All I hear in the classroom from my own voice and from the many teachers around me are phrases like ‘keep trying’ or ‘try your best’ or ‘it’s okay if you get it wrong just as long as you’re trying.’
I wish that I could apply these simple, elementary school phrases into my life. It’s the simple things that get you in life. The simple things can be the most beautiful, the most rewarding, the most appreciated. But the simple things can also trip you up and catch you off guard.
I’m leaving in twelve days to go home. This is the most exhilariting yet heartbreaking phrase. People told me that I would be feeling this way but I didn’t believe them. But I’m trying my best to process correctly. Trying to take in everything I can in the last two weeks. Trying to spend as much time with this happy, dysfunctional family that I have been welcomed into. Trying to BE in Korea. I’m also trying to prepare myself for my life. As I typed life I was like wow that was broad, but yes, I would say that I am trying to prepare for life, which is turning out exactly how one would expect. Maybe I’m trying to hard? I don’t know. I have to be okay with what I’m doing. I’m trying my best… whatever that means.
I’m also trying to stay strong when my cheerleaders girl say “Miss Riley, do you have to leave?” or “Miss Riley, can you please stay?” or “Miss Riley, why do you have to go back to America?” or “Miss Riley, you have to come back for KIACC so you can watch us perform.” or when I get handed a friendly letter (my kids are learning friendly letters in writer’s workshop and two of my student’s wrote their letter to me, others asked for my address so they could send letters in the future) and it says “I do not want you to leave us after Christmas break. I will be very sad. I will miss what you taught us.” Which that last sentence is just hilarious to me for some reason.
Anyways, I’m learning and growing and all that jazz. I know that God has allowed me to experience life here for a purpose. I believe I have hints of that purpose but I have a feeling that even though I will fly out of Korea on December 18 at 6:52 pm I’ll be figuring stuff out long past then. For now, all I can do is try my best.
