Saranghaeyo Beomseo … Saying Goodbye to my Korean Students

I cannot believe it has already been 3 and a half years since I’ve said goodbye to these wonderful children back in the summer of 2014.

I have watched this video only two or three times since then – and I have cried every time.  People often ask me if I miss Korea.   My response is that it’s not Korea I miss, but it’s the people I shared so many wonderful experiences with that I miss.  It’s the friends, families, teachers, and of course, the students that made my Korean experience such an amazing part of my life.  It’s the lives I got to touch and the lives that touched me, taught me, and transformed me for the better.

I miss these kids dearly.  I was their teacher by name, but in all reality they were the one’s teaching me.  They taught me how to be a better teacher, how to speak better Korean, how to play Korean games, how to interact with other students and teachers in Korean public schools.  They challenged me to come up with ideas in order to explain English sentences to non-English speaking students – and taught me how to have fun doing it!

Yes, I was the one who held the title Justin-Teacher, but they were the real teachers.  And they taught me well.

Beomseo, I have not forgotten about you.  I will never forget about you.  You made my world a bigger and better place.  You made my heart a bigger and better place.  My goodbye song to you was the best song I’ve ever written – and YOU were my inspiration.

And the words of the song still ring true today.  It hasn’t changed.  Just as it says, “You’ll always stay deep in my heart,” you have. You are still there, and you will always be there.  And I still love you.  I love you, Beomseo.  I hope we have a chance to meet again someday.  Thank you for the wonderful opportunity for me to be your greatest student.

Saranghaeyo Beomseo (사랑해요 범서) – Lyrics

I was a stranger in your land
난 당시의 나라에 서 낯선 나람 이였어요

You welcomed me as a friend
당신은 나를 친구로 환영해줬어요

I came to teach, you were the start
나는 가르치기 위해 왔고, 너는 처음이었어요

I touched your mind, but you touched my heart
나는 너를 감동시켰고 나도 감동 을 받 았어요

Saranghaeyo Beomseo
사랑해요 범서

Saranghaeyo, it’s true
사랑해요 진심이야

Saranghaeyo because I love you
사랑해요 난 너를 사랑해

Sometimes we’re happy
때때로 우리는 해복했어요

Sometimes we’re sad
때때로 우리는 슬펐어요

Sometimes we’re angry
때때로 우리는 화가 났어요

Sometimes we’re glad
때때로 우리는 기뻤어요

But through all the fun and all the trials
많은 시련과 즐거운 일을 걲으며

You were the joy that made me smile
너 희들은 즐거웠고 나를 웃게 만들었어요

Saranghaeyo Beomseo
사랑해요 범서

Saranghaeyo, it’s true
사랑해요 진심이야

Saranghaeyo because I love you
사랑해요 난 너를 사랑해

I don’t want to leave
난떠나고 싶지 않아요

But I know it’s time
이재는 헤어져야 할 시간이라는 것을 알아요

And it’s so hard to say goodbye
작별인사를 하기가 힘으네요

Our time together is near the end
우리가 함께할 시간이 끝나가네요

But I pray to God we’ll meet again
우리가 다시 마나길 기도할게요

Saranghaeyo Beomseo
사랑해요 범서

Saranghaeyo, it’s true
사랑해요 진심이야

Saranghaeyo because I love you
사랑해요 난 너를 사랑해

 You taught me how to be
내가 너의 친구가 되었음을

A part of who you are
네가 알려줬어요

You’ll always stay deep in my heart
당신은 언제나 내 마음 속에 남아있을 거에요

Saranghaeyo Beomseo
사랑해요 범서

Saranghaeyo, it’s true
사랑해요 진심이야

Saranghaeyo because I love you
사랑해요 난 너를 사랑해