ER Visit - Korea Style.

Dec. 29th, 2012
ER. ugh. (but all is well). I think.




  { It is health that is real wealth, not pieces of gold and silver. } - Gandhi






Let me start off with, I'm feeling much better and everything is ok and I'm so blessed -- I am grateful for a hospital within walking distance, medicine, doctors who attempt to speak English and a nice passer-by who spoke FLUENT English and FLUENT Korean! But here's the whole story.......




So, long story short - Friday I threw up and had a fever and chills and body aches. So, I thought flu or maybe food poisoning (from eating duck - yes the 'quack quack' animal!) the night before. So I thought I'll sleep it off. Well I woke up Saturday morning with bad side pain in my lower right side. My first fear was appendicitis. So I FaceTimed my mom and decided to go to the hospital (병원) but of course that was closed since it was a Saturday so I had to go to the ER (응급실). So I signed my name and walked into this large room filled with people laying on hospital beds. I was escorted to one in the back of the room near a man who looked like he was in a lot of pain. So I laid there and the nurse got my vitals, then someone came and took blood, then another lady came and put my IV in. I asked what is in the bag (since I have a ton of allergies) and she said nothing. So I said like water? Yes, she replied. Ok, great. It was my first IV and it was strange because they put it in on top of my wrist. But I was thankful since it freaks me out to have it put in my hand or under my wrist (ok no more about needles sorry for those of you who hate them!)

Then 2 Korean guys came (probably in their mid 20's) with a crazy looking machine with lots of ball like clip things. They yanked the curtains around me and said 'test-uh heart-uh'. He said 'shirt' and did a motion like he need to lift my shirt up. Whatever, I thought, gotta do what you got to do. They attached these weird suction cup things on me and said 'don't move.' They got the results and he said, 'heart-uh good.' Great. They opened the curtains and were gone to the next patient! You're welcome for the free show, I thought. I didn't think anything of having two young guys doing this until I looked across the way a little later and saw 2 ladies with the machine doing it to an older lady. RIIGGGHTTT.. so pretty sure those two guys quickly volunteered to do the heart testing to the young foreigner.. but were probably conveniently 'busy' when it was time for the older lady! - oh Korea.


I then got told, x-ray. (This is literally the extend of the explanations I got all day. One word clues into what I was maybe doing!) Ok, so they sat me up, I put my shoes on and walked to the x-ray room. The man there said something to the affect... blah blah han-gul.. blah blah. (asking if I knew Korean I assumed). And I said (조금) jo-geum meaning little and by little I really meant basically none. He then said braw-jear. I was like um breathing? uh... oh man the guessing game. But once he pointed to his chest I understood.. bra. Right - nope no wires. So I got my x-rays done and walked back out and laid back down. As I went to lay back down I realized my bed had some stains on it... hmmmm I was just hoping they were clean (but after observing I don't think they really changed the bedding - hmm interesting.....)


Next a nurse came and said CT scan - symptoms - nausea, this medicine help that. Ok, so she hooked up a jug thing of drugs to my IV. It felt weird, but hey I guess if it was going to help, then fine! Soon I was wheeled off while I laid in my bed, past a bunch of other sick people in beds (I kept thinking, I really can walk.. but ok, I guess you can push me around!) We went out the doors to the ER and into a room with huge thick doors. There I got put onto a bed with the circular tube thing around it and that man asked the same jumble about me knowing Korean, I look disappointed and replied with a shake of my head, a motion with my fingers and said jo-geum. He then had me lay down on the CT bed thinger. I got some more meds in me and then the thing spoke to me -- IN ENGLISH. It said, 'Take a deep breath and hold it.' I was so surprised by the English that I didn't really breath and didn't really hold it. oops. So I did it a couple more times and then he came over and put a bunch of medicine into me that literally, no joke made me think, feel and believe that I was peeing my pants. I kept thinking, I hope they have those gown things because I am going to get up and there will be a pool. I tried to mention it to him, he said (괜찮아요) kwench-chan-na-yo? meaning are you ok? And I was like if by that you mean are you peeing your pants, then yes sir I am fine. And why does my body feel funny? What is GOING ON? Is what I wanted to say but instead I said, ne - yes. I went through again, then got up, back on my roll-y bed and headed back to the communal room of sick people.


