Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Captain Courageous]

I've read time and again that most new people who arrive in the winter always get that nasty first-month-or-so lingering cold.

You guys never told me it would lead to a collapsed lung, pneumonia, and a bleeding infection in my lungs.

I demand a refund.

[Travelous Maximus]

[Captain Courageous]

Not enough for this to happen. I've been smoking maybe a pack or pack and a half a week the last week (ending last Monday), and hadn't had more than 2 half-smoked cigarettes in the month before. Haven't had anything since Monday.

I'm not exactly raping my lungs with tar, here.

[Travelous Maximus]

I don't know what it is. I was only there for a little over a month and I started getting cold after cold after about 2 weeks. It's because your immune system needs time to adjust to the new microbes floating around. Basically, my advice to you is just try not to die until your body adjusts.

[Captain Courageous]

Awesome advice. Went to the hospital yesterday, seeing a lung specialist today.

[Travelous Maximus]

how long have you been in Korea?

[Captain Courageous]

A whole month.

[Travelous Maximus]

be careful what you eat too and make sure the utensils are clean. i used to frequent this Sushi place that had wooden chopsticks and I don't think those are that clean since bacteria can accumulate in the wood. some places also do a crappy job of cleaning the dishes and utensils. also, try to wash your hands a lot especially if you work with kids. I used to wash mine almost between every class because my hands felt gross after touching all that stuff in the hakwon.

[Juregen]

Don't touch the kids

And if you do, wash your hands ASAP

[Natalia]

Why don't newbies have such problems with colds even in far dirtier places like India?

[mnhnhyouh]

If you are sitting down at a table with kids, make really strict rules about coughing and sneezing. If you do it in my class without your hand over your mouth you are sent to a table in the corner for the rest of the lesson.

This straightens them out very quickly. As soon as I hear a cough or sneeze on entering the room I remind them of the rule, and then enforce it.

h

[ChuckECheese]

[jdog2050]

[mnhnhyouh]

[thesphinxxx]

Hey,

I have been here for just over a month here in Seoul. I have almost been sick with colds and last nite- food poisoning more often than I have been well. I have been all over Latin America and other (non-asian) under-deveolped countries but never experienced such frequent episodes of colds, sore-throats etc... Do you think its because of those kindergardeners I spend 8 hours a day with? Or perhaps the polluted air (ie yellow dust?) or bad water. I don't even smoke. I think last nite I was made sick by the old egg in the ramen noodles - prayed to the porcelin god dry heaving for 8 hours straight. Anyone else been this un-lucky in Seoul or Korea? Any strategies recommendations? Its no-fun staying home and recovering every-second weekend.