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Gabranth
Joined: 19 Mar 2010
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 Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:03 am Post subject: Disability....countries where it DOESNT Matter? |
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Hi guys,
Well, I was told very nastily by my EPIK rep that:
"Tony, mobility problems will cause a failure of medical exam. SK schools do not want cripples."
Am I on crutches, drag my foot, have MS or some other severe disorder?
NO. Do I walk with a calliper, am I wheelchair bound, etc? No.
My problem? A little arthitis in my foot.
Im angry and hurt.
However, Im still very keen to learn elsewhere, pref. in East Asia. Will my mobility problem always be a problem? Should I just forego teaching at all?
My concern is that I submit an application for a teaching posititon, after having gone through all the necessary paperwork, and at expense only to be told: you failed for your arthitis. |
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cgkitti
Joined: 17 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:11 am Post subject: |
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| I think that's pretty outrageous. I feel for you--that's pretty unfair. I wonder if the recruiter was just being discriminatory, or if that's really the way it is. |
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DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:12 am Post subject: |
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I don't know if the Epik exams vary from the regular medical exam necessary for an ARC, but my exam did not check for my mobility. They weighed me, looked at my teeth, made me pee in a cup, and took chest x-rays. If you don't use a cane or anything, I think you will be fine.
But does this require prescription pain medication? That might be problematic. (I don't know). |
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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 2:11 am Post subject: |
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if it doesnt affect your teaching, doesnt create a liability for the school and isnt noticeable then dont bother reporting it.
I know it's an ethical dilemma (well...just a basic lie I guess) but requiring a photo with your application is hardly saintly either.
A school might not hire a "cripple" but I've seen some obese teachers here who probably arent far from it.
Anyway, if you've been turned down for EPIK you can still apply for GEPIK. Thats what I did when I was rejected by EPIK because I had admitted on my application that I had suffered from depression before.
I havent looked back and contrary to what this board tells people, I dont find Korea depressing or difficult and I'm really enjoying myself.
The truth is that only you know how severe your situation is so only you can decide.
good luck! |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 4:40 am Post subject: |
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Tough break.
Hiding the condition is not good policy however.
Still, they should not deny you employment because of a slight limp. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 5:43 am Post subject: |
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Apply again to a different recruiter. Don't mention the arthritis. A hogwan in particular won't care one bit. I doubt that a PS would care either. If you consider how many obese (obese, not simply chubby) pass the medical exam, I doubt they'd care about someone with arthritis. If you only suffer during the Winter, then you're in luck because Winter here lasts at most 1 month (last winter was the coldest on record in 30 years and only lasted about 2 months) with about 2 months each of Fall and Spring. The rest is all hot weather. IF it prevents you from coming into work, then you can expect your boss to quickly get annoyed and you risk getting fired.
I don't know if medication or therapy will be covered by the contractual insurance, but I doubt it.
The medical exam won't check for arthritis. It will consist of a chest x-ray, urine and blood tests, blood pressure, ear exam (Dr looks in your ear), eye exam (Dr waves a stick in front of your eyes and watches them move in synch then shines a light in them), mouth exam (Dr puts a wooden stick in your mouth and you say "Aaaawwwww") - physical exam (or more often the doctor simply ASKS you if you have any physical problems). What the medical exam is checking for is signs of drug abuse (possibly alcohol abuse but I doubt they care), easily communicable or venereal diseases, and major disabilities. You'll pass it. |
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pangaea
Joined: 20 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 5:55 am Post subject: |
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Troglodyte wrote:
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| If you only suffer during the Winter, then you're in luck because Winter here lasts at most 1 month (last winter was the coldest on record in 30 years and only lasted about 2 months) with about 2 months each of Fall and Spring. The rest is all hot weather. |
?? What country are you living in? |
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freakyaye852
Joined: 24 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 6:14 am Post subject: |
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| Tony, i'm sure you could pass the medical. They mostly care about infectious diseases. But consider how your disability affects your teaching. Does it mean you cannot stand for long periods of time? Because that would be a problem. Does it mean you walk very slowly? With young children that could be a problem. If you walk with a cane but can stand, i wouldn't worry about it. The thing is, you have to try. |
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air76
Joined: 13 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 6:48 am Post subject: |
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| pangaea wrote: |
Troglodyte wrote:
| Quote: |
| If you only suffer during the Winter, then you're in luck because Winter here lasts at most 1 month (last winter was the coldest on record in 30 years and only lasted about 2 months) with about 2 months each of Fall and Spring. The rest is all hot weather. |
?? What country are you living in? |
+100
Troglodyte is either from the Yukon or full of shite. Winter in my town lasted 6 months and was by far and away the most miserable winter of my life. There is nowhere in Korea that doesn't have at least a solid 3 months of proper cold.
