LIGHTS OUT!

Do you remember the last time your lights went out?

What was your first thought...besides, did I pay my bill this month?

Who did you call?  What did you do?

As I was trying to multitask this evening, cooking dinner (shrimp, eggs, and rice), washing clothes, and about to tune in to Season 2 of my favorite show 24 with good ole' Jack Bauer, the unthinkable happened!  My electricity went OUT!

I HATE any kind of darkness, Lord knows I do, but I didn't panic.  Here were my thoughts:
I haven't gotten an electric bill yet so I haven't had to pay anything. 
Where are the flash lights?  Shoot there aren't any!  (my pops and favorite uncle taught me to always have flashlights with fresh batteries and candles on deck...)
Where is the candle?  In the drawer.  
Lighter, matches?  I don't know! 
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?

What did I do?

First, after realizing that I couldn't see ANYTHING, I got my U.S. cell phone and turned it on in hopes that I could get a little bit of light.  Remembering that I had just turned on my computer, I refreshed it to get more light. The Lord is my light and my salvation...... I propped my front door open to see if anyone else had the same problem.  Nope. The Lord is my light and my salvation....

I called my girl Lex to see what she did when her lights went out.  She did her best to give my some direction, but I couldn't find what she was telling me to look for.  I thought about calling my co-teacher, but then I thought, What can they help you do 30 minutes away? So, I went to find my electronic translator (thanks CP) and typed in the word "help".  After I practiced the pronunciation, I went to my neighbor's apartment.  Standing there, tears started to well in my eyes, not even knowing why I was getting ready to cry.  I didn't let them fall, there wasn't anything to cry about. I guess it was just an overwhelming feeling of emotions.  I rang the doorbell and she recognized me, as if to say, "Hi! You live next door."  I smiled, said "annyeonghaseyo" (hello), and then said "dowajuda" (help).  It didn't look like she was understanding me, so I showed her the translator.  I motioned for her to come with me and I pointed to her husband and motioned for him to follow too (why I needed him to come, I have no clue).

I thought that they would have to go all the way to the back of the apartment to turn a switch or something.  Instead, they poked their heads in, realized what the problem was, stood in the entry way and (he) lifted a small cover to the "breaker box".  He flipped the switch on and what do you know?  Lights ON!  I looked at both of them and said at least three times, "GAMSAHAMNIDA!!!!!" (the 'g' is pronounced like a 'c').  His wife smiled, nodded her head (a sign of you're welcome), and closed the door.  I got back to my multitasking........

I am thankful for friends who can offer help, family who have taught me what I think are basic survival lessons, such kind Korean people and that God calmed my fears and helped me to get though the period of not knowing what to do.

Make sure you have a plan just in case if your lights go out!  :)

"Breaker Box"

The switch was flipped off.  I didn't even know it, until my neighbor flipped it on!