Korean Job Discussion Forums

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Back home, I hardly got sick. When I DID get sick, it was a really bad cold that kept be bedridden for a day or 2. Here in Korea, it seems its non stop colds. They last about 4-5 days and it seems every time I get over one, another comes along.

The colds here make you miserable, but doesn't make you sick enough to stay home.

Colorado · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:35 pm Post subject:

This time of year, yeah. colds mornings, warm afternoons. I've got sniffles.

Shlain · Joined: 29 Oct 2007

I have been sick for almost a month! I go to the ENT specialist, he says I have sinusitis and then he gives me 3-5 days worth of meds and tells me it will take a very long time to cure. Sinusitis never took this long to cure at home! In addition, I think I'm getting a cold.

prideofidaho · Joined: 19 Mar 2008

I'm no epidemiologist, but could it not be that as foreigners, we aren't used to the bugs and junk that get passed around every season? Also, the air quality has really thrown a wrench in the whole breathing thing for me.

ciccone_youth · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Japan

I think it's the bad air quality.

When I first got here in February, I was sick for 8 weeks straight. Like OP said, not sick enough to stay home but just crappy all the time.

Then I got used to it.

I also noticed the new foreign teacher at our school (just arrived last month) is really sick now, I think it's the change.

teachergirltoo · Joined: 28 Oct 2006

cheeseface · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Location: Ssyangnyeon Shi

Since coming to Korea I get ill with a sore throat and chest infection every autumn and every spring.

Same as back home if I remeber correctly.

i4NI · Joined: 17 May 2008 Location: Seoul

I've gotten sick once here. Somehow I made it through the harash winter without getting sick even though back home it's nowhere near as cold.

IAMAROBOT · Joined: 16 Oct 2008

hocking loogies helps. Seriously. Maybe that's why everybody does it.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

It just annoys me because I, like I said, I only got sick like once a year, if that.

Here, it seems its the new "cold virus of the month". Koreans think I have an extremely weak constitution, or they think I'm not taking care of myself.

Really gets under my skin when they tell me what I should and shouldn't do to get sick. There's no concept of viruses and bacteria here. IF you got sick, it came from being too cold, or dust.

Uh no, I probably got sick because you were coughing up a storm right next to me without covering your damn mouth or wearing a mask.

EzeWong · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul

prideofidaho · Joined: 19 Mar 2008

I don't know about meningitis. I use the boiling rule. I'll use tap water for coffee, tea, cooking, etc...Meningitis can't like boiling hot water, right?

Pkang0202, I hear you on the Korean reaction. It's nice, in a sort of 'I care about your health' way, but sometimes It sounds like someone's mom telling what to do.

pidgin · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Location: Seoul

I'm not too bad off here.

MUCH worse off living in the tropics, and have never felt healthier than when living in the desert.

EzeWong · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul

Well I googled the menegitis thing.

I can't find too much info, but it seems like it is a potential problem in Korea:

http://www.teachkoreanz.com/living/water.htm

I did some research, Seems menegtitis is both viral and bacterial.

Therefore, I would assume boiling your water is safe as boiling it would kill bateria and break up the protein strains. But I can't really say for sure.

Shlain · Joined: 29 Oct 2007

We had some meningitis (spelling???) scares back in high school. Basically, one is not lethal, but the other is. But, both can be treated if it is caught early. If you have a cold and get a severe headache, combined with a soar, stiff, unmoveable neck, you should get your ass to the hospital ASAP. As I understand the headache and neck spasm are the real warning signs.