Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Peeping Tom]

For anyone who will be here during the summer (especially July/August), I'd like to share a little information that might vastly increase your experience during the summers.

"Driclor"
Over-the-counter antipersperant you can by at a pharmacy. Put in on at night, wash it off in the morning and it vastly decreases or even completely prevents sweat from forming where you apply it. The downside is that it won't prevent sweat from forming on other parts of your body.

If you're not yet in Korea or planning to go back to Canada for a while (not sure about other countries), you might want to buy "Avert." (generic name "glycopyrrolate" - see wiki link below) It's not yet available in Korea yet (well, not easily by any means, anyway). A medicine that you eat, it can dry your whole body up. In Canada you don't need a prescription for this. However, you'd be wise to get a detailed explanation of the side effects and proper usage before taking it so you don't get heat stroke...

Although most of us probably don't have hyperhidrosis in other climates, a whitey in Seoul's summer might find the following information useful:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperhidrosis

Does anyone else have any useful information/advice?

[riverboy]

Take a two month vacation to Canada.

[Sleepy in Seoul]

Something I learned when I lived in the tropics of Queensland; when it's really humid, have a hot shower. Or, if that sounds as crazy to you as it used to to me, at the end of your cold shower turn the hot water up until it's really hot. That raises your temperature at skin level, and stops the wave of perspiration that starts up as soon as you turn off the cold water. You will feel much better after your shower.

[cypher]

Where are you all from? I find it not that different here from where I'm from.

Eat hot food, temperature and spice. Okay, you'll sweat more but that's a good thing, to a cerain point.

[capebretoncanadian]

[SuperFly]

I couldn't deal with the heat in Korea. Had to have an A/C unit. Convinced my Pujang nim at Halla heavy industries to buy me a used one.

[JAWINSEOUL]

What's an Airconditioner, is that the box fastened to the wall that my Korean fiance will kill me if i use.

We have 3 fans set up in my apartment, works pretty.

[SPINOZA]

[JAWINSEOUL]

The cost.

[SPINOZA]

Oh.

Is it really expensive to run per se or does it depend?

Can't remember my bills being that high last September, but I've never been one to leave the a/c on a lot. Just 10-20min bursts here and there.

Is buying a buncha fans a good investment folks?

[ajgeddes]

[ella]

So when housing is paid for by your employer, that means only rent not utilities?

[Rteacher]

Last summer without an A/C my fairly small studio apartment was like an oven - much hotter than the outside air. With window and door open and fan on full blast I could get the temp down some, but I also had a mosquito problem so I didn't want to open the door much. I couldn't sleep at night without a few freezer ice-packs near my head and feet ...

I decided that I'd have to buy an A/C this year (it states in my contract that I can't ask for extra appliances not specified...) When I asked the head of the English department at my high school where the best place to buy one would be (I live way out in the sticks, 40 minute bus-ride to nearest E-Mart...) he told me to "wait a minute" and he'd ask the principal. He came back and said they'd get me one next week (further proving that Korea is the best country to live and work...)

[mack the knife]

I run my AC all night long (can't sleep without it) and it pushes the electric bill up W10,000-20,000. But it's the best damn investment you'll ever make in Korea, bar none.

[ajgeddes]