30 November 2010
New Findings!
It's Tuesday again today and Tuesday is the most hectic day and no-fun-filled day this semester. I have class starting 10am until evening 8pm which may be extended until we finish our lesson/class for the day. I actually only have 3 classes for the day but it occupies my whole Tuesday. 10am to 1pm class then 1pm to 3pm class, followed by 5pm to 8pm class in Seoul National University, which we need to prepare then travel around 1.5hours. That is my Tuesday life here since September. Though, the situation is different now as the Winter is now around the corner. When we started this kind of setup, it was still Summer/Fall and the weather is tolerable. However, this time, the weather has been colder than we wanted it to be. Knowing the Seoul National University is on the foot of Gwanak Mountain adds to the possible coldness there.
Since I will be having a hectic day with no time for lunch, around 9am, I was preparing my brunch Tuna Sandwich in the Laundry Area of my dormitory. When I was preparing my food, the cleaning lady or who we always call Ajumma (아줌마) started talking to me asking that it is lunch, etc. etc. Yes, I said, because I will have continuous class today and would not be able to have lunch.
She then started sharing that she has 2 daughters and the eldest is 25 years old (Lunar Age - which means the eldest daughter was born in 1986) and is currently studying in Sungmyung Women's University in Seoul on her Senior year. I was amazed with this fact but its not yet all. She said, the eldest daughter just came back from South Africa learning English! The youngest daughter is 21 years old (Lunar Age) and is now in China, learning Chinese!!! This brought me to a bigger surprise and realization!
I cannot imagine how a cleaning lady is able to afford sending her children to universities in Seoul and much more to other countries to study but it is possible in her case, or should I say, in Korea's case.
Earlier this semester, another story we heard from a vendor, selling Egg Bread in Seoul National University Subway Station, an Ajussi (아저씨) sent his children to Philippines to study undergraduate degree in Ateneo de Manila University and is currently living in Makati, as elite university to study and an elite place to live in Philippines.
It is amazing how these people are able to afford sending their children to other countries to study and I respect these people a lot as they have to bear difficult jobs just to send their children to school. The thing is, in Korea, even if you have these lowly jobs, it is still highly better than the other countries'. Korea has established itself in terms of the financial stability of their people.
Hopefully, one day, this will also be possible to other countries, especially the developing countries. It is sad that most of the workforces of the multinational companies are coming from the developing countries; however, the developing countries are still left behind.
8:49am Korea Time
2 December 2010
