This is from June, 2011

 

Today marked the last official day of school at Constantin Brancoveanu and marked my last school year as a teacher in Romania. It was bittersweet. So much to look forward to. So much to leave behind. While I am excited to begin my summer vacation which is full of summer camps, festivals, fairs, and 4-H, I’m leaving behind the school that has now become my home.

Today was also my last day at Gradinita Horezu, our town’s preschool and kindergarten. I’ve only been teaching there with Gilda for the last semester but it has been such a rewarding experience. The kids are adorable. We teach them simple songs and vocabulary in English. I was invited to join Gilda in two new classes today. All the kids in the second class of the day greeted me in English and told me their names. I was surrounded by a mob of munchkins all wanting to ask questions or give me a hug.

Gilda informed me that there would be a celebration at the preschool this evening and that I should come. Of course I agreed!

The celebration was the cutest thing that i’ve seen. All the kids were dressed up in party clothes or costumes. We sang songs in English with them to show their parents what the kids had learned this year. They also prepared songs, plays, and dances with their other teachers for the festivities.

There was one little girl that stole my heart. I don’t know her name since this was the first day that I was in her class. She has short sandy colored hair and big blue-grey eyes. Gilda introduced me to the class and this little one came over to give me a hug and just wouldn’t let go. She did the same thing this evening when I came for the class’ celebration. It’s moments like these that are making it so difficult to say goodbye.

So tomorrow officially ends it. After tomorrow 4-H will be on hiatus until August, school and preschool are over, my dance class will have their final performance tomorrow night, the last of the closing ceremonies at school will be completed, and I’ll say my final farewells to some students who I will not see before I leave in September.

I know I have a lot to look forward to when I return to America. My family, my fiancee, friends, food, and the beginning of a new life, and a new adventure. But I can’t help but feel sad because I am leaving so much behind.