My Justice League

If Punky Brewster wasn't so popular during my impressionable years, I think I would have wanted to be Wonder Woman even though she was a little "before my time".  I've always wanted to be independent, do things on my own, and the idea of showing weakness and asking for help just hasn't been my style.  When I was in 5th grade trying to leap over some wooden planks fell and broke my elbow. Wonder Woman would have made that jump, but I was too busy with mutli colored socks weighing me down.  But instead of running to the teacher or to my friend for help, I held my arm and ran in the opposite direction.  I didn't want help.  I wanted to be okay, and I wanted to fix it and do it myself.  The 30 minute recess was obviously not long enough for a broken elbow, and at the end of recess my teacher found me in my swollen glory, and 1 surgery, 1 awesome purple cast, and 2 pins later I was okay.  But even as a kid, I didn't want to be weak, I didn't want help.  I was Wonder Woman. 

Well little has changed.  I knew immediately with my knee that I had to go to the hospital.  But I told everyone I was okay and held onto anything stationary as I limped/hopped/dragged my leg away from those that could and would have helped me.  Thankfully a nice Korean guy named Jay noticed I wasn't okay and when I told him I just needed to get to a taxi, informed me that I wouldn't find a taxi without walking about 10 minutes and gave me a ride.  That was the start of me having to swallow my pride and accept help. 

My biggest fear when this happened and I learned that Korean nurses aren't angels and I'd be a shut in for two weeks prior was that this Wonder Woman was going down. I might as well put on my Punky Brewster socks and accept my impending defeat.  I was in Korea two months exactly when it happened and while I was making friends, I hadn't fostered the kind of friendships that asks for help to the bathroom, or to wash my hair, or to bring me food when my apartment is empty.  But the amazing thing about Korea, is that none of us have family.  So a community forms in such a way that you are able to function without the family and friends you spent so many years back home building and nurturing. So new friends offer to be the one to wait in the waiting room to ensure you come out of surgery okay, and bake you nutrients when fish heads and squid aren't bon apatite, and translate for you when you are the only foreigner in the hospital and everyone is frustrated that simple things can't be conveyed.  These people I like to call my Justice League! (because calling them my Cherie and Margaux doesn't have the same ring to it..and most of you will vaguely remember Punky much less her pals).

So in a super quick who's who...I'd like to introduce you to my Super Heroes that were kind enough to help me and support me even when I said that I was fine and didn't need help.  I questioned being vague and having a generic "the community here is great" blog", but decided that while there were several caring and kind civilians, there were a more important group of super heroes that helped me survive for 4 weeks in a foreign country with one leg.  In no order (and a short description so as not to make this any longer)...

1. Korean Jay - first responder who recognized that I "wasn't okay" even though I said I was, and gave me a ride since we were too far out for taxis to stop.

2. Korean Katie - I probably would have died of a heart attack pre surgery if it weren't for her.  She willingly sat at the hospital with me from 9:30am until 2:00pm, translating for me, getting me ready for surgery, and keeping me company and from being alone.  She since has been super helpful and supportive. She's an angel.

3.  Jennifer - Probably not knowing me well enough to want to have solo coffee with me if I asked, upon learning I was having surgery said she wanted to be there when I got out of surgery.  I was scared I'd be alone, unable to move, and no one to communicate any of those things to.  So she was waiting for me when I came out of surgery and got to experience surgery #2 with me.  She got to help me get to the bathroom so I could keep my dignity and not use a bedpan. She got me pillows, ice packs, and played nurse and friend day 1. She also came back for my first hospital escape and the only time I've laughed since being admitted to the hospital (and it was a good belly I want to pee myself laugh). She's a saint and I'm grateful.

4. Korean Cindy - Unlike many Korean woman, she is outspoken and a little forward and speaks Korean!  This is helpful when you are confused and getting mixed messages from the doctors and nurses.  Cindy shows up and goes into the doctors office to ask questions and get answers.  Cindy speaks the language and keeps everyone in check, and has just been overall kind to me. 

5/6 Irene and Miranda - Life at home for 2 weeks may have been a little harder than life at the hospital.  No one really visits you at home, but both of these girls did.  Both made multiple trips to keep me sane, bring necessary groceries, and bring dinner that wasn't a handful of cereal.  Irene did the same at the hospital and I managed to get a burger and coffee.  I wouldn't have made it without someone close by that could drop in when I needed a pick me up emotionally or via non squid rations. 

7. Tamara - I didn't know her before hurting myself.  By proxy she found out and asked to help.  She visited my home, the hospital, brought books, food, coffee, and again kept me sane.  Not having any conversation (at home) or being around tons of people none of which speak your language gets tough.  Tamara came and brought treats and she and her son kept me company and I am quite grateful for her kindness to a truly complete stranger that isn't such a stranger anymore.

8. Crystal - Crystal is the teacher I replaced.  She came into the office to visit the day I was to leave.  She was "hanging out" for several weeks waiting for her job to start.  She offered to teach for me, and since she knows the kids, the staff, the material...it was a smooth transition that my school was otherwise not looking forward to.  She also stopped in and offered to wash my hair.  So my sanity and physical appearance greatly appreciates the kind gesture.  Not just anyone would be willing to wash your dirty hair in a dirty mop sink. 

9. Zara - The angel of baking.  You can only make it so many meals before you get tired of kimchi and "seafood" that you don't want to go crazy.  And while better, boxed and packaged subpar goods don't sound significantly better.  But Carrot bread, brownies, and banana bread DO!  And there was enough that I have been able to replace breakfast with it each day and still have enough for some snacking.  Not only is she a foreigner, she's a Texan.  So she understands some things better than other people and my need for home cooked food is one of them.  She also has a car now, and has offered to drive me around a bit so that I don't have to go back to being a shut in because i'm not bus capable. 

10. No name Head Nurse - I don't know her name, I just know now that she is the head nurse.  She has been nothing but kind to me since I arrived.  Most of the nurses were scared of me as it's awkward when they don't speak English and I don't speak Korean.  But she didn't seem to mind.  She still came around, still was helpful knowing I was alone, and took a few extra minutes each day to try to communicate through google translate on my phone that was only semi accurate.  But the fact that she was willing to try, and always acknowledged me and smiled made me not completely hate the Korean hospital.  So whoever she is...I love her.  I probably would have turned into crazy bitchy foreigner if it wasn't for her. 

So there you have it.  This is my super hero team of helpers that have made all the difference.  So before assuming I'm super strong to survive this alone in Korea, I didn't.  I may have crumbled if every few days one of the Gwangju Justice League wasn't ensuring that I didn't.  So in addition to getting a new knee, I also got the outlook that life is better as a team than it is alone...even if you are Wonder Woman!