Hiexpat Korea

One evening, couple of weeks ago, my brother-in-law asked me if I wanted to be part of something his company was organizing. On  Saturday they were going to help old and poor people by delivering charcoal.

Of course I said “Yes”, but when he came last Friday, and reminded me it was the day after, I was not really in the mood anymore. The weather was too cold and rainy, we had to get up early, and, obviously, I had forgotten.

Anyway, Saturday morning, 7am, driving along in the car, with his 8 years-old son, going to the meeting point with his colleagues.

After a quick introduction to everyone, and especially one of his colleagues who speaks english, and could explain what was going on – as my korean doesn’t allow me to understand that yet – we went to the coal reserve.
Korean people are usually really well organized for any event, so they provided us with all the necessary equipment in order to stay safe, clean, and not cold.

 

 

 

The english-speaking colleagues explained to me the important part of the briefing. Each piece of coal is about 3,5kg, and we have to deliver about a thousand pieces !

 

 

 

 

 

For about 4 hours, we went up and down and up again, loaded and unloaded, sweat perspiring, to help the people who live there, and don’t have the strength to carry the coal they need to heat their house during the cold korean winter.

It has been a really great experience, as I met people, but also because I could see another face of Korea.

Korea is not only the modern and ultra-connected country, with big new buildings, and the “Gangnam style”. It’s a country which has grown too fast, and let the weak fall by the wayside. These people live in shantytowns which were ignored by the economic development of the country.

I hope I can be a part of this event again next year !

 

 

Culture

Tags: coal, cold winter, ecomony, people power