When we visited Japan last summer, we peered out the train windows trying to catch a glimpse of Fuji. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

Imagine our surprise as, on the the first leg of our journey home, we saw the snow capped mountain looming above the clouds. It was the highlight of our trip.

Today is our last post from Korea.

We can’t wait to see everyone, but we can’t help but think of all the things we’ll miss, too.

Among them — bibimbap, noriebang, ondol (floor) heat, cross-country train travel, meals meant for sharing, cheap saunas and of course, teaching our little munchkins. While we’ve been reminiscing, we’ve picked out some of our favorite Korea photos from the past year for a slide show.

Thank you all for keeping up with us, and thanks to everyone we’ve met who has made our year what it was. Peace.

Saying goodbye to the kids was rough. But at the end of the day we packed up our things, headed for galbi and ended up at Noriebang, drinking the Cass beer and soju we swore off forever. Ahh, Korea.

*Yes, that’s AJ on the drums, and the man indeed is singing “Let’s Twist.”

Kenny is one in a million. He’s the most polite child I have ever met, always asking with “please” and saying “thank you.” He even pulls my chair out and says, “Here, teacher! Sit please!” I’m really going to miss my class, and Kenny’s humor. He loves Harry Potter and Narnia (hence him saying “Tumnus” at the end of the following video), and today was trying to tell the class the whole screenplay from Narnia.

This video is from play time, and I should preface this by saying my kids have always talked about my beard. Andy drew a picture of my face with a face in my beard. They act like they have beards often. I enjoy it. I tell them, “Someday, you might grow a beard too!” and they smile a lot. So do I. I encourage great beardery.

I call Kenny “Pai Mei” in this video, the character from Kill Bill, who trains Bill’s assassins; however, he doesn’t know who this “Pai Mei” is, so he’s just “a Santa Claus!”

We’ve been rather busy lately getting ready to come home on Sunday (woo hoo), and I’ve been tempted a few times to throw up my hands and let out a few expletives. Somehow, Brian always says it better.

We remember turning the corner on the main street in Jukjeon our first night in Korea and being blinded by the digital screens and neon lights. Little did we know that A) it would feel a little like home one year later and B) it pales in comparison to the strips in Seoul.

We’ll miss the Juke, its semi-fresh air, friendly Home Plus cashier ladies and the 24-hour Kimbap Paradise (even if second string tends to work after 6).

Over the weekend, AJ crossed a few things off his to do list. First, play with drums at The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts.

Next, buy a gong and hit it at a restaurant/bar.

Last, dance with an ajuma — 70 years young!

The ramblings of eight year olds.

AJ found this story from National Geographic. Not the most uplifting piece, but it’s interesting, especially when you think about how much North Koreans have missed out on in more than 50 years.

Somehow, an entire year has passed since we got here. (Maybe spending seven hours a day in front of children under 11 made us black out some of that time).

When we’re done being exhausted, we’ll share some of our reflections (or AJ will share the epic tale of our journey where everything involves beards, scotch or the word “valor.”)

Either way, we’ve only got 10 days to do it.