The countdown has officially begun. Actually, it began a couple of weeks ago, but I haven't had the inspiration to write a post recently. I am leaving on June 29th and I am very excited.
I have eight teaching days left, and I'm so ready to go home. It has been way too long. And I need a vacation. It's very weird thinking about leaving after I've spent the past 14 months adjusting to a new country. I'm also a little weirded out by the idea that I will be able to understand everything everyone says again. I've gotten so used to walking around in a fog of Korean. I have many plans that include eating steak, salad, sleeping and getting ready for grad school. I am also taking a brief vacation to Miami for my friend's wedding. Super excited.
Seoul seems to have had a very harmful effect on my skin. I don't know what it is exactly, maybe it's the air, the stress, dirty children germs, the diet or a combination of all of these. I'm really hoping it clears up when I get home and have less stress and cleaner air.
I've noticed I've picked up some very odd English after being exposed to Korean-English, or Konglish, for so long. For example, they call the United States, "America", and wet wipes, "water tissue." I'm sure there are others that I've picked up but it's going to make for some interesting English conversation when I get back.
I know that I am not completely up-to-date on American politics, but after living in a country where there is national health care, I don't understand why there are people who are, or in the past have been, against government run or regulated health care. I had minor surgery twice last summer to remove a cyst on my lip, and in total, including doctor visit, prescriptions, and followups, it cost me about $200. I went to a nice hospital, didn't have to wait longer than normal and it was exactly like, if not better, than care that we already get in the US. In the States, this probably would have cost me several thousand dollars, and been impractical because it was non-life threatening. This month, I have been to the doctor three times for various reasons and have not spent more than $100 so far on visits and prescriptions. While they tend to over-medicate here (which is not terrible if you don't go to the doctor for every little cough or sneeze), the affordability of healthcare here makes it much more likely that people who become seriously sick will know it sooner and be able to receive treatment and recover.
The expense of the American health care system means that people are less likely to know about serious illness until it is too late to effectively treat it because they are hesitant to spend the money needed to see the doctor unless it is necessary. This is a terrible way to maintain the health and productivity of a country. While I am really looking forward to returning home, I am somewhat reluctant simply because I do not have the same excellent health care options, and will instead have to pay ridiculous premiums just for basic prescriptions and brief visit to the doctor. This is something that I will have to deal with, but I sincerely hope that the country finds some sort of solution to this problem and stops bickering just because they want the other party to be wrong no matter what.
