Job Discussion Forums

Slacker26 · Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Posts: 2 Location: Kentucky, USA

Hello everyone! I am planning to teach abroad soon and am curious about my prescription medication. Will I be able to bring it or will I face problems with customs? It's not like it is a narcotic or anything...it is a prescription for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Any replies will be greatly appreciated!!!

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

It should be no problem if you have the written prescription.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Well at the risk of offending you, let me say that "Abroad" is a big and diverse place.

Dividing the world into two places (the US and the non-US) is not a very helpful way of looking at the Planet.

Countries outside the US are different and do things in different ways.

In some countries you can get most medication from a Pharmacy without a prescription. Some will insist on a prescription from a local doctor. Some will accept your US prescription.

manise · Joined: 21 Nov 2003 Posts: 7

Hi

You could ask your doctor or the people who gave your the various vaccinations for international travel, for a written letter or certificate advising that you have in your possession or will be carrying medicine for your ailment etc. The letter should list the name(s) of the various medications.

Hope this will help. Confused

unchi pants · Joined: 20 Dec 2003 Posts: 64

Canuck2112 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 239

Man, it's this guy's FIRST post and he's already getting jumped on. Welcome to Dave's Rolling Eyes

Anyway, prescription regulations do vary from country to country. I'm in Japan, and I have friends teaching in Czech, S. Korea, Indonesia and Chile at the moment, and all of us were able to bring different prescriptions without much trouble. I brought a bunch of stuff over to Japan and customs didn't even look at it, but I brought along a doctor's note/prescription just in case.

Many countries do have hard-ons for Benzos (valium, xanax, etc), amphetamine relatives (ritalin, adderal, dexedrine) and opioids (vicodin, percocet, etc) as these have abuse potential. I can't speak for these drugs because I didn't bring any over.

Just check with customs before you leave. Hope this helps.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Seems to me that the fundamental error is from those who see the world as two places : home and abroad !

Sorry to keep on correcting people but error is error, whether that pleases you or not.

Welcome to the real world.

Slacker26 · Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Posts: 2 Location: Kentucky, USA

Thank you all for your replies. I will be careful to use the correct terminology next time! Smile

dyak · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 630

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

Even if it might be true, especially if you changed the preposition.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Here is my question :

Why do so many people react violently when their Manichaen world view is challenged ? Why is it that they cannot see the world as a complex and polycentric place ?

They insist on the "us-them" dichotomy and when a cynical Scot tells them it ain't so, they throw a tantrum ?

daveryan · Joined: 20 Aug 2003 Posts: 40

"Manichaen world view" Please explain! Confused

Ta
Dave

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It means that you see the world as clearly divided between good and evil, white and black, the Lord and Lucifer.

I thought this was a site for English teachers.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:52 pm Post subject: Dualism

Who needs a dictionary when the Net's available?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manichaeism

But the use of the word does seem to imply something that I doubt the Original Poster intended. I don't think that Slacker26 meant to suggest that the USA is "Good" and the rest of the world is "Evil", which is the central dogma of the Manichaen "dualistic theology". After all, why would anyone want to leave "Good" to live/work in "Evil"? In my opinion, scot47 is right to point out to posters that it's a big, diverse world out there, and that if useful information about "abroad " is asked for, the asker has to be much more specific since, in almost all cases, the facts will differ from place to place. However, considering the connotations that the term "Manichaen" carries, I wish he'd chosen another, less pejorative, adjective -"dualistic " world-view, perhaps.
Regards,
John

daveryan · Joined: 20 Aug 2003 Posts: 40

[/b]"They need their pious exercise less.
Than schooling in the pleasures"

Just because our spiritual aquaintance has ceased to spout, please do not play the pedant with me old friend.

Dave