Today was a productive day.  I churned through many nagging tasks at work and whittled down my never-ending to-do list.  I wrapped up some post-barbeque logistics such as getting lost items back to their proper owners.  I made final preparations for my presentation tomorrow to high school students, and I prepared for our association meeting next Tuesday.  I sent bid requests for work that needs to be done on our rental property, and I negotiated lease renewals with our tenants.  I also ordered some wrinkle-free shirts from Men’s Wearhouse.  My wife ordered some toy train accessories for my son.  All in all, it was a productive day for our family.  Some days are more productive than others.  On some days you feel like nothing gets done, and on others it’s smooth sailing.  Today felt like the latter. 

I also did something I did not want to do.  I found a replacement willing to teach English to my Koreans coworkers.  If you remember, I started teaching English in early May after a months-long hiatus.  I taught just three classes, and now I have to step down.  Starting next week, when I begin my new job, I will be too busy to teach classes on Wednesday afternoons.  My plan was to teach the course for six months and then hand it over to someone else to teach, but now I won’t have that chance.  Some of my American colleagues happily stepped forward to teach in my stead.  I’m glad, because their teaching will provide some continuity for the Koreans who have made the commitment to improve their English.  After my new job ends later this year, I will have an opportunity to teach it again. 

Today my team hosted a party for those of us who recently joined the team and for those of us who will be leaving.  We have a great team.  Even though I’m not moving far away, I won’t see them on a regular basis again until I finish my assignment (after I finish I will return to my team).  I asked them to include me on future fun activities such as noraebang (karaoke).  They agreed wholeheartedly.