Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PeterDragon]

Ever since I've arrived in Korea, my overall health has been the poorest it's been in years, maybe ever. I was extremely sick for the first six weeks. I've managed to go almost two weeks in good health, and now I get bacterial dysentary. Just took my first round of pills which was supposed to get rid of the diarreah "quickly", and now a few hours later I just had to make another run to the bathroom--- may very well have passed all of the medicine out. (I know, I know, TMI....) I don't think I'd ever had a dysenteric infection before I came here. The pollution's a constant system shock, I'm surrounded by food I'm unfamiliar with and unless I want to eat fast food, sticking to a steady diet of familiar foods is simply not feasible in Kwangmyeong city. I like it here (in spite of my current problems with my health and my work contract), but does it ever happen that one's system simply can't adjust to new air/new water/a new diet?

I guess I'm sorta venting, maybe I'll get well in a few days like the doctor says. But God, if I don't....

[spliff]

It ain't nothing, Holmezzee...grow a pair!

[VanIslander]

Buy bottled water, plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.

And realize that many of us go through a lot of colds and viruses our first year here.

Your body is made stronger as a result of it.

It is a typical cost of travel.

[swetepete]

It's a very bacteria-rich environment here, and polluted as well. If you stick it out, your body will adjust for sure. The fine balance of toxins takes a while to reach, but you'll get there.
They tend to over prescribe antibiotics here as well, which has the effect of making the bacteria much more disease resistant. You might want to read up on antibiotics, and discuss the issue with your doctor. If he/she gets huffy, find a doctor who isn't an ass.
Dr. Swetepete's advice is...
1) eat the local food, as it will be much better for you than fastfood. Doenjang Chigae (bean-paste stew) is a good cure-all, as is kimchi, and all the 'juk' (rice porrige) is good too.
2)Don't drink the instant coffee...the polypropylene glycol coffee whitener they put in is pure evil.
3) Don't smoke.
4) Drink in moderation, and don't drink soju. Go for quality imported boozes. The beer is pretty rotten as well.
5) Sleep a lot, and keep a clean, dust-free house.
Best luck to you, and don't get too discouraged. Everybody gets sick when they first come here, it seems. I know I did.

[Rteacher]

It ain't for everyone - especially people with asthma or respiratory problems. I know a Canadian woman teacher who finally left because her asthmatic condition flared up too much ...

I contracted something about three years ago (a mean-looking rash that spread under both my underarms that was diagnosed as both a bacterial and viral infection) but it finally cleared up in a couple months...

But generally, if you were in fairly decent health to begin with, avoid drinking unboiled tap water, and stay indoors during yellow dust storms you can survive living in Korea if you eat a reasonably healthy diet.

You can get supplies in Seoul (or some big city) of healthy stuff like brown rice and cook for yourself. I'm vegetarian and never eat what the school provides - I make sandwiches with whole grain bread and the best ingredients I can find at big department store supermarkets or foreigner food stores around Itaewon...

You might also try checking out another doctor - preferably at an English speaking clinic...

[schwa]

This might seem simplistic but give it a shot. Yogurt. Lots of it.

Every time you see a doctor & get meds (they overprescribe antibiotics like crazy here) you strip your body of helpful bacteria that help you fend off lots of common illnesses. Youre just the next sickness waiting to happen.

Korean yogurt drinks are value-added, cheap, & ubiquitous. GG, bulgaris, bifidus, etc are all good -- a range of probiotics -- mix them up & fortify your gut. If an illness is mild skip the doctor altogether. Fighting it off naturally with liquids & rest & time fortifies your body better than anything else.

Kimchi does in fact help too.

Feel a virus coming on? Hit the sauna. Viruses hate heat.

Kids are meant to get sick frequently -- it builds up their immune systems. Adults are not. Youre at the point now where you should be well-adjusted to the exotic bacteria so its high time to break the cycle of pharmaceutical-induced illness.

Best luck. Be well.

[Fresh Prince]

It takes awhile for people to adjust. I wouldn't drink or cook with any non-boiled water. Most everyone drinks bottled water so maybe that is where the infection came from. The local food is pretty good for the most part, it's just a matter of trying different places to find out the names of stuff you like.

[PeterDragon]

I was prescribed antibiotics. I considered objecting to it, and I definitely will the next time. I actually went to Yonsei International clinic, which is quite good. They do some work with the world-renowned Mayo clinic back home in Minnesota.

I slipped up and drank some tap shortly before I got sick. Must remember not to do that.

