Goodbyes

This last month has been full of goodbyes.  With 6 schools between the both of us, it seems like every week since mid July we have been slowly finishing camps and classes with each of our schools.

For me (Teresa), it has been a very busy month!

Mulya Teachers

The last school day at Mulya was full of hand written letters from ALL of my students (with the help of their teacher :) and a chicken lunch with the principal at an outdoor restaurant up in the mountains.  It was beautiful and delicous! 

Bonghwa Grade 6 girls

I can never tell when it will be my last time seeing my Bonghwa students...  The kids are always popping up around town yelling, "Hi, Teacher" and waving happily.  I found a handful of my 6th grade girls playing in the river on my way home from work and said another quick goodbye.  More than once I have repeatedly said goodbye to my Bonghwa kids with hugs and tearful goodbyes. 

*At Jaeson my 5th graders threw me a surprise goodbye party over break.  Their teacher made me leave the classroom for a coffee break while they kids snuck in choco-pies and wrote "I love you Teacher" across the white board with magnets.  What a great surprise to walk into!  (I'm sad I forgot my camera that day!) 

AND THE HARDEST GOODBYE WAS HAVING TO SAY GOODBYE TO THESE LADIES...

Since November I have been teaching an English Bible Study at the church next door to our apartment.  It has been such a blessing being able to have fellowship, sing songs, pray, and meet with these ladies once a week.  They will be GREATLY missed. 

My co-teacher, July and I

Tomorrow is the last day at Bonghwa...and I will have to say one last goodbye to one of my main co-teachers, July.  I am very excited to come home, but it is bittersweet saying goodbye to everyone who has been so kind to us this year.

WE WILL MISS YOU KOREA!!

A Very Quick Recap of Teresa Teacher's Year...

So the end is finally coming to a close. Here are some pictures from the year that I never got around to posting... some of my favorite memories as a teacher this year :)

Carving Pumpkins for the first time on Halloween

Two of my favorite people in Korea

Teachers Class Last Fall

"I'm Thankful" feathers for Thanksgiving Lesson

Jude playing 'pin the feather on the turkey' :)

  

One of my favorite classes...
Jude, Jake, Paul, Heroe, Alex, Julie, Eve, and Madison

Spring Field Trip to Seoul

My old co-teacher, Uni, and her first graders

One of my weekly visitors to my office
having a picnic in Seoul


Official Countdown... 2 Days left in Bonghwa!!!

The Great Bonghwa Fish Festival

Right now, as we are typing, hundreds of Koreans are charging through the river by our apartment, the smell of cooked squid is wafting through our window, and an excited Korean is blasting his voice over loud speakers.  Is there a logical explanation for this?  Yep, there is.  You see, the river is full of sweet fish!  It's the Great Bonghwa Fish Festival! Hooray!

The biggest festival in Bonghwa is the Fish Festival.  It is celebrated every year by filling the river with sweet fish (supposedly they taste like watermelon...), concerts, fireworks, sand castles, lots of fishy food, and plenty of water games and fun. 

The festival lasts for nine days and our friend Kate came all the way from Seoul to help us celebrate.  One of the highlights was renting a giant goose boat and eating chicken-in-a-cup.  Tonight is the closing ceremony, so we are hoping to enjoy some fireworks from our roof-top...the perfect way to end our last weekend here in Bonghwa!