Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Derrek]

Well, I finally caved-in and went to the doctor yesterday. Those who know me well know that I hate going to doctors, and detest doing so in Korea. But I've had this flu followed by a sore-throat for almost 2 weeks now, and I decided I'd better do something after the school nurse kept bugging me on the hour every hour about it.

Living in Korea seems to make my colds twice as difficult to get over. The air can't be helpful, although Bundang's air is much cleaner than Seoul. I know the real culprit here is the cool draft that I have in my "offictel" efficiency apartment. There is an access door to the air-conditioner which isn't sealed well. Cool air flows in and the only place I can escape sleeping in the draft is in the kitchen. So yeah, I now sleep on the floor in my kitchen, which has just enough room in it to throw my twin-bed sized cushion on the floor.

Anyway, I went to the doctor. I used to go to the International Clinic in Itaewon, which is overpriced, however the doctor there speaks good English and the clinic is halfway private.

Finding a hospital in Korea where they speak English isn't fun. Usually at least one person somewhere does, but I really HATE going into an office, being stared at by everyone in sight and having all action in the area stop because of me so everyone can listen. Because of this, I put my appointment off longer than I should have.

I didn't have time to travel an hour and back to get there, so the school nurse was gracious and helped me get in at a nearby clinic. Wouldn't you know, I acidentally brought last-year's insurance card, and wasn't able to provide proof of insurance. That created a fun fiasco that seemed to include every individual in the office -- from the nurses to doctors to the geriatric ajummas who had to interject their opinions on the issue.

You'd think that Korea would be able to use my foreigner ID number to access my insurance information, but no -- things are never that easy. Whenever you are sick, you have to bring this little passbook thing that is nothing more than a folded-over piece of paper shoved into a little plastic folder. Of course, it's too big to fit into my wallet, so I seem to to through this ritual of hunting for the stupid thing every time I get sick. Only this time, I grabbed the wrong one. It sure would be nice if Korea made wallet-sized cards like other countries I've visited have. Ok, enough griping -- my stupid mistake for bringing the wrong one. A call to my dentist got them the correct number they needed and saved me a trip home. At this time, a very pretty and tall nurse walked into the office and chatted with the rest of the staff.

At the clinic, I was quite the spectacle for the other patients to stare at and talk about. I've gotten used to this on the subway, but in a doctor's clinic, it's very uncomfortable and unnerving. Out loud, an in front of the entire office, people asked the school nurse various questions about me, and I forced a smile at them as they poked and prodded away at any sense of privacy I might have desired during my visit. I am so thankful that I wasn't there for something weird or gross, like Hemmorroids. It would have been the talk of the entire office, followed by gobs of buffetted laughs and comments like, "Do westerners get hemmroids?" I would have only been able to understand enough of the conversation to make me extremely annoyed and embarrassed. My simple visit there seemed to create enough of a commotion, and I couldn't imagine such a private conversation in front of the embarrassingly-pretty nurse.

I hated being there and really wanted to get the appointment over with and get out.

Eventually, I was let in to see the doctor. He looked very young, and spoke little English, but was kind. He looked in my throat and checked my heartbeat and breathing. The school nurse was there in the office with us to interpret. She was very kind and helpful, but I really felt like a little school-kid rather than an adult. I always hated it when my mother came into the doctor's office with me when I was young. This was much worse, although she was only there to provide needed interpretive help. I should have been more thankful to her taking the time out of her day to be so kind.

After checking me over, the doctor smiled, looked me in the eyes and said, "Throat Injection!"

I was shocked and a little scared... injection?!? Was my throat that bad that I needed steroid injections in it? YIKES! I asked, "Excuse me?!"

To that, he again said, "Throat injection!"

The nurse corrected him, and he correctly replied, "Throat infection!"

I breathed a big sigh of relief.

When it was finished, we headed out the door, but I was soon diverted into a little room where the really beautiful nurse was waiting. She didn't know much English, and simply said, "Injection!" I didn't know if I was supposed to roll up my sleeve, or prepare for a hideously scary shot in the neck, so I said, "Ottoke?" (that means "how?" in Korean). Well, what do you think her answer was? You guessed it....none of the above. I was told to drop my pants, which was embarrassing, yet somewhat enjoyable in front of the beautiful nurse! I have experienced this before in Korea, however this time, the nurse seemed to be somewhat of a masochist, and slapped me on the butt about 10 times in the process of giving me the shot!

In case you are curious, the total bill for the day, including shots and meds, was about 11,000 won. Had I gone to the International Clinic in Itaewon, it would have been over 40,000.