Next a guy, I had seen him around but not for sure if he done anything to me, maybe he was the one who did the heart thing (aka the free show) - I don't know, but he knew my name. He said, 'uh hi - uh ku-lis-su-tin. Hi I said. My english-y no good. Oh it's ok, my Korean is not good either. And then we had a typical conversation where I don't really understand what he is asking or what he wants. But I got that he was a student and was 24, same as me (Korean age) so we are (친구) chin-gu -- friends. I told him that I teach English, he looked confused so I said, English-y Teach-a. OHHHH. (then he got it). Great, I also learned he was leaving in 5 minutes but would be back tomorrow from 7 AM to 2 PM. (Guess he'll be sad I didn't have to stay the night!) Then he said just a moment, scurried off, came back a minute later and said, I hope you have a quick recovery. (He had to have asked someone how to say that). He turned around and said, you are cute and was off. He waved one more time as he was walking out and then after a bit I looked over and there he was peering in the window.. he waved one more time and disappeared. Of course I would get hit on while I was laying on an ER bed, with an IV in, no make-up, had not showered and looked like death, but thanks sir.. glad you think I'm cute. It's really only because you Koreans are not really exposed to white chicks that often! haha But it made me laugh and now I have a pretty good story to tell and that would be a first for me, hit on in the ER.

I laid there for a while longer, then had to pee in a cup... twice. I guess the first one wasn't good enough? I had to roll my wheel-y thing with my IV bags attached to it into the bathroom. I got more pain meds, which I was a bit nervous about since the last time I took Korean pain meds they made me nocturnal and I didn't fall asleep till 5 AM. but whatever, I just let them do their thing. (turns out I was right and was up skyping my family until 3 AM that night wide awake!)


Next, a guy in a white coat came and took more blood, his English was great - like no weird accent. I was confused.. but whatever. He left, and then was back again in a few minutes and said sorry, more blood. I said your English is great and (like they always do) he got all shy and said -- NOOOO... but I said really you sound American. I found out he lived in the states for 2 years, for 2nd and 3rd grade. Crazy how that little time can make a HUGE difference. 


I finally got to talk to a doctor (or I guess that's what he was). He said it was my liver. That the number my liver is supposed to be at was 40 but mine was 80. He said the disease is 'fatty liver'. I said what? and he spelled it out and sure enough it was 'fatty liver.' Ok, I thought whatever that is. I said my appendix is ok? Yup. He was off, and a nurse came a bit later, told me I could go, took out my IV, gave me packets of medicine, and said I had to come back next week to see another doctor. I was like ok, that's it? She escorted me out and said she would help me get an appointment, she was super cute and super sweet! The receptionist asked for my insurance (well I have it but they don't give me a card - so I pay out of pocket, get the receipt and then get paid back later). Well, he looked worried and I was confused he said very expensive. Oh shoot.. how expensive. At first he said, 100,000 won (100 dollars) I was like yeah right.. then he said 100,000,000 won (100,000 dollars) I wanted to die.. but then we figured out it was 1.2 million won (1,200 dollars), ok do-able but would I get that back? Did they have to do that CT scan? Can I reverse that? Not do it? Pretend I didn't? Hello I am foreign I don't know what was going on and still don't... oh please someone someone hellllpppppppp.....

meet -- Burt. (photo requested by loyal reader: Doug).

AND just then this Korean guy walks up and says can I help you -- in perfect English. I was like yes, and still spoke slowly to him (because I can never tell how much they really know) and I was confused still... and out of it. But this man (Burt), in his mid 30's ended up saving my life and saving me a thousand dollars. He lived in Houston, TX for 12 years from age 2 till high school and was FLUENT in both English and Korean. He found out my problems, the diagnosis, my job and what I was doing here and started translating. At first they were thinking I would maybe get 800 dollars back (not bad) but then after talking to my mentor teacher he said I would only get 300 dollars back (so I would be paying 900 dollars for this visit!) But then we learned that there was a catch -- if I was in the hospital for more than 6 hours or over night the insurance would cover 90%. Soooo, after much talk and negotiation we got the doctors to agree to let me stay a bit longer, pay a little more and then be able to get 90% back! Burt stayed with me and we talked about tons of things! (the differences between Koreans and American cultures and how femmie Korean guys are, how I got hit on in the ER, how humid Korea is - you know the works). He was there for a relative who was sick, so I felt bad, but he said it was ok. So I sat in the lobby for over an hour, just waiting and talking to Burt and my mentor teacher and also the nurse. Then I got the papers, paid a little more, thanked the receptionist and nurse endlessly.. (감사합니다 , 감사합니다) and was off. 




