Recently I had to say goodbye to two of my good friends here. Jan and Rika. Jan is a German engineering Masters student who was here for an engineering internship. We became friends almost instantly (mainly because I wanted someone to speak German with... HA!). He turned out to be the brother I never had, because he always pushed my buttons but still cared for me. Rika is a lovely South African woman whom I always had a good time with.
When you arrive and make friends, you assume they will be your friends the whole time you are here. Slowly you begin to realize that everyone arrives at different times, which means they also will leave at different times. This life of constant change was a little odd to me at first, but then I realized that we are all here for different reasons. There is, however, one reason that seems to perpetuate most expats and that is the desire to travel. Many people come to or leave Korea for many fabulous far off lands filled with adventure and new cultures to immerse their souls into. I also have this desire, and now have come to terms with the fact that people do leave and it's alright. My college senior self one year ago would have greatly differed from this opinion.
Well, this first big goodbye went alright and I know it is just the first of many.
Here is the group having a farewell toast at my apartment.
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