[korian]

cool story. i know exactly how you felt. i had some problems last time i was in korea and going to hospitalks to be gawked at ain't fun.

by the way, i think you meant the girl was a sadist not a masochist.

anyway, i got a funny story too. i'd had stomach problems so i went to the hospital. got checks, scans, the works. so then i had to go get a poop test done. so i'm sitting at the desk in front of 3 nurses and with 10 other koreans waiting and milling around looking at the foreigner.

so the nurse gives me the little plastic container, takes the top off, hands it to me and starts running her finger round the rim. then starts looking at me sternly and, still pointing at the rim spits out 'dung, dung, yogi ae dung'

i'm really confused, thinknig i needed a poop test. all nervous with 100 hundred eyes bearing down on me, i took the container and, looking at the nurse and all those around me, started licking arouynd the rim of the container.

back and forth, up and down i'm licking this little container. this nurse is looking at me with mouth agape shouting 'dung, dung' so i lift my eyes up and point to my tongue, saying look look i'm doing it ok. i don't know why i have to lick this thing but don't make a spectacle out of me by shouthing!!

finally she shakes her head, gives a korean 'chee' of frustration and grabs my hand and leads me to the restroom. points me in and says dung and points to my butt.

it was then i realised what she was saying.

oh the humiliation.

[eamo]

Korian, that was priceless.

[riverboy]

"Throat Injection."
Buddy, you just made my day a whole lot better!

[Derrek]

I know, it's funny.

Generally, I'm on the giving end of "throat injections."

[JackSarang]

Derrek you live in Bundang right? If you ever get another throat/nose infection or just a cold or whatever... which is what most of us get in Korea.. then there is an excellent ENT I always went to in Bundang.

His office is in Jeongja-dong near the KT headquarters. On the corner is Burger King/KFC. Next to that is Paris Baquette. He's in the building with Paris Baguette, 2nd floor and it says ENT in big letters on the office windows.

Never had any problems there and they never made me feel awkward or out of place. Always seemed to diagnose whatever it was correctly and whatever was prescribed cleared up my problems right away.

[Toby]

Derrek - I too am like you. I hate going to the doctor as I view it to be a complete wate of time, especially when Koreans go for even the slightest ailments.

Just play the dumb foreigener. Works a treat and gets you a long way.

[Grotto]

when he said throat injection was he toying with his zipper?

[canadian_in_korea]

I went to the international clinic in Itaewon also.....then a friend told me about Dr. Linton in Yonsei Severence Hospital....anyone that needs to see a doctor I recommend him. Its cheaper than the international clinic and he is American...no English confusion.

[JackSarang]

[captain kirk]

In Taiwan every f-teacher needs to have a physical, and needs to have their poop tested. I didn't know if I'd be able to cut a log at the exam so I brought along a pile of poop in a shopping bag . It still cracks me up thinking about it, the way they looked at me. Holding their poop vial and looking at the big bag of poop on their counter
Yeah, that International Clinic in Itaewon is way overpriced. Avoid avoid avoid.

[Hollywoodaction]

Korian...Oh, my God! I laughed so hard, tears came to my eyes. Please tell me you're joking. That's the funniest and most embarrassing thing I've ever read. I don't know if I should laugh at you or pitty you.

[korian]

laugh my man laugh. i was pisting myself on the bus after it was all finsihed. when i came out the toilet they were all still there shaking their heads at me and cracking up. i must have licked that thing thouroughly for a good 30 seconds.

the whole time i was thinknig to myself why in god's name am i doing this?

laugh laugh laugh

[Derrek]

Some dentists will charge you a lot more too -- just for being a foreigner. I know this for a fact, because the office lady at my dentist, Chicago Dental in Hannam Dong, was surprised when I handed her my insurance card. She said that if I didn't have that, they would have charged me 3x more just because I was a forienger!

[jazblanc77]

I would say that health and body issues are taboo subjects for Westerners. In Korea, not so. Privacy has different bounds here. If I am sick, I always have to remind my wife not to discuss every possible detail of my malady with anyone who crosses our path. Likewise, my in-laws and coworkers will question and prod me incessantly for answers about my health if I am looking ill. I don't mind people knowing that I am feeling ill but I don't like sharing with everyone around that I have diarrhea and my arse is burning, for example!

I also like it when Koreans make comments like, "you look terrible", or "you are fat". It is just not polite in Western culture to comment on how someone looks or on their condition. Oh well, what can you do about it?!