When need comes a knockin'

[daneel]

Yo Jimbo, you're doing the right thing, please don't take the writings of some posters personal

Please stop speculating, you can only treat the symptoms right now after you find him (let's hope he still is in one piece). Let the doctors find out what is going on. You know what to do.

[Piece Train]

I can understand the desire to help. A friend of mine back home...his mother was institutionalized a few times...was on Social Security. Really broke him trying to help her out.

I'm not downplaying Jimbo...I'm just saying that unless you're a pdoc you can't label a writing as "schizotypal" or a person as "schizo." Even professional psychiatrists don't share labels with their patients. These are more "feeling based" reactions that people have when they're irritated with someone.

Rohrschach Tests can be handy sometimes, but only in the pro's hands.

[jimbo]

I said he is exhibiting schizo-like behaviors. Whether he is schizophrenic or not is beyond me. If you look back to what I wrote you might see that I argued with health officials and others that I was NOT qualified to look after him. Sheeeeeesxh!

I s'pose you'd side with the embassy in that the most humane thing I could've done was abandon him on the street.

[Piece Train]

Not really. In fact, I didn't take the Foreign Service Officer exam this year. I had the intent, but it just didn't happen. These people should take care of these things, but maybe the officer with whom you're dealing does not have the appropriate mental health knowledge or training.

[daneel]

So Jimbo is doing the right thing by trying to get the guy back in some sort of confinement.

[Piece Train]

Ha! That's like saying confine a guy for taking anti-depressants.

[daneel]

Excuse me?

[jimbo]

^ He deserves no excuses, imo.


He's now been missing in Seoul for 11 hours

This is totally unacceptable.

The embassy could have hospitalized him (his wishes), and not had him treated (his family wants him treated in the states), but watched and cared for until his father arrives on Friday (?), and then his father could've paid the hospital bill.

Instead they put him in a two-bit guesthouse and he skipped out 3 hours after I and two embassy officials helped check him in. Now he's gone....with little to no memory, voices bothering him, etc...etc....

The embassy assured me that he'd be watched over and taken care of. They also said that if he did skip, they would be notified by the guesthouse's desk......never happened. I found out first and told the embassy!

I feel helpless now.

I'm looking for the right journalist....stateside. I want people to fully realize that when you travel you are truly on your own. Anyone of us could slip and hit our heads, have a psychotic breakdown, etc.... So, copy those passports and itineraries....pass on phone numbers....let others know your plans....if something bad goes down, these jokers at the embassy will do very little, if anything!

[re_fuse]

PT whats the chip ya got on yer shoulder ...makes ya talk real funny ?

[Umbuku]

Originally Posted by jimbo

I feel helpless now.

You went out looking for him.
You have called everybody that should be in the know.
He knows where you live.
You have done all you can do as an individual mate.
His life and actions and are not yours to control.

Originally Posted by re_fuse

PT whats the chip ya got on yer shoulder

Recovering pill addict?

[Cream]

PT always talks shit, has nobody ever noticed? Everyone keeps greening him for talking utter shit though... welcome to AJARNforum lol

[tootie]

Originally Posted by Piece Train

I wouldn't even bother helping the guy. A sign of taking someone in like this is a sign that you need help bro.

It's a sign of compassion.

Originally Posted by jimbo

The embassy could have hospitalized him (his wishes), and not had him treated (his family wants him treated in the states), but watched and cared for until his father arrives on Friday (?), and then his father could've paid the hospital bill.

One thing I found out last year when I (temporarily) suffered a breakdown...

- people don't really understand mental problems unless they have been through it themselves
- people think that the person suffering from mental problems should just "snap out of it" (doesn't work that way!)
- it is VERY hard to get help for yourself (you almost have to demand it), and even harder to get help on someone else's behalf
- when things get rough, a lot of your so-called "friends" disappear

Originally Posted by jimbo

I've got two places, but they are both pretty small. The girls took the two bedroom and he and I shared the one-bedroom.

Since when have you had two places, and since when have you had two wives?

Originally Posted by Piece Train

Rohrschach Tests can be handy sometimes, but only in the pro's hands.

