Pain in the Neck

My neck has been killing me since last Sunday and the two year old painkillers I found in the back of the closet just weren't cutting it.  Then this morning my glasses broke. So today at lunch I took some sick leave because I have that now.

Before going to the ER I stopped by the glasses shop across the street and in 30 minutes I had an eye exam and new glasses for $95.  

On a side note, the eye exam was one of the best I've had. Didn't even know one could have an opinion on eye exams until today, but now I don't want to go anywhere else.

Once at the hospital my Dr visit with X-rays took 30 minutes and cost $14 including medication.  So much medication.  Such a lovely pain killing shot.

Since the whole thing only took two hours with drive time included, I tried to go back to work but they told me no, I needed to go home and rest. So I headed straight to The Stoop for ginger ale and a salad, then I went home to bed.

Days like today are my favorite and happiest kinds of days. Sure, bad stuff happened but there is so much joy in having ones basic needs met.

A Woman's Right To Choose

Maybe it's just me, 

but I've felt like 

the USA held my uterus hostage.

If I didn't follow their rules,

jump through their hoops,

pay their excessive fees then

NO BIRTH CONTROL FOR YOU!!!!

In South Korea it's simple,

you walk in the pharmacy 

and you say, 

"Piim juseyo."

or show them this,

피임주세요.

They then hand you your birth control,

you pay 6,000 to 10,000 won

and then you leave.

There are strange reports online 

about how women have felt

 "judged" 

by the looks at the pharmacy.  

As far as I can tell, 

this is a personal issue. 

There hasn't been a pharmacy around 

that has been anything but polite to me 

and I've lived in only small towns.

If you need to know more 

about the birth control you have been given, 

it's all easily Googled when you get home.

Korea is not a third world country.

They have birth control everywhere,

and easier and cheaper to access than at home.

Try E-mart or Home Plus
if you are wondering where to get started.
Just, whatever you do,
don't be young and stupid.

On the other hand,
having a kid in Korea is virtually free
so whatever floats your boat.

Photo Finish

Korea is obsessed with perfection.

 Men and women slice and dice at a rate that would make Brazil proud.

 For many it is disturbing and alarming.  

Of course, it's also true that this obsession has it's benefits for even the most conservative among us.

You see, because "everybody's doing it" beauty procedures are cheap.

If means laser hair removal, photo facials, chemical peels, and other 

gateway procedures are roughly the same cost as a nice new pair of shoes.

Not only that, but clinics are everywhere.  

Many of which cater to a foreign clientele  - like me -

who are more than happy to throw down for these 

less invasive vanity treatments.

It really is lovely to no longer need to shave or pluck or prune.

Things Heat Up

Babies First Emergency Room

On Tuesday, after running a fever between 102-104 for three days,

I could feel my eyes and brain beginning to cook,

my body felt like it had every ounce of liquid squeezed out of it.

Plus, I hadn't been able to eat or drink in days.

The next stop on the train was most certainly kidney failure.

I called my head teacher and said, 

"Help."

Babies first IV, that she remembers.

 30 Minutes later I was plugged into IV's as they nervously tried to bring down my fever.  It took two rounds of treatments and lots of supplements before my body felt inclined to listen.  

After that I was admitted for 22 hours of IV's.

It's ALIVE!!!

My lungs were solid white masses on the x-rays.  

I had both a viral and fungal infection in my lungs.

They sounded like rice krispies.

Snap. Crackle. Pop.

However, thanks to Korean health care

the entire crisis was only physically terrifying...

not financially.