Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mack the knife]

This whole past week has been ME vs. GODDAM THROAT.

My esophagus feels like it has been raked clean by pointy-hat wearing gnomes sporting camel hair trousers and soil aerators.

I'm guessing it's the yellow dust, which means I'd be wasting my time if I pussed out and went to a doctor.

What I need to hear is that other muthas are hurtin' too.

[paperbag princess]

just go to the chemist, they're really good at getting the right meds for you. they are especially good with yellow dust stuff. also, i suggest wearing a mask, it looks dorky, but it helps.

[Lizara]

I had a sore throat and fever and then almost entirely lost my voice for a few days. You'd think that would be a good reason not to have to teach...

[HapKi]

I don't think the yellow dust has hit Korea full-bore yet. When it does, you'll notice it in your eyes, as well as your throat.

1. Korean drugstores sell ������ (young gak san) which is a white powder that looks like crack (even comes with a little spoon) in a silver can. Its like powdered menthol/peppermint. A spoonful of that before a class gives your throat a fresh jolt. Messy, but all Koreans have heard of it, and would know what you're doing.

2. Drink green tea during class.

[krisinkorea]

I'm very afraid of yellow dust.

[Hater Depot]

I never notice it. Near my school is a nice electronic board letting us know the ppm though.

[ddeubel]

I have a microphone that goes all over the class, plugs into the ghetto blaster. Awesome sound and I use it to teach and it just rocks for "hearing". Kids at the back get it, cause the ghetto blaster is at the back of the class, visuals upfront.

I also do a load of karaoke now. Kids love it and fill up my request box. Kids sing in the mike and I run the karaoke on the big screen tv....works well.

Get the mike an ghetto blaster. even if your throat isn't dusted up!!!!

DD

[Mills]

Last night... "Hmmm... feels like I may have a sore throat in the morning", ten minutes later... "Damn, my throat hurts!". All day today it felt like I smoked a pack of ciggerettes before bedtime.

[fatpat]

I had tonsillitis 2 weeks ago and it was dreadful. I've had quite a few sore throats in Korea - kids are full of germs and I seem to be a magnet for them. Why don't you see a doctor just in case it's more than the yellow dust?

[seoulsucker]

It never fails. Right around St. Patty's day, I get hit with this same thing. Scratchy throat, voice loss, and lung butter galore. Don't know if it's yellow dust, the seasons changing, exposure to kids, or just coincidence, but it's like f'n clockwork.

[mack the knife]

[seoulsucker]

[Harpeau]

The Yong gak san (Dragon Powder) is awesome! Just don't drink anything for a couple hours after taking it. Lots of stuff will hoark up from your throat and lungs.

Peppermint tea is also excellent! I drink about a pot a night.

Get one of those "Morning Glory" machines. Run it through the night. Leave the 03 switch off. Works really good. I put peppermint tea, eucalyptus oil and lavender and let it run most of the night.

Or rub some tiger balm on your chest at night.

Quit smoking.

If the liquid your horking up is funky colors check to see if it might possibly be pneumonia.

Be well.

[I-am-me]

I am not sure of this...but I have been told that chalk is also a cause of throat illnesses. I really hate using it. My last school had a marker board. Chalk sucks!!!

[captain kirk]

Yes, maybe it's the yellow dust. I hear you and feel the same re; scratchy throat which I normally never have. I drove down Saturday night from Seoul to Cheonan by motorbike, about two hours and there was yellow sand. Sand between my teeth, in eyes, around nose. And feel sort of slightly not quite right apart from the usual, normal not quite right, exactly. Sort of assailed by pollutants harrassing the immune system and giving 'scratchy throat'.