The ROK Way

It's no secret I'm eager to be home in the good old 48.
However, every so often, though it seems to happen more and more frequently, I have an experience that makes me realize that, yes, I will very much miss this place when I am no longer here.
KATUSAs, for the unfamiliar, are Korean soldiers who work with the U.S. soldiers. KATUSA stands for Korean Augmentee To United States Army. (I actually knew that off the top of my head- impressive, huh? An Army wife taught me.) They have a horrible reputation, as a whole, but I can't say enough good things about them. These are Korean males doing their mandatory 2 years of service for their country with a people they know little or nothing of, as a rule. Some have been to the states, most haven't even met an American before being selected as a KATUSA. They studied hard enough (and, often enough, had rich enough families to afford such an education) that their English (or ability to learn it) was considered good enough to work with Americans. They have to apply for this privelege, and some who are incredibly proficient choose not to. However, they are the biggest source of kindness and manners throughout my average work day.
Koreans are, by nature, very respectful. There are good and bad folks of every race, gender and creed, but Koreans never fail to amaze me, anyway. Our instruction to patients here in Optometry Land is to come back in two weeks to pick up their glasses. A younger KATUSA- not quite a "baby" KATUSA, as he was unnaccompanied, but a fairly new one, just came in to pick up his glasses. As you might imagine, there is still a bit of a language barrier at times. He was no exception. It took some discussion to figure out that he was here just to pick up, and not to order, glasses. However, when we did get there, he got a worried and apologetic look on his face, and proceeded to explain to me that he was late to pick them up, that it had been more than 2 weeks. I smiled at the thought of any American soldier apologizing for such a thing! It would never happen! It makes little to no difference, in reality, but just the sheer respect of this act made me smile and realize, yet again, how blessed I am to have an opportunity to experience fully a culture that many Americans have little knowledge of at all.
I am looking forward to returning home, but I will miss this beautiful country, especially it's people!