Goodbyes, They Usually Come in Waves

For the last few weeks I’ve been mentioning people are leaving. I realise that it might start to get annoying so I swear this will be the last post about it but its hard to put across to you how much I will miss these people.

When I set off to Korea I wanted to experience things, learn about the culture, pay off debts and see the world. The one thing I didn’t factor in is the people who I’d meet along the way.

I am not a very good people person. I have friends I’ve known since I was a sprog, from different jobs and friends from uni. Although I love these people with my whole heart I think I’ve always done a good job of staying on the outskirts of the group. I’ve never jumped in with two feet from fear that they didn’t want me to, from fear of looking like a fool, from illness and from worry that they always had better things to do than put up with me.

Arriving in Korea changed all that. From the first person I sat next to on the plane to the ones I’ve met right near the ends of my travels, I’ve fallen in love over and over again.

Being away from your language, your family and everything you know is scary and you cling onto your friends for dear life. You make sure that you have them around you because if they aren’t then no one is. This means I let down a lot of my walls. I stopped worrying if they would hate me and be annoyed by me. Instead of hiding in my room I went out and the results changed me forever.

I have met creative beautiful people that have taken me under their wing, fun loving sensitive souls that have made my cheeks hurt, intelligent individuals that have introduced me to Sass and tall fools that have broken my heart with their sweetness and caring. 

There isn’t enough time in the world to tell you about why I’ll miss each one of them and a lot of the words have already been said but:

To the ones who know who they are,

Thank you for dancing. Thank you for laughing at stupid jokes and listening to silly stories. Thank you for never making me feel you wanted me to change and for listening to me apologise for no reason without getting angry.

Thank you for being our first mutual friends and friends we’d travel the world to see.

Thank you for drinking and eating and drinking some more.

You’ve made my cheeks hurt and made my liver cry

The serious chats, coming to your houses when you were down and helping you home when you needed it were an honour. Nights out  turned into days with you and the light outside was the only thing that made us have to go home .

Cinema socks, Microphones, sticky tape, playing cards, dinners and many hugs.

Singing rooms, Soju , bag drinks , bad bowling, puppies and lazy days.

All of these things are you.

Over the year I’ve fallen in love with each of you over and over again. Watching you make rice effigies or taking a casino for all its got. Sharing your Pimms and m&m’s and letting us have a Christmas in your house. Being in hospital and still smiling, telling disgusting stories in ski lodges or singing Disney songs. Coming out to see us even with 10 minutes of sleep and peeling individual carrot slices. Dancing like no ones ever danced, Singing Les Mis, making a 12 hour flight fly by or letting the fates decide.

Being away from your family and home is hard but you have not only made it bearable but one of the best years of our lives.

People come and go, things change and memories make room for other ones but you will all stay with me. Lee and I thank you for accepting us, letting us tell silly stories (and being in them). Thank you for bringing us into your homes. We love you.

We will see you soon xxxx