Korean Job Discussion Forums

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

Ok,
This is the 9th. month of my second year here. I've hit the WALL and I can't understand why .
When I first got here you would talk to veterans who would tell you that the second year is harder than the first. Well, my first year here was a breeze and I went home for some well earned R&R in Australia for 3 weeks and come back in December. The last month or so I would say that I have never been so tired my whole life(all of 25 years Smile

)
Monday and Tuesdays are Ok but the back end of the week is becoming a struggle. I go into a zombie mode where every class just blurs into one big session. I understand I would be more tired but I don't understand why i am so tired.
The reasons being
1. i like my job and I like the students.
2. i have no troubles with my director and he is very supportive.
3. I like Korea and plan to live here for a while yet.
4. The job is so easy(some of the jobs I did before here were so much more demanding) and the money we get for what we do is great.
5. I'm a seasoned international traveller(21 countries) so I knew what to expect and am pretty sure it isn't culture shock.
I suppose what I'm saying is my job is good, what the world am I b*tching about. i plan to come back next year to study at Sogang in Seoul which will be a change of scene but for all the long-termers did they have similar experiences and does it got better???
I really like it here and I'm heading back to Australia in January for 2 months so i'm hanging out for that (and thank good for Chuseok, off to China) and I hope it gets better. Offer me some hope please Very Happy

matko · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: in a world of hurt!

I get like that every six months or so. Doesn't matter what country I'm in or what job I have.

Alot of it has to do with lack of sleep "catching up" with you.

What are your sleep patterns like?

I find that one or 2 days of sleeping for 12 hours or so does the trick.

(I normally sleep 5.5 to 6.5 hours a night) Not enough really.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

Sleep isn't a problem. I'm pretty regular with about 8 to 9 hours a night. Its more than just normal tiredness. i am drained. I must admit I am looking foward to the crisp sunny days of autumn where there is no humidity(that is aggrevating the problem) and every day it is nice to wake up.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

it has been cloudy, overcast, rainy for TWO WEEKS. i woke up this morning and the room was filled with brilliant, golden light; sunshine. i kid you not i haven't seen the sun in two weeks. and it was really beginning to bother me about the end of week one.

matko · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: in a world of hurt!

Is it still rainy season in Korea? Shocked

Isn't it usually over by now?

If it is still going on, then Noodle could be right. Nothing worse for the body than that.

BTW, are you constantly going in an out of air conditioned rooms into the humidity? That is not very good for the body either.

Skarp · Joined: 22 Aug 2003

This kind of unexplained fatigue is quite normal.

Look at diet, alcohol. Are you really sleeping or just dozing, do you snore?

Are you keeping fit?

How's your mood? Are you worried about anything or upset? Lonely? Be honest with yourself.

When was your last break? Teaching is very draining - you need a break every 5-6 weeks to recharge.

I know the system views teachers as disposable items - after a year or two we are cast aside as burnt out wrecks.

Maybe you are doing too much of the work in class? Get hold of some of the better ideas books that take the pressure off the teacher and put it back on the students....

Of course you will feel better in a few weeks anyway.

Skarp

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

I believe its psychological. Your mind needs new challenge and stimulus,just as much as your body needs exercise. Sounds like you've been cruising along quite comfortably in a way too familiar rut for a looong time.
After my first 10 months here I was practically brain dead- and a 3 month tour of S.E Asia worked absolute wonders for me in the revitalisation stakes. I've come back and done a further 5 months- not desperate for a holiday yet but i've just had a 2 week touring break- fantastic.
When I was working I really thought i needed a full 10 hours of sleep. when on holiday my body seems more than happy with only 7 hours a night.

VanIslander · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2003 6:57 am Post subject:

justbecause, here's a late night thought, if you are so tired and drained, and it has nothing to do with your job, sleep schedule, frequency of holidays or future career ambitions, perhaps it's psychological in a less physiological way than rapier suggests. Maybe it has to do with motivation.

