Korean Job Discussion Forums

JerBear · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea

I've been in Korea a couple of months now. It seems like I've spent at least half the time sick. I have wheezing, coughing, chest rattle, runny/stuffy nose, headaches and occasional light fever.

Back at home in the States, I was as healthy as a horse. I sometimes went for years without so much as a cold. Now I'm sick as a dog.

I take multivitimins and have been to the doctor twice. They always just give me antibiotics and a series of wax paper pouches holding 6 or 7 pills and half-pills in them to take 3 times a day. It seems to make me feel a little better after a bout a week of taking them, but a few days later, it all comes surging back.

Anyone else having this problem???

Signed: "Sick in Southwest Seoul" OR "My Kingdom For A Z-Pack"

RJjr · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: Turning on a Lamp

I think it happens to just about every foreigner when they first live in Korea. I hadn't been sick in three years or so, not even a runny nose, before I first went to Korea. In the first month, I had the flu and strept throat, but only sick one more time after that a few months later in the winter.

butlerian · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Location: Korea

jay-shi · Joined: 09 May 2004 Location: On tour

It's a very normal process. Your body is exposed to new unknown bacteria and viruses. I think everyone's first year is a health drama. It gets better over time.

kentucker4 · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Location: Georgia

kentucker4 · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Location: Georgia

Damn, I have been here for almost seven months, though. Isn't it supposed to be getting better? Mine is getting worse and worse. I drink a lot, though.

kingplaya4 · Joined: 14 May 2006

OP, not trying to be discouraging but I think Dave's might be a biased sample. Those that constantly get ill probably don't stay on in Korea very often. I have been sicker my second year than my first. I asked my students who had a cold several times in February and March, nearly every student raised their hand. (If Koreans are getting sick so much than it probably has nothing to do with acclimation). I was pretty interested, because that's clearly where my illnesses come from. They would get a cold over the weekend, recover during mid week, and then get another cold the beggining of the following week. My students back home in America did not get sick nearly this often.

My theory is its a combination of several things. I think the number one problem is population density combined with the fact that students here are in school from early morning to late at night, during which time they are sharing germs. Second I think is pollution which weakens the immune system, and then third would be a lack of hygiene ie not covering mouths when coughing insufficient handwashing etc.

Anyway, I probably wouldnt leave your first year over it, particularly considering the season now. Its getting warm and sunny, and although those little buggers still may have a cold circulating even in summer they will be far less frequent, so you should be well most of the time until October at least. Good luck Smile

kingplaya4 · Joined: 14 May 2006

^^^^

There's nothing magical or scientific about one year in a new location kentucker, but I'd be surprised if you don't start feeling better at least for the warm weather months.

JerBear · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

I caught the Chicken pox in my second year here. I was 28 at the time. That really sucked. It didn't help that one of the stories in one of our reading books talks about a little girl who gets the chicken pox. I was razzed about it for about a year.

Bryan · Joined: 29 Oct 2007

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

I've got the same thing. Can't seem to get rid of it. I've been here a few years though and got it a few months ago. I get it maybe once a year around this time.

asylum seeker · Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Location: On your computer screen.

The Koreans are deliberately making you sick because they hate you, its all part of their plan.

Atavistic · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:40 pm Post subject:

I taught in the States for 3 years (oh, and student teaching--so around kids constantly for 4!) before coming here and I NEVER got sick back home. I've been here almost two years and I'm still sick much more often than back home.

I think the pollution here is pretty bad. And that's saying something since I lived in Atl for seven years before coming here.

I am getting ready to go home just to get back to non-sickness.

bish · Joined: 09 Jun 2007

I've not been feeling too good for a couple of weeks. I try not to take too much medicine. Koreans are obsessed with going to the "Hospital" for anything but taking all that medicine just makes your immune system soft. Stick it out...

I hate when I go in the bathroom at school and one of the teachers come out from having a shit and just walks out without washing his hands (then goes to the canteen). Makes me laugh, koreans always say the Chinese are dirty but they are also rough as *beep*...