Korean Job Discussion Forums

cruisemonkey

... you haven't been in a K hospital.

I shattered my scapula on Friday afternoon playing with a bunch of 14-year-old middle school girls, Rolling Eyes

(slipped while running and making a low throw... a diving fall, landing squarely on my right shoulder)... went to the hospital thinking I'd broken my clavicle and I'd be drinking beer left-handed in the local Hoff in a couple of hours. After the X-rays, the doctor informed me I'm being admitted to the hospital for three weeks! I didn't believe him at first. Three friggin' weeks! Crying or Very sad

and I can't bathe for ten days until I get this stupid harness 'thingy' off. Great! squat toilets and hospital food... every meal is, of course, the same. Breakfast is rice, kimchee, soup (spinach or seaweed), grass clippings in pepper & garlic paste and either overcooked fish or pork in pepper & garlic paste. I'm in a room with 8 beds and it seems that visiting hours are 24/7 - some wives actually sleep in the room and cook for their husbands - there's no privacy curtains. Shocked

The Pluses:
- the Ks are really nice and share everything (I give chocolate to some of the kids that are here every day and they 'love' me
- cute nurses (and one of the girls who works at the front desk is stunningly beautiful! Very Happy

.
- good painkillers (Meperidine - synthetic opiate... I'm high as kite right now).
- I discovered the handicapped washrooms have 'Western' toilets.
- people bring me real food.
- it's easy to get maekjju and soju smuggled in.

SarcasmKills · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

I just got out of a K-hospital myself after blowing out my knee..

I was there for 2 weeks and it wasn't terribly bad.. all the toilets were western style for starters...

The food was horrible and at a cost of 6,200 per meal I decided to cancel them and either order in, raid the 7-11 in the hospital, of have the gf pick me up some grub..

lights were out in my room at 11 every night and on at 7 every morning.. I met a cast of characters with stories that Timothy Leary couldn't of dreamed up.. definitely added to my Korean experience..

There weren't privacy curtains in my room either, but apparently the owner of my hospital is a renowned tight-arse and well, for 7,000 a night I wasn't complaining much... My girlfriend crashed with me most of the time as well.. there are those beds where you can pull out a cot-type deal.. pretty cool actually..

the nurses were very generous with pain-killers and even left my post-op moriphine drip connected for an extra few days because they knew my doc wouldn't be around.. dolls everyone of them!

I'm never going to complain about paying for my medical insurance again.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

My husband tells me that hospitals in Korea exaggerate your injuries and make you stay longer to get money....

As for food... may be it was because I had just given birth last year, I was just grateful that all of my 3 meals were cooked for me for 3 days, even if it was seaweed soup all day everyday!

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Sorry to hear about your scapula. Get better soon.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I was at CM's hospital room yesterday just as dinner was being served. Imagine the worst meal your school cafeteria has ever served in a half-sized portion. I'm sure a steady influx of makju and soju will help tide things over Wink

cruisemonkey · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:16 pm Post subject:

Yes, YBs... self-medication is the answer, thanks! Very Happy

I MISS MY OVEN! Sad

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

I spent a day in a Seattle hospital and the food was great. It was heavenly. I had a private room, a nurse to talk to, someone brought me free food, I got to sleep, read, and watch TV for most of the day. And they legally drug you up with "la la juice".

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

I heard that you're supposed to bring your own "nurse" to bring meals to you, push your wheelchair, bring fresh clothes, etc. Any truth to that?

cruisemonkey · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 5:28 pm Post subject:

Well... you could bring your own 'nurse', wife, girlfriend, 'coffee girl'... if you're lucky enough to be in a relationship (or rich enough to pay for one). It seems anything goes. Wink

SarcasmKills · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

canuckistan · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 7:51 pm Post subject:

Sarcasm Kills wrote:

cruisemonkey · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 6:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the 'well-wishes' ... it's been quite an experience so far (I know what you mean about "a cast of characters" LOL), but I've settled in nicely now and have become the ultimate couch (bed?) potato.

Thank God my contract allows 15 paid sick days - I'm using them! Smile