Feeling Greatful

At Hapkido we have made a friend. Her name is Yu Rim. She is 19 years old and just finished highschool. She didn't do very well on her entrance exam for University so she was taking 9 months to study to take the exam again in November. Unfortunately, her mom got sick and was in the hospital.

The thing about Korean hospitals is that there is no extra care provided. No food no nothing just medical care. It is up to the families to care for their loved ones while they are at the hospital. In the case of Yu Rim, her brother is in the military and her dad works, so the caregiving fell on her shoulders. Everyday she went to the hospital, then to hapkido and then back to hospital.

The language barrier faced in Korea can be as daungting as the Berlin wall sometimes or other times it goes unnoticed. With Yu Rim it was a constant hurdling over words and expressions as we tried our best to communicate. Her English is quite good but she is shy as most Koreans are and sometimes we spoke too fast :) However, over the course of the year we became quick friends, her odler sisters (as an older friend is considered to be here).

Her mother, sadly, passed away from cancer. As we visited Yu Rim and her family we couldn't help but feel a deep sadness and sense of helplessness for our dear friend. There are no words that could comfort and even fewer words when it comes to the language barrier we faced. All we could do was hug her as we wiped away our own tears.

The deep impact that this had on me is beyond explanation. I feel so greatful to have my friends and family (even across the world). I thank God everyday for another healthy day and feel blessed by everything I have. My heart breaks when I think of this 19 year old girl who has just begun to realize how important a mother is. Having realized myself in the last few years the value of a mother at this time in our lives, I hope that she stands strong and continues to achieve her goals. She hasn't come back to Hapkido yet, we miss her, but she is cramming for the exam.

I wish you luck Yu Rim-a. Lots of love from your older sister!