Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shawner88]

I posted this story on my blog, but I thought I'd post it here too so that others may know the little creature who had given me a lot of joy.


Ode to Chongak


Chongak: the name I gave to an orange and white cat with half a tail, one blind eye, a dirty, scruffy face and a loud, yearning meow that called out to anyone who would listen for a little kindness, a few minutes of attention and a scrap of food. Despite his obviously rough life and handicaps, he had a wonderful little spirit. For months I spotted him trotting all over town, biting through garbage bags for scraps of fish, meowing at the wind, chasing insects in the weeds, ducking rocks thrown by heartless kids, rolling around playfully in the dirt, and chasing after a cat called Agashi, who consistently rejected him, hissed and scratched at him. To see his face when she went into one of these rants always made me laugh. It was if he were thinking, "Oh no! not this routine again. Give it up and let's make a little Chongak." Eventually, poor thing, she had a kitten with another cat.

Along with the others, he grew to enjoy hanging around my backyard, a small, quiet safe-haven where the sun shines all morning and afternoon. That's when I started to give him tuna. At first, when I went out, he would hide until I had gone. But one night I went out late and he came out of the bushes meowing so happily, surprising me. I figured he was just extremely hungry, but when I dumped the tuna on a plate, he ignored it and jumped on my lap. Unlike the other strays around who are afraid of people and will take a scrap of food but claw your hand if you get too close, Chongak began to trust me. He had a very loud and affectionate purr and kneaded my leg with his paws. After a while he got up to eat the tuna. The mosquitos were biting, so I started back inside, but Chongak followed me - once again potentially giving up a delicious tuna dinner in return for more attention. When I went inside he meowed in the hallway for five minutes as if to say, "Hey come back, please, hey come on!" before eventually returning to the food. That's when I knew he was a special cat, and that's why I flew into a rage when I saw some kids taunting him outside my hagwon as he meowed for the kind Chinese food ajushi. If you could have seen the way he approached those students with his loveable meow, his little trot, his half a tail, his blind eye - you would have felt the same. If they had been my age, I would have been deported for throwing punches.

Well, as you know [my blog readers]Chongak came back to my house that night and I let him in, fed him a delicious meal, brushed him for 20 minutes and let him sleep under my bed on the warm floor for an hour before he meowed to be let out. A part of me contemplated keeping the little guy, but my place is much too small, the nearest cat supplies are an hour away, and I have no idea where a veterinarian is. Also, it wouldn't be fair to pent up a little cat who is used to wondering about - especially when i don't know how long I'll be here.

As you may have guessed by now, Chongak died today. He was run over by a car. I was walking back to my apartment from my hagwon and saw his dead body in the road, with car after car after heavy truck after car flattening him into nothing more than a black spot with orange and white fur and the outline of a stumpy tail. While I had feared it would happen, it shocked me nonetheless. I wish I hadn't seen it. After a few days or weeks I could have thought he had been taken in or run off to some other part of town for the winter. But now I know he's gone.

For me, the little guy made Nowhere-dong a little more cozy and familiar. His presence gave me something to look forward to each day and night and I will truly miss him. The only comfort I can find is that for once in his miserable life, somebody really cared about him, gave him a little love and a few good meals. Briefly he experienced that and his purr showed me he appreciated it and was happy for that short time.

I'm sorry Chongak. I wish I could have done more for you little guy, and you will truly be missed. Rest in peace in cat heaven. I hope there you have fresh fish everyday, a new girlfriend, two good eyes and a full tail.

[katydid]

I'm really sorry to hear that Shawner. It sucks to see an animal you had a connection with die in front of you in the road. Today, I saw this poor dog on the side of the road, like on the edge of the sidewalk today as I was walking to the bus stop. Obviously just dead. Eyes rolled up into its head. Nearly turned my stomach inside out. And I'm probably doing the same for all of you, dear readers.
It looked like it had been a nice dog, a white Jindo like dog, and I mean, OK, if it got hit by a car, move it out of sight...don't dump it on the sidewalk! It makes me sad that in New Hampshire, if you accidentally hit a dog, you have to let the police know or the owner know about what happened. Sad that cats there and all animals here don't get that kind of special treatment.

