How to say goodbye?

How do you say goodbye when it feels like you just said hello?

We were warned by veterans in the field that the final month would sneak up on us. They weren't lying. I remember writing a blog post about the last 90 days I spent in America. I remember writing about our first 100 days here. Now, I get to write about what I see for the last 19 days in this city (last 24 in this country). I'm not ready.

I've never liked goodbyes. If I had my way I'd never say goodbye, I'd just quietly go away so as to not have to see someone being sad. It's not that I'm never sad to leave places, for me it's just easier to avoid the tears. As a team we've been discussing goodbyes.

How do you say goodbye to students who you enjoy?

How do you say goodbye to the students who sleep, paint their nails or do their makeup during your class?

 How do you say goodbye to a team you've grown to love in spite of initial differences?

How do you say goodbye to the gracious people at the copy shop, the shops downstairs, the fruit and veggie stands, the nai cha couple? -- I only know how to say Zai chen (see you later), I don't know how to say, "Cat man, I appreciate your willingness to talk to me about your calico cat and to try finding her for me in the winter."

This week I am giving finals. It's neat to see how much some of the students have grown. I must trust that the seeds that were planted this year will grow and mature.

Goodbyes, I don't like you.