Korean Job Discussion Forums

[asams]

so i've been here about two weeks and while i'm enjoying it, tonight the homesickness hit me full force

maybe it's lack of internet or tv, and thus it's hard to keep in touch with anyone outside of the other two english teachers and my coteachers, but for some reason i just felt homesick

i'm a very reflective person, and so a lot of times i sit and think about what might have been had things taken a different course - and sometimes that doesn't serve me well - like tonight

anyway, without too many details i'm homesick as crap and i guess want to know what you do to get over it - i jumped up and ran to a pc bang so i could use the computer and hopefully talk to some friends who might be online at 9 am in the states

oh, plus i think my kids gave me pink eye - any suggestions? (besides stop letting the kids use my markers)

[Jandar]

Save it for summer camp.

"You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. "
(Desiderata)

[D-Man]

It's times like this, that vodka becomes your friend.

[Xuanzang]

You need 10ccs of internet stat or a hard drink.

[John_ESL_White]

Sorry about the homesickness. I stay homesick even though I've been here awhile, am married, and generally love Korea. It's just part of life here.

TV, internet....western food.... doesn't help me.

That said, it does get easier with time.

As to your pink eye problem. GET TO THE DOCTOR ASAP! whatever meds they give you, double check with the pharmacist to make sure the doc gave you the right meds.

My doc gave me allergy meds for pink eye. The meds made it worse. I ended up losing some vision in my eye (permanent damage) before I could get the right meds.

Generally, do not touch the kids things and do not let them touch your things. Use an antibacterial soap OFTEN or some alcohol based handwash.

good luck

[asams]

thanks, i definitely need to go to the doctor, and will probably make one of the coteachers take me - we have 3 english teachers at my school - all new to korea so none of us speak any korean

and i used to work in a pharmacy, so i should know what they're giving me, even though i know it might be called something different

sorry the doctor screwed you over, thanks for the advice, at least maybe you can save someone's vision

[asams]

oh, and my school only puts out bars of soap in the bathrooms, and no one washes their hands

i'm gonna start wearing latex gloves

[moosehead]

best thing you can do for any kind of eye infection or irritation - buy a bottle of isotonic water at the pharmacy - it's the same eye rinse contact lens wearers use - I use to wear them - not the expensive rinse but the one that is just plain salt water (the salt level your blood is, not like sea water).

I rinse my eyes every day, sometimes twice - pink eye is rampant here - rinsing keeps them clean and helps with the air pollution also.

unless your eye is seriously infected you can probably get over it even with just rinsing every hour for a few days and keeping your hands clean.

if you have pain or discomfort, put some warm water in a lock type plastic bag and set it over your eye (closed of course). a warm rag will also help but it will cool pretty fast. this also helps loosen up the pus that causes swelling. then rinse well and often.

good luck.

[asams]

here's my problem: i had laser eye surgery

even though it was two years ago my eyes are still kinda sensitive, so i'm afraid to do anything unless i know it's ok

anyone else have laser surgery and used the remedies above?

[sojourner1]

Here's my problem: I miss family, friends, and many things back over there and just downright missing out on life for this job. Spending all your time in abroad causes you to miss out on family and friends as they (and you) live life and get older. It really sucks it has to be like that, but time passes and you don't get to even spend 1 day that could mean the world to you.

I wished I was worth enough to fly regularly and even have a faster mode of transport such as a more advanced plane that shoots up into space and come down to the other side of the globe in 4 hours or less. So many suffer this dilemma of taking a job far from home. Hey, as they always said, "you gotta go where the money is." And unfortunately in the computerized 21st century, it's a global being far away situation; not just a Midwesterner working in New York and home every Christmas and 4th of July thing like it was during the 20th century for many Americans working far from home.

The older generation couldn't fathom the inconveniences and taking on the sacrifices involved with doing what we do today. They just didn't have it as hard 40 years ago, but they also didn't see, do, and learn nearly as much as we're doing in our lifetime. They lived very comfortably instead of adventurously like we do so we pay the cost of not having friends, family, and home. Now we just need new transportation technology and lots more money.

Going home only once a year is not enough!!!

EDIT * I forgot my paragraphs.

[moosehead]

[John_ESL_White]

[blaseblasphemener]

[John_ESL_White]

[Arthur Dent]

You can buy some hand sanitizer at most 'marts. If you are in contact with kids all day this is a good idea. It does seem to be true that personal hygiene with regards to hand washing is not well-instilled amongst children here. I don't know the name of it in Korean but with a little patience and some body language you can get across what you need. Or another Dave's poster can chime in here.

For pink eye, it spreads rapidly here. Within days it can spread from one part of Seoul - or outside of it - to the other. You simply have to train yourself not to touch your eyes with your hands without having washed them first. Trite advice perhaps, but the only way I know of to avoid it. Despite this, I managed to contract it once.

For the homesickness - and the culture shock you are going through (this happens to virtually everyone) - the only solution I can offer is to take things slowly. You will make less mistakes, and create a better working atmosphere at your school. Do some reading on the subject to acquaint yourself with the symptoms.

Two other valuable pieces of advice: Get plenty of rest and exercise (I sound like a doctor!) and try to meet some people who have been here for longer. Buy them a beer or a coffee and listen. If they are worthwhile companions and offer what seems to be reasonable information, store it away and pay attention to what is going on around you. If the perspective they give you still seems valid, keep it. Otherwise throw it away...Again, seemingly obvious, but sometimes it helps to hear even the obvious.

Give yourself a chance to get acclimated, explore the nearby neighborhood to get oriented. Patience is not a virtue here, it is a necessity.

The reason I mention the rest? You may find an increase in your stress level. Also, people here to tend to throw things at you with no warning. Don't agree to it immediately. Leave yourself time to find out what is really going on. Then you can make a better decision about what you will do and what you won't do.

Finally, try to find something fun to do almost immediately! This will give a bit of a mental escape route when you need it.