i went 2 the hospital again today (don’t fret, i’m okay... i think... i’ll know for sure on friday when ‘the results’ come back). i was there, dodging work, ‘cause the korean government said i had 2 be there... something about having 2 ‘legitimise’ (my word, not theirs) my visa - i think - by way of proving i’m healthy. i'm assuming the koreans don't want me, or any other long-term visa holder for that matter, 2 end up being a burden 2 the korean taxpayer in hospital due 2 some pre-existing condition, & 2 that end they make you have 'the medical'. for the 90 minutes i was @ the hospital i was measured, examined, prodded, injected, x-rayed & relieved of bodily fluids. it was a comical, almost surreal experience being led around various stations/departments of a korea hospital, accumulating hangul charts, smiling @ cute nurses & dodging koreans in wheelchairs, zimmer frames, & agony, as i went. the little student nurse who manned the 1st of the 5 stations i was led 2 was my favourite.
“weight normal... height normal... hearing right ear good, left ear borderline... eyes good... contact lens, yes?”
an affirmative nod from me, 2 accompany my grin induced by her use of the word ‘borderline’. she continued.
station 2 was the easiest of the lot. no examining, no prodding, no injections. all i had 2 do was answer questions.
“allergic 2 any drugs?” nope.
“hepatitis, tuberculosis... history?” emmm, no.
“family... hepatitis, tuberculosis... history?” same answer as above.
“hospital time...operations?” yep. mastoidectomy, a word that, in my experience, every doctor in korea, thankfully, seems 2 understand (it's the ear operation i had when i was 15... & it explains the ‘borderline’ hearing rating i received minutes earlier... not 2 mention the ear infection i had a few weeks ago).
“personal health?” grand. fit as a fiddle me, love. i hope.
“alcohol... drink much?” socially, i assured her... although i sensed she could see i was clearly lying.
“smoke?” nope, i proclaimed proudly.
station 3 was the bodily fluid extraction station. i gave blood & had 2 pee into a test tube. well, pee into a paper cup & then transfer it into a test tube. 2 test tubes actually. no bother.
station 4. chest x-ray. over in a flash... pardon the pun.
station 5. dentist. a quick look. easy peasy.
i was told the results will be ready friday, by which time i hope 2 know, for certain, why i need them & what i've 2 do with them.
‘livin’ with seoul’ highlights of the last 8 days
okay, so i’ve been neglecting my blog of late. another large gap between entries. i blame work... the fact that i actually have quite a bit of it 2 do these days. so with that oft-used excuse out of the way let me sumarise some of the last 8 days events.
- monday, december 1st
i had a day off & i went shopping. well, not really shopping... more like a walk around a shopping district. it was cool ‘cause it was different – it wasn’t the office, jes island, my apartment, or any of the familiar areas of seoul connecting the 3 of them. the day off was a reward for working on 2 hours sleep, & through a hangover that just wanted 2 shut me down, the previous saturday (i should have gotten the week off for that). btw, i didn’t buy anything... i know you were wondering.
- thursday, december 4th
received a parcel from home with, amongst other things, a supply of tea bags & a christmas card of rurairi, my nephew who was cute enough a few months ago 2 win a cute baby competition 2 get himself featured on christmas cards. if you wait for this page 2 download you’ll see him, all roly-poly cute, donning a santa hat & with his tongue stickin’ out. awwwwww.
- friday, december 5th
was supposed 2 take the night off (meaning a night of no alcohol consumption) but that didn’t happen. instead myself & brandon tried 2 beat the bitterly cold temperatures by consuming more soju than any 2 people should consume in one sitting. one of the many things i can't remember about the end of the night was whether i was cold or not, so i guess our plan worked. bravo.
- saturday, december 6th
spent the mornig in bed cursing soju. spent the afternoon working - again - lecturing 85 koreans on the rights & wrongs of students management, student motivation & effective communication... & wondering who ever deemed me qualified 2 do this sort of shit. i’ve done it before, not hungover & 2 a bigger, altogether more important, audience... so i guess i should give myself some credit.
- sunday, december 7th
for the 1st time this year it 'really' snowed... meaning what fell actually stuck for a few hours. it didn't snow much, just enough 2 enable mel, my favourite snow-starved aussie, 2 think the urban, concrete & steel setting of oksu station had been transformed into lapland.
- monday, december 8th
took delivery of my business cards that, in typical korean style, are of the shiny kind. they will tell everyone that i've yet 2 give them 2 that my name is david m byrne, that i work in the domestic department of ck & that my title is that of ‘foreign section coordinator.’ there are a lot of them so i’m gonna have 2 come up with ways 2 get rid of them. suggestions would be appreciated.
- tuesday, december 9th - today
went 2 the hospital, but i’ve covered this.
‘livin’ with seoul’ ailment watch
i’m okay but everyone else is sick. it sucks. most of my seoulmates, including mel (boo hoo), are either on antiboitics or fighting something or other... something or other that’s preventing them from drinking. come on guys... i can’t do this on my own (although i’m certaintly up for trying). even the koreans in the office are suffering... sniffling here, coughing & sneezing there. when they aren’t popping pills they are consuming ginseng, chestnut, black garlic, or vitimin c drinks. what’s the point i say?... i drink beer & i’m the healthiest one in the office. i hope... i'll know friday.
what i’m listening 2 right now
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