Yesterday was officially my last day of work in Korea. It was a tough thing to think about, but I got through the day. Since I had been cleaning and packing throughout the week, my mind was wandering way too much. The emotions did not set in until I went to my third and last class at the Montessori school. Some of these kids had been in classes twice a day with me up until March, and almost all of them had me consistently through my full school year that ended last February.
I ended the class a few minutes early, so I could get some pictures with the kids. There was one little girl who used to call my "daddy" quite a bit, even in front of her mom once. During the pictures she was glued to my leg, and started to tear up. When the other kids went to sit down, her and one more girl just stayed on my lap. So as my Facebook status said yesterday, "One kid cried, then I started to cry, and the Korean teacher did as well." That little girl taught me a lot about myself, and life. I even ran into her family one time out of the city at a national park hiking.
The rest of the day went by pretty smoothly. That is until I went into another teacher's class and was greeted by some of the above mentioned kids. The Korean teacher had to help pry the little one away from me.
I received some very cute thank you notes from the kids. Even from a few that I had only been teaching for a few months. I received some very kind notes from two parents as well. Some of the pre-K teachers made some really cute photo albums for me. One teacher gave me a gift set of lotions and aftershave. She had been through a lot this year, with her mom dying and herself getting married after her mom's death. I was there for both events, with all of the Pre-K teachers.
It's been a blessing to be around all the Korean teachers. I always tried to help as best as I could, and it was nice to be humbled by the Pre-K ladies in exchange for that. Those women work super hard and they probably get 60 or 70% of what I make.
One of the Kindy teachers gave me a note in Korean last night too. I've probably seen all sides of her, due to the stress that she feels from the job. These women let the parents stress them out a little too much sometimes.
At the end of the day we all had a nice dinner together downtown at a local traditional restaurant that I frequently visit.
I ended the class a few minutes early, so I could get some pictures with the kids. There was one little girl who used to call my "daddy" quite a bit, even in front of her mom once. During the pictures she was glued to my leg, and started to tear up. When the other kids went to sit down, her and one more girl just stayed on my lap. So as my Facebook status said yesterday, "One kid cried, then I started to cry, and the Korean teacher did as well." That little girl taught me a lot about myself, and life. I even ran into her family one time out of the city at a national park hiking.
The rest of the day went by pretty smoothly. That is until I went into another teacher's class and was greeted by some of the above mentioned kids. The Korean teacher had to help pry the little one away from me.
I received some very cute thank you notes from the kids. Even from a few that I had only been teaching for a few months. I received some very kind notes from two parents as well. Some of the pre-K teachers made some really cute photo albums for me. One teacher gave me a gift set of lotions and aftershave. She had been through a lot this year, with her mom dying and herself getting married after her mom's death. I was there for both events, with all of the Pre-K teachers.
It's been a blessing to be around all the Korean teachers. I always tried to help as best as I could, and it was nice to be humbled by the Pre-K ladies in exchange for that. Those women work super hard and they probably get 60 or 70% of what I make.
One of the Kindy teachers gave me a note in Korean last night too. I've probably seen all sides of her, due to the stress that she feels from the job. These women let the parents stress them out a little too much sometimes.
At the end of the day we all had a nice dinner together downtown at a local traditional restaurant that I frequently visit.
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