PARAGRAPH O' VENTING (so avoid it if you're not in the mood):

Besides the lack of health insurance (I paid tens of thousands of Won more than my contract indicates I should), my school has also failed to provide me with a fridge big enough to hold more than three containers of water and juice and a lone carton of eggs, so choosing my own diet has been difficult. Oh yeah, and my boss yelled at me over the line saying I "wasn't allowed" to take a sick day. I am, in fact allowed 3 paid sick days, with a physician's note, which I have. I'm sure she'll be on the Warpath tomorrow.

[newintown]

sorry to hear you're not in good health. i had regular sniffles & coldsores for my first few months here, i think its just readjusting. i had the shits myself last week for a few days, although i was deeeeelighted (great for the figure!!)
i wouldn't advise going home yet, i know its tempting when all you want are home comforts, and a nice cosy soup or something equally hearty. but stick it out, take all of the great advice offered, and keep hydrated.
GET WELL SOON!

[dogshed]

The stress of moving will drop your immune system. As you adjust
things will work out.

Fruits and veggies are good for you in general
but probably not the thing for diarrhea. I had a doctor
tell me that for minor diarrhea to keep drinking fluids but don't eat.
Seems counterintuitive but having more liquids keeps you from
dehydrating and not eating slows your digestive system.

In my area I was told the tap
water is OK and I don't think it has been a problem. I did however
have a bad time after eating a tomato without washing it first.

Personally, I think buying bottled water is an overreaction.

[mercury]

Hey, you must have been raised in a first world environment. In Korea, they live like rats. Really! Nobody washes anything with soap, the people poop and never wash their hands. Then they make you food, or hand you candy. The water is polluted, every where you go you eat soup made with water from the kitchen which is not filtered. The dishes that you eat out of were washed by hand, with cold water, and sometimes left outside to dry. The people sneeze, cough, spit, and never cover up. In other words, WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE. Now, if you live with rats, you will either get eaten by them, or grow to be like them. You have a choice, just remember, all that glitters is not clean, I think that is Shakespeare, n'est pas?

[PeterDragon]

The hardest thing about the temptation to return home is that I have my old job AND my old apartment waiting for me there. (Very good friends with my old boss and my old landlord.) My car' and motorcycle are both in the care of family too; I could go back to my old live soooo easily. I'm glad i did it that way though, the idea was that if I'm going to stay here, I'm doing it entirely by choice, makes the experience much more enjoyable and exciting (except when I'm feeling like this; the I'm just miserable and wanting to run) .

I not only grew up in a first world environment, but a thoroughly unpolluted woodsy first world environment. So Seoul is a huge shock. It's weird about the Koreans. As far as I can tell they do value personal hygiene. But every other hygiene is kind of ignored. Racks of pork hanging in the hot noon sun, cheese sandwiches stored at room temp, no public trashcans, no public toilet paper, no public soap.

Kinda thinking of moving to the sticks for my next contract (which is probably coming sooner rather than later; gonna quit if they don't can me). At least then there'd be less pollution. And I've got country in my blood.

[in_seoul_2003]

PD,

Are you happy here? Another poster mentioned the stress involved in a new move. There's also the stress involved in not really being satisfied with your job and life here. This stress will definitely exacerbate existing problems or dispositions.

Of course, this is all folksy and, to be sure, I'm no doctor. But I don't think one need be in understanding the power of psychology, or, more appropriately, psych and bio and genetics in interplay.

Personally, I feel worse in Korea than I ever do in any other places in the world that I have been to. Even heavily polluted places like Bangkok don't put a dent in me compared to Korea. But then again, that's probably because Thailand is vacation and vacationing feels good. Also vacations are not extended. But still, I have lived in more polluted cities for months on end without feeling adverse at all.

I'm leaving in a few months. I've never really liked my job and living from paycheck to paycheck and crossing off days on the calender has taken it's toll on me. The best thing I can do is realize this, pack up and head out. I expect to feel better the minute I do.

By the way, my case is not a bashing Korea thing. I know I would hate teaching english anywhere in the world which is why I don't intend on ever doing it again. If I had had another profession here I might have felt differently.

[caniff]

Hypochondriacs have to be some of the most annoying people on the planet. Right next to vegans.

Nobody cares to hear about your brain disorder. If you live near Seoul, there is a river you can use.

Many Korean people utilize it. Follow their example.

[eamo]

Nobody should stay in a place they don't like. If you really want to go then go. Just give in your notice and leave in a month on good terms with everybody.