It's been almost a month now since I've left Korea. Since my return I have traveled to Tennessee (twice) and back and forth the Florida (two times, too.) Rio and I are looking forward to moving (again) into our new home in Charleston, and we've been checking in on the progress of the renovation every other day.
At my new job I've been learning the routine, setting up my office, getting to know the kids, trying to memorize names. I'm meeting parents and teachers and staff. Went shopping for collared shirts and plain skirts/shorts/pants to comply with the dress code at Rio's new school. I'm planning a trip to DC for the 5th grade students during spring break. I'm hiring interns for Freedom School (part of the Children's Defense Fund,) a six week reading program schedule for this summer, and I signed Rio up for an adventure outdoor summer camp with the County Park.
I had dinner last Friday with staff at Cici's pizza and we all sang happy birthday to Rio who is six, again (she was six all last year in Korea age.) Saturday I took her and our new neighbor ("A" - age four) out for a Saturday of play and eating cosmic hot dog's at a place called Jack's. That evening I invited our other neighbor ("Z" - age seven) to go see the movie Rango, again. Yesterday, a man named Ted helped me surprise Rio with her birthday present: a kitten, only three weeks old. We named it Lil' Lulu.
With so much going on (all good,) I haven't had a chance to miss what I'm missing. This morning, while taking my morning walk, I had that chance. Out of everything that I grew to love about Korea, what I will miss most is the people, too many to name. There's Facebook, of course, but it's just not the same.
The staff at Metanoia have been assigned to read and discuss a book (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey). In the first few pages, the author poses a question that relates to what I felt today. "How many on their deathbeds wished they'd spent more time at the office - or watching TV. The answer is No one. They think about their loved ones, their families, and those they have served." Yes, it is all about the people. I pray one day I'll be able to go to Korea, again.
