The End All, Be All

Dear Readers - 

I have big news for you today! I am announcing that this will be my last and final Seoul Searching post. I have made the decision to come back home to San Diego tomorrow because I feel that my run in Korea is over. I am glad that I came and I saw, and I feel like I have conquered in a large way. I have made my mark on this country and will always fondly remember the experiences, friends, and adventures, but I know in my heart that it is now time to come home. Before I go, however, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Korea for so many wonderful things.

Thank You, Korea.....

...for exposing me to a whole new language and alphabet!

...for ddokbokki, pajeong, and galbi. You will be missed!

...for sharing your culture and people with me. There are some truly amazing souls here!

...for encouraging me to step up the fashion and always look my best!

...for my first 'White Christmas' and valuable lessons in 'winter living!'

...for a new and educational experience teaching children in a foreign country!
...for revealing new, creative, and quirky ways in which to cook on one burner and with no oven!

...for showing me that I can start from scratch and learn to find my bearings in a brand new world!

...for downtowns and subways and big city living! I have always, always wanted to try that!

...for teaching me patience, even after being pushed and bumped for the 50 millionth time!

...for sending me new friends. Rachel, Keara, Misty, Alex, Jodi, Claire, Young, and Aekyung - I will miss you all so much!

and most of all.....

....for teaching me that my soul is not a wandering one, and that it is only the security, familiarity, comfort, and LOVE at home that can ever make me truly happy.

As I've been writing this, I've been trying to think of the best way to explain to you all why I am choosing to go back home. Just the other day I Googled the definition of the expression "The end all, be all" because I was only mildly confident that I truly knew what it meant, so I wanted to check it out, just for curiosity's sake. What came up was this:

End all, be all:  Something ultimate; the best part of something; the thing which solves all problems associated with something

When it comes to life, my family and friends are my absolute end all, be all. And this, dear readers, is the very best way I know how to describe it to you.

Thank you again to all my loyal readers for sharing this experience with me. Your support and faith in me means more than you know. I hope you have had as much fun reading as I have had sharing all these moments with you. Next stop.... the end all!