As I count down my days in Korea and soon to embrace the beauty of Europe, I realize how fast time goes. I look at the students as they try to figure out why I am soon to leave them and I cannot give them a good enough explanation. They ask, why Teacher? Why do you have to go? No answer can heal their little hearts.
We have grown together. We have laughed, we have danced, we have acted to our hearts content and made use of the English language even in their lacking in pronunciation of the “r” letter. I have come to ardor them and I can say they have come to accept my uncouth ways as well. I don’t like goodbyes. But they cannot grasp the concept that goodbyes are just another beginning for them and me. I have grown to love them even in their strange liking of me, even when they find it necessary to lick my hand because they think my skin is made of chocolate. Unsanitary yes, but kids will be kids. How can you not love them?
Have I failed to realize the bond that we have shared for a year now? Why then do I choose to leave them when I have been asked to stay both by them, their parents and the Director? Have I grown selfish and withdrawn from their love? No that’s not it. I would do anything for any of the kids. Even the sol called bad ones. I am just sick of the unnecessary bullshit that the management brings on that has nothing to do with teaching. I am just tired of the need to worry that just maybe you might not get paid this month or your check might be short and you have to waste your energy to go and ask for the rest of the money you have worked for. How can one willingly come back to such a place? I love the kids but I refuse to work in organized chaos. But how can I explain to them that it is not them and that it is me? Is this going to be another one of those bad break ups? How can I get them to understand?
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Tata,
I know EXACTLY what you’re feeling. When the kids say, “Teacher, don’t go please” that just breaks your heart. Hence, I took the time to tell the my email and encouraged them to email me as frequently as they want, and I promised to reply. Coming to the real point is the fact that it is just a shame that ECC is run by such a poor director. If he spent half the time working for his employees instead of taking advantage of them he would be pleasantly surprised at the results. He wouldn’t have a dozen teachers leaving in one year. Really unfortunate.
I think I will do the same Dayna, I will leave my email to those willing and maybe someday I might be able to still help them with something
i see you’ve gotten quite attached to the kids.
at one point, i too went through what you’re going through now although seeing that your term was that much longer, its more intense for you.
don’t worry too much. kids as they are, they are good at getting back on their feet.
i’m not saying that they’ll forget you or lose their appreciation towards you or what you’ve done and who you are but that they will be able to get over it in due time.
have courage and as they do not understand many things because of their young age, i hope this last leap isn’t too difficult for you.
kenny
I hope the last leap is not too difficult too Kenny. Jisun (another Teacher they loved as they did you) left yesterday too and today the kids bombarded me with questions about why she left too. It is difficult to explain to them why because like you said, they are too young to understand. Until this day, the America class kids still talk about you; if they can do that about me too then I would have done my job
and hope in that memory of me and me of them, our bond will remain long after leaving.
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