Connection: the thing that already started
As I write this, February is almost over. This means we are approaching the first anniversary of this blog. The first blog post ever of The Not So Usual Korean Hero was posted on March 17, 2024.
Up until that first blog post, I never would have imagined becoming the moderator and writer of a blog focussing on a wonderful and resilient Korean girl living with Luscan-Lumish syndrome (LLS): Kim Ye-seo. Also, I didn't expect my connection with Ye-seo's mother, Jung Sunim, to become so precious so quickly. But here we are: connected nonetheless.
Have you ever wondered how connections come to be? Is it fate? Is it something you choose yourself? Is it already... there - you just need to stay open for it?
Connection
You can look up the definition in the dictionary: "a relationship in which a person or thing is linked or associated with something else". Or find the psychological meaning: "the thought that even though each person is their own distinct, physical being, people are also connected to each other and nature, not by language but just by having a deeper sense of being".
However, to me, connection is something we can't really grasp. Like the breath, love, the soul, or ... art. Which is all a form of connection, don't you think?
This short clip of a pianist says it all. A musical piece isn't something one can "start":
In Korean culture, connection (Inyeon) is really important, as this piece from Korea Magazine explains:
If you happen to live with autism (LLS is basically a combination of bodily overgrowth, autism, and intellectual disability) the view on and connection with the world is quite different. This doesn't mean that Ye-seo doesn't connect with others, or to new things!
As she explained in the very first blog post:
Because of LLS, my body – like most children with developmental disabilities – is slower to react. For instance, if I fall, it takes me some time to cry. When my friends and I clap our hands three times, I am slower than them. This means that I begin when they are already done.I love to dance! I still do it, no matter if my bodily sensations are dull.
Seollal
On January 29th and 30th, Seollal - the Korean New Year - was celebrated. For Ye-seo, this meant time off from school. As always, her mother Sunim made sure she would not miss her swimming lessons. Ye-seo and her (new) coach worked on strengthening her posture.
During the Seollal holiday, Ye-seo also went to see her grandma, made friends with a dinosaur (!),
learned how to make scented oil herself,
Actually, the "sauna" is called a 'jjimjilbang' - a unique part of Korean culture. It's a therapeutic space focused on health and wellness, offering a variety of services for the whole family. You'll find saunas (which you can use 24-hours a day) massage services, game rooms, a snack bar with ramen and drinks, and even a restaurant serving traditional dishes like seaweed soup and rice.
In the jjimjilbang people of all ages wear the same comfortable clothing and relax on mats laid out on the floor. There's also a gym for those who want to work out. The saunas are separated by gender, with distinct spaces for men and women.
In the warm and cosy environment of the jjimjilbang, Ye-seo and her mother Sunim spent the whole night chatting with new friends. People find their own spot on the floor, spread out their mats, and comfortably chat or sleep. Everyone enjoys the jjimjilbang in their own way. Ye-seo and her mother had a great time!
But now the holidays are over, Ye-seo new school semester will start. Everything will go back to normal. School, exercise, health check-ups.
Also on the horizon is the National Sports Festival for Students with Disabilities in Gyeongnam in May. Which means more time in the water.
And talking about connection and water: we are all made of water (up to 60% of the human body is water). Just like the Kpop band Big Ocean (all members are hearing impaired) sings: "WE are water - superpower!"
Omg love
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