Acupuncture and Noraebang

These two things are by no means related, but when I think back on the past month, acupuncture and Noraebang stand out in my mind as the most noteworthy.

First, my hand injury (I fell up some stairs in November) is still bothering me, so my host-mom recommended acupuncture, and I have had two treatments so far. Not sure if it has helped yet, but the experience in itself has definitely been worth it:

The first time I went to the oriental clinic, I thought I had misunderstood my host-mom, she didn't really mean this tiny little place, with old-fashioned wooden floors, and the smell of ginseng in the air? I was expecting a doctor's office with the clean smell of disinfectants....the nurse ushered me into the oriental doctor's office, and a tall man with salt and pepper hair shook my hand. He was dressed in traditional Korean clothes, and preceded to ask me about my injury. Best I could, and with the help of some translated text (thanks to my friends) I explained to the doctor what had happened.

The nurse then took me from the doctor's office to a large room with sectioned off beds. I took off my right sock (my hand injury is on the left), laid down on the bed, and the doctor entered to put two needles in my right hand, and two in my right foot. He then said I should open and close my left hand (the actual injured hand) for a half and hour. After said 30 min, the nurse removed the needles and I went home. The next treatment was similar.

It was amazing to see the needles in my hand and foot, but not feel them at all. Overall, the experience was simply fascinating, and it remains to see if my left hand will improve with time.

This month has also been characterized by Noraebang, because a few weeks ago my host family's extended family came to our house for a party. We went out for Korean BBQ, and after dinner my host mom asked me if we should have a beer. I readily agreed (though I really don't like to drink much, I don't mind, and in this case I wanted to spend more time getting to know my host family's family). So my host mom, her sisters and I went to drink a beer, while the men of the family remained at the BBQ place. After a while my host-mom decided we should go sing songs in the Noraebang. I had told them that I enjoyed it, and I think they wanted to do something they could include me in. After a few songs we were soon joined by my host dad, the uncles and grandfather. (The kids were with a babysitter at home.) They all proceeded to sing various songs loudly (and quite well). The grandfather belted Korean oldies, while swaying to the tune, motioning for me to join in.

This experience stands out to me because it was the first time I think my host parents realized that they are allowed to have fun around me too. Even though the language barrier still exists, the experience showed both of us that it is possible to have fun and get to know one another more without speaking each other's language fluently. Ever since our Noraebang experience, I have felt like my host-parents are just a little more relaxed around me, and my host-dad attempts to tell me jokes in Korean more frequently (I still don't understand most of them, I just smile) and this in and of itself feels like a Christmas gift.