Dear Korea,

 

They say that when you found a new job the first days are always the hardest.
Maybe they are wrong…

 
 
One Thursday morning, I received a call from a friend. He told me that there’s an available position for a “camp nurse” in a hotel here in Cavite. I don’t have a single idea what a camp nurse do but since I prayed for a job, I decided to grab this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I got hired with a 1 month contract (stay-in). My patients were all Koreans in their pre-adolescent to adolescent stage who came here in the Philippines to study English.
 

Peter , David , Michael (front line)

 

Me with Quintin

 

Children who got sick come to the clinic for treatment and during this time I get the chance to know some of them. I vividly remember those sleepless nights I spent with sick children to monitor their fever and give them medicine. I was never trained to become a parent but at that very moment I feel that I became one.

   

 
 
 
“I was on the edge of forgetting my profession when this bunch of Korean kids came and constantly reminding me for the past 30 days that I am a nurse. Whenever they see me they will yell “nurse-soo” not because I wear my white uniform but because they remember that I took care of them when they are not feeling well. Their need for a nurse made me realized my purpose.”

 

 
 

The first two weeks was really hard. I came to a point of giving up. My colleagues felt the same. We worked 24 hours a day. Deprivation of sleep consumed every positivity I have but nevertheless I still managed to laugh once in a while. Laughing is good for the heart and soul even in the most stressful days and even in the darkest walk of your life.

My two friends : sean on my right and edward on my left. They occasionally visit me in the clinic for goodnight hug . I miss them 😦

The following days flowed smoothly. I was able to join them in their tours ( Enchanted Kingdom , Mall of Asia and Orphanage), and created a bond with them. Little did I know that they already captured a special place in my heart. I was unprepared. I was caught off-guard with their mesmerizing sweetness and naughtiness.

 

I was the middleman (translator) between korean and filipino kiddos. hahaha (orphanage ; Alabang)

 

Things I won’t forget :

1. Koreans love sweets (esp. choco mucho) , Sometimes salty (cheepee)

2. Most of them are naturally sweet.

3. Most of them are frugal but not selfish.

4. They like to wave their hands whenever they see you. (kaway)

5. Most of them speak in Korean accent using the English language. They prolonged
some words like nurse as nurse-soo , walk as walk-koo and etc.

6. Philippine age is different from Korean age. (Pagpingananganak ka na consider as 1 year old na agad ‘yun.)

7. They have English name which they created themselves.

 

A Wonderful Journey….

 

Time flew so fast that I just find myself sitting on a chair, watching their graduation night. I really wanted to hug the kids on the stage all at once but I couldn’t.

One of my dream is to travel the world but because of them things have changed. Now, I want not just to travel but to embrace the world. I don’t know how, but I’m sure I will. Being part of Phil’s camp feels like I’ve reached another part of the world without leaving my country (how convenient). I am truly blessed to share a piece of my life with them.

 

Graduation night..

 
They are here to study English because they might need it someday or maybe because they believed that it is the universal language. But that night, when I saw everyone exchanging hugs and saying their goodbyes I realized that it is not the words spoken that made everyone understand each other but the feelings felt. Love was in front of me. It was Raw. Real. Pure. Magical. Never-ending. Genuine. I know in my heart that I could stay in this moment forever.
 

The farewell moment T_T

 

At that very moment I felt like there is an empty space in my heart that I never knew existed and only this bunch of kids can fill. Their hugs made me cry. Their goodbyes broke my heart. Their appreciation of gratitude echoes in my heart. If my life was a book, I am pretty sure that this is the page I will read over and over again.

 

MY friend/Son gave this letter to me. I miss him 😦

Nauna akong matouch sa message bago ko napansin yung grammar . I miss You Edward 🙂

 

I write this whole thing in English because I don’t want to be reminded by them the “EOP” (English Only Policy) which I always do whenever they speak in their mother tongue. Likewise, I made this blog entry because I don’t want to forget them or maybe it’s the other way around.

 

I hope someday (even by chance) they will find this blog and read everything.
I hope they will never forget the whole experience.
I hope they will know that a part of them will stay in my heart for eternity and I hope they would feel the same way too.
I hope to meet them halfway someday.

 

They say that when you found a new job the first days are always the hardest.
Maybe they are wrong. Yes, it can be difficult but the hardest part is bidding farewell to the things you don’t want to end.

 

P.S. To my colleagues, teachers, parent teachers, superiors and everyone, Thank you for sharing this memorable and  wonderful experience with me.
 

‘till we meet again.

 
 
 

Sincerely,

Nurse Moises

 

* Credits to the respective owners of the picture 🙂 *