Korean Expat Community for National Disasters

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It’s been almost five weeks since I arrived in South Korea, and October 7 turned out to be one of the finest days of my time here. It started wonderfully by joining an interesting research project with my professor, and from the afternoon to late at night, I spent time with my classmates, enjoying the sights and sounds of Chuncheon. In the afternoon, we visited a charming organic café in the city, where everything was so picturesque. Later, we made our way back to campus to join a concert at our university stadium. We sang, danced, and relished every moment, making it a day to remember. 

After the concert, we decided to head out for dinner and took taxis. To avoid any miscommunication, we hailed the taxis manually from the road, so we didn’t have the drivers' contact information. Unfortunately, I lost my phone in the taxi and only realized it an hour later. Losing my phone was a real worry; back in my country, losing a phone often means you only have a 50% chance of ever seeing it again. I had heard wonderful things about Korean integrity and honesty, and my short time here had shown me how genuine and supportive Koreans can be, but still, I was anxious. 

Additionally, for the past week, I had been dealing with security issues on my Facebook account, with constant login attempts and confirmation emails showing up from various devices. Losing my phone could only make the situation worse. Anyway, with no hope, I decided to sleep. In the meantime, one of my local Korean friends texted my number with just my name and dorm information, hoping someone might see it. 

Then, early the next morning, there was a knock on my dorm door. To my surprise, it was the taxi driver holding my phone! He had found it after his late-night shift and made the extra effort to come to my living place from so far away to return it to me. I was overwhelmed with gratitude for his kindness and honesty. This experience reminded me of the integrity and thoughtfulness that are so valued in Korean culture. Not only did I get my phone back, but I also gained a new friend and a heartwarming memory that I’ll always remember.