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DanseurVertical
Joined: 24 Nov 2010
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 Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:26 pm Post subject: hayfever as a "cold"? |
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Pollen allergy (hayfever) season is upon us, and I'm starting to think that Korean explanations for medical symptoms are highly unusual to me.
Young male teacher at my school is sniffling in the morning. He explains to me that yesterday was so hot and the night so cold. The daytime high was maybe 30 and the nighttime low maybe 23? So as consequence, he now has a cold? Does he live outside?
Later in the day, department headteacher is sneezing, her nose is running, and skin around her eyes and nose has become red. She says she has a "cold". On two occasions before, when I noticed the symptoms with less intensity, I asked if it is "allergies". Maybe she did not understand what I meant, but each time she said nothing in response. On this third occasion I simply said, "I think you have pollen allergy." She responded by explaining her symptoms with "poor sleep last night".
On the next day a young Korean I know writes to me, warning me about a "flu" that's going around.
By that point I'm just thinking to myself, NO, STOP! So I wonder, are people here afraid to admit to having allergies? Or is there just widespread ignorance of seasonal allergies? |
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sadguy
Joined: 13 Feb 2011
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| Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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| i thought i had a cold, started yesterday. may just be hayfever. do they sell benadryl at the pharmacy? |
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DanseurVertical
Joined: 24 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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| sadguy wrote: |
| i thought i had a cold, started yesterday. may just be hayfever. do they sell benadryl at the pharmacy? |
I wasn't meaning to suggest that no one can have a cold this time of year. I mean, it's possible the guy in my example did have a legitimate cold. Or it's possible he was sniffling because of emotion (it was his second to last day at the school, and he's a young, sensitive guy...) I was more so puzzled at the explanations. The girl who warned me about "a flu" going around had last month expressed worry she would catch a cold after being caught in the rain (on a warm day)
And I don't know about Benadryl. Diphenhydramine is commonly used in the US as a sleep aid, as well. Personally, I hate the stuff for how it makes me feel, but if your allergy is bad enough, then it can be good.
For my hayfever I brought some Claritin over with me :) |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:26 pm Post subject: Re: hayfever as a "cold"? |
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| DanseurVertical wrote: |
| So I wonder, are people here afraid to admit to having allergies? Or is there just widespread ignorance of seasonal allergies? |
I've never noticed Koreans being shy about admitting to allergies, or any body conditions for that matter, including constipation, diarrhea, & other conditions westerners wouldnt commonly talk about in casual conversation.
They know & use the word "allergy" but pronounce it with a hard "g".
Cold & flu are confused by many, not just Koreans. |
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DanseurVertical
Joined: 24 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 2:59 am Post subject: Re: hayfever as a "cold"? |
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| schwa wrote: |
| Cold & flu are confused by many, not just Koreans. |
Cold and flu, yes, I agree. But it seemed like seasonal allergies are being mistaken for cold and / or flu, when the causes and symptoms (at least in my experience) are noticeably different. So assuming this phenomenon is common in Korea, I was trying to figure out why. |
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FaceFaceFace
Joined: 12 Jun 2011
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 5:47 am Post subject: |
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It could be sinusitis with a chill associated??
Maybe they call it something like "Summer flu" ...actually I have no idea.
All I know is that I caught whatever it is off a child at school after she SNEEZED ON ME.
Not happy.
**shakes fist |
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ulanalee
Joined: 30 May 2011
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 7:39 am Post subject: |
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My allergies just hit me like a ton of bricks today. Normally my symptoms are very minimal (if I react at all), but I was out hiking today and I guess it just sent me over the edge.
I'm new to Korea and didn't bring meds with me. Advice on allergy meds here in Korea:
What brands are best (non-drowsy)?
Do I need to get a perscription from a doctor?
Have you ever seen Netti Pots for sale in Korea? |
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johgraker
Joined: 08 Sep 2010
Location: KOREA
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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| i never use to get hayfever now it seems that i get it because of all you mentioned |
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furtakk
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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go to the pharmacy and ask for:
건초열약 gone-cho-yeul-yak.
mine were quite bad last week, but they've seemed to have gone away. my hay fever allergies usually last a month back home, but it's not nearly as bad here. |
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thegadfly
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 11:01 pm Post subject: Re: hayfever as a "cold"? |
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| DanseurVertical wrote: |
Pollen allergy (hayfever) season is upon us, and I'm starting to think that Korean explanations for medical symptoms are highly unusual to me.
Young male teacher at my school is sniffling in the morning. He explains to me that yesterday was so hot and the night so cold. The daytime high was maybe 30 and the nighttime low maybe 23? So as consequence, he now has a cold? Does he live outside?
Later in the day, department headteacher is sneezing, her nose is running, and skin around her eyes and nose has become red. She says she has a "cold". On two occasions before, when I noticed the symptoms with less intensity, I asked if it is "allergies". Maybe she did not understand what I meant, but each time she said nothing in response. On this third occasion I simply said, "I think you have pollen allergy." She responded by explaining her symptoms with "poor sleep last night".
On the next day a young Korean I know writes to me, warning me about a "flu" that's going around.
By that point I'm just thinking to myself, NO, STOP! So I wonder, are people here afraid to admit to having allergies? Or is there just widespread ignorance of seasonal allergies? |
In my experience, Koreans use "catching a cold" for "feeling under the weather." They use "a cold" just like they ask if you have eaten rice -- they aren't actually asking about the rice so much as the meal, and they aren't asking about the meal so much as "hi! How's it going!"
You are thinking of a cold as a specific illness, whereas they are using it as an unspecified complaint that cover a variety of symptoms. Most folks know what allergies are, but choose to refer to them in general as "a cold."
Growing up in Michigan, we used to call everything "the flu." I did that when I first got here, and the response from Koreans was very strong, so I switched up and started calling it a cold. My co-workers now refer to my allergies as allergies, but even my previous Korean girlfriend (who I was was with for over a year) called it a cold.... She knew what I had, but called it something else.
Go from Michigan to Texas and ask for a pop with your meal in a restaurant...they'll stare at you funny. In Texas, you drink soda and pop is what you call your dad. In Michigan, pop is a carbonated drink, and soda is as likely to conjure images of baking as beverages.
Different places use words differently -- I'd just call it colloquial Konglish and be done with it.... |
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