Korean Job Discussion Forums

[iamdugmoore]

I've been here 6 months and suffered more colds and flu-like symptoms than I care to count.
I don't drink much or smoke, and I've never had this kind of grief with my health. Is it Seoul? Teaching kids? Why do my co-workers seem to not get sick (with the exception of a couple of other foreigners)? They stay out late, smoke, etc and they seem to feel fine.

If I don't get my regular sleep I'm sick immediately. I think one thing is that children are vectors for diseases and I'm also not used to living anywhere near this cold.

Please tell me that I'm not the only one in this situation!

[Blind Willie]

A few things:

You may not drink much or smoke, but how healthy are you? Can you jog for a few klicks? Does going up a flight of stairs wind you?

And the air in Korea is pretty smoggy for the most part. Especially in and around Seoul. If you come from a pretty clean hometown, then you really wont have the ability to cope with the air in such a short time.

And yeah, kids are dirty, dirty creatures.

when I was living in Ansan, I was sick as a dog at one point because of the air pollution form the factories there. My ears (yes, ears. The pollution irritated the inner ear and caused it to inflame) got so badly infected at one point that over a year and a half later I'm still having trouble with them. I dont think I had some hearing loss, but they do gum up and hurt occasionally.

Just keep seeing the doctor about it, and if you plan to live in Korea after this contract is up, move away from the major urban/ factory centers.

[animalbirdfish]

I've experienced the same thing since coming to Korea, especially in the past two years. I'd say I had fewer colds when I drank more during my first year here. I've since cut out the drinking, become extremely healthy in both diet and fitness and yet I've had three colds in the past two months. What's more, I had my tonsils taken out last summer b/c of the air pollution and excessive germs here - and this was the first thing the docs here have done to help me.

So, be wary of most of the doctors in Korea. In my experience, they over-prescribe antibiotics and don't take kindly to being questioned on their methods, even if you're only curious. What's the alternative? Ask around, see if your friends can recommend good doctor. Try the international clinics in Itaewon or at Severance/Yonsei. See what works.

You might also try more vitamin intake. A good B-complex, zinc, and a daily multi-vitamin can work wonders for the immune system. I've got some of the latter coming in from Canada tomorrow and I hope it helps me.

[rapier]

I find working out every day increases your resistance A LOT. gets your circulation going on these cold days. I used to get a cold here every month. Not now... Also, drink the mineral water every day, it flushes out your system.

[schwa]

Try to ride out your colds naturally. Treat symptoms with simple home remedies & rest. It will make you stronger & much more resistent to future viruses you will encounter.

Yes, kids are a hotbed of seasonal bugs -- its how theyre meant to build up a good immune system. Adults should expect to succumb far less often.

Do not run to a Korean doctor with symptoms of a common cold (though Koreans will insist that you should). He will administer a shot & give you packets of pills certain to contain antibiotics (useless against a virus), with a fair likelihood of cortisone too (a steroid!) the dangers of which far outweigh any temporary relief it might provide. End result: a system weaker after the cold runs its course rather than stronger, as nature intended it.

If you must take antibiotics (for a serious infection only), be certain to take advantage of the excellent broad-spectrum yogurt drinks here to refurbish your body's good bacteria.

Viruses dont like heat. A regular regimen of visits to the sauna is a valuable preventative. Makes you feel a lot better in the throes of a cold too. Likewise consider a mild fever a valuable ally in staying healthy. Dont treat it -- its your body functioning as it should, fending off invasion. Sweating is good!

Your body is still adjusting to a different set of challenges here in a new environment but with common sense & patience you can expect a good level of resistance & health to kick in soon. This might seem a bit radical but I think communal soups & shared soju cups also help bring a body up to speed with the common immunity too.

I had one mild one-week cold in 2004 which I accepted much as a 'booster shot' to keep me going well.

[chiaa]

It's the kids. When I was teaching I was ALWAYS sick. Now that I do not do teach anymore, I am back to my regular schedule of sickness

[rawiri]

look on the bright side...you can stay out all night...ring in to work with a fake raspy voice..."im too ill to come in today...i started coughing up blood"...of course they'll dock you a days wages but hey...you have to pay the dues somewhere along the line...i mean esl in korea's no holiday now...hang on....yes it is!

[Avram Iancu]

Mr Rawiri,

If I ever go back to Korea, we must swally it up...

[captain kirk]

Nobody's mentioned the main thing. You don't have resistance to the strains of common cold, virus, whatever the little, bothersome sickness stuff that ails and assails yuh....here in K. The OP didn't grow up, I don't think, in K (or Asia) and so all these microbes are taking advantage of him.
First year I was here I don't recall if I was sick a lot, or not. Probably. Little, sniffling, common cold stuff. My roomate then always had a cold/virus, whatever, going and had the hilarious habit of leaving snot-loaded kleenexes here, there, everywhere. Like, what am I supposed to do with them?
Sure like the regular sauna notion, since viruses don't like heat.
Hey, I'd avoid drinking milk if it has been sitting outside of the fridge for awhile. The one time I got really, virussy sick was on a weekend bus around K trip. I got some little cartons of milk at the bus terminal, and drank the milk after it had been in my pack on the ondol floor overnight at a motel. It had been warming, cooking up the germs, then, thriftily (don't want to waste milk!) I guzzled it. Some kind of zombie virus after that, uhhhhh, no energy, uhhh, I'm sick, must work.
Normal to be sick all the time first arriving. You're becoming super K virus fighting man.

[shifty]

It's the kids, but more the stress of teachin' 'em.

This can't be so easily gauged, cuz of the knock-on effects such as drinking or low spirits and counting the days paranoia etc.

Think of it as an opportunity. What matters most to counter stress is a good diet and exercise program. And plenty of refreshing sleep.

I do the exercise bit wholesale, otherwise, I wish I could practise what I preach!

Make a concerted mental effort to psych up for enjoying classes. Remember classes that have energised you and look for ways to extend to the drag ones.

[JAMZ]

to the OP if it makes you feel any better... i've only been here 3.5 months and i'm always sick... i've had 2 really bad head colds and food poisoning just in the past month alone

[some waygug-in]

I was really sick, often, my first year. Went to the doc, got the bag loads o' pills took 'em and got over it, but I think all the crap I took must have weakened my immune system, cause after that I started to develop all sorts of weird skin problems, rashes, sores, etc.

One doctor told me I had shingles.

I'm not saying I don't, but I never had anything like this before coming here.

The second year, I was sick less. I stayed away from doctors, ate garlic and over the counter cold medicine and seemed to do OK.

This year I've been not so bad, so far.

Drink warm Green tea, eat garlic, and some of that hot honey-ginseng drink. It's supposed to boost your immune system and help you fight these things off naturally.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

[chiaa]

[peppermint]

I've always chalked those first week colds up to the recirculated air on the plane coming over.

[coolsage]

Hygenic habits are certainly suspect here, whether it's kids or adults. School washrooms typically have no soap, no hot water, no towel action other than that common one that you wouldn't want to touch with a bargepole. That, coupled with the incessant spitting is a recipe for a cold and flu scenario all winter long. Double up on your Vit C, and wash your little hands every time you get a chance. You will survive.