. I still think it's pretty silly, as I did when I first saw it, but it's got its own goofy charm, I suppose. I certainly never would've predicted it to explode like it did.
3) South Korea elected its first female president, though I'll be gone by the time she takes office.
Even though North Korea has been seen as a joke for a long time, I'm starting to wonder if they're getting crazy enough to pose a real threat. If they are, it might be good that I'm leaving when I am, though obviously, I'm concerned for all my loved ones in this country.
I hope this won't be the last I see of Korea. Someday I'd like to return, though it'll likely be as a tourist or a student of some sort. I have a heart for this country, and I care about its future. I feel honored that I even got to contribute to it in my small way.
Korea, thanks for having me. I will be forever in your debt.