Ya, that's what he needs - an inkblot test. Gimme a break!

[jimbo]

Emails....

On Sat, Jun 14, 2008 at 8:18 PM, jimbo wrote:

Okay folks,

We all are soooo tired (NOT tired of Jamaal!). We're tired of the hospitals/doctors/embassy bueracracy, and so I've decided to stop pushing it and just wait for Monday.

Early Monday morning (Sunday eve./night Atlanta time) I will go to work for four hours while my wife and a very dear friend watch over Jammal.

When I finish work (Mon. 1130am, Korea time) I will accompany him to the US embassy after we try Western Union with his passport copy and drivers license. We should arrive at the US embassy at about 12:30 or 1 pm on Monday afternoon. They are expecting us. At that point he will be issued a new American passport (1-2 hours, I was told) and he will be ready for travel.

I honestly do not know if the embassy will offer him shelter on Monday or not (I doubt it based on things so far), and I heard that they dont even have a safe place for Americans in-house, but rather rely on a nearby Motel WITHOUT security. (?)

You can count on me to scope out what the embassy has in mind, and if I don't like it, I will return to my home with him Monday afternoon/evening to stay another night...or until his ticket is purchased.

I need you folks to take care of that ticket. Whether it's a roundtrip ticket for his father and a one-way ticket for Jamaal, OR just a one-way for Jamaal.......or did Jamaal come to Korea on a roundtrip ticket??? ( I can't find one if so, but he could have an electronic ticket??)

Anyways, this is what I'd like you to focus on from here.

He did indicate to me about an hour ago that he is somewhat concerned about making the long flight alone and it "would be nice" if someone accompanied him. The embassy has also expressed concern in that matter.

You can forget the worries of hospitals, and police. None of that worked out or looked like the thing to do.

It is now Sat. 7:45 pm and Jamaal is sleeping like a baby,...after an exhausting and I'm sure somewhat frightening day of almost being incarcerated by the police (embassy's idea) and almost becoming a patient in a hospital where hardly a person speaks English. Forget it all. It's behind us and should be behind you.

From now, we will take care of him, we feel confident he won't try to skip out and tomorrow we plan to spend a relaxing Sunday in the park, by a nice river. I may even take him to a Sunday service in an English speaking church.

(Atlanta time Saturday night might be another good time to call my phone to speak with him.)

So,...we've got this under control. I must say he has improved in some ways in the last 10 hours. His memory is coming back a bit more and he remembered some things that the doctor asked that he couldn't remember 24 hours ago.

I really need you folks to come up with a logistical plan (thru the embassy) for his ticket home.
I have heard that the US embassy does sponsor tickets to citizens in dire situations with a promissory letter from the family faxed/emailed/or phoned in verbally to the US embassy, that it will be paid back.

Another option might be to purchase the ticket online with a credit card and have it sent to his email, my email and the embassy's email for safekeeping.

Because of the past circumstances, (and even though I was told his passport can be issued in 1-2 hours)..I would buy the type of ticket that can be changed at least once for no cost in case there are any delays in his passport issuance.

That's about all for now. Since I talked with Jamaal's father I found a sort of new energy in staying near him. I can see how the hustle and bustle of Korea and the sights, sounds (language) and smells are confusing him more. It's hard enough to deal with a new culture and people but under the stresses of what he is going through, it is damn near impossible.

You have my word Jamaal will remain safe, and I am sorry for the unneccessary worry I may have caused by trying to find him an alternate place to stay.

Rest easy and know he is safe.

Call my phone at absolutely anytime if you wish to talk to either of us.

then came....

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Simmons,

Jamaal received the 320 us dollars you sent to him western union and got a temporary passport (good for 10 days) today.

I took Jamaal (with two embassy reps) to a small guesthouse very near to the US embassy in Seoul.

It's not the Ritz, but it's quiet, has internet access, three English TV channels and the proprieter is a very friendly older woman who knows the story. There's also an American gentleman who has been a long-term resident and he was helpful and kind towards jamaal from the very beginning. He lent him magazines, showed him the computer room, offered to take him down the street to the convenience store, etc...

