Replaced!

Yesterday I received details of my successor, and today I started e-mailing with him. His name is Aaron, 23 years old, from America, and he seems really nice. He seems very excited and enthusiastic about coming to Japan, and I'm glad that I'm leaving my students in good hands. I say all this now, after a few hours of gaining some perspective over the subject of being replaced. I had a small emotional crisis this afternoon, when I realised that my successor was an actual real person, and an actual real person who sounds like they're going to do a great job. I found myself feeling quite unnerved and upset at the thought of being replaced, and the thought of all my students and teachers forgetting me when they meet the great new ALT. However, now, after conversations with Kat, Ellen and Alex (!!), I realise that I'm being stupid, and am simply reacting to the fact that my departure is definite and soon! I'm sure Aaron will do a great job, and the students will enjoy his classes. But I leave, knowing that, on the whole, I have also done a pretty good job, and that students enjoy chatting to me inside and outside the classroom. I'm happy that my students have an enthusiastic new teacher who will continue to develop their interest in English..an interest that I am proud to have spent 2 years encouraging.