A trip to Eastern Social Welfare Society

I typed this entry yesterday and I deleted it by accident.
Can't read the instructions in Korean very well.

Alright.

Yesterday, I went to Eastern Social Welfare Society in Seoul. Located near Holt. Amy and I adopted our first son through Eastern when we lived in KC. We planned on using them again, but there were series of unfortunate events.

I arrived at Eastern on time and was promptly escorted upstairs to meet the director. I am in my heavy coat and business casual. Most days, I would feel at home in the States. The Director meets me and he is a very welcoming gentleman. He is very traditional in Korean customs, bowing to me when I compliment. He offers me some gifts, a book, calendar, and CD. Also an umbrella in case it snows. I have no gifts to bring which I had planned on bring, but I gave them all out. Now, I just have women's gifts. I offer pictures of my son as my gift. Not a great gift, but it is all I got. He enjoys the picture and gives it back to me.

Now, I want to share with you how Koreans interact. The interactions are face to face. My house has a small table. We will sit around the table with a person on each side. Koreans are side by side and face to face. Meaning two on one side of the table and two on the other. In restaurants this is the predominat layout of tables. Even in coffee shops, they have over stuffed couches facing each other. Picture forthcoming.

So, the director and I are facing each other in larged overstuffed chairs. They look something that you might see in Art Noveau. Low back, but very full. There is a coffee table with glass and a piece of green felt between the table and the glass. This is pretty common. At least to have a 1/4 inch piece of glass on a coffee table.

We exchange pleasantries, but everything seems forced. He is not much of a conversationalist. So, I decide that I will allow silence. Sort of like Uma Thurman and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction. His secretary offers me a drink, meaning I am to accept a drink. So, the director and I share tea. The meeting will last as long as there is tea in his cup. He drinks rather briskly. to move me out of the room. Then I am escorted to meet Dr. Kim, the founder of Eastern.

Dr. Kim is a gracious gentlemen who began Eastern upon his retirement. Dr. Kim is now 91 years old. He has prayed for every child who leaves Eastern for placement. Eastern began as an orphanage for children, but has expanded to do much social work. Handicapped children, physical therapy for folks, unwed mothers, etc. Interesting aspect is that Dr. Kim has had a chapel built at the unwed mother's home to keep the mother's who are deeply ashamed reminded that they are loved in the eyes of God. Great witness. Amazing fellow who had a large vision and lived it out. I show him the pictures of my son and he delights in them. I tell him that Samuel is very smart and does well at school. He nods approvingly. At 91, he is still passionate about what Eastern does. It was very cool to be in his presence.

The Eastern facilites are very clean. Immaculate. The nursery is cleaner than an American hospital and this is the place my son began his life. I see the places he journeyed to for his chekcups and I meet the caseworker for him. She is in the pictures of Samuel's departure.

In the midst of this time at Eastern, there are fewer empty spots in my knowing of my son's early days. That is good.

joy,
guido