I stood outside in the snow for a bit still talking to Burt, thanking him over and over and over for all of his help. I said you were literally a life saver and helped me so much. I said you're for sure an angel. I started thinking about it and he was. He truly was, I have no doubt that God was looking out for me. Because that doesn't just happen, at the exact moment I need a translator, he happened to be there. There are not many Koreans who speak English that well, I only know of maybe one or 2 others. So this, my friends, was a miracle and as I walked home from that hospital in the beautiful snow, I thanked God! I am truly blessed. I don't know how or why I deserved to be helped and have Burt sent to me at the moment I need him, but it happened and I am so thankful! Koreans are some of the nicest people I have ever met, I am so thankful for them, for medicine and for doctors who were kind and attempted to speak English despite their insecurities and lack of English abilities! I was pretty calm and collected throughout this whole day, I guess I just trusted in God that it would work out. I am thankful for that peace I felt and for everything working out for the best! Thanks to all of you for your love and support and prayers while I am far away from home, I have no doubt that played a huge part in me being ok and getting the help and blessings I needed! I love you all :)

Adventures - {Danyang paragliding & skiing}

{I believe I can fly... I believe I can touch the sky.} -- space jam


So this one day... I went paragliding with Sarah and her co-scholar. Sarah's teacher couldn't go so she asked me to go instead. According to Sarah, paragliding is when you are attached to a boat and are flying in the air. So, I sort of thought that might be what we are doing, but in winter? So we get to the Danyang bus terminal (yes, where James lives - the place with the caves) and we get into a car with a random Korean man and start to drive. Along the way I look out and see the FROZEN river down below us. I lean to Sarah and say I don't think we are going to be pulled behind a boat. She says "I am NOT jumping off a mountain!' Little did she know. We keep driving along and then part of the river wasn't frozen. Ok, so maybe that is where we are going to do this boat, flying thing. BUT then we started headed UP the mountain. I leaned back over to Sarah and said, um Sarah there's no rivers up a mountain. We are going to be jumping off of it......

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ed3079oi5vplhqz/GOPR5983.MP4
(link to my video!!)





and sure enough that's just what we did! WE RAN RIGHT OFF A MOUNTAIN.





We got up there, signed our life away in some little trailer sort of thing, got matched up with our Korean 'pilot' and headed outside. I decided to pay the 20,000 Won (20 dollars) to be able to take a video, since my dad bet me 5 bucks that I wouldn't do it; I needed proof. (but due to technical difficulties, translations, not being able to speak korean, some combo of these things - it took me awhile to get the video but I got it.. link above). We got outside and my pilot started putting all sort of clothing things on me. I got a flight suit thing and some gloves and a helmet. Then I got all kind of wire things attached to me complete with a seat thing that hit at the back of my knees. He handed me the camera attached to a long stick and then explained, 'when in sky put camera here, then arm here and then switch hands and that arm here.' That was the extent of my instructions. Should I have been more nervous? Probably. But I was relatively calm for some reason and trusting of that Korean man that was going to escort me off the mountain. I then watched Sarah run off the mountain and proceed to float downward. Then it was my turn. I got the instructions, 'run and don't stop running.' Um, ok? Just keep running? And then stick my arms in between the straps. That's all I have to do? Ok... fine.

So he pointed me in the direction he wanted me to go and then said 3,2,1 GO. I 'attempted' to start running. It was not much of a run. More like a slow motion running motion. It's hard to run when you have a parachute and a Korean man attached to you. (but I guess easier than having an 'supersized' American guy I suppose. I'm not sure if he was running as well - or if I was pulling him? I just tried to keep running and then all of a sudden there was no more ground and I was flying. I sat back in my chair thing - that was attached to me, did the arm thing and we were off. I was flying. I could see the river (where we were going to go 'paragliding' and the mountains in the background) it was beautiful. It was a pretty clear day, so I was able to see a lot. The only bad thing, was the COLD. It was freezing. I couldn't feel my hands after about 2 minutes and I was basically crying the whole time from the biting cold wind pounding my face. I had to keep moving the video around to show the view, and me and everything. After about 10 minutes and a huge turn it was time for landing. My instructions - 'feet up'. Ok, I guess I'll put my feet up... so that's what I did and he literally landed us on the ground. LIke my chair landed flat on the ground. Perfect. We got up, took some photos, got into a car with all our things and headed home. It was that easy. Like nothing had even happened... but it DID. I JUMPED OFF A MOUNTAIN!


