Goodbye's

Maybe this will help to describe my goodbyes here.

I stopped in at my favorite Kimbap place tonight for dinner. I ordered dwenjan chegae to go, as usual. And, as I sat down to wait for it, I thought "I'm leaving Saturday. I need to tell them." So, in my broken Korean, I told them that I would be leaving on Saturday for America. They were excited and happy for me and then, they found out that I wouldn't be coming back. I tried to tell them that I loved their food. I tried to tell them that eating there was like going into Grandma's kitchen for dinner. I wanted to tell them that I would remember them and that, even though I didn't see them everyday and even though we didn't talk much, they were a big part of my life here in Korea. I tried, but couldn't.

But, I know they understood.

And, I know that she tried to tell me that she would miss me. That she was always happy to see me when I came in to eat. I know she wanted to tell me to be happy in America, and that she hoped I would have a good life. She tried, but, as she said, she has no English.

But, I still understood.

And, I think this is how most of my goodbye's are. I don't know quite what to say and neither do they... but we both know. I feel so loved here. My friends keep asking if this experience has been worth all the challenges I've faced and the hardships I've had...

Yes.