Tension of Opposites

Well the days are quickly ticking by one after another. The time to go home will be here before i know it. Am i prepared to say goodbye? Are there things that i will miss here? Are there things i look forward to going home to? Or things that i don't look forward to going home to??

Lately i feel as though my time is running out and i still have many things that i want to do, to see and people that i want to spend more time with. For a long time i was really sitting on the fence when it came to thinking about going home. I have had an incredible experience here in Korea. Of course..there are days that i could walk out of my school with only the clothes on my back and hop on a plane to ANYWHERE else but here. Thankfully those days are very few and far between. For the most part i try to appreciate even the smallest things in my daily life, like riding the bus, an unexpected smile from an adgema, or a stranger giving me a piece of fruit in an elevator. I've learned to focus on the good things...and as a result i find more and more good things. If it do the opposite..i find more and more negative things and i start to sink into a pit.

What will i miss the most:

1. The pace of life..I am much more relaxed on a regular basis here..

2. SAUNAS...saunas and nudity have become a very important part of my life here. The fact that i can shower and chat with a stranger and not feel embarrassed or even uncomfortable about my body...is fantastic and something i think more westerners should experience...yes, you do get some stares from the Koreans at first..but that soon fades and you become old news...the sauna is great place to relax and take "ME" time..something we get very little of at home.

3. The people I've met..i have been so fortunate to meet some fantastic folks, from all over the world..many are only acquaintances..but there are a few that I've had the opportunity to become close with and leaving them will be sad. However, I'm sure i will cross paths with them again..

4. Cheap transportation, I've grown so accustomed to how utterly ubiquitous cheap and convenient public transportation is in this country. When visiting Canada this winter, i tried to find a bus or train for a two hour trip...it was almost impossible to find a schedule and fares, and when i did....to my horror i discovered that it was cheaper to rent a car and drive in circles for an extra hour after my arrival than to take a bus....WHAT THE HELL!!! and we wonder why we have TOOOO many pollution belching cars on the highway carrying only one passenger...!

On the FLIP SIDE, i do look forward to going home...

1. MIKE! Being without your better half is like living without your heart, or your legs. I can still function on a daily basis, but sometimes I just feel empty. Something is missing and even though each day can bring me happiness and new discoveries..something vital is missing..and you find yourself feeling lost. This is the most important reason why i consider going home almost everyday.

2. My family..family dinners, holidays and gatherings. Hugs, laughs, fights and tears..need i say more.

3. Wilderness and quiet...I have always been drawn to nature for a number of reasons. Some people visit temples or churches when they need comfort,support, guidance. Me, i go to the bush. I find solace in the stillness, quietness and beauty of a calm lake, or a large knotty tree. I miss my time in the bush. You just cannot find many quiet natural spots in Korea..which is completely understandable given the history and population here..

4. Variety of foods..Well as most of you know..i LOVE to eat..nothing is better then a good meal, adult beverages and good conversation..i miss BBQs and that really nice bar that i used to frequent....located...conveniently in my back yard...my seat is always saved..

So yes, i guess i will be ready to go when the time comes. I'll cherish my experiences here..but I'll be ready for the next chapter.