On April 16 of this year, the Sewol Ferry capsized and sunk off the coast of South Korea, leaving more than 300 people dead or missing, most of them high school students. The following email was delivered to Neal Price, International Scheduling Coordinator, Planet Depos, from Susan Wasilewski, RPR, CRR. CCP, CMRS, who was on assignment in South Korea 13 days after the tragedy. With Susan’s permission, we share her words:
Hi, Neal,
I went to the Ferry Memorial today. I asked a taxi driver at the hotel if he would take me. He told me it would be expensive, but he agreed. It was about an hour’s ride from Seoul.We got to the Memorial site and there were so many people. The taxi driver pulled up and pointed, like “here it is.” I signaled for him to park and come with me. He smiled and did just that. We walked up together.
They are so organized in South Korea. The Memorial is done with such respect and dignity. They have a huge air-conditioned tent with framed pictures of all the lost souls. There were flowers everywhere and music playing. It was beautiful.They give you a flower and a ribbon as you walk in and then you get in line to pay your respects. We both signed the reception book.
The taxi driver stayed right by my side. He didn’t speak any English and I didn’t speak any Korean, but we paid our respects and we both cried a little. All those young people…
As we walked out, I snapped a picture of him and handed him the camera and he took my picture too. Too much photography felt kind of disrespectful.
Then he took me on to the airport. When we departed, I thanked him several times, and he thanked me. I’ll never forget the day.
I will upload the two pictures when I get home…me and my taxi driver friend.
Gotta run catch my flight now. Talk soon….
Susan