AND if that wasn't enough. I also skied down a mountain 2 days later. 




{Skiing: the art of catching a cold and going broke while rapidly heading nowhere at great personal risk.} -- unknown. 

So Thursday and Friday (Dec. 20th and 21st) was our P.O.E. trip - where all the TaLK scholars and co-scholars come together and go on a trip. We left Thursday morning and hit up a music museum - got to learn how to beat on some drums and learn about the history of music in Korea. Then we went wine tasting. The sweet ones are the best (in my opinion). I ended up giving most of my sample to my friends! But after wine testing we got to soak our feet in hot hot hot water - well at first it was. It was that bitting hot since my feet were so cold. The water was a nice rosy color, which we think is because we were soaking our feet in wine. Oh Korea. 

view from the place we ate breakfast.

We then headed to get dinner and to the resort for sleep. The resort was beautiful and warm, had 2 bedrooms (but of course only one bed, because ya know Koreans love to sleep on the floor!) and 2 bathrooms, a T.V. with more channels than days I've taught in Korea :) -- WITH ENGLISH ONES! It was like Christmas for me! Sarah, Tina (my co-scholar) Minhee (Sarah's co-scholar who went paragliding with us) and Diana (who also lives in my building) were all in the same suite. All our friend hung out and did things, we just sat in the warmth, watched movies, and got ice cream. It was a great relaxing night. 

Sarah, Naomi and I all bundled for skiing.

The next day was SKIING. Ok, so how good am I. Hmmm I've been once and let me tell you my first time skiing was a disaster (I think). My first time down the hill (the bunny hill) I went straight down, fell of course, landed on my back and my skies flew in the air, as the people watching said 'oohhhh'. Sweet. Fail. I got a bit better, at least at not crashing although I had NO idea what I was doing as none of us (my 3 siblings) had ever been and had not gotten lessons that day. We decided to 'figure' it out on our own. The next big fail was when Andrew and I decided to ski down the actual mountain and go on the ski lift. We fell getting off the lift. FAIL. Like immediately went down at the same time. I should have just rode the lift right back down at that point. After 230948 times of falling, and even falling OFF of the ledge of snow (in NM and there wasn't much snow), getting asked by passerbys if we were ok, scooting down on my butt, keeping my skies crossed... I FINALLY made it down. I said, 'never again.'



Well, yeah. oops... I did it again. But this time I got the lesson, although I regret that as they basically just taught me how to put on my skies and then how to fall (which ok that's good to know I guess) and how to get back up without taking your skies off - which was way harder than everything else. After like 1.5 hours of doing nothing I decided to be a rebel and take my friend Sarah and 'ditch' the group (which I guess is a sin here since they freaked out when I told them I was going to go down the bunny hill - they didn't really want me to go, but I said 'um I'm bored, I'm going.') But this bunny hill had a ski lift... which was terrifying! I had only been on it once and I was 0 for 1 with them. Sarah and I got on it ok and made it to the top, lifted our skies like the Korean man said, and skied right around towards the hill! I DID IT! We high fived and headed down the hill and right in line again. It was so fun, and much easier this time around. 1. because I had done it before 2. the hill was less steep and 3. I had much more confidence and wasn't as scared. 



After going down a few times the entire group came over (who had been going down a 'hill' basically as tall as me, over and over and over again - one at a time, and headed down the hill. They all waited at the top for each other. Sarah and I came off the lift and I wanted to go... the instructor said 'Ok, go.' As I started down the hill I could hear him say.. 'ohhhh'. Like wow, you know what you're doing. Yes, sir that's why I was bored. I'm not an idiot. I can figure out how to stay up and make it down a slight incline! (But I was glad I impressed him!!) 

