…and packing it in.

Busy day today wrapping things up here at the soon to be vacant Star Palace.

Just about 98% done packing. Actually, I ran out of room and had to abandon the idea of bringing some items, including a nice pair of hiking shoes. God knows how much I’ve already exceeded the 30 kilo baggage weight limitation. Fuck it. $12 bucks a kilo overage fee. I’d wager I could be as much as 20 kgs over that. Heh, my bags could wind up costing me almost as much as my ticket…

Gave away the rest of my remaining shit, including my grill, to some of my co-workers. So with two days to go I have nothing to cook, nothing to cook with and nothing to eat it off anyway. Woot!

Took all of my work clothes to the thrift shop on base. I won’t be needing them again, that’s for sure.

While I was on base I swung by the PX to pick up some travel size toiletries. Took advantage of the opportunity to dine at Arby’s one last time.

Well, it is no secret that I haven’t been very happy with my life here in Anjeong-ri. Oddly enough, I still feel pangs of sadness as my impending departure draws near. Of course, I’m going to miss my work family immensely. But it’s the little things that kind of get to me. I picked up my cleaning yesterday from the neighborhood shop I’ve been using since I moved here one year ago. As is my custom, I brought back the hangers for re-use. But when I emptied my laundry bag on the counter, all that fell out was a box of Whitman’s chocolates. The laundry ajumma was delighted and surprised, then she looked at me with a questioning expression and I explained (in English of course) that I was moving away. Well, she doesn’t speak English any better than I do Korean, but she got what I meant. She seemed sincerely upset, and with hand gestures indicated she wanted to cry. Okay, she’s losing a regular customer, but I prefer to think she looked forward to seeing me each week.

The point I guess if there is one, is that you get into your routines and habits and that provides some sense of being “at home” in your community. I was having a beer in Horse and Cow last night, and the owner of the now demolished Shooters popped in. She almost begged me to come by to see her new bar called “The Block”. I did and it was more “juicy” than Shooters ever was. Still, I was made to feel like a long time regular, and that was nice I suppose.

I completed one of my two hour loops yesterday and knew that it would be the last time I was seeing a scene like this.

Ah well. I am resolved to feel whatever feelings letting go of this place gives me and then leaving those feelings at the door when I board my flight on Friday night.

And then we’ll see what develops next.

Selling my car in the morning, even got it washed for the lucky buyer this afternoon. Taking my staff for a final lunch together in the afternoon. And then it will be departure eve. Time flies and soon so will I.