감사합니다, 고마워

All my old Korean friends:
THANK YOU to my wonderful friend 진주어니. Literally there for me the entire time. Even picked me up from the airport, and returned me safely there in the end.
THANK YOU to 지성, 에리, 인재, 봉준, 영호, 윤재, 정은, Erik, 윤경, and 이라 who all made time to meet with me, and I think you all bought me food too.


All my new Korean friends:
THANK YOU to 나영 who was the best roomy I've ever had. Sweet and thoughtful, quiet and hard-working. I couldn't have picked a better one. I miss you!
THANK YOU to lovely 지희 and 진주, my honorary room mates.
THANK YOU to 김지수, the closest thing I had to a big brother at SCH.

THANK YOU to all my exchanges for all the hours and all the conversations.

THANK YOU to Guapo Xavier, for telling my I don't look like your idol Amanda Seyfried.

THANK YOU to Philip for being so sweet.
THANK YOU to 진주 and 에리's boyfriends for being so kind to my best friends. (And me...)

THANK YOU to 진주's family and 에리's family for welcoming me into your homes, treating me with honor and love. Now I have Korean families!
THANK YOU to 준재, for being so perfect at the right time in all the right ways. I'll come back so we can say goodbye (and hello) for real...


D-502:

THANK YOU - You all made my experience here what it was. I'll always remember you, SCH, and ll our fun times together with much love. And come visit me in America!


All my international friends:

THANK YOU to Dazha...Hermanita, I love you so much! I am so thankful and blesssed that you were in my suite. I couldn't have chosen a more wonderful friend and sister. I can't wait to come visit you in Mexico and meet our family!

THANK YOU to Nikki for being so fun and encouraging and sunshiny. I miss your voice and energy already. I love you and I'm happy I can visit you in WI!

THANK YOU to Mel for being there for me when my Grandpa passed away, and every other day. Mel, my white Hawaiian, next time I get a cold I'll just hop over and visit you to get better.

THANK YOU to Ashley for being so crazy and always making everyone laugh. I'll miss making fun of you, I'll miss you making fun of me. Keep talking to me...facebook is good for that!

THANK YOU to Aapo for so many good conversations and so much comfortable time not talking.

THANK YOU to so many more people I can't even start listing for all the smiles, hugs, laughs, talks, tears; shared frustrations, memories, walks, meals, facebook conversations. Whether we talked every day or only once or twice, you're not forgotten.


To my teachers:

THANK YOU to Derek, for forcing me to learn things about the Korean culture I would never have thought of otherwise.
THANK YOU to 림개삼선생님 for listening and understanding, and being professional.
THANK YOU to 오선생님 for being a cool lit professor! Loved that class, learned so much about so many cultures, and Korean views of Korea.
THANK YOU to Master for teaching me how to tie my Taekwondo belt correctly.
 THANK YOU to 백선갱님 for teaching me literally everything I know about Korean history.
THANK YOU to 김선생님 for understanding my broken Korean.
THANK YOU to 송선생님 to speaking Konglish and making me feel like I could understand Korean.

My Korean class:
THANK YOU to Iesha, Krista, Vera, San, Memo, Tanya, Ashley, Ryan, Kim... 아주 채미있어요. Right?? *grimace* ;)


My friends and family at home:
THANK YOU to Sam, always. Your consistancy has been my anchor and your support the wind in my sails. I love you.

THANK YOU to Mom and Dad and Esther, Av and Apryl and various brothers. Skype was better than nothing, right?

THANK YOU to my entire extended family for all of their support during this adventure, especially with Grandpa's passing.

THANK YOU to Nicole, Kyle, Austin, Brady, and Josh, for keeping up with me. Your names popping up in chaat windows on the bottom of my screen helped me through so many rough times, and helped me stay connected with you and my life in TN.

THANK YOU to Jo. My best friend forever. "I won't give up on us even when the times get rough." "My love will follow you, stay with you - baby you're never alone!"


So many random people who had no idea that they were making my life better:

THANK YOU to the ladies in the New York Hot Dog for being so helpful and making sure I got what I wanted.

THANK YOU to the guys at the book store for finding my books for me.

THANK YOU to all the random people on subways and busses, in stores and restaurants, my friends' friends and family, who tried to talk English and put up with my attempts to speak Korean.

THANK YOU to the taxi drivers who did NOT try to cheat me.

THANK YOU to the guy at the Incheon Airport who checked my second bag for free.