Crash
Trip Start
Aug 07, 2007
1
14
112
Trip End
Ongoing
Uijeongbu,
Korea Rep.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
I have started to run outside even though it has been chilly here. Abbey and I ran for about 35 minutes last night finishing in a make shift workout area complete with a chin up bar, dip bars, and other assorted devices all built to aid one in the search for the perfect physique. We briefly stopped our work out in the park to chat with an older man whom Abbey had known from visits past. He asked how Abbey's former President Nelson Mandela was doing. Interesting to hear that name all the way over here, well actually should a pillar of hope, strength, a strong advocate of education and a man who knows all to well what being a victim of discrimination is like, be all that uncommon anywhere on this planet. Of course could he have accomplished what he did without violence such as the lasting effects of Ghandi. Hard to say when the peaceful process of Mandela was met with violence...had to check the net for this stuff, ya know, just to be sure I can understand what I'm talking about :) . I'll have to ask Abbey the next time we have tuna what it was like being there during those changes to the status quo. For now I'll have to settle for our discussions about the Great White and how he is...well let me rephrase how we both are afraid of sharks.
On my run tonight I was solo due to Abbey having a work dinner and me a date with Megan to take in the excitement of Heroes at 9pm. So I was off for a quick run to the park when as I rounded a corner there was an accident between a bike and a motor cycle. My first thought was to help so I lifted the bike up and then realised I should not tamper with the situation until Uijeongbu's finest arrived. Both men involved were irate and I just stood there with a look of "shoulda left this as it was". The police arrived and began to manage the scene. No one was hurt at least not critically. The younger cop spoke to me in Korean and all I could say was "only English", something I'll have to remedy. I gave him my name and had to run around the corner to get my cell for my number. In the end it is clear that I have lost my training from the first semester of Paramedic school and the important rule of "Make Sure The Scene is Safe" before you act; just a dumb white guy trying to help. Next time unless there is a life and death situation I'll stay out of it. Have to say it was the first accident I have seen here. Hard to believe as people on motor vehicles with two wheels usually drive like crazed madmen braving snow and not stopping at red lights. Well not all of them; shouldn't stereotype.
Work is going well. Found out that it's ok to compliment a Korean woman in whom I have a professional relationship with about something I like, in fact it is welcomed, especially if it's the boss. No worries about misconstrued comments here, especially if it's the boss. Friday will be a shirt and tie day. The parents of our new students will be coming in and we are to prepare a short blurb about our education and work history. I asked my supervisor about what was expected, specifically if I should include the years I have spent working with special needs students and adults, something that has made me who I am today. I got the feel that something like that may not be seen as essential here; more than likely because the students of CIS will have no disabilities as the ones that I have supported in past jobs.
Taiwan is on! Abbey told me yesterday he booked a ticket through his Korean supervisor and it's costing him 400,000.00 and change (I am adjusting here as you might see by referring to money in WON, with the odd slip to dollars). So today my supervisor helped me find a fare for the same price which fits sweetly into my small budget. Jamie will be joining me. She was one of the original group headed to Thailand which has since been disbanded. I get the feeling she'll be a good travel partner because when I said we might have to sleep on the beach if the accommodation falls through she was all good. Abbey will be flying in on the 29th so we'll have a few days together as Jamie and I are heading back on the 1st. We go back to work on the 2nd so it will be tight. Abbey has promised to put me on the plane New Years day which will be at 8:30am...playing with fire.
Thanks for reading.
