From a journal dated May 27, 2007:
...Sadness means you loved it. The most emotional part of leaving was when I bought water from the corner store. I purchased a small bottle (didn't really need it) just so I could say goodbye to the owner. The shop is at the bottom of my building. "Today, Canada, go." With appropriate cognitive pauses. She rapid-fired a string of sentences in Korean. Most likely about good luck, good bye and good person. In a way, this woman was very important to me. I walked to the elevator, holding a lot in. The mirrors around me crushing my insides. I wished I could have been braver and learned to speak with her. But, this lack of words made something for me. It is bizarre. We work so hard to keep ourselves in check, and then something so seemingly benign kicks our senses to an overwhelmed overdrive... I am thankful. Learned more than I ever thought I could. Instinctual trust, active leadership and denial of perfection. In a word: experience.
