Tuesday, June 19
What text books call a "language barrier" has become my most treasured communication during my work day. He only speaks Korean and I only English so body language and non-verbal gestures became the unspoken communication between me, the therapist, and he, the patient. I find myself wondering if, due to the nature of his accident, our work which involves discussion of severe pain, dressing one-self, and literally holding hands through shoulder range of motion, increases our ability to communicate so clearly without more than two words ("thank you"). A few weeks had passed since I was able to work with this gentleman and my coworkers knew how much I missed him. I went into our waiting room to collect another patient after lunch when my Korean gentleman slowly hobbled over to me and trapped one of my feet with his quad cane.0 comments
"Ah miss yoooou" he yelled out loud with a lopsided smile.
"I miss you too!" I exclaimed, a little too overjoyed and startled.
He then saluted me, as always, and said "Sank you" before sitting back down.
posted by Jenny Tuesday, June 19, 2007
