I am trying to figure out how I really feel about leaving Asia.
1. I’m sad to be leaving a place that is so driven by innovation. Creativity seems to know no bounds in Asia. You can try anything. And if you need any proof, take the two prime examples of the mobile sponge salesman and the elephant dung paper.
2. I’m going to miss the food. We saw sights of all description. And we ate like sultans. From street food to high tea. It was delicious.
3. I’m both sad and happy to be onto the final leg of the trip. I’m tired. Mentally tired. Being in a state of constant change and adjustment and discovery is an enormous privilege and, simultaneously, quite exhausting. I miss extended family. I might never return to Asia. I feel like I learned so much about the culture and nothing about the culture all at the same time. There is so much breadth and depth of religion, value systems, geography, history. 5 months just scratched the surface. I’m sad because, with only one month left to go and the start of a new teaching post right around the corner, I’m going to really miss having all this time with my kids and my wife.
4. I’m going to miss the freedom from schedule and the spontaneity of travel.
3 Ginger Snaps 
Hi – where are you teaching in the fall, Drew? Where will the Gingersnaps be returning to after this amazing adventure?
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Hey Katherine,
I am headed back to the Sterling Hall school. I think our family will be moving to Bolton – so I will be commuting. Not sure how I fell about that…
I am very happy to be back at Sterling Hall though! Very good team of people at this school to work with.
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You will all have tremendous memories of the Trip and Asia!!
As for the food, you can get anything and everything in Toronto
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Hi ginger snaps,
I’m missing you so terribly. I wish you were coming back to camp!!! 😦
Love Riley
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Love your thoughts as always Drew. When Alison and I were in India for 2.5 months, I journaled some. I recount that it took me two weeks to adjust to life there. And even after getting over this culture shock, and the anti-malarial drugs, I still had these intensely stressful moments. Like the time an old Italian man wanted to fight me because I was a stupid American who was selfish for asking him to turn down his blaring house music at 4 am (imagine all this happening on the gorgeous beaches of Gia).
And the horn honking, loud and relentless. But when Alison and I flew out of Delhi, we were a bit choked. We survived it all and grew to know and love the country….or what we saw of it.
So, I get it Drew. You and your family got to know a bit of this continent and its customs, people, culture…. Like you said, you will probably not return. So that makes the goodbye more difficult.
Remember what you have shared with your girls and us bloggers. I still can’t believe all that you and Hil saw with three gingersnaps in tow!
Hats off, and really savour the fun you 5 are having in Europe over the sunset of your 2017 gingertour. Worlds away from Asia, but all part of the journey!
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Hi SNAPS etc .. I am sure you have mixed emotions leaving Asia .. so many experiences and adventures ( never to be forgotten ) because of your blog FOREVER ‼️‼️ I am going to miss reading all of it because I so looked forward to it every day .. so now you are hitting sophistication .. I hope hil will write me about any secrets of Copenhagen .. I am there for 4 days in June sending lots of love to you all Janet xo 😘
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Thrilled for you about Sterling Hall ❣️
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