My new kindergarten class is still a challenge but I love them more everyday. We have good days where we seem to be able to communicate everything. We have bad days where I’m shouting “No speaking Korean!” and they’re shouting “No speaking English!” back to me. “English time!” is a popular phrase.

But they are very sweet. When I was sick a few weeks ago and had a sore throat, Sophia (in Korean, of course) said, “Teacher, throat hurts?” and then rubbed my throat with her soft little hand. She didn’t have any magical healing powers, but I teared up as I nodded because it was so sweet.

I have 25 working days left, and I just don’t know how I’m going to leave these kids behind. I want to take them all home. Especially the two boys (Jason and Tony) that ask me to tie their hair up on the top of their heads each morning.