Goodbyes

I woke up at 10:40am for my 11am final, which I bombed like all my finals. I wrote couple letters of defeat to my professors asking me not to fail me, and I haven’t seen my grades yet so let us hope for the best.

It’s Friday December 20,2013. I only have a day before I leave, and my finals are over! It’s time to celebrate! It is time to start with our final meal in KLI, which has been so good to us for our five months in Yonsei. All the times we have texted in our group chat of 40 people, “KLI at 12 ETA”, “KLI at 1 ETA”, or “KLI at 3 ETA”, it was only right we have this meal. I’m glad I got to share this with Sung too. Most people joined in as the meal went on because I think we sat in the restaurant for 2 hours just chit chatting about the night before and the trip itself. The meal was over,and Eljay, Kyle, Brian, Christina, and I decided to head over to a jimjilbong for a bath after we sent off our first Party Veteran (the name we gave our group for being just fucking awesome!). Adrian was the first to go. It was hard to see him leave for all of us! This is real; the trip is basically over, and we are not going to have each other anymore like we did in Fall semester 2013 in Yonsei. We went to the jimjilbong right next to the campus and enjoyed the bath! I was really quiet throughout the entire time there. I really didn’t want Adrian or anyone to leave me. The quiet lasted throughout dinner as well. We all head separate dinner plans, so I ate with Alfred, Ophilia, Brian, and Kyle. We went to our favorite Garbi steak place and ate like kings. I was just in my head the whole time. I was sad, mad, bitter, happy, scared, content, confused, loved, and more; to say the least there were a lot of emotions running in my head.

We all got back together after dinner for our what I guess was our final night of Casual Drinking. We found room in a hof to seat all of together, and we shared the drinks with some food; we had a great time there! Kind of got really intoxicated and some of us thought it’d be a good idea to walk to Hongdae for our final night of turn up! It kind of turned into a disaster. We all separated and didn’t know how to all get together, so I stuck with couple people like Brian, Bryant, Sheimay, and Kyle. We went into Zen Bar for their six tequila shots for 10,000 won special. This was bad. We each bought one and took all those shots in matter of 15 minutes or so. Two pictures at the bar later, we were out, and met up with couple other folks! I remember being really tired and going to Taco Bell to meet up with everyone else that was beat. It was time to go home and say some good byes. By the time we got back to the dorms it was 6am, and everyone was beat. Francis was the first to go, so Matt, Eljay, Yujin, Brian, and I hung out in Captain Francis room to see him off. He was the second of the Party Veteran to leave us. “The captain has left the building” never sounded so real until now. The next one was I; it was 12 pm and most people came down to give me my hugs and goodbyes. I cried in the SK lobby knowing there will no longer be a group text for “Meet at SK at 7”, and as I left I looked back once. It has been a great trip! I cried all the way to the airport on the bus as people stared at me like I was a crazy person.

From the airport, I took a mug shot for my over extended stay in Korea because of my weird ARC and Visa. YAY I took a mug shot! I was really excited to take one, so I was smiling and the attendant had to tell me not to smile because it was a serious offence… After the picture, I received a call from Bryant and Kyle bidding me a nice and warm farewell and apologies for not being able to come down to see me leave.  I think it was good thing because I don’t think I could have cried even more. I called my aunt, mommy, and other family for my final goodbye before I boarded my flight for Brisbane.

I don’t think people understand the magic Korea had on me. The life in Korea was unreal. Starting with the people I’ve met on this trip, they have made brought me life! I consider them family and I hope they consider me theirs. I hope to share many more memories with them as time goes on. Yonsei is not the end for the Party Veterans. Best believe we will turn up everywhere we go! These people know me better in the short 5 months that we had than most people back at home! We’ve shared wonderful experiences together, and I know I will be telling these stories for a long long long time! I had my doubts, but I know now that this family is real, and I can’t wait to be uncle Young for all of the Party Veterans. Thank you so much everyone.

Moving on the things we’ve said to one another on a regular bases that people will never understand! Or think we are crazy to say! Like OTL (Looks like a person begging or as Matt put it “Only Tell Lies”) to our ETA (Eat Together Always); there are so much more we’ve shared and learned from one another, some good some bad, but it’s always fun and meaningful!

I feel like I’m babbling on about the same thing! Just know that Fall 2013 Yonsei Exchange was something special for me because of where I was with the people I’ve met! I came with fear and I leave with family and power! (A stronger liver too)

Watch this video! Thanks Christina for making it! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRtw5c2nAxE