Bridging Worlds: My Two Days as a Korean-to-Hindi Medical Translator

How do you translate a patient’s pain when you and the doctor don't speak the same language?

Back in January 2012, I was just a regular college student who knew absolutely nothing about medicine. If you had told me I would spend my weekend acting as a vital communication bridge for an international medical team, I wouldn't have believed you.

Here is the story of how a surprise meeting in my college office turned into one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

The Surprise Assignment

It all started when a fellow student walked up to me and said, "Sir is calling you to the office."

I walked into the office, slightly nervous, and sat down. My professor looked at me and said, "A medical team is coming to India from South Korea. They are holding a two-day medical camp: January 23rd in Noida and January 24th in Ghaziabad."

I nodded, confused. "Okay, that’s great, sir. But why are you telling me? I am a college student. I don't know anything about medicine."

He smiled. "No, you are going as a translator. The medical team from South Korea doesn't know Hindi, and they need your English skills."

Just like that, my nerves turned into pure excitement. This was going to be my very first time working with foreigners.

Day 1: Noida – A Lesson in Dedication and My First KFC

On January 23, 2012, I boarded the metro from my college and headed to Noida. The atmosphere at the camp was buzzing with energy, filled with local patients, foreign doctors, and other student translators.

I was assigned to a female dentist. It was clear from the start that she wasn't feeling well that day. Despite her illness, her dedication was incredible—she refused to take a break and pushed through the day to treat as many patients as possible.

Breaking the Language Barrier

My job was simple yet crucial: translate her English instructions into Hindi so the patients could understand their dental treatments. Seeing the relief on the patients' faces when they finally understood what to do was incredibly rewarding.

A Mid-Day Milestone

The day also brought a personal milestone for me. During our lunch break, I ate KFC for the very first time! It was absolutely delicious, and enjoying that meal amidst the chaotic energy of the camp made it taste even better.

By the time the camp wrapped up late into the evening, I traveled back to college by metro. I was utterly exhausted, but my heart was full.

Day 2: Ghaziabad – Needles, Laughs, and Being Called a "Genius"

The next morning, January 24th, I took the metro to Ghaziabad for day two. This time, I was assigned to a team of three incredibly young doctors—two females and one male.

We introduced ourselves, and I quickly found out they were specializing in traditional eastern medicine, specifically acupuncture (a treatment involving inserting small needles into specific points on the body).

The "Genius" Breakthrough

Before the patients arrived, they asked me a question: "How many languages do you know?"

I replied, "Three. Punjabi, Hindi, and English."

The two female doctors immediately turned to the male doctor, gestured toward him, and joked, "He knows four languages! He is a genius!"

I laughed, thoroughly impressed, and chimed in, "Of course he is a genius!" The male doctor just smiled shyly.

It was a wonderful ice-breaker that shattered any cultural barriers between us.

Managing the Panic

Once the camp opened, the real challenge began. When local patients realized that these young doctors intended to put tiny needles all over their bodies, panic set in!

Almost every patient looked terrified. I had to step in not just as a translator, but as a counselor. Over and over, I reassured them: "Don't worry, it doesn't hurt. It is highly beneficial for your health."

Slowly but surely, my words calmed them down, and they agreed to the treatment. Of course, there were a few brave souls who sat right down without needing any convincing at all!

Blessings and Cultural Respect

As the camp got busier, the language barrier led to some incredibly heartwarming—and funny—moments.

At one point, an elderly Indian woman walked into the room. Without warning, she reached out, held the faces of the two female Korean doctors in her hands, and began showering them with affection and traditional Indian blessings.

The two girls looked completely frozen and bewildered, silently signaling me with wide eyes as if to ask, "What is happening right now?"

Amused by their confusion, I purposely stayed quiet for a few seconds just to enjoy the moment. Finally, I laughed and told them, "Don't worry, she is giving you her blessings." A wave of relief washed over them, and they immediately smiled, bowed, and repeatedly said, "Thank you, aunty! Thank you, aunty!"

A Lesson in Cultural Sensitivity

Shortly after, the male doctor pulled me aside. With deep respect for local customs, he suggested, "Let’s step outside for a moment." He knew that in traditional Indian settings, it could be seen as inappropriate or uncomfortable for men to hover closely while women are receiving medical treatments like acupuncture.

Before we stepped out, I quickly reassured the female patients: "They are going to place small needles on your body. It won't hurt. Just follow their instructions, and I will be right outside if you need me." The doctor and I waited outside until the treatments were finished. It was a beautiful lesson in how respectful the Korean team was toward Indian culture.

Bonding Over Bollywood, K-Dramas, and Punjabi Music

During a quiet lull in the camp, the doctors and I started chatting about our personal lives. 

The girls playfully asked me, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

When I replied with a shy "No," 

they quickly followed up with, "Do you sing songs?"

Even though I am far from being a professional singer, I decided to be brave and sang a few lines of a Punjabi song. They absolutely loved it! 

When I translated the emotional meaning of the lyrics into English, they gasped with a heartfelt, "Wow!"

Then, they asked me another surprise question: "Have you watched the movie '3 Idiots'?"

I hadn't seen it yet back then, but it filled me with a sudden surge of pride. Bollywood was making a global impact, and even youth from South Korea knew about Indian cinema.

Reflecting on it now, it makes total sense why Korean dramas are so massively popular in India today. Both cultures are deeply emotional. We both believe in love at first sight, we both believe in destiny, and we both share a fantastic, lighthearted sense of humour.

A Picture-Perfect Mystery

When lunch arrived, I sat down by myself with some KFC and a cold drink. Nearby, members of the larger Korean delegation were taking pictures together, posing in pairs one by one.

Eventually, everyone had taken a photo except for me. I was left sitting alone.

Seeing this, the leader of the group—a naturally funny man who had been making everyone laugh all day—called out to one of the Korean girls and insisted she stand next to me for a photo. She was incredibly beautiful. We stood side by side, and the camera clicked.

Immediately after taking the picture, the group leader shouted something in Korean. I didn't understand a single word, but the girl instantly looked down with a beautiful, shy smile. Soon after, the group moved on.

For a long time, I replayed her reaction in my head, wondering what the leader had said. I am convinced he said something like, "You two make a beautiful couple!"—which perfectly explains her sudden shyness. Though that photo lives only on a camera somewhere in South Korea today, the memory remains perfectly preserved in my mind.

A Surprise Treatment for My Future Children

Late in the evening, just a few minutes before it was time for us to pack up and say our final goodbyes, the two female doctors turned to me with a surprise offer.

"You should also try this treatment!" they said.

My eyes widened. "No, no, thank you!" I stammered.

The truth was, I was incredibly shy back then and the last thing I wanted to do was remove my clothes in front of everyone for an acupuncture session. The doctors immediately sensed my embarrassment and burst out laughing.

To make me comfortable, they quickly compromised. "Don't worry! You don't have to take off anything. We can just put one tiny needle right here on your hand."

Then, with mischievous smiles, they added, "It will be very good for your descendants—your future children!"

That cracked me up. I shrugged, said "Okay," and let them place the single needle on my hand. I sat there quietly keeping it on for a few minutes, feeling a mix of amusement and a tiny bit of pride that I had officially survived my first acupuncture session.

A Lasting Memory

As the sun began to set, the late evening arrived, bringing an official end to the two-day medical camp. We packed up, said our goodbyes, and parted ways.

I never saw any of them again. However, even though those two days passed by in a flash years ago, the memories of cultural connection, laughter, and human kindness are things I still deeply cherish to this day.