A little cough

So a quick word about getting sick in Korea. First of all, I don’t think the word sick translates or translates well anyway.  There are no sick days here in Korea. There are also no substitute teachers. So, that pretty much means you will teach regardless of how many tissues fill your trash can or if you have no voice to even share with the students. I found this out day 4 of teaching.

I woke up sick. I mean real sick. I could barely talk, barely walk. I arrived at school and the teachers immediately took notice of my gaunt appearance. I figured they would send me home with some tea and tell me to get some rest. But I was wrong. The only medicine I received was a vitamin C sugar pack and the kind words of “Oh, Megteacher must get better.” 

I was warned that I would get sick. New environment, new homeland germs, and lots of students who don’t cover their mouths and wipe their nose drippings anywhere that seems fitting...but I didn't know it would be this bad. I might mention the lack of ventilation at the school. There are no windows, so stale air circulates around the school 24 hours a day.

By the next day, the teachers realized I was in bad shape…Perhaps because I could not speak and so I was taken to the doctor’s. Now just a sidenote... I do not have my health card yet, but fear not, I was just given someone else’s name and ID # and sent on my way. I already like the flexibility of the Korean healthcare system. I told the receptionist my name was Deanna. She asked my last name (in perfect English might I add) and I pretended I didn’t understand her because I in fact didn’t know the girl’s last name. I figured this would be a sure sign that I was an impostor! My mother always encourages me to play stupid when obstacles such as these arise. Somehow my blank stare or more than usual pale skin hinted that I was helpless. She accepted me as Deanna and I was let in to see the Doctor. After he diagnosed me with bronchitis and laryngitis, I was escorted to the “injection room,” yes, injection room. Before I could get a handle on the room situation I had a needle in my rear! Then I was gently pushed on a bed and injected with a less than friendly needle in my arm. It burned a bit. I was patched up and sent on my way. 

On Friday, the teachers were very kind and figured out a way to let me rest so I did not have to teach. By the weekend I had also managed to get an ear infection which was pretty painful. It was Sunday night, I barely knew anyone and couldn't speak a word of Korean to save my life. After tears and a phone call with mom I decided to take myself to the hospital. I told the cab driver hospital and made wild gestures to indicate my pain. He put on his flashers and magically turned into an ambulance. He was running red lights and cutting cars off left and right. The doctor gave me some Tylenol and my visit was free. He said he liked New York City and Obama. I was fine with that.

My foreign sickness has since passed and I hope to never deal with such a miserable situation while I am here. I now have a new appreciation for sick days and what they really stand for back in the U.S.