I have realized that this 4-month-long course is already half way through, and actually almost only 1 month is left toward us. That means it's already been 5 months since I came to Vancouver. My first course was UBC LNC course. Unlike IEP course we are taking, it was only 1 month course; however, I became emotionally attached to friends that I met in the class. I cried a lot when I had to send them back to their countries. I still keep in touch with many of the friends, but my feelings are not as deep as I was in the past. I think that proverb "Out of sight, out of mind" cannot be more true. I always feel uncomfortable and awkward when I have to start off my new life. It was same when I started this course, but now, I cannot imagine leaving UBC with some of the friends going back to their country and some of them remaining in UBC.
I always thought that this 4-month course is so long that it felt like it will never come to the end. I was feeling okay when the mid term was over because I still had half left in front of us. Now, only having 1 month left, I feel somewhat anxious and sad. It cannot be as same as just now if this course gets to its end even if I can stay in ELI, but there is a prominent chance of me having to leave ELI and go to another school in Downtown.... This stream of thoughts make me miserable.
Change is good. A life without any change is just a boring rut. Change can make people active and aggressive. Nonetheless, nobody wants to change. They want to cling to the routine they had until now. I know that I will get used to the new school that I might go after this school, and I know that I will somehow deal with how to let go my friends back to their country, and I know I will love the casual university life I will have when I go back to Korea. But, God, How I wish I could take all the favorite parts of life in Vancouver to Korea and never let it go.
Yeah I agree with you, we always find ourselves in sticky moments when it comes to change or starting a new life.. BUT, if we just bare in mind that they are just frequent moments, and we have the ability to adjust anyway, we might save ourselves troubles worrying about it. I think you will be fine... good memories and true friendship don't vanish... all the best
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you will be fine no matter where you are. You are such a happy girl, and I believe you won't have any difficulty facing with new situations:)
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I want to finish the ELI as soon as possible although I don't want to go back to Japan.. hahaha I think because I have been studying for a year without any break, I just need a long break!!! But I'm sure I will miss the school, friends, teachers, and CAs.
ReplyDeleteAs we can see on your last paragraphe, I think you are already aware of how change can affect you, positively or sometimes negatively. That's a good point, so I'm sure you will enjoy your new life after ELI ;) And if you quit ELI, it means your english is at the top too
ReplyDeleteKia, this is a really beautiful post. You described your thoughts and feelings of leaving so well that you successfully created in me a feeling of melancholy. I will miss you and this class, too! Each of you is a dream student in a dream class, and I love you all very much!
ReplyDeleteI'm tempted to think that I will never have such a special class again. In fact, I have had many wonderful classes, but this class, and the very first class of adults (elementary school teachers) that I taught in Korea, will stand out as my two favourites, I think.
Anyway, you are right that change is a normal part of life, and while it shouldn't make us "aggressive," it should make us stronger and more easily able to adapt to our surroundings. I have great confidence that you will be a happy and confident young woman in Korea, just as you are here.
As for leaving ELI, if you wish, you can repeat 600-level courses again after you get your 600-level certificate--several students this semester are doing this, including Sabha.
In any case, Kia, you have written this post eloquently, and I also want to commend you for a spectacularly-good concluding sentence! It is often difficult for writers--both ESL students and native speakers of English--to write good concluding sentences, but you have done it here. I am proud of you! Very well done!
I figured out how much you love Vancouver life. Time flies.... Why don't you come to Japan to learn Japanese after this course?
ReplyDeleteThen we can go to Shin-Okubo together, and you can tell me which restaurant is the most delicious one:)
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