Korean Job Discussion Forums

pixie_fi · Joined: 02 Aug 2010

I'm looking at jobs in Seoul and Busan right now, the only thing worrying me about moving there is the bugs! What kind of insects can you get in your apartment? I have a serious fear of centipedes. I used to stay in a villa in France during summer, and there were loads there. I couldn't sleep because they fell on my bed during the night! Really don't know how I would cope if there were loads in my room. I know they can't hurt you, but they make me feel sick!

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

There was a centipede in my kitchen sink last week. Third one I'd seen in 10 years. I wouldnt sweat it.

isisaredead · Joined: 18 May 2010

that's the only thing worrying you? really?

um, i think you'll be fine.

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

Fruit flies are usually the biggest problem. You might also get the odd insect on the wall (anyone know what those are?) that likes to just hang around on there. Have also seen ants for the first time in 3 years... No idea why they are appearing on the 3rd floor.

pixie_fi · Joined: 02 Aug 2010

Lol actually, fair point- maybe not the only thing! But I tend to fear irrational stupid stuff like that. I've just read horror stories about apartments being infested with bugs. Seeing the occasional one wouldn't bother me, and I guess it depends on having decent accommodation too.

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

At some point you have to stop caring about the odd bug unless you have an infestation. There are bugs pretty much everywhere, all the time, in everything - including some of your food. Sure, most of them you can't see - but they are there.

pixie_fi · Joined: 02 Aug 2010

Yeh, true. Coming from the UK, I don't see that many scary bugs here, so it always freaks me out more when I go abroad. Tbh I don't really mind most except for centipedes. I can imagine that after a while I'll get used to it and won't even bat an eyelid.

isisaredead · Joined: 18 May 2010

Nester Noodlemon · Joined: 16 Jan 2009

I haven't noticed bugs really being a problem. Just keep your dating pool shallow, and if you develop an itch go to the doctor immediately.

pixie_fi · Joined: 02 Aug 2010

Well I guess it'll make me less of a wimp. Mind you, the only irrational fear I have is of bugs, that'll fade after a while I'm sure.

Von Ludwig · Joined: 01 Sep 2009 Location: Daegu

I need to share this story with the OP.

It was many years ago now that I experienced on of the most bizarre and surreal moments of my life. My flatmates and I were sitting outside in the morning sun talking about phobias and irrational fears in general, everyone had something that made them cringe or that they had some fear of. When it was Jacob's turn to explain about his fear the mood of the conversation turned serious. See Jacob had an immense fear, a phobia indeed, towards centipedes. I had never heard anyone convey such disgust. He spoke at length of his vehement hate, from time to time cringing as he vividly described what exactly he feared about them.
Then as he finished seemingly relieved to be done with the topic he cringed once more, grabbed his coffee mug and took the last gulp of what was left...suddenly he choked, coughed and splattered as he attempted to dislodge something that was stuck in his throat. We became worried as he was struggling to breathe, but finally he managed to give one more cough and out it came. On the glass table in front of us, saturated with coffee, was a huge brown centipede...it's little legs slipped as it tried to scurry away.

DingleBerryLarry · Joined: 06 Jul 2010

I have had 3 encounters with centipedes. The last two times I saw them inside my apartment, they were on the ground and I killed them. The first time was more interesting. I was alone, I was all by myself...at least I thought I was. I felt a stinging on my calf. It felt just like a bee sting. It was dark so I couldn't see what stung me at first. After I turned the lights on I was very surprised to see a centipede in my bed. I wasn't sure how bad their venom is so I googled it. Fortunately, their sting is pretty harmless.

pangaea · Joined: 20 Dec 2007

DingleBerryLarry wrote:

chrisassd · Joined: 04 Apr 2010

I haven't found bugs a problem here so far but have also seen a few cockroaches about.

What does freak me out however are the huge cicada things which live in the trees and hiss so loudly it can be physically painful. They seem to keep themselves to themselves for the most part and often aren't visible but if I do see one flying about I run.

Globutron · Joined: 13 Feb 2010 Location: England/Anyang

Urgh, yes. fruit flies. My new arch enemy. I've gotten through three cans of death in the last month. I live above a market so there's no escaping them, really. But I can't help but try.

Mosquitoes too.

You didn't get much of a bug problem in the UK? Where did you come from in the UK, exactly? 300 feet underground?

Spiders, Daddy long legs, Spiders, More spiders, Ants, Bluebottles, Wasps, Bees, Those fat spiders, woodlice, moths, butterflies, slugs, snails. ENDLESS.

In my bedroom there was constantly a corner I could have names spider corner or something more imaginative. As soon as one left, a new one would arrive. Or even 2 or 3 would be there living together.

Korea by comparison is empty. (bar fruit flies and mosquitoes). Dunno about Busan, actually. Just Gyeonggi. I've seen two spiders since being here, one large and beautiful bug, and a silver shiny moth in my home.