Korean Job Discussion Forums

[some waygug-in]

Yesterday, the dust was extremely thick in this region (near Busan) and has been sort of coming and going all week.

I came down with cough, phlem and mucus driving me nuts. On the subway yesterday I noticed almost everyone was coughing as well.

Today it feels like I'm coming down with the flu. I told my co-teacher it may be from all the yellow dust in the air. She replied , "are you sensitive to dust?"


Geeze, who isn't sensitive to this crap?

Anyone else notice a strong corolation between the onset of yellow dust and flu like symptoms?

[Joe666]

Yes Sir. I arrived in Busan about 4 weeks ago and I have had something for the last 2.5 weeks. What it is, who knows. I never really ever got sick in the U.S. I have exactly what you described. My nose drips, spitting up, feel like shit, on and off! Go to a pharmacy anywhere and signal to the pharmacist that your nose is stuffed up. He should give you a red and white box with 6 yellow horse pills in it. Stuff works really well.

Remember, I do not know where you are from, but your immune system is being exposed to whole new set of bacteria, Fungi, Mold and viruses. Plus the yellow Chinese open pit coal mine fecal shit blowing all over S.K. does not help. Also, look at how many people are packed into this city. Holy Shit!! That will contribute to the spread of almost everything. My gut feeling is we and many others are immunosupressed in just arriving to this country. Our immune systems will eventually catch up or it's all over!!

[Robot_Teacher]

A variety of the common cold is going around. Many elementary students have had runny nose, cough, and fatigue for about 2 weeks now just like myself, but I don't see adult Koreans suffering from it. What's so different about thsi cold is it doesn't go away very slowly, I just have runny nose and cough day after day.

I haven't heard about any yellow dust and the air looks clear. I'm betting foreigners get sick just like kids, becuase our bodies are not immune like adult Koreans.

It's the same at home where kids get colds more than healthy adults while foreigners get sick more often and usually the same as young children do.

[some waygug-in]

Been living here off and on since 2001, so I think my immune system should be acclimatized by now...err maybe not.

What was the name on those yellow horse pills you described?


And the dust was so thick yesterday afternoon that it changed a bright sunny day into a sort of hazy brown day.

I'm about 20 mins. north of Busan, so maybe it's a local thing.

[Rusty Shackleford]

The more you fret and worry and discuss this sort of stuff, the more often you will get sick. I noticed that when I checked the airKorea (or whatever it is) website for dust info, my level of health would almost instantly vary to what the dust was doing.

Now that I ignore it, as well go about with an attitude that I'm one of those people that never gets sick, I am generally healthier. Although I am guaranteed to get sick after writing this because of Murphy's law.

[Colorado]

If you are near Yangsan, the air is almost always bad there.

[some waygug-in]

OK, so the air is bad, I should not fret.

Any word on the name of those horse pills?

[wylies99]

The air is bad everywhere. Did they outlaw rain?

[Papa Smurf]

i've been here a year and not felt sick. but, this past 3 or 4 weeks ive been feeling pretty crappy, to varying degrees. Finally starting to get over it i think.

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

I read somewhere that not only does the yellow dust bring over chemicals and heavy metals, but also all sorts of viruses and bacteria. So basically, even if you avoid the actual storms, you still have to deal with the bacteria that circulates for weeks afterward.

[some waygug-in]

The wierd thing (or perhaps not) is that all the korean staff seem not to even notice the stuff.

Yellow dust? What?

None of them seems to be getting sick either, but some of the kids are.



On a positive note, I tried a ginseng drink this afternoon that has made me feel a lot better. Can't remember the name, it's in a gold bottle with a picture of a ginseng root.

Anyhooo, just thought I'd pass that on.

breath safely.

[Xuanzang]

[justaguy]

The dust is awful.

I have a constant scratchy feeling in my throat, phlem that doesn't go away. All you can do is try to stay indoors if you can. As I went to and from work I could taste the dust in the air outside. Rain would be a blessing.

After the rain comes I bet your "cold" will disappear.

[MrRogers]

it is necessary to take care of yourself and ways to deal with it all;

see a good doctor - I was fortunate to find one out in the middle of nowhere - really lucky - it helped

also - wear a mask when outdoors on those bad air days - it definitely helps

[Joe666]

Some waygug-in asks me :
What was the name on those yellow horse pills you described?

Sorry brother, the whole box is in Hangul. I can't read a single thing. Go to a pharmacy, signal to him that your nose is stuffed up. I can almost guarentee you that he will give you the exact some medication. Red and white box, 6 yellow horse pills, take 2X a day for 3 days. I would imagine it is some sort of anti-histamine/decongestant. Works very well.

Some ex-pats responded to your nasal crisis. Yes, most older Koreans are not sick because they are already immune to the microbes in this part of the world. Plus they have been breathing in the yellow dust for years now. It's like oxygen to them now. Give it some time, you will adjust. I did not realize you have been here off and on for 8 years. Your immune system should still have the necessary B and T cells for the common microbes of this country. One person wrote something interesting about microbes coming over from China in the winds. Also, remember that the Avian Flu Virus starts in this part of the world and ends up in the west via bird shit. Lovely world it is!! Try the horse pills. They will give some relief. Sorry I did not get back to you sooner. Just got back to the mass discontent of Dave's EOF. Every Ones Fucked.