Korean Job Discussion Forums

[GoNorth]

Well I finally buckled down and had my korean medical check and am now in limbo for the results.

I don't take drugs, don't really drink (seriously 1 or 2 in a month), non of the fun diseases. But, after the visit I am left wondering about this one thing...

As the doctor said "Your Phat." and then marked the panel for all of the liver tests. According to a medical point of view obese people can suffer from fatty liver (which is kind of classified as a form of hepatitis - disease of liver). Your panel will be elevated and in the states - it is easy argue around, but here ????????

So what do the pleasant, santa like or Rubenesque teachers to do?

I did have a good laugh though - I weigh 236 lb at 5'10" (not bad for a midwestern farm boy whose lifted since he was 10) - but yeah I know even in American standards.

According to the wonderful doctor - the ideal/average weight I should be is 65 kilo/so 145lb. Think about it. Do you weigh 145?

So rise up PHAT people - grab a piece of fried chicken/a slice of pizza (with corn)/and wash it down with a coke cause we have another hurdle to face now.

[laogaiguk]

at 5'6'', there is no way I could ever be 145 (or lower I guess for me). I weigh 180 with a bit of fat, but almost all muscle, there is just no way I could lose that much weight and not become a skinny twig or die

[lastat06513]

EY!
I'M NOT PHAT!
I'M BIG BONED!!!



hehehehehehehehe..............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[caniff]

And this is in the job discussion forum because...?

[KoreanAmbition]

65 kg is ridiculous.

The only people that way that little are skinny-ass Koreans.


Tell the doctor their weight limit is based on Korean standards and therefore there are definitely 2 inherent biases involved with their regulations:


1) They're not used to calculating the weight for someone with a brain.

2) You have a western wiener, not a Korean one. Tell him that's at least 10 extra kgs, he'll probably believe it.

[gangpae]

I think that now everyone should understand the folly of "lifting." How many fat old people do you see - anywhere in the world? Take the doctor's advice.

[Insidejohnmalkovich]

Three types of teachers are always sick and unable to work:

1. Frat boy alcoholics

2. Weedy, grey-skinned vegetarians

3. Greasy pigs

[Bryan]

[GoNorth]

[quote="Insidejohnmalkovich"]Three types of teachers are always sick and unable to work:

1. Frat boy alcoholics

2. Weedy, grey-skinned vegetarians

3. Greasy pigs[/quote]

A tad bit crude and untrue. While a large number of teachers are fresh off the boat college grads (poster boys and girls for ESL) - there is just as many experienced, matured, and typical teachers.

In Korea, you can really see discrimination at work and the issues that I arose focused on a true issue - Weight discrimination.

I know funny funny - Phat jokes.

But the reality is when you age - your metabolism slows. You pay for mistakes of your youth. And you grow up.

I haven't missed more than a handful of days in 5 years of teaching and I have never been "greasy".

I am - like many of us "overweight" and I pay the price. The price just got higher. I put this in the job forum because this is a job related issue. The new medical check could be used as a weeding process for employement.

It is a warning to new teachers and the ones here who aren't perfect (like inside JM). You need to be careful.

[GoNorth]

[quote=

So what do the pleasant, santa like or Rubenesque teachers to do?
[/quote]

If you're at risk of fatty liver disease, then that should be your top priority.

So I suggest "Santa-like" and "Rubenesque" teachers to lose some weight because it is in their own self-interest.[/quote]

Weight management is important and a persons health is a priority. But you need to look at the cultural standards for defining "obese".

American people are larger. Our diets are not the best. Fatty liver is directly linked to what you eat - fried/high fat foods are bad.

But you still have to work. And being overweight doesn't make you a "bad" teacher or person.

Think of it this way - you are in America and take a job here. You want to prioritize your life. Get away from the fried foods and easy choices. Lots of rice, vegetables, and soup. You fly here and the school has an issue with your weight. You do your med check and your liver panel is elevated. The school protests because now they have a reason - even though you've done nothing wrong and could be a great teacher. You now have to pay a plane ticket back.

[Hank the Iconoclast]

I'm 6'4" and I weigh 235 lbs. I guess that's considered fat here in Korea. I do wonder what they will say about my weight when I get a medical checkup even though I am in the process of losing weight.

[GoNorth]

watch out rapid weight loss also raises your liver levels for the test. Just take it slow and steady and "pray" it will be fine.

[mistermasan]

"fatty liver" doesn't sound good. get it taken care of.

[bejarano-korea]

I'm a big feller for an Englishman but I was quite small compared to some of the male American and Canadian teachers I met, not only were a lot of them very tall but they were big, broad shouldered prop forward types - not fat whatsoever but probably would fail a BMI test at a medical.

I can't see you failing a medical based on BMI because there are hardly going to be any male American or Canadian teachers!

[JAWINSEOUL]

I think you would feel comfortable at 175. I'm 5'7" and I felt great at 165.