I had a feeling it was going to be one of those days as I repeatedly dropped things in the bathroom this morning. Luckily, the only permanent damage was to my favorite eye shadow which shattered into a million pieces and made a ridiculous mess.
Despite my reservations, I made it through the day without even painfully bumping into a desk or spilling my coffee! My students (with the exception of one slightly evil 6th grade class) were bummed that I am leaving and my desk had a small mountain of farewell notes and little presents.
After class I ran to the post office to get another box to try and get my suitcases down to regulation weight. I brought it home, stuffed 15 kilos worth of stuff in, and off I went dashing back to the post office. I made it half a block before the box ripped and dumped all of my stuff in the middle of a (thankfully dead) intersection. Logical problem solving me was replaced by anxiety me-- who desperately tried to make the box go back into box shape so I could get out of the middle of the street. My stuff, instead of piling neatly sort of rolled about into an even bigger mess.
As I was desperately shoving away, a friendly grandmother came over and tried to help me--with a baby strapped on her back. She quickly decided that what I needed was tape and told me to hold on a minute. A minute later she popped back outside with a roll of industrial looking tape and helped me tape the box together. One of her friends (or another random elderly lady?) stopped to help us and in 2 minutes we had my box taped up and all of my stuff securely inside. I bowed deeply and thanked them both and then was on my way again.
I know that if the situation was reversed I would have done the same thing but to have that sort of help when I really needed it was just fantastic. It's not so bad being a spaz if someone is there to help you out.
Note-I came to Korea with 2 suitcases. I am leaving Korea with 2 suitcases and having mailed 4 large boxes. This does not count the 100+ books I have gotten rid of. I must try to curtail my accumulation habits!
Despite my reservations, I made it through the day without even painfully bumping into a desk or spilling my coffee! My students (with the exception of one slightly evil 6th grade class) were bummed that I am leaving and my desk had a small mountain of farewell notes and little presents.
After class I ran to the post office to get another box to try and get my suitcases down to regulation weight. I brought it home, stuffed 15 kilos worth of stuff in, and off I went dashing back to the post office. I made it half a block before the box ripped and dumped all of my stuff in the middle of a (thankfully dead) intersection. Logical problem solving me was replaced by anxiety me-- who desperately tried to make the box go back into box shape so I could get out of the middle of the street. My stuff, instead of piling neatly sort of rolled about into an even bigger mess.
As I was desperately shoving away, a friendly grandmother came over and tried to help me--with a baby strapped on her back. She quickly decided that what I needed was tape and told me to hold on a minute. A minute later she popped back outside with a roll of industrial looking tape and helped me tape the box together. One of her friends (or another random elderly lady?) stopped to help us and in 2 minutes we had my box taped up and all of my stuff securely inside. I bowed deeply and thanked them both and then was on my way again.
I know that if the situation was reversed I would have done the same thing but to have that sort of help when I really needed it was just fantastic. It's not so bad being a spaz if someone is there to help you out.
Note-I came to Korea with 2 suitcases. I am leaving Korea with 2 suitcases and having mailed 4 large boxes. This does not count the 100+ books I have gotten rid of. I must try to curtail my accumulation habits!
Recent comments