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[plummer209]

I'll try and make this brief. Hopefully those that have been to Asia can help since recruiting agencies haven't been able to give me a solid Yes or No answer on this.

I was born with a neurological condition called hydrocephalus. The condition doesn't affect me on a daily basis and I take no medication for it. However there is a small valve and tubing under my skin, and that is basically what keeps the condition from being a problem. Only thing is, for the rest of my life, the valve/tubing system may break or pull apart and I'll have to have surgery to replace it. I've been very lucky and have only had this surgery twice in almost 26 years. Last time it happened I was in and out of the hospital in 2 days and recovery was about 2 weeks. The last surgery was a year and a half ago, so the odds of needing it again in the next year or even 5 years are hopefully slim.

Since it's a condition and not a disease, I'm confident I can get a work permit and VISA here in America to teach in places like Korea or Taiwan. However, when I have my medical exam in either country, the chest X-Ray given for tuberculosis will show the tubing in my torso. My question is this....are the exams thorough enough that the doctor will follow up with questions about what he sees on the X-Ray and therefore having my condition will get me sent home? Or is it something that I can explain to my employer, and tell them that it won't get in the way of work at all, and on the off chance I'd need surgery, I could use all of my vacation days to recover or possibly extend my contract?

Nobody can give me a clear answer of what might happen and I don't really want to spend all that money to get abroad and be turned around right away. What are people's opinions on countries like Korea and Taiwan? Will they work with me, or send me home?

Thanks so much.

[englishmaster]

Sorry not to be able to give you a certain answer, since I have never heard of a case like yours before. However, my _impression_, having worked in Taiwan and Korea both, is that they would _not_ turn you away.
As far as I know, you have to have something like syphilis or TB--something alarming and contagious, in other words--to get refused a work visa.

I think that they would be lenient toward someone with a small chance of missing a little work.

Good luck.

[plummer209]

Thanks so much for your thoughts. That's the problem is that NOBODY can give me a straight answer. I'm just worried about spending the money and effort to get there, and find out my employer doesn't want to take a chance with me. Oh well, maybe I'll just have to take a chance. Thanks again.

[RebelGirl26]

All I can do is give you my personal experience of a 'medical exam' in Thailand.

We went to a local clinic without an appointment and waited for a minute or two. I went to the doctor's office and sat down in a chair by his desk.

He said "How are you today?" and I said "I'm good." big smiles. He asked me to hold out my hands, which I did. He asked me to turn them over palms up - which I did. He asked me to stand up and to sit down. He then asked if I had any medical conditions. I said "No, I'm very healthy." He shook my hand... the only time he touched me actually. And then wrote out the note that said I was healthy enough for work.


The irony of this whole medical exam was that I'd eaten some raw crab a week prior and on taht day I was experiencing the worst intestinal bug of my life. I'd been in and out of the toilet all morning, had stomach cramps that I thought would kill me. And later that night I actually walked out in the middle of a class & had to cut it short because I felt like I was going to pass out and die.


So, I wouldn't worry too much about the medical exam. Just make sure you're in a city that has a hospital that can handle your medical situation should a problem arise.