Graduation

Yesterday was graduation for our third graders.  At lunch, we were all reminiscing back to our own high school graduations.  So weird to think that was five and a half years ago!  Wowza.

Graduation here is a little different from home.  They don't wear a cap and gown (which makes things seem a lot less official, especially when the girls are openly borrowing each others' blazers and ties (see the second picture!) in a last minute attempt to look official in their last interaction with the principal...), and it's just not as personal or exciting as I remember graduation to be.  Also, the girls were not happy to be graduating - they were all (or many of the ones I talked to...) almost devastated to be done with this chapter of their life and moving on to adulthood.  Welcome to the club, girls.

What makes me sad is the very low likelihood of me interacting with these girls again.  I was especially close to about ten students and it's sinking in that they're no longer a part of my life, other than through Facebook and hopefully an occasional meeting over coffee or random run-in on the streets of the Gwangj.  Such is the nature of this job, I guess...

Enough of this sad drivel - today at school is a funny day - the students meet with their former homerooms for the last time in the morning and then meet their new homeroom teachers (and classes) in the afternoon.  Meanwhile, the teachers' offices are abuzz with cleaning and changes to the desk arrangements.  My desk got moved across the room, and aside from an open window right next to me at the moment (I guess some of the teachers worked up a sweat with this move!), I'm a happy camper.  I'm no longer in front of the door so maybe this will mean less distractions (who am I kidding - I spend more time distracting myself than anything...)?  I think what I'm most excited about is that there is a possibility that I can stay in the office during teacher meetings now and just hide at my desk rather than vacating to Dionne's office on Wednesday afternoons...  Here's hoping :)

In other news, yesterday was my mom's birthday!  Happy Birthday Mother Dearest!!!  AND, see you in ONE WEEK!!!!  Seriously people, words cannot describe how excited I am for my parents to arrive!  Holy. Cow.