Life in Korea:

Rafting Adventure

As part of our company's team-building effort, my husband organizes a bi-annual company outing.

This summer we went on a rafting adventure in Kangwondo. I had never gone rafting before so I was very apprehensive about joining the rafting party. As usual, hubby talked me into it. Our group was a happy bunch so I soon forgot my fear.

Since most of us had no idea what we were doing, we hardly moved along the water. We paddled out of synch. Other teams we're laughing at us, and I don't really blame them, because our raft were just moving around on the same spot. After struggling for sometime we were well on our way, and soon came face to face with our first challenge which was actually not a difficult maneuver had we been forewarned and properly instructed. But our lazy, unskilled boatman gave poor instructions. (To my opinion, he's lacking in verbal skills).

As we approach the rapids we were swept by the current and our raft rammed onto a rock with a force strong enough to knock two of our members overboard. Luckily, they sustained minor bruises. Nevertheless, we were aghast!  Despite the shock, we pushed onwards. As I said earlier, we were a zany bunch so fear was soon forgotten. We were once again laughing lively, cracking joke after joke as we paddled along Hantan river.  My husband kept telling me to braise myself, hold on tight  whenever there were rapids ahead.  In mid-course we stopped to watch a show. There was a cliff that served as a diving platform. Lots of people climbed up and showed off their diving skills. Watching them dive was a spectacular sight.

Taking a plunge was the last thing on my mind because I was amused watching the show. But hubby was at it again, pushing me at my limits. Hesitatingly, I made my way up the cliff together with my team members. My turn came and I approached the edge of the cliff with woobly knees. I felt my entire body shaking. At one time I wanted to take a step back --give up, but I heard people yelling at me ''jump, jump", my husband's voice resonating clearly, he was already in the water. I took one last look at my husband, shut my eyes tight and took the plunge.

The water was unbelievably warm and comfortable and I felt really light as I resurfaced. My husband swam towards me and his eyes were beaming with pride. I discovered something about myself; and the realization crystallized with the experience.

The Patient

Date: 3 Aug. 2006, Thursday

At 4 pm today, a hospital staff took my husband away for a kidney biopsy. I felt very uncomfortable waiting. After an hour and a half, he was wheeled back into the ward. He looked like a vegetable to me. My strong and powerful hubby seemed helpless and weak. Even his voice sounded feeble.

The staff, myself and my mom-in-law carefully placed him onto the bed. I was instructed that following the biopsy my husband would be immobile for 12-24 hours. When my son Mi-Kha and mom-in-law had gone home, I got very bored and lonely. I just watched hubby as he slept.

I woke him up when it was time for him to have a meal. I had to spoonfeed him as he couldn't move. He could only lift his head at an angle as I bring the spoon to his mouth so the food wouldn't spill. I asked him whether the food was good,--he grimaced. (hihihi).

Late at night, he needed to empty his bladder. I had to collect his urine for lab test. Since he couldn't sit upright I had to help him pass urine. He had to do it lying down. That was challenging, but I got it done...(yes, I'm very creative...hehehe).

The container was already half-full but he kept going. For a minute, I was afraid that it would overflow. I thought to myself, 'if it were tap I could just turn it off'... (hihihi). Finally, it did stop just before the container got filled to the brim...whewww!

"Now, the lab geeks have more than enough specimen to work with!"