[shawner88]

I'm drinking right now. I feel miserable for that little cat. What's wrong with me? I really feel bad about it.

[katydid]

Keep in mind that you gave the kitty a bit of happiness in its life when others were neglecting it or throwing rocks at it. Obviously, the kitty loved you for it. Don't beat yourself up, and don't make yourself sick over it. You did a very kind and admirable thing for the kitty. I'm sure that cat would thank you if it could.

[shawner88]

[denz]

girl of denz and i went cat shopping the other week. she always found cats scary, so at one shop i picked a little kitty up and threw it into her hands. tiny thing. she freaked "otokae..." but then the little fella started walking around her hands and she was converted.

we havent found the right cat, yet, but hey shawner - i feel you, brother.

cats are like ninjas... and ninjas, as we know, are totally awesome.

denz

[katydid]

I never understood why Koreans hate cats so much. I'm sorry no one is being more sympathetic to you, but I guess this is just one of the many ways a message board can prove useful...

[weatherman]

I have read your blog at bit, enjoyed your content. Found it through the Marmot. Sorry about the cat.

[weened]

I read your blog, also. I'm sorry to hear about Chongak. I tried to get friendly with a few of the strays in my old neigborhood but they would have none of it. When I first read about Chongak I was surprised that you were able to connect. I'm sorry.

[Ryst Helmut]

Three parts:

Chongak, I hope he had a painless going. Something happened similar to you recently, and I've not shaken it yet...sorry, mate.

Cat shopping?! Try the FREE lovable-need-a-home kitties...may be full grown, but what are you aiming at? Take the elder kitties in!

For both parts (A and B), you care, so I suggest that you donate $ to a Korean based organisation that deals with strays...you can also adopt from them (her)....but I've formatted the comp. and don't hae that site on hand.

Shoosh,

Ryst

[Zed]

That's a very sad story Shawner. sorry to hear about that. I've been through different yet heart-wrenching situations with cats myself.
One which I inherited from a roommate who refused to take care of him. He got FIP (feline imuno peritonitis) when I was living in Montreal and died after losing most of his muscle mass. A very sad parting in a pet hospital in Montreal. But I couldn't take him home to watch him die. He was only two years old and had been living with me since my roommate brought him home as a kitten.
The other was a stray off the street who I named Nic because she looked like she had a bad smoking habit. The yellow stains on her paws were just dirt from washing the street dirt off her head. She had obviously been malnourished after her time on the street. She died at my parents when I was on holiday. I never could determine the age of that cat due to her street history.
Cheers to Chongak's memory.

[rapier]

Commiserations shawner, i too fel sorry for the animals out here.
More Koreans need to be exposed to animals, domestic and wild, and learn more about them, and treat them better.
Have you ever seen the average Korean TV show about animals? you can tell from the tone of the soundtrack that the only attitude they have towards animals is one of condescending amusement. I saw one where they were throwing ducks into a swimming pool and trying to make them fly. So primitive.
Whenever I can, I get a Korean to come out birdwatching with me- generally they're amazed by watching wild birds out in the woods or fields, and love the experience.
If I think anymore about the immaturity and stupidity of some Koreans approach to animals, I'm going to scream.

[Howard Roark]

Shawner, I know so well how you feel. My boyfriend and I had a cat last year. We adored her. But we had to give her away after my first contract because we didn't know if we'd be back or what. I think about her every day. I know she's alive and well but I miss her and I feel guilty about giving her away because I know she was so content with us. If I wasn't at the office, I would have cried reading your story.

[jaebea]

Man, just reading this story cut me up, I can't imagine what it'd be like in your shoes.

Not just a testimony to your narrative skills, but the story really struck a nerve. I've spent some time at a veterinary hospital for some volunteer work, and even though I spent most of my time mucking out dog pens and cat runs, it was still enough to get attached to the animals I was in contact with.

My sympathies. And it's normal to grieve over this sorta thing. No need to feel weird or confused. :)

jae.

[crito03]

Shawner, you have my sympathies.

I have gone through a similar experience twice with both a dog and a cat and it took me months to deal. To this day I still think about them.

Be happy knowing that you made his life better and showed him that someone cared.