even the toughest kid wanted a hug today…

September 25th

If you have previous posts…like from a year ago when I was moving from my apartment to my sister’s house to Nebraska to SK…you all know one thing. I hate packing. I would rather….do 100 other things and can come up with 100 excuses not to pack.. It’s gotta get done though. Thus the random blog post telling you once again that I should really hire someone to pack for me. I could just keep you company and direct you how to pack my things. It would be fun! 😉 And I’ve had practice. I think this time I’m just gonna starting tossing stuff. OK. Enough of that. Suitcase Out. Ready…pack.

Last night was homemade hummus and wine night with a friend and her brother- so exciting he came to visit her! I know how much it meant for my family to visit me.

Tomorrow…adventures in Changwon to pick up my bus ticket and go to the pension office.

a few hours later… andddd I’m 87% packed and ready to move out! Only drying laundry, a few knick-knacks in the corner and on the wall, toiletries, and that’s it!!! YAY! Fastest packing time yet. Getting rid of over 50 lbs of clothes/shoes/sheets/coats! And my big suitcase I’m taking home isn’t quite full yet. Megan-1, Packing/Moving-0. Score.

September 26th

Map to the Changwon Bus Terminal (From Jangyu I’m taking the 170 Bus to the “Circle” in Changwon then getting a taxi- hoping it’s faster with morning traffic, leaving at 6:30 to be to the bus terminal by 8 a.m.!)

Courtesy of: http://www.changwonderful.com/

Information on the Pension Office in Changwon courtesy of http://wiki.galbijim.com/National_Pension_Offices#Changwon_Regional_Office

Changwon Regional Office

• Address: Kukminyeongeum Gyeongnamhoegwan Bldg. (국민연금 경남회관), 101-1 Sinwol-dong, Changwon City, Gyeongsangnam Province
• Zip Code: 641-718
• Phone No. : 055)278-9025, 278-9040
• Fax No. : 055) 285-5010
• How to get there: From Gyeongsangnam Province Office, cross the street and go about 70 meters. You can see their building on the left. Go to the 1st floor.

Items needed to obtain National Pension deposit into American bank account:

Passport
ARCard
Local Bank Book
American Bank Information (blank check!)
Flight Ticket out of the country

AND SUCCESS!!!! I got to Changwon Bus Terminal about 7:30 (it was the quickest ride through the Tunnel ever!, bought my ticket without a problem, and was in a taxi and to the pension office by 8 a.m. I had to wait an hour, but they let me sit in the waiting room and I was offered coffee three different times. Then at about 5 or so til 9:00 a.m. I applied for my pension. I handed everything right over, filled out the form- make sure you have your Bank’s Swift Code!, got my receipt, and was out the door at 9:07. I wasn’t for sure the closest bus stop, so just started walking and there was one! I was back to Jangyu just in time for tea and 10:00 a.m. yoga class. What a great morning! After one year in Korea…I can successfully get myself to a nearby city, get a taxi to the bus terminal, buy a bus ticket for an advance ride to Incheon, taxi it to the Pension Office, apply for my Pension without my Director’s help, and find the nearest bus stop and get myself back to Jangyu without a hitch…yep I’d say that’s an accomplishment. Whohoo!

Last day (for real this time) at Gyedong Elementary School. And as the title suggests even the toughest kid wanted a hug today…in my second class the boys started singing a song with grand hand gestures that went something like this… “Megannnn….Megannnnn….Megannnnnnn…Don’t goooo Don’t goooo Don’t goooo…Americaaaaa Americaaaa. Americaaaa….NOOOOOOO. Goodbyeeeee Goodbyeeeee Goodbyeeee Goodbyeee…I wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time. I love these kiddos.

September 28th

You’re gonna miss this
You’re gonna want this back
You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you’re gonna miss this

*Trace Adkins: “You’re Gonna Miss This”

And…if my kids were the ones saying it, it’d sound like this…”pinishy-teacherrr, pinishy.” Yes, that’s right I’m finished with my contract. My very last teaching day at Goobong Elementary School in Korea. It was a fun day; bittersweet to say the least, and a few kids cried…I held it together til my very last class, then I cried. Then my co-teacher shook her finger at me because then she started to tear up too. I received some of the sweetest notes and my kids made good-bye posters for me. One of my favorite letter went something like this…”What’s your favorite color? blue? purple? pink? red? I think it is blue. I got you this blue pen. BUT Your red pen is not good. So I got you a red pen too. Please don’t forget me, Lailey.” So many hugs today…I’m really gonna miss this…teaching, the kids, the laughs…it’s been an unforgettable year.

And that is why I teach. I love it. I used to swear I’d never be a teacher, and now I’ve never been happier. I think I found my niche…I love working with ESL kids…I love learning some of the language and hearing a different language in the classroom.