Epilogue

The final post I had planned to let everyone know I was leaving Korea, never happened. Now I have not only left Korea, I have traveled to the US for a 3-week visit, begun my life in Indonesia, and abruptly ended my life in Indonesia when a serious tropical illness broke my resolve to continue in what had proved to be a challenging and difficult, if sometimes rewarding, existence. The reward was mainly in what I learned about myself and in the courageous, beautiful friends and students I met there. For more about the difficulties, see Erica Indonesiensis blog--I may get around to writing more there someday.

But about Korea. It amazes me how a place where I initially expected to be so unhappy became somewhere I felt so joyful and fulfilled on a daily basis. When I left, I had scores of students whom I cared about and many wonderful friends as well. (There were over 130 contacts in my cell phone.) I was fulfilled in my work and my hobbies (mainly studying Korean language and playing in a traditional drum group). I felt at home and happy.

While in Indonesia, I was homesick for home, but I also found myself homesick for Korea. This has not happened to me much in my life; I typically leave a place and kind of move on, don't think about it a lot. I think it says something about the hard time I was having, but it also says a lot about how fulfilled I was in Korea. I do think about going back there; I have no idea if I actually will. For the moment, it is thrilling and satisfying to be in Connecticut, while the leaves are turning, smelling and seeing and hearing all the familiar signals of my childhood as I walk this land I love. It is time now for me to heal and rest and pause, collecting myself as the plants and animals do in the winter before deciding upon a new direction.

Is Korean Heather over, or is this intermission? Stay tuned...but don't hold your breath. :)

Much love to you, if you are still reading this.
Keep in touch at hdemunn () gmail () com.