What ways do you feel unmotivated in your life? What are your hopes and fears? And your relationships? At age 25, you may be coming out of the young adult thrillled-with-freedom stage of life (I'm myself in a thirtysomething re-orienting stage). How do you feel about your family, past, present and especially future? What are your thoughts on future plans of marriage and/or children, and on your life in Korea meshing with those future ideas? Most importantly, you didn't mention your romantic life. Are your prospects too open or too closed? You could be feeling a lack of love or spontenaiety. You may need a change in your love life.

And about these questions, it may be best to talk with a good, longterm friend rather than the crowd at Dave's.

em · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

Could be anemia...

Before you get all heady with yourself and assume that you are depressed or losing interest, get some bloodwork done and see if you are low. I suffer from occasional bouts of anemia and it can turn life into a bit of a struggle.

William Beckerson · Guest

Tell us more about this Anemia. It sounds unpleasant

VanIslander · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2003 10:56 am Post subject:

Yes, bloodtests could see if you are low in iron, folate or Vitamin B12. But I doubt whether an iron deficiency or any of its ilk is likely if one eats Korean beef and vegetable dishes.

Anemia is a sign, not a disease. Anemia could indicate diabetes, heart problems, hemoglobin diseases or bone marrow disorders. Do you have a family history of anemia? Are you using prescription drugs? If not, then you're probably not.

Of course, it never hurts to take em's advice and get bloodtests.

Just to be sure.

Coffeecup · Joined: 30 Jun 2003

I think this is a great topic which not only possibly can be of assistance to one person, but can help the whole good as well.

I'm just jumping into the thread. I was reading the post and first few replies and was thinking all along that by the sounds of it you are experiencing some 'weakness' or lacking something, again that's just the first thoughts I was having. Then I saw rapier's reply which was quite contrary to my thoughts and his idea that perhaps it's not that you are becoming weaker but maybe you've just lost 'stimulus' as he put it does indeed seem worthwhile. VanIslander seemed to say something rather similar with the 'motivation.'

The original question I wanted to ask is, because we all don't know what you are doing each living day (ok we got sleep hours) in your private I can't quickly just jump into your shoes. But what I would ask is, if you could have just one (or perhaps two) things that seem almost like a fantasy right now but would be sort of the equivalent to a bottle of water to a man in the desert, what would it be? Basically I'm asking, "what is it you think you're really lacking?"

I guess for now if there is no 'super-desire' water-in-the-desert that would spruce you up if you were able to attain it then it seems that rapier's viewpoint -- that you've almost become so strong and things have become so stable that this loss of struggle has sort of made you limber and wobbly-weak -- seems to be the most accurate.

It did sound from your description that "life is perfect and I can't seem to understand why my vision is suddenly blurry." In line with that I have a question: Does it seem like you are a professional and accomplished sports player with $25 million US in the bank, it's off season there's no practice and "man I just can't seem to get my butt out of the recliner? But damn life is so good." If that's so, then again it seems like what I said in the last paragraph. Hey please let us know and keep us updated. These issues are very interesting.

ulsanchris · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: take a wild guess

One of the B vitamins helps the body convert food into energy. Maybe you lack this or some other vitamin. Try taking some mulit vitamins.

canuckistan · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2003 7:18 pm Post subject:

In 20 months here with no real break I've hit the wall several times.

Maybe it's all that sunshine it took to grow them, but a big plate of steamed green vegetables starts doing miracles a few short hours later.

So does wondering if we and the whole universe are just a fleck of dust on someone's eyeball.

lesza · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2003 8:47 pm Post subject:

I had a few bouts with the energy sucking vortex and found that a trip to the Chinese doctor did wonders. She treated me with herbs (deer horn -- bleccchhh), accupuncture and got me set up on a whole new diet according to my 'Chinese constitution'. Whole lotta baloney?! Maybe, but I feel a lot better now following the diet than I did before. And it's totally counter-intuitive to western dogma: no more veggies, no more fruits, (...no more teachers golden ruuuules)? Not to say everyone would get this prescription. My friend has the exact opposite one: virtually only fruits and veggies for her. It makes for an interesting time at the restaurant: we divvie things up according to our diets and only share rice and gim!

Going to hell in a coronary handbasket, Lesza