A Korean Funeral-GOK

This weekend marked a new passage in my tenure in Korea. Sadly, my wife's uncle past away. I had only met him once and it was under duress. He was in the hospital and under the care of the nurses around the clock. I held his hand to give him some hope.


Going to the hospital is a very hard thing for me to do. I nearly died in a hospital when I was born and it is also where I spent the first 2 weeks of my life. Each time I have been there the corridors smell like death. In Korea the patients walk around carrying a pole attached to an oxygen tank. There is a hole in one's neck which is supposedly to help them eat, breathe etc better. I don't know much about Korean medicine or healthcare but from what I have seen its not something I want to become fond of.


After working late at YBM (6pm) my wife and I left for Gumi with her brother. We went to the hospital where the memorial was being held.


I had to bow to his mantel to honor his memory. I want to speak my mind here and say that I feel so sorry for the family. Its not easy going to a funeral. I went to a few of them back in the states to pay respects. In our culture its a lot different and despite living in Korea I wish I could be given a wide platitude when it comes to cultural practices. I hate myself for doing things that are unnatural. I already have to cow toe to these people but when I have to do things that make me uncomfortable I feel there is something wrong.


At the funeral I barely talked to anyone I was lost in my own thoughts and was trying not to think to much about my surroundings. I heard Gok which is the wailing of broken hearts. I truly understand that its a funeral and I would be balling my eyes out if I had known the guy.


the funeral put things into perspective for me though. It showed me that time is limited and we should try to make better use of the time. No job, no stress nothing is worth being miserable. Life is way to short. It also told me that I should do more for my family and friends. I felt I didn't value my friends well enough in the time since I have moved to Korea. I left behind many good relationships and for all of that I have been lost and confused in this country.



So here I am now I think that I have a lot more things to think over between now and my next post. The event of the funeral makes me have a lot of questions still to answer


I really want your comments and maybe some questions...