I can't say that today was an easy day. I had a busy, full day of classes. During my off periods I had to write questions for the final exam. I had some serious moments when I questioned why I was here and not at home with my family. Is it really worth it to be here? Aren't our friends and families the most important things in life? Then why did I selfishly trade it all in for my life in Korea?
In my culture class I have been teaching the students about Thanksgiving for the past two weeks. Last week I talked about the history behind Thanksgiving, and today I talked about the modern aspects of Thanksgiving--family, food, football, shopping, etc. As I went through the slides today, I had to move quickly because I knew if I stayed on any image or thought for too long the tears I had been fighting off all day were going to come to surface. I'm pretty sure crying in front of my students is a whole level of awkwardness I don't want to go to.
When I was at lunch, I looked at my tray of food. Rice, soup, pork, dried squid, rice noodles. Not exactly what I ever anticipated eating on Thanksgiving Day.
When I was at lunch, I looked at my tray of food. Rice, soup, pork, dried squid, rice noodles. Not exactly what I ever anticipated eating on Thanksgiving Day.
Needless to say, I was happy when the day was over and I could get out of school.
Earlier in the week, I invited people over to my place because there was no way I was going to sit at home alone on my first Thanksgiving away from home. Interestingly enough, a lot of the Jeomchoners are South Africans so Thanksgiving is meaningless to them, and out of the Americans apparently some people have been abroad long enough that missing Thanksgiving isn't really a big deal any more. Luckily, a small group of people were enthusiastic about coming over to spend the night together.
We ended up having the most unconventional Thanksgiving food ever (um, nachos and ice cream cake?), but in all honesty I could have cared less about what we ate. I was happy just to spend the night with some friends. I have a feeling that years from now when I'm back in America this is going to make a great story. I can hear it now..."This one time, when I was in Korea, we had nachos and ice cream for Thanksgiving dinner."
I know that this next month is probably going to kick homesickness into high gear as the holiday season approaches, but I know that it will pass, and I know that the amazing things I'm experiencing here come at the expense of some homesickness.
I am truly thankful for all those I have at home who have loved and supported me from the moment I revealed my plan to go to Korea, to the moment I got on the plane, all the way up to my current life in Jeomchon. I know a lot of people didn't understand why I wanted to come here (why Korea?!), but many people still supported me, even when they didn't understand the reasons, and that means a lot to me.
Words cannot express how thankful I am to have the opportunity to be in Korea. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the chain of circumstances that made being here an option in the first place. I have been beyond privileged throughout my life to have loving and supportive parents, access to a good education, the opportunity to obtain a higher education, a year of teaching with students and coworkers I will never forget, and friends to keep me company through all of the joys and challenges along the way.
I would never be in Korea without those of you who have supported me throughout the years, and for that, I am forever thankful. I am thankful to those of you who let me go and encouraged me, even though you didn't want me to go.
To those of you who continue to support me, thank you. One of my biggest fears about being here is losing my roots at home. I have talked to enough people who have been abroad long enough to know that it happens. There are people from home who I already feel distant from, even though it's only been three months. To those of you who put in the effort to communicate with me in some way on a consistent basis, I can't begin to tell you how much I value that.
I feel blessed beyond measure to have friends and family back home in America, but I am without doubt grateful for the new life I have here in Korea. How blessed am I to have a home in two countries, on opposite sides of the world from each other? God has given me so much over the past few months, and even though it's difficult to do when homesickness kicks in, I know these are the things I need to focus on.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone back home. I miss and love you all, and I can't wait until I get to see you all again.
And most importantly, thank you for all that you have and continue to do for me.
And most importantly, thank you for all that you have and continue to do for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment