Result of spring, smog, Seoul, dirty children, and the ominous, ever present Yellow Dust.

Two momentous occasions occurred today: first, I went to a doctor. And second, my big sister passed the bar!!! Congratulations Kelli, I'm so proud of you! Soon, when I ask you to send me some of my old stuff I won't feel obligated to reimburse you because you'll be making so much more money than me:p

I realize a doctor appointment is exponentially less interesting than passing a test that takes months to study for and has an insurmountable power over the future of your life, but with the current media coverage of Swine Flu and being raised to not go to a doctor unless bleeding out of your eyes, I was finally persuaded by others in my office that my coughing sounded like somebody who had a six pack a day habit and was not at all good in a non smoker.

After sitting in the waiting room for 30 minutes, waiting for the clinic to open by marking homework packets, I was called into a room that looked like a replica of a dentist's office. I struggled to tell him my symptoms, but when he heard me cough he was quick to determine that my reason was based on my inability to breathe properly and he sat me down to shove a metal depressant up my...nose? Yep. The first fifteen minutes of this twenty minute doctor appointment involved several objects, including wet cotton balls and the whirling tool that flushes out your mouth at the dentist, being shoved up my nose while the nurse instructed me over and over to breathe with my mouth. In Korea, nobody ever blows their nose and while I had always assumed it was a cultural difference, the doctor insisted that when blowing your nose you get infections in your nasal passages.

When sick it is much better to cough it up than blow it out.

I have no idea if this is true or not, but it relieved a lot of pressure that was built up in the back of my face, behind my nose so I didn't argue. After hearing me breathe he determined that I had a pretty serious case of bronchitis and perscribed antibiotics, five liters of water a day, a surgeons mask to be worn at all times, and to not talk. I'm going with the first two. The third one I haven't worked up the courage. And the fourth one is not allowed by my wallet. The appointment was over quickly, and I paid my whopping 3 dollars and fifty cents, went across the street to the pharmacy and got my perscription filled in minutes. 18 pills a day for four days adminstered in 3 doses a day after each meal. It took 5 minutes to fill the order and cost me an extra 7 dollars and fifty centy.

I'll have to give it a little time to work before determining whether this treatment is legitimate or the work of a witch doctor, but I spent under an hour waiting, getting treated by the doctor, and getting my medicine all for the grand sum of about 10 american dollars. I'm not going to lie, I like the health care provided in Korea.

I haven't been keeping up with my blog lately, and I'm very sorry. I've seen a lot of Korea, a lot of palaces, cherry blossoms, secret gardens, and breathtaking panoramic views from mountain tops. I should have kept you all updated on it. I've spent the last couple months caught up in a whirlwind of social activity that has left me somewhat drained and exhausted. At this moment I'm wheezing like a guy with a 5 pack a day habit and coughing like I used to when I was a kid and had my annual asthma attacks. There's the smog, the smoke that I'm always around (but not smoking myself...don't worry Mom), and the ominous Yellow Dust that comes over from China every spring as a result of their rapid desertifiication. I've also been working non stop since January and am just really tired. As a result of this I will probably be less social, and by default, more apt to update this blog:) I miss you all very much!