It was finally time to pick up my Alien Registration Card that would allow me to travel outside of Korea, use the hospitals in Korea and get a bank card. This was a big day. I had planned the route and was pretty sure I knew the buses I needed to get to the Immigration Office. My co-teacher didn’t offer to help me so I planned to go it alone. Remembering a fellow EPIK teacher in the area, I messaged her and we arranged to go together after school.
After a stressful afternoon at school, I left the school ready to meet the other native teacher. I was feeling horrible; I brought some doughnuts to cheer myself up also hoping a doughnut would settle my stomach which felt a bit strange. Doughnuts settle stomachs right?
Once on the bus, I chatted to my companion, heard about her experiences in her schools and how she was managing with her move to Korea. She was in Korea on her own so I was happy to be able to offer to go together. As the bus rumbled on, we were thrown about around corners and heated up to within an each of our lives when we sat for hours at traffic lights. Not surprisingly, I started to feel worse and worse. I knew it wouldn’t be long before I was sick over everyone in the rammed, sweaty tin-can bus. She noticed I’d gone a bit quiet and asked me if I was ok. I couldn’t really answer but I think my pale, sweaty face said it all. Eventually, the bus lurched forward again and it was too much. I murmured that I needed to get off at the next stop and as it pulled up; I pushed my way through the bodies and jumped off the bus. I threw the doughnuts out of the bakery bag and puked into it. It was not gentle. My friend, I think she became a friend right then, anyone you puke in front of has to I think, rushed off to the shop. I was thankful for the space. I puked some more and wiped my wet face that was dripping with sweat.
A Korean man walked by and asked me where I was from. Perfect timing. I half-smiled and looked back down to the floor. Not the time to engage me in conversation I’m afraid! He kept looking back as he walked away and I think he was worried about me and wanted to see I was ok. Korean’s really are so caring. As my friend returned, I was trying to hide my puke bag in the bush next to me. There are no public bins in Korea so getting rid of a crisp packet is difficult, let alone a bag of sick. My friend handed me a bottle of water and some gum which I was so grateful for.
I don’t know how but we managed to continue our journey and make it to the Immigration office with 2 minutes to spare before they closed. This involved a last minute sprint which, needless to say, I could have done without. Picking up the card was so easy, it took 2 minutes each and we both felt great that we’d collected them and made it there ourselves especially in the circumstances. On the way out, I had another session in the toilet and I wondered just how I would make it home. Amazingly, I managed somehow.
On return to my house, my boyfriend was waiting for me. After a long hug and another small sick moment, we decided the wisest thing to do would be to settle down in bed and order pizza. I, in no way fancied pizza, but I can never turndown bad food especially if I’ve lost half my lunch under an hour ago. Getting me into bed and cosy, my boyfriend then popped out to the pizza place just down the road. This place boasted that it only used ‘real imsil cheese’. Sounds great! Whatever that is!?
When the pizza came it smelt amazing and I automatically felt 1000 times better. Whatever imsil cheese is, I love it! I wolfed my way through the juicy Hawaiian pizza and sluiced down a lot of coke, the best thing for an upset stomach Mum always said. I’m not sure what it was at lunch that made me so ill but I know that if in doubt, eat pizza, drink coke and get the hell to bed!