This is the bold idea:  before the KCDC cuts off the internet and completely isolates the instructors for a week:

Deliver care packages to the teachers so that they can have the most peaceful, entertaining, self-fulfilled, relaxing bit of zen that metropolites like us could only dream about in our wildest temple-stay daydreams.

The folks who were quarantined just got the unlucky draw and it could have easily been us.  They are mostly new teachers, new to Korea, and they all have seven days before day zero.  SEVEN DAYS, or more.  Read how things have gotten down to spark a call to action:

“I think peoples spirits tonight are about as low as they’ve been in the last 72 hours.  The general community sense is that of animosity now; we understand the situation, we’re not going to go running into the hills infecting children with a new pig-virus, but those actually holding us here appear to have been replaced with some hardliners high up at the Ministry of Health who’s butts are so tight that when they fart only dogs can hear it.”

After a day of reading the play by play from people inside the quarantine and from bloggers outside, I realize that we in the expat community can do much more than simply comment on what’s going on.    With respect to the KCDC, if Japan is any indication, it might become their perogative to take the individual isolation thing to another level entirely.   So be it.   Here are the details of the plan to thank these teachers who are in there so that we don’t get sick!   Read on.

Who:  You, yes you, reader (if you’re in Seoul)

What:  Donate books, hallmark cards (blank, so they can write people), pens, markers, disposable cameras, whatever you could possibly want or need if you were kept in a dorm by yourself for a week.   Be creative and communicative!  Let them know that you have some sense of solidarity and support even in your busy life! 

When:  Deadline is today,  5/26 ,  5pm sharp    

Where:   Bring collected items to Nambu Bus Terminal exit 5

Why:  Why not.

How:  The goal is to bring together whatever items we can and deliver them to the quarantine facility.  If the feedback is positive we’ll do it again, since there are over 30 of them I’m sure this can go a few rounds!  There are no rules against bringing items to the teachers in quarantine, and as far as we can tell, it is not prohibited to simply hand over care packages to deliver to the teachers.

Ideas, thoughts?  Comments are welcome!  e-mail: ratemyhagwon [at] gmail.com

–The Editor

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