Sarah and I, the rebel skiers, at the end of the day.

That afternoon we had to head out because we were getting hammered with snow. Seriously, it would switch from rain to snow and back again. One time it was raining snow I think. We were also told it was too dangerous for us to ski while it was snowing.. oh Koreans. I was soaked.. to my britches - literally. So I was ok with leaving. One thing I don't do... wet underwear. I will do most things, try anything, eat anything, hold/touch weird animals, but wet underwear NEVER! Ok, done with that rant. Don't worry I had a dry pair. Only bad thing about leaving a mountain in a snow storm -- the roads are bad and it will take you literally 2 hours to make it NO WHERE. (we were still in the town we stayed in after 2 HOURS!) But we made it home and it was a great way to finish up the year with all my TaLK friends!

Suwon {korean folk village, fortress, oido island}

Dec. 16th and 17th
A weekend of 'olden days', fortresses, chicken feet, pigeons, seafood, the ocean and of course good friends and much laughter.



{ a day without laughter is a day wasted. } - charlie chaplin 

tying a wish to a rope in the folk village.

We hitched a ride from one of Eugene's friend's who has a car! Man was it nice to be in a car again, not a taxi or a huge bus or a smaller bus or a train but a real car. We got to Suwon and went to the Korean Folk Village. This is basically a place where they have tried to preserve the 'olden days' of Korea. The dress, houses, toys, food, streets... everything is like it was back in the day - maybe like in the early 90's. (Since Korea was basically nothing after the Korean War, it was built from the ground up in about 50 years - quite impressive really!) So we wondered around on the muddy murky streets (the snow had melted and it was a mess!), went into buildings, took photos, looked at pottery, (bought some), and attempted to make some twisted grass used for making baskets and things - but failed. Guess I won't have a future as an Asian making grass baskets and shoes. Shoot! 

 {teaching us how to twist the grass}

We grabbed some lunch at a little restaurant inside the village and I got some sort of meat soup-y stuff with mushrooms. It was rather delicious and when I asked my friends what I should call it to order it again they said bo-go-gi, which means beef. I said yes, but if I just say 'beef' to the waitress is she really going to know that I mean the 'beef in the stew stuff with mushrooms'?? NOOOO... So, they gave me a better explanation of what to call it! Then we headed back out for some more adventures. We looked at more buildings, did the Gangnam Style dance in an old building thing, swung on swings where you stand up on them, and saw some horses and cows. 

We headed out (of the 'olden days') just before sunset to go to the fortress. The fortress was gorgeous! It's a huge strip of wall (sort of like the Great Wall of China I suppose) with bigger house like structures, called gates, at certain points, that goes all around the city of Suwon (well or a chunk of it). It was to protect the city from the Japanese invasion and was built during the late 17th century. You can read more about it here -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwaseong_Fortress - if you would like. We got there just after sunset, I would have maybe liked to get there just before sunset, but hey the lighting was just perfect (at least for a few minutes), so I was happy! We trudged around the wall for a bit, looked at the city and saw the moon and a couple of stars, took pictures and then headed for some food. We walked by the river, which flows through the fortress walls and headed to 'Chicken Street' or so it was called by my co-scholars. Why? Well maybe because EVERY restaurant was a fried chicken place. No seriously. ALL of them.  We flipped a coin to decide, and actually ended up going to the one that had a large foreign family walking into it! It made me happy, and I wanted to go talk to them but decided that might be weird. I do this thing where if I see a foreigner, I feel the need to talk to them and ask them where they are from and what they are doing in Korea. It's hard to explain, but that's what I feel I have to do. This time I kept to myself and instead just smiled at the little girls as they walked by to get some water! (probably would have been less creepy and weird just to talk to them!)

Left side: Eugene, Tina and right side: Eugene's friend, (PBS) and me.

left: gizzards, right: chicken feet.

