forgotten/reminded

I saw my doctor for the last time today. The old Koreans in the hematology ward waiting room got to have one last chance to stare at me. Doctor said I was looking good but that I should get checked out when I get home. She gave me another prescription, a month's supply, at half the dosage of what I had been on. Then, on the way home from the hospital I forgot my medicine on the bus. So now I have to go back on Monday and pick up another prescription.

Something happened on the way to the hospital which reminded me of the post I wrote about how Koreans need to learn how to wait. The shuttle bus was stuffed full, with people standing in the middle aisle. I'm one of the ones standing, and we're really packed in there like sardines. In this situation, upon arrival at our destination, it would make sense if all the people who are crammed into the middle aisle were to exit first, then the people sitting could file out afterward. Not in Korea, though. In Korea, every elderly person who has a seat immediately stands up and thrusts themselves into the middle as well. As a result, people slowly fall out of the bus one by one, a process which takes twice as long and leaves me smelling like old Korean funk.

I think Korea knows that I'm leaving, and it's trying to get me used to what life will be like back in the States. See, my mom's neighbors are crackheads. I'm not being hyperbolic here and just using the term crackhead to characterize bad neighbors. I mean they are actually filthy white trash crackheads, and the house is a crackden. The last time I was home I was constantly stressed out by them because they were just hell to deal with and brought all kinds of human scum around the house. They'd make noise at all hours and had me pondering on more than one occasion if I'm clever enough to get away with arson.

Korea is trying to ease me back into this life. Last night, until about 4am, there was a group of drunken Korean men outside my apartment window laughing and screaming and keeping me awake. Then tonight, I was walking to dinner after work and there was a drunken Korean guy lying on the side of the road, struggling to get up. Half an hour later I walk by him again, this time he's sitting against a tree, surrounded by cops, with the front of his shirt drenched in blood. So, thanks Korea, for starting to get me in the right state of mind.

I guess that's what I should do for the next five days: surround myself with all the annoying bits of living in Korea. That, and completely detach myself from the things that I know I'm gonna miss. Off the top of my head, the things I know I'm gonna miss include my students, my friends, and this one commercial on TV for a bank in which this Korean chick does a little dance number. Really drives me up the wall.