I do agree that you should just keep your mouth shut and you'll pass the physical just fine.....half of my physical was a listening test where you could see the lady through the window press the button, so even if you were bona fide deaf you could have passed. |
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ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 7:01 am Post subject: |
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| pangaea wrote: |
Troglodyte wrote:
| Quote: |
| If you only suffer during the Winter, then you're in luck because Winter here lasts at most 1 month (last winter was the coldest on record in 30 years and only lasted about 2 months) with about 2 months each of Fall and Spring. The rest is all hot weather. |
?? What country are you living in? |
True about Korean "winters."
This last year was the first "winter" that was cold at all, in decades, and there is almost no snow.
Korea has four seasons, but they're fall, spring, summer and the burning fires of Hades. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 8:57 am Post subject: |
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| ontheway wrote: |
| pangaea wrote: |
Troglodyte wrote:
| Quote: |
| If you only suffer during the Winter, then you're in luck because Winter here lasts at most 1 month (last winter was the coldest on record in 30 years and only lasted about 2 months) with about 2 months each of Fall and Spring. The rest is all hot weather. |
?? What country are you living in? |
True about Korean "winters."
This last year was the first "winter" that was cold at all, in decades, and there is almost no snow.
Korea has four seasons, but they're fall, spring, summer and the burning fires of Hades. |
You forgot about "Monsoon season" and "Dusty Sand season".
 |
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ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:05 am Post subject: |
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| Troglodyte wrote: |
| ontheway wrote: |
| pangaea wrote: |
Troglodyte wrote:
| Quote: |
| If you only suffer during the Winter, then you're in luck because Winter here lasts at most 1 month (last winter was the coldest on record in 30 years and only lasted about 2 months) with about 2 months each of Fall and Spring. The rest is all hot weather. |
?? What country are you living in? |
True about Korean "winters."
This last year was the first "winter" that was cold at all, in decades, and there is almost no snow.
Korea has four seasons, but they're fall, spring, summer and the burning fires of Hades. |
You forgot about "Monsoon season" and "Dusty Sand season".
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Agreed. 6 seasons - and none of them winter. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:59 am Post subject: |
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| air76 wrote: |
Troglodyte is either from the Yukon or full of shite. Winter in my town lasted 6 months and was by far and away the most miserable winter of my life. There is nowhere in Korea that doesn't have at least a solid 3 months of proper cold.
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Well, I guess that after coming from South America, Korea must seem pretty cold to you, but when it only snows for a few weeks per year, and the rest of the time, the snow doesn't stay on the ground more than a day, that's not exactly a harsh winter. In about a third of the US that wouldn't even be considered Winter weather.
But the OP doesn't have to take my word for it. He can easily check out the weather channel or Google the average annual weather for Korea. |
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Yucca Girl
Joined: 03 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 10:49 am Post subject: |
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Well, I guess that after coming from South America, Korea must seem pretty cold to you, but when it only snows for a few weeks per year, and the rest of the time, the snow doesn't stay on the ground more than a day, that's not exactly a harsh winter. In about a third of the US that wouldn't even be considered Winter weather.
But the OP doesn't have to take my word for it. He can easily check out the weather channel or Google the average annual weather for Korea. |
As someone who comes from a place with a winter that genuinely lasts only a month, I can assure you that Korean winters do not qualify as exceptionally short and mild. While Korea may not have be covered in snow for nine months at a time, it certainly isn't hot for many months out of the year. What exactly do you consider to be hot weather if you consider Korea to be hot for six months out of the year? |
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JustTurtle
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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I'm really interested to know how hot is an average summer in Korea? From what I have read SK max temperatures are in the 80's (wiki).
I'm in the South East in the states and today it was 97 degrees with 70% humidity, now that's HOT. |
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