For the past two weeks I've been slowly proceeding through the "last classes" with students of all grade levels at each of my schools. On top of all of the other "moving stresses" these looming classes mostly just seemed sad and emotionally relentless in the way they stretched out over a fortnight. To say that I wasn't really looking forward to them, and saying goodbye, would be a massive understatement. Starting to write this final chapter and actually vocalise the goodbyes was ridiculously draining, not to mention scary. As though uttering the words finally made my impending departure real. And after each class I was left feeling a little bummed that I wouldn't see those kids again, or be back in that classroom again and I knowing that each class was merely one down in a long succession of such lessons made me feel even more beleaguered.
And then something happened. As the number of 'final lessons' dwindled, it stopped seeming so sad. It became something I'd done and reacted to emotionally so many times that I knew how to handle it. I started to feel like an old pro at the goodbye thing, the tears stopped backing up and I was able to just enjoy the final lessons with my students. To be sure, seeing my kids smile and knowing pretty soon I'd be back in Australia probably never to lay eyes on them again was moving, but I hoped they'd remember me and cherish our good memories. So we smiled at one another, took some pictures together and that was enough. I will miss them though!
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