Foreign but Full of Joy

``Watch out! Watch out!``

At the house of Nho Chung-Rae (74) in Chungrim-dong, Seoul, May 10.

A foreign man of strong physique was maneuvering a furniture out of a house through a narrow path. A senior woman, standing on the corner, repeated ``thank you`` in Korean.

The foreign consulting manager, Christ (33), came to work for his Australia company located in the Korean. He started to volunteering for the senior citizens following the recommendation of the company to participate in various social activities.

Christ was soaked with sweat after an hour of work.

``She is a beautiful lady.``

Taking a break, Christ said his first impression of her. Ms. Nho have live alone for decades after being abandoned from her husband under the pretext that she could not bear a son.

The small house where Ms. Nho lived is what some call `hives.` The blue eyed foreigners, Korean employers, and volunteers were working together to renovate her house.

``I am giving them so much trouble because I have lived a silly life.``

Ms. Nho dropped tears, saying ``It is first time in my life that so many people came to help me.`` Steve Philchuk (37) said that he felts at home there with the generous hospitality of the grandmother.

All of them returned home with great pleasure after 6 hours voluntary service.

Cha Ji-Wan maruduk@donga.com