There, at the chicken place, we feasted on fried chicken (both covered in sauce and not) and also feasted (or not so feasted in my case) on fried chicken feet and gizzards. My friends love the gizzards so much they taught me how to ask the waitress for more (they thought my blonde hair might charm her into it -- but nope - Guess my charm only works on soldiers at the DMZ!) I tried both gizzards and feet, but that was all... just a try and I gave up. The feet were hard and crunchy -- like toe nails. and the gizzards were tough and rubbery. I stuck with the white meat.. or attempted to - but I guess they also put necks and things on the 'chicken' plate so I had to be careful. I also learned how to say chopsticks (젓가락), chuk-ga-lak - which apparently sounds like other things (male parts) when I say it. So of course the rest of the time... Kristen Kristen say chopsticks... then hahahahabahhhahabahhhhahahahabbahhhhahahhahahahah --- they would all roll on the ground laughing. And for the longest time I didn't even know what I was saying or how I was saying it wrong! But I would keep trying to say it right and if we were inside or in a crowded place they would get embarrassed and say 'shhh, Kristen' while still laughing.

practicing her English, she was pretty good!!

We got BR ice cream next, of course the tub kind and then parted ways. I went back to Tina's place, met her grandma and little sister. Her little sister (grade 3) brought out her English work book and started practicing with me! too cute! 













The next day we hit up Oido Island (which I guess means Cucumber, I don't know!?). We started to walk along this pier, which was sitting on top of mud. Ok, so let me explain why this Island is special. So, here you can actually see the tide go out and come back in because the water is so shallow. When we arrived the tide was out so all we could see was mud, and crabs and other little creatures, and the water was almost not visible way out in the distance! So, I'm walking along, get my camera out and of course drop my lens cap. Yup right into the mud of the bottom of the 'ocean'. It's just laying there and I'm up top standing there looking at it thinking.. now what? I go down to try to fetch it (on another dock closer to where it was). But it was just out of my reach. I was smart and didn't dare step into the mud as I'm sure it would have been 'sinking mud.' Before you know it a small Korean man is climbing down, does some acrobatic moves and contortions and grabs the cap, washes it off in a little pool of water and hands it back to me. What just happened? A man, out of nowhere, saw what happened, swooped in and rescued my lens cap! -- Spiderman? Batman? probably. I said 'thank you' endlessly and we carried on our marry way. (keeping much better track of my things!) Thank goodness for the tide being out and for that flexible, and kind Korean man!

the dock... sitting on some mud.

the muddy bottom of the ocean - you can barely see the ocean out in the distance.

  { feeding the birds! }


Next we did something great, something that just impressed me. Tina went to the a little convenient store and got some chips (shaped like fries) - she opened the bag and held one out over the ledge. Sure enough a few seagulls started flying around out over the ledge, then more and more came. We started chucking the chips at them and they would dive, stop in mid air, or tackle other birds to get to these chips. They would make a large circle and fly right past us, waiting for us to chuck a chip into their mouths. These birds were really rather impressive on their catching skills! - I bet it was not their first time. It may or may not have been the highlight of my weekend! I couldn't stop laughing!

seagulls catching the chips... they were so impressive.

massive pot off soup and noodles with random seafood.

We also climbed a lighthouse and took a stroll down the market street to see all the dead/live/salted/cut open sea fish things they had for sale. It was a mix of all sorts of weird smells and sights. Of course my friends bought some snail things, which I tried. You take a tooth pick to dig it out and then eat it. Strange. But not too bad tasting I guess. We also went down by the ocean for a bit and looked for me hermit crabs. We went for lunch and got a massive and I mean massive pot of noodles and seafood (octopus, squid, clams (of all sizes) snails, shrimp and crab). It was pretty good - not my favorite, it didn't have much flavor. I guess I am becoming Korean and I sort of like the spice!

so much seafood. 

Oh our way back to the car is when we met the little grandmother that Tina helped get home safely -- here is that story -- 

http://kristenkayphotoworldlens.blogspot.com/2012/12/helping-hands.html

It was a great trip and a great way to get to know my co-scholars even better. I learned it is much easier to travel around with people who speak the language and know things about the area you are in. (instead of how I do it.. just wondering aimlessly - with no clue about anything!) but I think each can be fun in different ways! I am glad I got to see so much and experience Korean culture in many different ways in just 2 short days!

Helping Hands.

{“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”}...
booker t. washington.

