The Story of Ju-Won

Ju-Won first saw the car from a distance, snaking its way slowly down the mountain path, the sun reflecting off the shiny metal. After stopping in the center of her small town, a large, well-dressed white man stepped out of the vehicle to greet the friendly, curious villagers. He seemed like a jolly fellow, shaking hands and smiling with bright American teeth. When it was Ju-Won’s turn to say hello to the stranger, he shook her hand and looked deeply into her eyes.

The elders of the town took the visitor to their modest Buddhist temple which was the oldest building in the town. It was the place where Ju-Won’s father and generations of her family would come to sit quietly before the statue of Buddha and pray. The American declined the offer to take his shoes off and visit the temple. Instead, he returned to the town square. He spoke in English and Ju-Won translated for her parents. The man said he worked for a non-profit organization that helped poor students receive special scholarships to study in the United States. He called it a work-study program. The students who were chosen would receive a free education and even have the opportunity to earn money while attending school. The American only interviewed the prettiest girls in the town and never gave his name.

Ju-Won was chosen along with two other girls to receive the scholarships. She couldn’t believe her luck. Ju-Won always fantasized about visiting the United States and dreamed of going to college, but didn’t have the money to travel and the universities in South Korea were far too expensive for her parents to afford. Excited for the chance, she immediately signed the contract the American gave her. The three young women were told they must leave later that afternoon. Ju-Won’s parents were very proud of their daughter. They bowed to the American, smiled and gave thanks. Ju-Won’s head was spinning as she packed quickly for her trip. Her mother gave her the warmest coat and the best boots to wear. Ju-Won cried, kissed her family and promised to send money back home soon.

Before joining the others, Ju-Won’s father took her aside and spoke in Korean in a soft but serious voice.

“Do not crave the things of this world too much, Ju-Won. Remember, all desire leads to suffering.”

His simple advice brought tears to her eyes. They embraced.

“Appa, I will miss you.”

In a whirlwind of activity, the girls got into the fancy car. The whole village came out to the square to see them off and wave goodbye. The car drove back up the winding mountain road.

After driving for several hours, they arrived in the big city. Passport photos were taken and forms filled out. The American checked the three girls into a nice hotel in Seoul while they waited for their travel documents. All the meals were provided and paid for by the nice American. As they were young attractive women alone in the city for the first time, their benefactor hired a security guard to keep watch over them as they took walks through the streets. Ju-Won preferred to stay in the hotel room studying for the English placement exam she had to pass before starting university in America. She always considered herself to be a serious student.

In just a few days the passports and student visas arrived. Ju-Won thought the process would take much longer and asked the man how it was possible to get proper documentation so fast. He told Ju-Won not to worry. Everything was being taken care of by his company. All expenses were paid.

“A golden opportunity,” the American said.

When the day of their departure arrived, Ju-Won began to have second thoughts about leaving her village and family behind to follow this unknown stranger to the United States. Already homesick, Ju-Won bought an expensive cup in the airport gift shop she really couldn’t afford which had pictures of famous Korean Buddhist temples laminated on the sides. She put the treasure in her purse wrapped in tissue. After boarding the plane she felt much happier, excited to fly so high in the sky above the clouds and start her new life. She continued studying for her exam and several hours into her flight she fell asleep.

Upon arrival Ju-Won was disoriented. She had no idea what time it was or what city the plane landed in. After the women went through customs and had their passports stamped, they ate oily Chinese food in the fancy airport. Then the man took her two friends to different gates. They boarded their flights alone, going who knows where. Ju-Won didn’t know what was happening and began to feel confused and afraid. The American escorted her to a gate on the other side of the airport. When Ju-Won asked where he was taking her, the man was no longer nice. He just dropped her off at the gate without a reply. She waited in line while the American made a phone call several feet away. When boarding began, the American had gone. When she had made it to the front of the line Ju-Won handed over her boarding pass and followed the rest of the passengers through the tunnel and onto the plane.

After the short flight, Ju-Won heard the stewardess welcoming everyone to Portland, Oregon. She followed the crowd off the plane and through the terminal. An old Asian woman was waiting for her at the bottom of the escalator.

“Are you Ju-Won?” she asked.

Ju-Won nodded. The woman welcomed her to America with a warm hug. She introduced herself as Mamasan and they went over to baggage claim. While retrieving her suitcase, Ju-Won told her about the mysterious man who brought her and her two friends to America on a special scholarship, but then disappeared at the last airport. When she began asking more questions, Mamasan explained in a quiet voice that Ju-Won has been brought to America to work as a professional masseuse.

“What? No, there must be some mistake,” Ju-Won said. “I was told I received a scholarship to -”

“Yes, yes. You get a scholarship,” Mamasan said, interrupting her. “But before your studies begin you must first learn a trade to make money for your family. You rub back and skin with oil. Give healthy massage. Make clients feel happy.”

Ju-Won couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“The man didn’t tell me about this.”

“Which man?”

“The American.”

“You signed a contract, no?”

Ju-Won remembered she was so excited about getting the scholarship that she didn’t read the papers.

“Yes, but I didn’t realize what I was signing. I left my family behind to come here.”

“You will make new family here. All the girls are very nice at Lucky Flower.”

“I don’t know anything about massage.”

“Oh, it’s easy,” Mamasan said, smiling. “You’re a smart girl. I will train you. You make good money to send home. Your family needs money, no?”

Ju-Won nodded.

“You’ll be happy here, you’ll see. I treat you just like my own daughter. Come along, Ju-Won.”

The old lady started walking away. Standing in the airport with her suitcase in hand, Ju-Won fully comprehended the severity of her situation. She was stranded in a foreign country with no money to buy a ticket back home and nowhere to stay. When Ju-Won was not following, Mamasan spoke sharply to her.

“Ju-Won, come!”

Ju-Won had no choice but to follow Mamasan outside into the pouring rain. They left the airport in Mamasan’s car. Driving down the highway, many thoughts drifted through her mind. She told herself everything would be ok and tried to cheer herself up by making plans. She thought if she worked hard enough at massage, she could send some of the money home and save up the rest for her flight home. But she also felt sad and angry for allowing herself to be tricked by the American. She regretted accepting the offer. Looking out of the window, Ju-Won had never seen so much rain. It rained and rained on the way from the airport to wherever they were going, like the sky was weeping for her. She shut her eyes and tried to picture the white blossoms of the cherry trees in her village. The warm coat her mother gave her had gotten wet and Ju-Won felt cold down to her bones. The rain pelted the top of the car with a harsh metallic sound and the sky was dark and grey.

“It’s cold in Portland,” Ju-Won said.

“It is the rainy season,” Mamasan replied.

Mamasan drove the rest of the way in silence.

The sun never shines here, Ju-Won thought.