Jamaal counted and gave the owner 100 US dollars for a five-day stay. (20 dollars per day) If he leaves before that time, the over-amount will be refunded to him.

I felt it was suitable and jamaal showed no disagreement with staying there for a few days. Meals are readily available and there is really no reason for him to leave the confines of the guesthouse at all. He cannot and will not be physically restrained from leaving of course, but there are two, sometimes three people watching over him (the owners son is the 3rd).

As far as I could tell there were no other occupants, so it won't be hard for them to stay aware of jamaal's comings or goings. I told him when I visit tomorrow, we'd take a walk around town if he was feeling antsy...and he agreed to stay in the guesthouse until I or an embassy rep visited (Cecilia).

Tomorrow afternoon I will take him his bags and belongings and Cecilia plans to visit briefly in the morning.

I think this is the best option as I HAD TO return to work today, and if I were to leave him alone in my home, there'd be NOONE at all to supervise (my wife had been staying in our 2nd apartment in evenings and nighttime.)

Below are the details of the guesthouse:

Guesthouse Inn Daewon
Mr. Kim: 011-82-11-787-4308 (cell)
011-82-2-725-0380
inn_daewon@hotmail.com


It's near Seodaemun Rd. / Gwanghwamun Palace and the American Embassy. (I know this doesn't mean much now, but for future reference.) Subway station Stop 'Gyeongbok Gung' Exit #4

(('Gyeongbok Gung' Exit # 6 {on the other side of the street} is for the US embassy))

Also, I saw the stop for the Airport bus very near by:

(To the airport on the same side of the road of the guesthouse.)

(From the airport on the opposite side of the road of the guesthouse - same side of the road as the embassy.)

I hope you understand that this felt safer than leaving him alone in my home for 8 hours a day, as he'd have free will to roam outside and get lost....and he is NOT very good at crossing the street. He had also told me that he just needs someone to talk to, and being alone scared him....I think the guesthouse recommended by the embassy solves both of these dilemnas.

You can still call me if needed, and I will stay in close contact with Cecilia and visit jamaal at the guesthouse tomorrow with all of his things and continue to visit him everyday (during my afternoon work break) until Mr. Simms arrives.

Yours,
J

[jimbo]

And finally!:

Cecilia (and any other willing Embassy staff),

I'll write this as dimplomatically as possible because I understand you are busy and you probably have more cases than Jammaal.

As I'm writing this he has been missing for just over 12 hours.

This is unacceptable. His mother called me at 5 am and I was unable to tell her that her son has been missing. (I wanted to confirm he hadn't come in the middle of the night to the guesthouse.) Now that I've confirmed that, I must tell her the truth. She has a right to know.

I can't understand how an Embassy can not care for one of their own when that person is in such obvious need. What does it take? A dead body, maybe?

If Jammaal is found or returns I strongly urge the Embassy to take matters into hand and hospitalize him until his father arrives to pay the bills and escort him home. This is what should have been done a long time ago, in my opinion.

I understand however that you work for an organization whose rules you must follow and I can respect that, but I am prepared to take this to a higher level. I also understand that I'd face more red tape if I were to do this alone, so I will urge the Simmons family to contact the media (newspapers and online media) with their side of the story and a plea for help, and I will do the same.

I suppose this might not seem like a big deal to you, but I guess your superiors may feel differently.
I simply feel helpless now, with him missing and I need to do something. The media is my last outlet. I want to warn other Americans that if they were to slip and crack their head (or suffer a mental breakdown) while abroad, the embassy's ability to help is very minimal. I want to urge them to copy everything and let their family know of phone numbers, etc... In other words, prepare more. The stigma of mental illness is hard enough on its victims but the lack of "real" help from their own embassy is moreso.

It is a miracle that of all places Jammaal stumbled into it was my institute, and a greater miracle that I was able to find him outside and ID him, but the biggest miracle of all, is that the embassy cannot/could not and remains unwilling to truly help him remain safe until his family arrives.

I beg you to hospitalize him, if (and that's probably a BIG "IF") he is found.

His father plans to fly on Friday (or sooner).

Sincerely,
Jimbo