I haven't had to deal with culture shock, but I've struggled with boredom, homesickness, and above all, loneliness. The first couple of months were really hard. The third was okay, and the last was actually pretty good.
During the hard times, I relied on Sundays at church, and the kids at school. Church recharged my batteries, and gave me hope and comfort. The kids at school were really fun to teach, and they were usually happy. Teaching them was a joy.
I am returning home in a few days. As a farewell gift, the students at one of the schools gave me origami. Unfortunately, I am not able to take most of it home. I really love all of these gifts, I'm sad that I can't take it with me. But I did take pictures so I can remember. Here is the origami (sorry if the video shakes a little):
You can also see a web album with individual pictures here.
