Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jeweltone]

I need some advice.

The good news: I just started an excellent position at a good university in a big city. Everything has gone well for the first few weeks.

The bad news: I have become extremely ill - I can't eat at all, and haven't for about 5 days. I am undergoing tests at a university hospital including an endo-------whatever (tube down throat) on Tuesday.

I have had to cancel two days worth of classes already, and the specialist says I will miss most of next week as well until we find out what is going on. He wanted to hospitalize me, but I refused; I'd rather be sick at home. He did give me a medical certificate mandating me to bedrest.

How do I play this situation with the university? I fought hard to get this position, and I don't want to lose it. The extras stress of possbiyl losing a job over an illness is not helping me get well. I have to give them the news on Monday.

Any suggestions/ideas would be helpful.

[bluelake]

Talk with the chair of your department personally. Make sure s/he knows the complete situation.

I had a similar experience back in '94; I originally had measles (at that time I was in my mid-30s), which turned into pneumonia, and then into pleurisy. That last one landed me in the university hospital for several days. At one point, the department chair sent a message to me via the departmental assistant that if I wasn't back in the classroom the following day, I would be docked my pay. I sent a message back relating my physical situation, along with a call from my doctor; the next thing I knew, I had a carton of juice delivered to me from the chair. The problem in my case had been a change in dept. chairs at the time I fell ill; once he knew the true situation, things became better.

[Lost]

I had a kidney stone for 21 days. I hade 3 proceedures at the hspital to remove it. It hurt like nothing i have ever experienced. SO MUCH PAIN. Was crying and wailing like a baby for the first few days. No way i could teach at my uni. I missed a week. The school understood. I came back the 2nd week and cut a few classes short when the pain came rushing back. I tried to tough it out, but the students were asking me if i was ok. So i had to go home. The staff were very understanding. Volunteer to do extra classes when you return to make up for lost time.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Jeweltone]

I am having an endoscopy (ouch) on Tuesday to find out what is wrong. My guess is acid reflux disease - the extreme nausea-after-eating-kind (heartburn I can deal with!). It is especially bad in the morning (my students noticed it). Right now just eating and keeping it down is a challenge. I am very weak and can barely stay upright from lack of food for a week. So yes, it is serious.

I am more concerned about the fact that I am a newbie at this particular job. Does this matter? I have only been there three weeks...

[SarcasmKills]

So what happened?

School throw a fit? It could be a benefit to you that Chuseok is next week, so you wouldn't have to miss so many classes.

But I would also be a bit concerned if you're a newbie.

[Jeweltone]

No, not yet! The chair hasn't called me so far, but I know she has been informed. The secretary has been very sympathetic; then again she has seen me struggle with nausea when I come in every morning...(No, I'm not pregnant!)

I hope the doctor finds out what is going on tomorrow. I hope to be back at work on Thursday.

This has just been rotten luck all around. I left a truly horrible uni in the country (stuck it out for a year for resume building) for a good city job, and now this...
Wish me luck.

[seoulman1]

lots of westerners get sick in korea.. remember they are not going to take it as personally as you are (its your life)

Just be as apologetic as possible and show them all the certificates.

[gatorchick82]

I got really sick before even coming to Korea. I had to have surgery and couldn't make it until 6 weeks into my contract (I have a uni job). I kept the director informed of my condition and reiterated that I was still looking forward to working there. She let me start 6 weeks late, and we re-negotiated the contract to begin on that date. I thanked her when I arrived for keeping my job for me. She just replied that it was too late to find another teacher at that point. So, all you can do is keep them informed, but don't be suprised if they let you go - it depends on how badly they need you.

[SarcasmKills]

[maximreality]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[indytrucks]

A colleague needed bypass surgery a few years back, a missed about a month and a half of semester, right at then end, just in time for finals. The teachers in the English department, foreigners and Koreans alike, had a meeting and figured out ways to fill the gaps. No problem. My wife took an entire semester off for maternity leave, and was still paid. I missed about a week once with a fractured toe. Again, no problems.

That's the wonderful thing about working at a uni ... being sick, even long term, is not the end of the world, unlike hagwon where you have to be bleeding out your eyes to take a sickie for the afternoon.

[andrew]

.....

[mercury]