This is a short story that I submitted to the Ministry of Justice of Korea. It will be translated into Korean by my co worker at the prison, Mr. Lee, then it will be published in an annual publication by the Korean Government. I hope the meaning isn't lost in translation!
SMILE
A man with a permanent smile walks up to the front gate of a large fenced facility. It is flanked by a guard booth filled with young men in navy uniforms. The guards, tired and perhaps a bit board, grin and hit the button that opens the automatic door. It jerks open, and the man enters, sticks his head up to the window of the guard booth, and happily chit-chats and jokes with the men in uniform for a few minutes before walking past a beautifully maintained parking lot that looks more like the entrance to an expensive hotel or resort than a government office. Passing well maintained Korean Pine Trees and pruned pink Roses, that man climbs a few stairs and makes his way into the front office of the facility.
When inside, he turns left to a large office room. In this cubical-filled room he is greeted by fine dressed men in suits, dress pants, shirts, and ties who smile, shake hands, bow, and greet the man who has just entered the room in either Korean or English. The women in the room meet the man in a similar matter. The smiling man takes his time in the room to say "Hi" before signing the attendance book. He then makes his way out of the front office building and opens a clear glass door that beautifully frames a large schoolyard.
This schoolyard has beautiful red maples, bright yellow eunhangs, musky green Korean pines, and a few rose bushes. Surrounding the large soccer field, are kickball and badminton courts, and a small basketball court. Every time the man enters this large school ground he smiles. He knows that he must enjoy this rare and beautiful view of the surrounding cityscape. He also knows that there are few places in Korea that offer such a beautiful panoramic view unimpeded by overlooking mountains and tall cement apartment complexes. All in all, this schoolyard is much like the schoolyards seen in much of Korea, but with one exception. This schoolyard is enclosed by an old, thick, white concrete wall. Some of the walls have worn out paintings of children laughing, playing, and smiling, some have a thin layer of dirt that seems to accumulate on all old structures in Korea. Unlike most schools in Korean, the walls are topped with coiling jagged barbwire.
Within seconds of the man entering the schoolyard, students start to file out of the school building on the far end of the grounds. They are sporting bright yellow uniforms and they march out into the soccer field forming straight lines. The students often take the opportunity to wave or yell "Hello" from across the field. The man always waves back with a grin on his face. When all the students are lined up in neat little rows, a hefty voice, full of expression, emits from the speakers atop the front office building. In unison, teachers and students alike participate in the National Korean Exercises. The man smiles because he is grateful that he has a healthy body. When the exercises are over, the students file back into the school building at the far end of the yard. The teachers and the man follow the tide of yellow uniforms, it's class time at Eupnae Juvenile Training school. The man's class is unlike most at the school. It is often filled with the sound of English conversation, or at the very least, broken English conversation. It is a very fluid class where one can say anything as long as its in English. In this class simple, practical, everyday English is taught. Often English is mixed with a little bit of acting, singing, dancing, and drawing. The students ask questions about western culture and personal questions about their teacher's life. The man always smiles and answers the questions because he knows that, of all the people in Korea, these students need to see the true face of happiness. There is laughter, and most importantly there are smiles.
Being at a place like Eupnae Juvenile Training School allows one to reflect upon and give thanks for all the good things that they have in their life. For the teachers and staff at the school, they can't help but be thankful for their freedom. For they are reminded of this everyday as they pass through the security gates and walk next to the white concrete walls topped with barbed wire. The teachers and staff also have decent paying, stable, civil servant jobs. Oh, how happy it is to not worry about finding and keeping a job in Korea's often tight job market. For the teachers in particular, how wonderful it is to teach these students. Perhaps out of all the students in Korea, these boys surly need to learn the most, they have the most at stake in this crucial time of their lives. Teaching honestly and from the heart is more than just teaching its a simple transmission from one living being to the next wherein both members learn something from the other. In this transmission there is always something more than just knowledge that is transmitted. One should treasure this opportunity of giving and receiving between two humans- teacher and student.
For the students at Eupnae Juvenile Training School one must be thankful for all the opportunities that are offered at this school. It is a chance for you to reflect on the direction of your life in a therapeutic environment, away from the influences of your old life. It is reflection time granted to you that many people in their busy, hectic lives never get. It is a chance for you to give thanks for the health of your body and mind and to make improvements or positive changes to your overall well being. You are truly lucky to be at this training school, where you have a chance to learn, exercise, and heal. Surly, there are many worst places you could be. Rejoice in what you have and don't dwell on what you don't. Be grateful that you are offered a chance to acquire your high school graduation licence or computer science licence, or an opportunity to learn English from a native English speaker. Some children in Korean will never get this chance!
Whether, working, teaching, or learning at Eupnae training school, behind old white concrete walls and barbed wire fences, there is a lot to smile about.
