August 4 journal entry

August 4

Today was amazing. I thought I was going to set up my bank account and was actually escorted to the hospital for a physical, Korean style. I had to take an eye test which of course I didn’t know any of the symbols in Korean, a urine and blood test, hearing test, they weighed and measured me, all over, and then they took me in a room and motioned me to take my shirt off. After standing in there like an idiot for a of couple minutes I noticed the basket of robes and put one on. I mustered up the nerve to walk out in front of all these people in my robe to where? I didn’t know. I just kept thinking, please not the gynecologist! When they moved me into the room I saw the x-ray equipment and was at ease; they just x-rayed my chest. Finally, I had to go to the dentist and she checked for I have no idea. She just poked in my mouth a little and walked out of the room. I guess I passed. All of this was happening to me in the middle of chaos as people with real needs were being rushed in and out of doors on stretchers. Everywhere I tried to stand during all of this, I was in the way.

When I got back I asked the administrator at the school what was up, and they told me I needed to do all that to get a Korean ID card first, and then I could get my bank account. Geez, and the entire time I kept thinking, “why is the bank in the hospital?” Needless to say, I never made it to the bank. I don’t get my ID until Thursday, I think. Then maybe they will take me to the bank. After all that I explained that I needed to get some money, and asked her where I could get some exchanged. She pulled out her wallet and said, “Right here.” Now I’m laughing, but I was scared to death the entire time. I have to find some laundry soap now because all of us have sweated so much over the past few days and our clothes are in a pile in the middle of our room, and it is really beginning to stink in here. Well, a tleast I have money now. Mark and the kids went to find the bookstore and haven’t returned…they left about 5 hours ago. I wonder what they’re doing?

Until next time.