Frantically packing, home soon, a few pictures from the English teachers’ party last night. See you on the other side:

20 12th graders just filed out of my apartment after over an hour of singing… It’s a tradition here for graduating 12th graders to serenade their teachers at their homes. What a great experience. I really like this group, they are strong, smart and fun. This is the class with which I’ve worked the most over my two years here, and as a result, our bond is quite strong. Tonight we sang a whole range of songs, from traditional Hungarian anthems to American radio jingles. While we were singing “leavin’ on a jet plane,” my impending departure hit home. Of course I am excited to return, I have so many people to see and so many great things to do. But tonight, as we sang together, I realized that I will miss these kids. They have made my experience here worthwhile, and it will be difficult to say goodbye. Of course they too will be moving on and entering a new phase in their lives, so perhaps our feelings of nostalgia and a bit of anxiety are shared. This country and this work has been draining at times, but events like this remind me that what I’m doing here truly matters; thanks guys.