Back in the USA

Today marks 1-week since we stepped back on US soil. After spending 5 days of vacation on Jeju Island, we flew back to Gimhae, then flew to Tokyo, then to Chicago, then to Milwaukee... four flights back to back. It was the most extensive travelling I've ever undertaken, so it felt great to to be done with it once we touched down.

I still have mixed feelings about being home, now. It has certainly been really nice to see my family and Amanda's family as well. It's good to be back in my house where things are bit more comfortable. However, even though an entire year passed in which Amanda and I lived together in Korea, experiencing countless adventure together and with our friends, teaching English and building our school to what it is now, it almost feels like it never happened. It's a really difficult feeling to cope with because I feel a great sense of loss with the past year of my life, and knowing that our time in Korea is over. The only thing that has been of comfort has been to keep up communication with Kang and Iris back in Korea via the "Kakao Talk" app on our phones. Being able to talk with them reminds me that our time in Korea really happened and that it wasn't just some distant memory.

Saying goodbye to our friends in Korea was extremely difficult. We had spent so much time together, and even though we couldn't communicate naturally or fluently, we had built a deep understanding and respect for each other, and a lasting friendship at that. I am very thankful that we were blessed with having such good friends in Korea, because it made our time there forever memorable.

During our vacation on Jeju Island at the end of our contract, I think I must have taken nearly 500 or 600 photos, if not more. I will spend some time editing them and add a final blog post once I'm completed with the edits.