Sunday, February 8, 2009

Trying Not to Hold My Breath

On Friday, Cate informed me that she has found and hired a replacement. He already has all of his paperwork and is at present in Japan, so it looks like he should be able to be here pretty soon. I may still make it out on the 28th of this month if nothing further goes wrong. Now my biggest concern is whether or not Jasper will be able to accompany me. Since I will not know very far in advance when I am leaving, and on which flight, I don't know for certain if I'll be able to get Jasper on the flight.

If I do leave on the 28th, it means that I have only three weeks left in Korea. Considering how rapidly weeks go by, I am worried that I won't have sufficient time to say all my goodbyes. It's sad to think that next month I won't be able to meet with my cell group every Tuesday, hop a bus to Seoul or Busan, walk over to Lotte for persimmons and jajang myeon whenever the urge strikes, or be greeted in the street by friendly Buddhist monks. I also won't be able to see any of "my" kids anymore. Being kids, they'll probably forget me before too long, which is the way it should be. Children shouldn't cling too tightly to memories - they need to be out creating new ones. I, however, shall never forget them.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

as I mentioned before, I spent a week in Austria, and got to be very friendly with a local bar tender. I still remember his name--Florian.

Its the memories who make us who we are. I can't imagine the memories you'll have after this experience, but I am truly envious :-) -Andy

"Passage—immediate passage! the blood burns in my veins! Away, O soul! hoist instantly the anchor!
Cut the hawsers—haul out—shake out every sail!
Have we not stood here like trees in the ground long enough?
Have we not grovell’d here long enough, eating and drinking like mere brutes?
Have we not darken’d and dazed ourselves with books long enough?

Sail forth! steer for the deep waters only!
Reckless, O soul, exploring, I with thee, and thou with me;
For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go, And we will risk the ship, ourselves and all.

O my brave soul!
O farther, farther sail!
O daring joy, but safe! Are they not all the seas of God?
O farther, farther, farther sail!"

~Walt Whitman, "Passage to India"