I have come to a few realizations recently that A) I am actually an extremely clumsy – or unlucky – person, and B) I have a terrible relationship with fire and anything of a hot temperature.

This past weekend, I accidentally gave myself a second degree burn. How is that possible, you might ask? Well, if you are me, then while it is highly improbable, it is still possible. I missed a measuring cup while pouring boiling water, and poured it on my hand instead. I just played it off, threw some cold water on it, and went about my day. But the next morning, with the appearance of two very large blisters on my finger, I decided I at least needed to go to the pharmacy (약) and get some burn cream. The only issue was that I didn’t know what exactly I needed to get, or how to ask for it. So I called in reinforcements.

Luckily, at the academy I work at, there are multiple Korean people who speak English very well and who know the foreign English teachers pretty well. Of course, this was the week my supervisor took her vacation, so I had to venture down to the Youth Department. When the librarian looked at my finger, she said immediately, “Oh wow, that is bad. You should go to the hospital.”

To give some background, I haven’t been to the doctor’s office in over 8 years, let alone the hospital, so of course I replied, “No, I will be fine. I will just put some burn cream on it.” But second opinions were called for. At least four other people looked at my burn and within seconds made the decision that the hospital was my next destination. So, off we went.

Hospitals in Korea are very different from back home. You walk to the front desk, and take a number, like at the Secretary of State. Then when your number is called, you hand the receptionist your ID to check in, tell them what you are there for, and receive a slip of paper in return. After that, you walk down a really long hallway with at least 20 doorways. Each doorway is an examination room, with a doctor and nurse seated in each one. So you find the room number with your name on the monitor, and take a seat in a chair in the hallway until your name is called. Then you enter the room and get treated in about 10 minutes or less. Next, you return to the front desk, pay your bill, walk 5 feet over to get your prescription and then outside to the next building, which is the pharmacy, to pick up your meds. Everything takes less than 2 hours.

So, when I went in to see the doctor, she told me it was a second degree burn, and then proceeded to peel the blisters off with tweezers. No pain meds or numbing agents of any sort. She cleaned the burn, put some gel on it, followed by a cotton sheet, gel pad, and gauze. I no longer had a pinkie finger, but a sausage attached to my hand. Then she said, you will have to come every other day so we can change the bandage. I went from not going to the doctor for 8 years, to going every other day. Karma gets you every time. Now, I am a regular.

Each time it gets a little more painful. The second day I went, I almost passed out and threw up, but there were no tears, and hopefully all of it means I am healing. If I have learned anything from this experience, it is that my fellow coworker from downstairs is a saint, I am no good on my own, and Korean hospitals are very convenient. Here’s to crossing your fingers that I don’t burn anything else. Let me know if you would like to hear the rest of my burn stories, and then you might be convinced of my unluckiness.

Thanks for reading. Stay safe and stay happy. 행복해요. Although maybe I should be telling myself to stay safe. Either way, see you next time! 다음 봐요!