2016.05.23 03:49
2016.05.23 03:50
2016.05.23 07:26
2016.05.23 09:42
2016.05.23 14:11
나는 Dr. Bang이 "왜 미국에 왔는냐?" 란 질문에 당장 대답이 않나왔다는것이 참 이상하다.
아마 Dr. Bang은 한국에서 잘사는집의 아들이였을가? 그렇다면 그럴수 있겠지....
만일 누가 나에게 같은 질문을 했다면 나는 당장 서슴치않고, "가족과 나를 먹여 살리려 왔지요."
우리집은 내가 고등학교 2학년때 곤경에 빠지기 시작했다. 눈치를 챈 나는 가정교사로 취직해서 학교를 졸업하겠다고
부모님께 말씀드렸더니 어머님이 펄펄 뛰시며 반대해서 그때 이미 학교 선생님을 통해서 잡아놓은 자리를 포기했고
어려웠지만 부모님의 도움으로 졸업했다. 나는 원래 공대지망이였는데, 의대가는것이 빨리 돈버는데는 유리하다해서
의대에 들어갔다. 장학금, 가정고사, 출판사일로 그럭저럭 의대를 마치고 났는데, 집안 형편은 더 힘들어져갔다.
그때 Intern, Resident, 군복무를 하자면 8년이 걸려야 비로서 돈을 벌수있을수 있는데, 누가 우리 식구를 돌봐줄거냐?
때마침 의대 선배들이 미국으로 빠져나가기 시작한것을 보고 그것이 유일한 가족의 생존수단임을 알고
기회를 노리고 있다가 우연히 재수좋게 일전한푼 뇌물을 쓰지 않고 미국행을 하게되었다.
그 당시 유일한 생존의 방법으로 다른 도리가 없었던 것이다.
That's exactly why I came to America. Honest, plain, and simple...
And there's nothing to add or nothing to hesitate about to answer the question.
미국에 오자마자 주위 한국 사람들께 알아보니 은행에가면 돈을 비교적 쉽게 꿀수있다했다.
병원 옆의 Savings account를 열었던 은행에가서 한국 송금용으로 $600을 꾸어달라 했더니,
Loan officer가 "Do you have a collateral?" 영어도 제대로 못했던 꼴에 "What is collateral?" 했더니,
그 젊은 은행원이 웃으면서 (He knew I was an Intern), 한달에 $50씩 갑기로하고 선듯 꾸어 주었다.
Now, you could guess the rest of the story.
And I was able to send money to Korea once every months until my parents passed away.
A sad story. 비록 못다한 효도였지만 다른 도리가 없었다.
I brought my parents to U.S. but, after about a year, they didn't want to stay in the rural Kentucky.
I have never attempted or even dreamed about going back to home.
While I was working as an Intern at SNUH, I knew it was no place to go back.
Korea is a lost homeland but it is still my homeland.
물론 어떤 사람들은 다른 눈으로 보겠지만, That is their own business. I don't care.
I did my best to solve the problem and I was lucky !!
본인도 어려웠지만, 나보다도 어려운 사람도 많이 있었을 줄 잘 안다.
그 상황에서 기적적으로 온 챤스를 남에게 양보할수는 없었던것이 아닌가?
2016.05.24 02:06
2016.05.24 14:53
Interesting! When I went back to Korea back in 1994 to set up the surgery program at SamSung Medical Center, the most frequent question/inquisition(?) I encountered was: '왜 미국에?', especially from former colleagues/friends of my SNU era/training, who know my unique relationship with SNU before I left Korea in 1968. Indeed, many friends/colleagues were calling/ teasing me as a betrayer, very critical on my decision NOT to have come back to Korea soon after the fellowship at Richmond to pay/serve back for what I owe to SNU, breaking such obligation.
But that accusation is NOT 100% accurate. YES, I took the advantage on SNU's support to come to Richmond for the transplant surgery fellowship under David Hume as an official trip Korean government arranged for 2 years. But when I decided to stay in Richmond to start my residency again to add vascular surgery as my second career, I turned in my resignation to SNU together with reimbursement of two year salary in full amount to Korean government. So I officially cleared my legal obligation to come back to SNU though I was always guilty with moral obligation to them.
Nevertheless, I never tried to explain the whole story to make it sound a poor excuse but always answered straight back "I NEVER planned to stay in the U.S. when I left Korea in 1968, only 6 months after the appointment at SNU. But, I liked the U.S. much more so that I decided to repeat my 'second' residency at MCV to live in the U.S. starting my new career as an American surgeon ", which is true.
Indeed, like all of you, I like here much more, period! Simple as that! No particular reason! All other reasons why I decided to stay here in the U.S. are rather poor excuses(?) to rationalize myself, no more no less! But the truth is, it is a part of my motivation to settle here in the U.S. Indeed, I became very skeptical to Korean system/culture already through 5 year training at SNUH. Although my career/future was already guaranteed (?) through the appointment at SNU before I come the U.S., I felt like suffocating if I should come back to Korea/SNU to start such monotonous life till through I retire at SNU.
I know many laugh at my stupid decision to take the hardship while I could have been much better off at SNU with easy going life if I should have gone right back to Korea after a short 2 year fellowship as SNU arranged for me. True! But through the years, I once again confirmed my hard decision to settle here in the U.S. was absolutely right -of course, it wasn't easy decision and took three years to overcome my moral (?) obligation to SNU and make my mind though I am still deeply grateful to SNU for such unique opportunity they gave to me-.
So, I am happy as I am now here in the U.S. with no regret whatsoever especially after I was given for the second chance to settle in Korea through SamSung Hospital. And I chose the USA, of course. Indeed, I was so happy to get on the plane back to home 2004 permanently using one way ticket my wife sent to make sure there is NO chance for the return to Korea.
Indeed, through the last venture back to Korea for almost 10 years - never planned to stay there more than 3 years as my senior partner of my Georgetown U team bet for 1,000 $ -, I once again confirmed that I belong to HERE, and NOT there any longer which in a way sad to admit. This is the country I chose for me and my own family and also only country where my colleagues appreciate for my academic work/contribution while no one in Korea does.
Ironically, I learned painfully(?) that 'I belong HERE!' through such embarrassing experience I had with Society of Vascular Surgery (here in the U.S.) which recognized my contribution on vascular malformation/lymphedema as distinguished service with a special merit instead of Korean society/people who got all the benefits no other country had!
So if someone here in the U.S. should ask me '왜 미국에?', I would proudly say "USA is my country I chose by my own will, because USA is THE least biased and fair country in the world for a foreigner like me" - BTW, one more reason I hate Korea is they are the worst racist I have ever experienced with full of bias (SACHON DDANGSAMYON BAEAPUDA)-. BB Lee-63
2016.05.25 03:44
2016.05.25 10:49
2016.06.05 05:03
Dear Dr. 이건일,
Good to know there is another odd(?) ball like me, refusing the bet on sure horse. Glad you made it! Besides, you are happy with what you chose after all.
In my situation, I have to admit my eccentric(?) personality might have kicked in to such odd decision to settle here in the U.S. But by all means, I still miss such Korean-genuine 'DDEUGEUNHAN JUNG'/sticky emotion(?) we shared together in my early days in Korea through the residency at SNUH. Perhaps I could write book-full of so funny stories starting from the first day of internship till through the last day.
Indeed, those are the days gone forever remaining only in the memories including such controversial Kim KwangWoo, my beloved Kyungsangdo SANAI who was two years ahead of me- Prof. Kim KW was the only one who had such privilege to having the training in both surgery and anesthesia as I know of-.
Nevertheless, one of few things I enjoyed most during my tenure in Seoul was those old friends with full of fun memories! I still feel lucky and happy to claim Lee HyuckSang of Inje Univ as THE only friend I give my whole heart- he was one year ahead of me!-. Indeed, he is one of the excuses(?) left for me to visit Korea in these days! God bless!
BB Lee-'63
2016.06.05 06:13
To both Drs. Lee;
I played Churchill Downs (a horse race tract in Louisville, KY) many times and bet on what appeared to be the sure horse.
It never worked !! Even the horse does not know if he (or she) can win.
The bettings are based on the past performances of the particular horse and it is quite scientific.
In our life and societies, there are hardly any scientific odds for success rate in our jobs and their future.
There seems to be absolutely no "sure horse" in the job progressions in Korean society.
I assume that the scientific odds in Korean society are much worse than what is in the stupid horse races. Ha, ha, ha.
I am glad you two doctors did not count on your sure horses in Korea. Don't you agree?
2016.06.05 10:05
2016.06.05 12:31
2016.06.05 13:30
'미국에 뭐하러 왔냐?'라는 이 명제는 우리 모두에게 적용되는것이라 생각된다.
각자의 이유가 다르겠지만 이사람의 경우는 결과적으로 약관에 이곳에 와서 이제
고희를 훨씬넘었으니 만감이 교차되어온다. 사람사는곳 어느곳이나 다를바 없겠지만
지금와서 되돌아 보면 가족들 큰탈없고 비교적 건강한 우리내외의 그저 이만한 것이
감사하고 감사하며 행복하다.
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