St. Mary's Hospital - Christmas Celebration

4 December 2010

St. Mary's Hospital - Christmas Celebration with the children in the wards

Organized by Yeoksam Global Village

Mid this year, I started doing volunteer work in St. Mary's Hospital - The Catholic University of Korea, Gangnam, Seoul, Korea. This is an activity organized by Yeoksam Global Village. Since its already December, Christmas is around the corner. Both organizations planned a Christmas party celebration for the foreign volunteers as well as the children currently confined in the wards.

Today is the last volunteer day in St. Mary's Hospital for year 2010! Wow, that was really fast. Just few months ago, I just arrived this whole new strange and foreign country and now the year is ending... whew.. Time flies.

Finally, I was assigned in the Children Ward (regular not the children with Leukemia)... This means I do not have to show off my poor piano skills!!! haha! Since there are a lot of things planned for the 2hours duration today, we only visited the wards, made balloons, acted as Santa to give out Santa hats!!! :)

They are some of those little kids in the first ward we visited... They are too adorable, isn't it?! It is just soooo heartbreaking to see them inside the hospital with their dextrose on their hands... :( these are the regular children's ward... what more inside the BMT - the children with leukemia... and what more those who are not fortunate enough to have their illnesses treated...

China and Carol - getting ready to sing Christmas Carols! =)

 Little girl listening to the Christmas Carol...

with some of the other volunteers from America...

Ms. Cristina Confalonieri - head of Yeoksam Global Village, KBS2 Talk Host, International Law Professor

Ms. Cristina Confalonieri receiving her Best Volunteer award from the CEO of St. Mary's Hospital - Hong Young-Seon (홍영선)

I did not expect I would have one too! =)

Ms. Cristina with one of the volunteers, Mr. Hong and the Manager of External Affairs

Thanksgiving lunch of St. Mary's Hospital as a sign of appreciation to the foreign volunteers.

 

유리언니! =)

Carol and China after lunch... =)

 

Our Santa, Mr. Hong, Ms. Cristina and External Affairs Manager

The Filipino volunteers with Mr. Hong, St. Mary's Hospital CEO

The Filipino volunteers with Ms. Cristina Confalonieri

 

Our new found friend - Sarah from South Africa

Our new found friend - Sharmila from South Africa

Emoooo.. haha!

On our way to the National Public Library, crossing the wide streeeet!

High technology touch screen computer...

Completing a puzzzle...

I am not as active as I am now back in the Philippines doing these kinds of volunteer since I am very occupied with work back in Manila. But this is a fulfilling duty, being able to see the little kids smile after all the pains they have been through :) .

5 December 2010

1:20am Korea Time

Karina Chua