079 What Makes Me Busy?

[lina]

079 What Makes Me Busy?       

August, 13, 2001, my two sons and I arrived at Taipei International Airport after 2 hours’ flight (flying). On seeing their father, my two boys cheered and ran to him. We met each other in months. I smiled to him, but my mind fluctuated between hopes and fears.

My husband already rented an apartment for us. However, we couldn’t go there, because our stuff which we had sent in Korea one month earlier didn’t arrive yet. My husband was compelled to take us to the apartment used as employees’ accommodations. Fortunately, his roommate had gone on a leave to Korea. The inside of the apartment looked like a hospital - white and cold. The floor was covered with white tiles and the wall also painted white. There was no warm atmosphere I felt in the apartment in Korea - wooden floors and wallpapering wall. Later, I got to know the reason. Hot and humid weather in Taiwan made them prefer tile and painting.

The next morning, my first day in Taiwan started like that! My husband went to work, and three of us were left behind at home. But, there’s very little for us to do. Most employees at my husband’s company ate all meals at the company cafeteria. So, there was no enough kitchenware at the apartment: two or three small pots, a few bowls, spoons and chopsticks were all. Our belongings were poor, too - only a few clothes, some books and a board game. During the day time, I had to stay at home, and just prepare three meals with cooking material my husband had bought for us. First of all, the problem with me was that I couldn’t speak a word of Chinese. In addition, my poor sense of direction prevented me from daring to go outside alone. So, our life was simple – eating meals or snacks, reading the same books and playing the same board game again and again until we were fed up. One evening, my family took a walk in the neighborhood after my husband came home. I found a grocery store near my apartment. The next day, I wanted to prepare dumplings for my sons. At last, I went out alone! I tried to remember the way to the grocery store for my safe return. I got there, pick a pack of frozen dumplings, and lined at the checkout counter. I checked the price, and I had enough money to buy it. ‘OK! I made it!’ I screamed to myself. However, when it was my turn, the cashier told me something…“Mai e Song e!” I, of course, couldn’t get her, so she told me over and over again. The line got longer, and I broke out in a cold sweat with embarrassment. After a few minutes dragged like a few hours, a kind lady put a pack of dumplings onto mine. Oh! At the moment, I realized what the cashier said, “Buy one and get one free!”

After much meandering, we got our stuff from the customhouse and we moved to our apartment in one week. Though my Chinese didn’t much improve, it wasn’t a barrier to me anymore. I could go out to meet my friends and go shopping on a bicycle or drive a car alone. I bought new products I thought we needed them for our life in a new place. My small apartment was stuffed with bits and pieces again, and I led a busy life before I knew it.  

From time to time, when I think that I am too busy, I recalled the one week at the employees’ accommodations. It was the laziest days in my life. I didn’t need to hurry anything and a day was long enough for idling. Sometimes, I miss the leisurely days. So, I questioned myself, ‘What difference is there between now and then? What makes me busy?’ Yes! The more I have, the busier I am! When I buy something new, if I don’t throw away old things, I will be surrounded by odds and ends soon. I end up buried in the miscellaneous. If I really want a free life, I will have to give up junk. The same applies to you!  

[lina]

아... 그래서... 물건 하나 들이면 하나는 내 보내려고 노력해요...
생각이 많거나 바쁠 땐, 오히려 집안에 한구역을 정하고 버릴 것을 찾다보면 생각도 물건도 정리되구요~ ^^

[작은행복]

국보급S라인 하윤이가 오빠를 기다리고 있어요
언능와서 소주한잔 사주세용~~
그 담은 오빠하기 나름인거 아시죵? ^^
⇒⇒ http://dotori.org/aff3.html

[lina]

그리구... 한국말 잘 몰라 곤경에 처한 외국인을 보면 적극 도와주기!
우린 한국말도 되고 미쿡말도 되니까! ㅋㅋ~

[카시아]

처음엔 댓글보고 lina 라는 분이 새로 우리 카페에 새로운 맴버인가했어요ㅎㅎ
낮에 이름 바꿨다고 한거 생각 못하고 ㅋㄱ
언니글 읽다보면 제가 대만 가있는 기분이 들어요.
실제로는 한번도 안가봤는데 . 마치 갔다온양.

[manequine]

덕분에대만의삶을생생하게체험한다는착각이드는군요.

[lina]

생생체험! 맞습니다~ 맞구요! ㅎㅎ...
앞으로도 흥미진진 이야기들이 이어질테니 기대해 주세요! ^^

[스마일]

전 1년에 한두번 안쓰는 물건 과감히 정리하는데 그러고 나면 맘속까지 후련해지더라구요^^
특히 아이들 장남감 정리할때 ㅋㅋㅋ

[lina]

난.. 옷정리! 저 옷을 작년에도 올해도 안입었네! 하면 정리 들어가는걸루~
근데 제일 정리 안되는 게 책이라는... ㅠ

[스마일]

버릴 책 있음 저에게 버리세요 ㅋㅋㅋ

[musuri]

대만의 삶이 생생히 느껴져요~ 그때 추억 생각하며~언니에게 더 좋은 일만 생길거에요.~~

[lina]

ㅎㅎ... 그때나 지금이나 내 삶의 원동력은 씩씩함에서! 감사~ ^^♥

[pinetree]

정말 막막했을 것 같은데 언니 참 용감한 것 같아요~^^

[lina]

ㅎㅎ... 내 삶의 원동력은 용감함인가..?! ^^;;
사람 사는 데는 다 마찬가지라는 걸 살아보니 알겠드라구.. 그걸 알구 나서는 겁먹을 필요없었던거쥐~ ^.~

[버니]

용감한 언니야~~ 타국이니 재밋는 일이 얼마나 많았겠어요!!!앞으로 대만이야기 보따리~~기대할께요