New E2 Visa Health Check and Done on a Saturday

It turns out that because the new E2 health checks require the testing for marijuana usage that certain hospitals can't do the check anymore. This was the case for me as a local hospital in my area declined several teachers from my school.

As you know I opted to get the test done on a Saturday and that left me with the big hospitals in Seoul. All in can say is that, yes you can get it done on a Saturday and I recommend you going to the International Health Clinic at Yonsei Severance Hospital near Sinchon and Ehwha.

Preparations:

• Bring your passport.
• Bring two photo id pics (just in case...I didn't hand them in)
• Don't eat for the blood test. (On the phone they said I didn't have to, but I just didn't eat anyways.) (There is a great food court on the same floor as the International Clinic, that has a Kraze burger of all things....so you can grab some grub afterwards)
• If you are a woman don't show up if you are on your period, as it can alter the results of the pee test. 
• