Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Blue Flower]

I know that everything has been cleared up - but just to make everything concrete I wanted an explanation of fan death. It stands as one of the most stupid things I have ever heard. It will bring me much pleasure this summer. I second gajacksons tshirt idea, that would be hillarious.

[jadeyuhja]

Hi! I would just like to say that I know how you feel!
I've been in Seoul for 9 months and since day one,
I've been breaking out!! I'll be leaving this place with
major acne scars.
I recommend lots of sunscreen with
a SPF higher than 25!
And I think I've aged too~~~ In the beginning, my students
thought that I looked younger than 20! but now.....AHHHH

[rapier]

Today was day one at the gym for me, 50.000 for a month, not bad, considering thats the same I spend on cigarettes. I actually sweated for the first time since i got to Korea..(ssure you wanted to know that) but i'm on my way to health and beauty....!

[satnitespecial]

I agree there is a problem with living here that does affect our health to a noticeable degree. When I compared photos (before and after) of my first year, I couldn't believe the differences; bags under the eyes, lean haggard look, bad skin. Even my hair texture had changed to that of straw. I had aged ten years in one.

Friends of mine had experienced (some losing clumps)hair loss. They blamed the water because they neither smoked nor drank. As for me, too many late nights in foreigner bars ( Fri/Sat) drinking tap beer, smoking, and not getting a DECENT night's sleep are the real culprits. And the big baddie, stress. Cultural and operational misunderstandings can be so stressful.

Although not a huge drinker, I now believe this Korean brew is poisonous. It is an established scientific fact alcohol is related to formaldyhyde and under-goes changes within the body. How chemical this stuff is well, one of the reasons I'm steering away from drinking (tap beer)in this country. I'm forced to make changes now because my skin; scalp, ankles, torso, elbows have developed a wicked rash in which the skin just falls away if rubbed leaving a raw patch. Back home this state never existed.

I've decided to refrain from going out for a month and drink only water (lots of it), eat fruit/vegetables. Yeah and the steam room thing too, lots of negative ions. Also, if committed enough, a week-long fast.

Recently read in a medical journal which claimed that if a body becomes toxic ( over-loaded) and unable to throw off poisonous residues quickly enough, the eyeballs begin to protrude as the body begins to produce anti-bodies resulting in noticeble fluid retension around the eye region. Dehydration has also been blamed with similar physical symptom/s as the body tries to conserve water in it's fatty areas that store water.

Am thinking our temple can become seriously over-loaded with chemicals and,unless you exercise like Jet Lee, a sensible moderate lifestyle with an optimistic attitude is the last resort for the rest of us mere mortals in ROK. My two cents.
+
Hope you guys recover and get handsome/beautiful again soon.

[rapier]

The waters definitely dodgy. I fed a cat on it last year, who promptly started having digestive problems and peeing blood. Got a water purifier now, which is better, But still I prefer to drink bottled water.

[Zyzyfer]

[rapier]

" I think Korea is making me ugly": is that just on the outside, or inside as well? I've certainly developed some bad attitudes over here.

[chi-chi]

mods you may delete

[narsty dog]

most 'westerners' are used to operating at a level of positive emotiuonal contacts with other humans - if you 're from Canada or Aus / NZ you 'll notice on amap how large and unpopulated it is. South Korea is one of the most densely populated places in the world - it s also highly polluted - everywhere you go - high level of public smoking etc. high level of traffic on the street at any time - its hevily noise polluted - the people are in your face - it s one of the worlds most sensitive political arenas - and there is a culture of heavy drinking, working long hours and taking little rest. most of the food is ok in terms of low sugar content , but are most of those korean melas devoid of msg , or really have fresh veg. in them ?

put it all together ..what have you got?

a bad body and a spinning mind.

[narsty dog]

as regards rapiers comments on developing bad attitudes , i m a point in case. after living as a visible minority in a homogenous 'developed'
country with a pre feudal mentality
towards authority and other aces , it s easy to build up an internal anger toward the oppressor ( in this case 'Koreans ') . this in turn , leads to a n unhealthy extrapolation towards other identifiable groups and made more judgmental, stereotyping and 'racist' myslef.

it s like being inculturalised, socialised etc, into a totalitarian, inhumane mass pyschoigoy- like how abuse is handed down from generation to genearation -
if you think u can escape korea - FORGET IT.

IT MARKS YOU LIKE AN EVIL STAIN.

[Butterfly]

[bignate]

The only stain I got was from the Kim-chi. Once you get that on a pair of pants, or a white shirt, well, you can Forgeddaboudit!

Oh yah! and the sour grapes, the sour grapes are leaving a stain....

[Beatnik009]

The instant I saw this posting in the index I thought about "ugly" on the inside, and so I was interested to see the postings from Rapier and Narsty Dog. In spite of promising myself not to I have noticed myself becoming increasingly judgemental about physical beauty - or at least outspoken about it, and critical about 'fatties' especially. I appreciate that being sensitive to looks is innate, and self-generated attempts to not allow it to count for much only go so far, but I find Korea's cult of beauty extremely irritating and ultimately contemptible.

[weatherman]

Was looking in the mirror and not a pretty sight. Beer will make you gain weight. Late night drinking will leave you with bags under your eyes, and a general drawn out facial apperance. Yes, Korea has made me look a look older than I am.

[shawner88]