Monday, August 18

Sick in Bed

Saturday night before dancing I had a stomach ache that still wasn't gone Monday morning. In fact, it seemed to have located itself in the lower right section of my abdomen, so I was concerned it might be appendicitis. Anyway, had a supervisor take me to the doctor who gave me an ultrasound and, after digging the little viewer into my stomach until I wanted to cry, declared the possibility of appendicitis was very small and promptly left the room, not to be heard from again. I waited there, uncertainly, until a nurse came in and gestured me quickly out. How was I supposed to know? My supervisor took me down to the pharmacy and vaguely explained in his broken English that I wasn't to take cold water, nor milk, nor fruit, and I was to take a little packet of pills after each meal.

Not until today have I felt so lost in Korea. Never did the differences, or the language barrier, seem any big obstacle. Until I wanted to know what the hec was going on with my own body, and could not communicate on such an intrinsic level, I hadn't feel like a "stranger in a strange land."

The silver lining, however, is that I am very well cared for by my supervisors, who sent me home to rest, and took me to buy porridge on the way. I am also well cared for by my new friends here who texted and called to check up on me.

I will be back to teaching tomorrow morning (as I am positively sick of lying in my bed after two days), and I hope to be feeling considerably better.

2 comments:

  1. I loved the pictures!!!! I perceive a sort of paz in them. I am so sorry you got sick but I am glad you have good people around you!!!! And you will have no problem learning the language!!! Good LUCK! Thanks for sending me this link.

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  2. Hey Jordan, Welcome to the Jukjeon blog community! It was unintentional, but somehow five of us sprang up. I'm leaving the URL of ours.

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