We were just finishing our look around Oido Island. It had been a long weekend and we were ready to head home. On our way back to car, along a sidwalk by the sea, sat this little grandmother (할머니 - Hal-muh-nee). She was squatted down with a stick she had found. I observed her for a minute, seeing her point her stick at passerby's, asking them or telling them something. In this squatting position she couldn't have been more than a foot or foot and a half off the ground. Tina, my wonderful co-scholar's little sister pointed her out to Tina. I'm guessing saying something about how she needed some help. I wasn't for sure if the 할머니 wanted money or what she was needing. She kept pointing down the side walk, I thought maybe to the little stand selling something, trying to get us to buy things. Tina, without hesitation bent down so she could look into the 할머니's eyes. She spoke loudly and clearly asking the 할머니 over and over many questions and calling her 할머니 over and over. The grandmother would answer slowly and quietly. Tina pointed at the grandmothers clothing, she was only wearing a sweater and a thin vest on top and some pants with slippers for shoes. She had no gloves or hat, and must have been cold. 

Tina proceded to check all of her pockets in hope to find some information. The grandmother kept asking Tina, where do I live? Where is my home? She was clearly confused and lost. Tina continued to ask her many questions and would tug on her clothing, in a gesture to say 'why are you not dressed for the weather?' The grandmother would look down confused and then look back up again with despair and confusion in her eyes. Little tears were beginning to form, maybe from the cold or sadness. She still clutch the wooden stick she must have found along her journey. After a little while Tina escorted the 할머니 to a nearby bench. When she stood up, she was not much taller, she was hunched over and stood maybe 2.5 feet tall. I was surprised to see just how little she was. It took her awhile to make it to the bench, but Tina never let go of her hand. She sat right next to her, talking to her, rubbing her hand and wiping the tears from her eyes. Tina pulled out her gloves and started to put them on the 할머니 hands, but then my other co-scholar, Eugene, pulled out his own gloves instead. After about 20 minutes they decided to call the police, that maybe they could help. The police arrived a few minutes later and Tina explained what she knew. The police man and Tina, both on either side helped the grandmother towards the police car. They looked like giants compared to this frail and hunched over old 할머니. She was safe and warm now and I'm sure made it home safely.

I was a witness to a beautiful and loving act of kindness towards a little old 할머니, by a friend and co-worker, Tina, this weekend. As I sat and watched what was happening I was filled with joy and was inspired by how much love and kindness towards people Tina has. She is a wonderful person and I could see that ever so clearly at that moment. I am so thankful to call her my friend and I will never forget this day. I will never forget the love she showed to this lady, who she didn't know, who was sitting on the side of the street lost and confused. She had no obligation to help her, none. But she did, no questions or hesitations and she never took her eyes off of the grandmother until she was with the police man. It was like none of us existed, she was determined to help this little 할머니 in every way she knew how. 

I found out later, from Tina, that the grandmother's hands were actually fairly warm, so she couldn't have been outside for too long and that they figured she most likely had Alzheimer's disease. She knew her name but didn't know where she was or what day it was. She was confused and just wanted to find her home.

I was useless during this whole process. The only thing I understood was 할머니, grandmother. Not knowing the language of the country I am living in is one of the hardest things for me. I love being able to talk with people, find out their stories, help them and truly know them and love them. But when you can't communicate, using words, it's hard and almost impossible. I wanted so badly to know what she was saying. I wanted so badly to help and understand the situation. All I had was body language to read, which I have gotten fairly good at, and a few translations from my other friends in the group. But I wanted more. I wanted to be there by Tina. I wanted to also speak with the grandmother, show her love and kindness. Instead all I could do was photograph her, do what I know how to do and what you don't need words to do. And then to share this story. To show that the world is a beautiful place, filled with many beautiful people. 

I was inspired by Tina this day, as we all were. I want to be more helpful and loving to ALL people, the little ladies on the street, the ill and afflicted, the beggars,  everyone. Tina taught me something, you should never think twice when helping someone. When you see someone in need, help them. And that's exactly what she did. She helped this lady, kept her warm and showed her love and eventually got her home. I am so thankful to have been a part of this and to be able to share this beautiful story!

DMZ (South/North Korea)

Demilitarized Zone.. North and South Korea (Imjingak).
Dec. 1st, 2012

Interesting that the day the peace agreement, (basically the 'end of the war') happened was July 27th, 1953 (my birthday only a few decades earlier!) Of course this is about all the facts I remember from the day. I need to do some better research to learn more about the Korean War, especially since my Grandpa was stationed in Korea for a bit!

part of the group: Allen, James, Sarah, Tom, Me, Zach, Noah.

