Live long and prosper

So as the CLEA month-long Korean class comes to an end I will come back to my home stay with a shiny new diploma displaying the 87% I earned in the course as well as a new found passion for the Korean language. During our closing remarks, Mrs. Shim said something surprising. When telling us about the Jeju conference that will happen in precisely one month she advised that we do not get too excited and instead start realizing that this will be our last workshop and soon after our year here will come to a close. It is kind of like looking at the year as half over rather than half a year more to go.

A similar chord was struck as I gchatted with my brother and he bade me goodnight with the words "Live long and prosper" made famous by Mr.Spock and re-iterated by my father on his work answering machine. Daily. Yes, my dad is that cool. It should be clear by my numerous star trek related posts that the series played a vital part in my upbringing. My dad continues to update his work phone each day with the date and the words "live long and prosper" so if you were to call him tomorrow you would hear "Today is March 1st, 2011, I am away from my desk please leave your name and number and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you. Live long and prosper" stated clearly with a peppering of Ukrainian accent for flavor. What I didn't realize until my brother mockingly added that sentence to his parting words this evening is that I haven't heard my dad's voice say that message in over 6 months. That's half a year of a daily routine that I have had no part in. This made me think...what else have I been missing over the last 6 month, what daily routines have gone for granted in my absence?
1. My dad's work answering machine- thought I know it is coming the infamous Spock line makes me smile every time
2. My dad yelling "Hey lady, come on!" at any car that is going too slow
3. Limes squeezed into orange juice in the morning
4. Being able to call my mom when I am in the department store and ask her opinion on clothes
5. Reading the ingredients list on any food item I am contemplating purchasing
6. Starting a car and driving a stickshift
7. Being able to go into a store and know that at least 90% of the clothes will either fit or be too big for me instead of shopping around for the 10% of items that are not too small for me
8. Being 24 not 26 (my korean age)
9. Dairy being a food group and not a imported luxury good

That is all I can think of for now. I am not homesick. But I do wish I could have a recording of my dad saying "Live long and prosper" at my disposal if that day every does come. :)