Monday, March 30, 2009
"Do you have any piss?"
Yes, this is what one of my 4th grade students asked me today. I looked back at her horrified, and said, "no, no I don't have any." She said, "no piss?" again, and I replied, "No, no, I don't have any piss." She then said "I have 16 piss" and motioned like a fish with her hands. You can imagine the look on my face when I realized she was asking me if I have any fish!
My trip to the Hospital
Today, I took the day off of work and stayed home sick. I couldn't breathe out of my nose and my throat was swollen! I walked to the hospital, which is close to our apartment. I walked in and immediately walked to the front desk and told the young woman my symptoms. She asked me to sit down and wait for 5-10 minutes, but before I could even sit down another nurse motioned for me to follow her. She led me into the doctor's office... yep, his actual office! He asked me my symptoms and diagnosed me with "the common cold." I was relieved it was not something worse! He told me to drink 20 cups of water or juice everyday and not to eat oily food. I said, "thank you!" and walked out to the front desk again. I owed 3,500 won, which is the equivalent of $2.00. I was handed a prescription for vitamins, which also cost the equivalent of $2.00!
When the pharmacist handed me my vitamins, he pointed to each pack and said, "take at good morning, lunchie, and supper time!"
So, let's review: I waited 5 seconds to see the doctor, paid $2 and got a prescription for vitamins that cost me $2! Overall, I give the Korean medical system an A+!!!!!
When the pharmacist handed me my vitamins, he pointed to each pack and said, "take at good morning, lunchie, and supper time!"
So, let's review: I waited 5 seconds to see the doctor, paid $2 and got a prescription for vitamins that cost me $2! Overall, I give the Korean medical system an A+!!!!!
Why I love Koreans!
Last night, Mr. chun, from Kevin's school knocked on our apartment door. I opened the door and he asked "How is your condition?" I told him I was still very sick, so he said, "Wait here," and ran down the stairs. He soon came back with a gift bag and a heat mat.
I motioned for him to come in and he asked me to sit down on the floor. He got out a tray from our kitchen cabinet and opened the gift bag. Inside was a to go box of Korean soup. He scooped some soup into a bowl and then proceeded to take the covers off of our bed. He laid the heat mat under the sheets and plugged it in. He said, "this is warm."
The traditional Korean rice and vegetable soup
I motioned for him to come in and he asked me to sit down on the floor. He got out a tray from our kitchen cabinet and opened the gift bag. Inside was a to go box of Korean soup. He scooped some soup into a bowl and then proceeded to take the covers off of our bed. He laid the heat mat under the sheets and plugged it in. He said, "this is warm."
The traditional Korean rice and vegetable soup
The heating mat
I feel sooooo taken care of in Korea!
The Bidet...
Saturday night we met Jess, Carlos, Kate, and Rob near Pusan National University for dinner. After dinner, we walked the streets and came across a really cool wine bar. We sat and talked and laughed for hours here and towards the end, Jess got up to go to the bathroom. When she came back, she had a huge smile on her face and said, the girls bathroom has a bidet! Kev immediately got up and ran to the girls bathroom to try it out. When he pushed the button for the bidet to start, he was laughing and squealing so loud, the whole wine bar could here him! Now I know what to get him for Christmas!
We went back to the Island!
On Saturday, we woke up and got a phone call from Mr. Chun (Kevin’s admirer from his school) He said he wanted to take us to a beautiful spot on Yong Do Island. We were both really excited to get outside and see more of Korea’s beautiful landscape. It ended up being a 2 1/2 hour hike up hill and downhill! Here are some pictures:
Mr chun and I on the walk to the water.
These trees are gorgeous! This picture does not do it justice. They have millions of little white flowers!
The view from the top of the mountain.
We climbed down here. There is a little restaurant down on the rocks. People can order food and sit on the square carpets. It's awesome!
Mr chun and I on the walk to the water.
These trees are gorgeous! This picture does not do it justice. They have millions of little white flowers!
The view from the top of the mountain.
We climbed down here. There is a little restaurant down on the rocks. People can order food and sit on the square carpets. It's awesome!
Kevin and I from the look out point. On a clear day, you can see Japan from this point!
I could have sat here all day! It was gorgeous!
My massage date with Kevin
Friday night, Kevin and I decided we wanted to get massages! We went to a Jim Jil Bang (bath house) and ended up getting1 hour massages and 45 minute facials and paid 50,000 won each, which is the equivalent of about 35 dollars! The massage and facial were both incredible! Here are some funny things that happened during our massage:
1. When we got there, the guy told Kevin to take everything off, but to leave his PANTIES on!
2. I was lying on my stomach and the very first thing my masseuse did was he climbed on top of me and sat on my butt!
3. During the massage I was tightening up, because he was doing something that hurt. He told me to “power off” I thought for a second, hmmmm, power off. What the heck does that mean? Then I realized he was asking me to relax!
4. At the end of the massage, they said, “The ending!”
5. After the massage was over, my masseuse asked me if I have a baby. I said, “No, no, I don’t have any kids.” Then he asked again, “You have a baby?” and pointed to his stomach. I replied, “No, I’m not pregnant. Why?” He proceeded to grab his stomach fat and said, “I think you have small baby.” Kevin and I both lost it and were laughing soooooo hard! Now when I see something I want to eat that’s not healthy Kevin says, “Don’t feed the baby!” HILARIOUS!
6. We told my masseuse we were from America and he asked why our skin wasn’t white. I pointed to the inside of my wrist and said, “This is very white.” He shook his head and said “Not white.” Apparently, he thought people in American were PURE WHITE!
1. When we got there, the guy told Kevin to take everything off, but to leave his PANTIES on!
2. I was lying on my stomach and the very first thing my masseuse did was he climbed on top of me and sat on my butt!
3. During the massage I was tightening up, because he was doing something that hurt. He told me to “power off” I thought for a second, hmmmm, power off. What the heck does that mean? Then I realized he was asking me to relax!
4. At the end of the massage, they said, “The ending!”
5. After the massage was over, my masseuse asked me if I have a baby. I said, “No, no, I don’t have any kids.” Then he asked again, “You have a baby?” and pointed to his stomach. I replied, “No, I’m not pregnant. Why?” He proceeded to grab his stomach fat and said, “I think you have small baby.” Kevin and I both lost it and were laughing soooooo hard! Now when I see something I want to eat that’s not healthy Kevin says, “Don’t feed the baby!” HILARIOUS!
6. We told my masseuse we were from America and he asked why our skin wasn’t white. I pointed to the inside of my wrist and said, “This is very white.” He shook his head and said “Not white.” Apparently, he thought people in American were PURE WHITE!
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