Culture: Korean Memorial Day

Wednesday, June 6th, was a national holiday:  Korean Memorial Day (현충일  Hyeonchung-il). Therefore, we didn't have school. I asked my students what they would do on Memorial Day. 

One student told me that she and her family would be going to a special place and wipe clean the gravestones of those who died for Korea. Like our Memorial Day, on this day people commemorate the men and women who died while serving their country. Also, flags were seen flown everywhere at half-mast.

Grateful

Ahhh, part of what I love about being in an uncomfortable situation is the process of letting go and trusting that things will work out, because they usually do once you let go...

Recently I went to Chungnam National University Hospital for a doctor's appointment. I had just spent an hour or so in one building trying to get answers as to what blood tests they were running on me, and trying to get reimbursed for an appointment I had apparently paid for without knowing it. (Our amazing Korean translator as school is the one who informed me about this; thank you!) I was tired and felt frustrated at not knowing the language. All I knew was that the nurse had led me outside, and pointed across the parking lot, indicating for me to go into another building (of the same hospital), and to show the paper she'd given me to whomever if I needed help. The paper of course was all in Korean

So I did. The first Korean I showed the paper to put me in the right direction. The second, a staff person, walked me to the correct registration desk. The third staff member said "6" in English so the next desk was easy to find. Finally, I saw a doctor who actually took time to LISTEN to me, and ask me questions! 

When it came time to make a follow-up appointment, the nurse found an interpreter. She- the nurse- indicated for me to wait, that an interpreter was coming, by showing me the English for the Korean word she'd just looked up on her smart phone. I'm grateful for smart phones! 

The interpreter was very helpful; she was the one who helped me the last time I was there! However, the interpreter had to leave before I was done gathering information. "Dangit! Now what?!?" I thought.

What do you know but a T'ai Chi class was taking place right there in the middle of the empty hospital floor (empty because it was now after 6pm). A woman helping out with the class came over to meet and the receptionists and nurse who were speaking Korean to me. The T'ai Chi woman spoke English- yay! She acted as my last interpreter, and even gave me her name and number should I have future problems! Wow! Koreans never cease to help or amaze me!

Short hike nearby

I went for a short hike recently. As with all mountains here, it was steep!

To get there, I simply walked to the school's entrance, then kept going up the steep paved street, past the pinkish stone apartment building where the majority of the foreign teachers live, and past a couple small corner stores and luscious healthy gardens to the main street. I waited near the bus stop, at the crosswalk, for the light to change. Once it did, I walked quickly across the highway, across the sidewalk, and onto the immediately-vertical trail.

Here's a tiny flower I saw!

Doctors in Korea

Here is a huge cultural difference between Korean and the United States. Koreans trust their doctors. They do NOT question their doctors! This is very important to know if you plan on coming to Korea for any length of time during which you may have to see a doctor.

For example, my friend Lindsay fell and hurt her knee badly but didn't break anything. She was taken to the doctor and soon after had a full-leg cast on just because she had sprained her knee!

I understand Koreans do not question authority and/or elders. This respect can be really nice but when it comes to my not receiving information about my own body, it doesn't make sense...