Getting by...

I want to thank you all for understanding and sharing my grief. Your support and understanding means very much to me. I planed to write earlier but than I get so emotional. I avoid being in the house as I miss my Bongo boy terribly. It’s hard to wake up in the morning without him. He slept with me on bed and in the morning he would gently wake me up. I miss his Bongo dance when I get back home from work. I miss our walks. I hate to go to the grocery shop as usually I would go with him. Sometimes I think I am better but than my throat gets dry, my hart gets a pinch and tears flood my eyes. I cannot help it.
I thought to go after a taxi driver – but those who live here know it would not work and for sure would backfire. The other possibility was to write a letter to the municipality or the city hall and ask to paint yellow stripes or put a traffic sign “slow” but I am afraid that might backfire too.
So I decided to focus helping. With huge help from Faye and Chaitanya I fostered Sylvie – a golden retriever. She was a gorgeous, skinny, long legged blond and it took only a week to find a home for her. Blonds are indeed very lucky...Sylvie was adopted by an American family on Camp Hamprey. They already have a dog so Sylvie would have a company. They will leave Korea in 2009 and will take her to US. It's a pity Sylvie's parents do not have time to get in touch with us but I am sure they and Sylvie are happy together.

Since last week I go to see a jindo Karen tries to save. This jindo is designated as a “dinner” for a sick grandfather and chained to a house close to the Embassy. Karen initiated negotiation with the family and Embassy staff will hopefully buy him from the family. I hope a new puppy will not appear the very next day after we buy the jindo. On the photo you can see how short is a chain he is on.

Some people tell me to get another dog immediately. I cannot. With Sylvie whom I fostered for a week I did not bond. There has to be some spark in a heart for a four legged creature too.
I also tried to get involved in Daejon dog shelter - but I find it too distressing. For those who want more information here is the link: http://www.lonelylifetime.com/need-home/daejeon-shelter-forced-to-close.

I heard today that a great Australian lady who is training dogs for blind Korean people for a Samsung foundation got attacked while she was walking a dog in the park. Koreans threw stones at the dog. Allegedly they were afraid of a dog on a leash with a red jacket - which is a sign he is getting trained for blind people. If anyone tells me this is a developed country...

The good news is I am moving to Kiev, Ukraine as of Feb 1st. That’s my next three year assignment and I am relieved to leave. I have Bongo's ashes still with me. I decided to take him with me to Kiev. I cannot make myself leaving his ashes here. He had a wretched beginning. Even more wretched end and I want to take him to some wonderful spot far from here.

On a different note, finally newspapers started to report about the Samsung scandal today. I first heard of it on Oct 29th, and read it yesterday on the blog, but only today did it trickle to the papers. It's interesting reading and gives a good insight how this country operates:

http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=855&Itemid=32