Job Discussion Forums

[gloomyGumi]

I have a phobia of needles, I did it here in Korea by using a numbing cream used for tatooing on my arm and requested the nurse stick the needle in that place. I cannot go thru this again. Why isnt my previous blood test good enugh to show I have no diseases?

[wangdaning]

Sorry, but you are going to need the blood to come out of you, needles are the most painless way. The reason they test is because something might have changed since your last test. Maybe you picked up some diseases in the interim.

I don't really enjoy getting blood taken. I don't mind shots, but getting blood taken out is a bit creepy to me. It works for me to just put my arm up and look away. Just act like nothing is happening. Good luck.

[dean_a_jones]

Afraid not, and the worst part is that for most jobs (in my understanding) want you to have the blood test twice--once before you leave so they can sort out your paperwork for the z-visa, and then you have to go through the medical again when you arrive for the residency permit. I get the feeling that on the earlier medical, it is really the blood test they are looking at the results for (as if you fail when you arrive, all their effort and costs of getting your paperwork was for nothing).

You might be able to use previous results for the first of these tests (the one before you leave wherever you are), especially if you can convince the doctor to fill out the Chinese medical form on the basis of this.

Unfortunately, I think if you refuse the blood test when you get here, they are unlikely to give you an RP. I think you might find that many people here will treat a phobia like an allergy--something they see as more of a 'dislike', and something you need to get over (crazy at it sounds). So I am not sure there will be a way around this.

Perhaps others will have better experiences or ideas.

[LanGuTou]

I would assume in China that, if you try to avoid the stated procedure i.e. blood analysis, the authorities would interpret this as an admission that you are or might be HIV positive (as crude as it sounds).

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I have known foreigners having been thrown out of China (well, denied their VISA) for having hepatitis and also high blood pressure, so it's not only HIV.

One would guess that you will have to just 'suck it up buttercup' and take the needle.

[Sinko]

Traditionally, having tattoos was a sign of toughness. So what's happened to our latest generation with their current fad? All there for show, huh?

Gumi, get used to it. It will happen many other times again in your life. Grit your teeth and look away.

[JAZZY75]

The cream is for tattooing; it doesn't implicitly state that the OP has a tattoo.

And for the snide 'buttercup' remark - the preferred terminology is 'princess' (assuming the OP isn't of the fairer sex).

J.

[Sinko]

Well, with no commas used after "cream" and "Tatooing" (sic), I assumed he had tattooed arms. Sorry for the confusion there, Jazzy.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I have no idea whether the OP is male/female so I used the generic masculine version because I know what assuming leads to. No need to flame me/correct my English on the use of a saying.

And seriously... I was not being snide..... I was saying "Sorry, but you're just going to have to put up with it and go through with it"....

Why some people can't read through that is beyond me.

The next generation riddles me: there so many seemingly emotionally fragile people these days that every little comment made by others is seen as an insult/slight?

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Writer One: I hate dirty air, any large cities in China where I can work that have clean air but still have modern things like McDonald's, tampons, and a working underground subway?

Writer Two: Sorry, large cities are all dirty, try a smaller city. Gonna have to suck it up.

Writer One: OMG! You're like... so snide to me! Everything you say on the forums I will flame you now just for hurting my feelings!

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Seriously, suck it up, buttercups and princesses. School is long since over; not everyone is going to dance around with words just to protect your fragile feelings.

[Opiate]

[askiptochina]

Be glad they don't require rectal exams like with the army

[Miajiayou]

AFAIK, no way to avoid it. I had the whole shebang done in the US - height, weight, blood pressure, EKG, chest x-ray, ultrasound, the ridiculous questions, and the blood test. The blood test was the only thing they made me repeat.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

@Opiate:

Drama?

I see you're new around here, welcome. Nice to meet you. Interesting name; correct me if I am wrong but isn't an opiate an active compound in the illegal drug heroin?

Just a self-curious thought....as a teacher myself, I personally self-reflect and wonder openly in my thoughts how the parents my students would feel if my online moniker was a reference to an illegal drug that possession of which can be punishable by death around these parts?

Anyhow, curiosity aside, just a little FYI: I've been the same old GWoW for over 12 years now, and the only time I have ever changed my writing style is to conform to the updated rules a few years back. So, if you want me to just go ahead and start being a boring writer writing mundane writings, YAWN YAWN et al. Nope, not gonna happen. Sorry.

1. I am not attacking/insulting anyone.

2. I am answering the question of a poster who asked for insight.

3. I did it in such a way as to strongly indicate the response.

4. It was all done with a smile on my face because I am always happy to help others if possible.

5. Any drama real or perceived is done in good spirit and conductive of a friendly and lively discussion. No slight is ever intended.

Personally I feel that getting stuck on the personalities of forum members instead of the content of what they have to say itself is not constructive. Lately as far as I can see, there has been a growing amount of people personally attacking other members instead of focusing on the discussion at hand.

[The following is a dramatization of a possible example, and only an example based on drama, not based on any particular actual event, although the style is similar]

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Poster One: Shanghai is better than Beijing

Poster Two: No way, Beijing is far better. B comes before S, but not real BS, and it's the capital city for a reason.

Poster One: (imagine the voice of Biff from Back to the Future) Are you an idiot? If you had a brain, you'd know Shanghai got the World Expo for a reason. Duh! And yes, yer right, your post IS full of B and S! You're not clever writing like a nerd! Cut the drama out, Geez!

Poster Two: Wow, are you a bully?
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Again, welcome to the website and hope to see you around. Lots of good and friendly folks here to chat with if you are interested in learning more about teaching overseas, as long as you don't try to bully people.

And now back to the original topic, which is what I was originally posting about before getting dramatically flamed:

If the OP felt that I was being snide, I apologize. I was just shooting from the hip and being straight forward. Yes, you will indeed have to put up with the drawing of blood from your vein if you want to work here.

Legally, anyways.

@askiptochina:

That day may yet come...

[wangdaning]

Was there anything added after I posted a comment to this thread?

[dean_a_jones]