 

ribbons for the loved ones still in North Korea.

Well... I went to the NORTH! -- All you people who wondered if that was where I was going to teach. NO. I am in the South (Korea) but I went to visit the Demilitarized Zone (the no-mans land space between North and South Korea) at the 38th Parallel. North and South Korea are technically still at war. So being in this area is a bit intimidating, but I felt pretty safe overall, knowing all my American soldier friends had my back!









So, how did I know I was in the DMZ and close to North Korea?

1. Security
2. Barbed Wire -- a LOT of it
3. Not many people around
4. Only foreigners and tourists sites

Sarah and I at the 'look-out'. It was a bright sunny winter day!

We had to go through a security check point and then once we did there was a lot of barbed wire up. But I found out what I thought was North Korea was actually still South Korea. They don't let us go really close to North Korea, at least not on this tour, which was maybe ok with me. Although I would love to go there, just to say I've been to North Korea!

display of the NK's digging for 'coal'.

We then got to take a tour of the 3rd Tunnel. They believe there are maybe around 20 tunnels but they have only found 4 so far. (scary). Someone ahead of us told us the reason some rocks were black was because the NK's painted them black so they could say they were digging for 'coal'. Yes, because we are dumb enough to believe that. That you happen to be looking for 'coal' as you go directly towards Seoul. Good try guys. We hiked all the way down this long ramp, which was easy, and walked to the end of this long, short (in height), dark, damp tunnel only to see a wall at the end. There was no light at the end of this tunnel. So we turned around and headed back attempting not to kill ourselves on the low ceilings. One of the many times I wish I was not so tall. My helmet only got knocked off once, thankfully I was wearing it! We all made it out alive with all our body parts and heads still attached. The only thing I lost was all the calories from the lunch they fed us, walking back up the steep incline to get out of the tunnel area. I am really not good at climbing up hills, probably because Iowa doesn’t have hills! Gotta say that's one thing I won't have to do again. Hike down to see some damp rocks. Done. Probably won't do that again. It's like watching the ball drop on New Year's - you do it - cross it off your list - but it's just something you have to do.




The last place we stopped (Dora Observatory) we were told, 'DO NOT take pictures in front of the yellow line. To prevent the position of the South Korean Army from being leaked (or something like that). Basically, the North Korean's will win and take over the South if you take pictures in front of the line.' (ok maybe not THAT dramatic).. Of course this became a challenge. So I did it! Yup, I'm a rebel. I did it really sneakily and had some people block me because they had South Korean soldiers walking around (who knew English super super well) and telling people, 'No photos.' Of course I started talking to one of the soldiers, who English was spectacular - like no weird accent. Turns out he lived in the states for 11 years and went to high school in California (he moved there and lived alone!-- crazy!) Then he went to college in NY. A group started to form and we were all talking with him. Then, someone pointed out to watch out for me trying to take pictures 'illegally.' He said, 'I'm going to turn around and I won't see anything!' At first I thought maybe he was joking, but no he seriously turned around and I took a few pictures. I still felt like I was going to get yelled at so I did it quick. I was done and he was still turned around. So I said, ok you can look now. haha. I got a picture with him as well, of course.

After making a new friend, we headed to the Dorasan Train Station, which is the last station to the North in South Korea. We got to purchase a train ticket for 500 won and go out to the platform. Of course us foreigners decided to play on the train tracks. I could see the headlines now, ‘50 crazy foreigners killed by train because they didn’t think anyone would actually want to go to North Korea’. We were slightly confused about what this station was for. I guess it was actually used and we got yelled at by one of the workers, not for sure what was said but a few minutes later everyone was off the tracks.

Boy band photos. (they could totally be One Direction

That night Leah and I met up with the boys and we went out to eat. We went to Craftworks, a place in Itaewon with home-brewed beers and ALSO hamburgers and other 'foreign' food. It's one of the only places in Korea that actually brews their own beer. They had a ton of different kinds.. even a pumpkin one (which I tried and it tasted like a piece of pumpkin pie dipped in beer... wasn't too bad actually -- I mean for beer!) The food was also DELICIOUS!! It was nice to eat a legit burger and a side salad! It was a perfect ending to a great day. Glad I got to see so many of my TaLK friends!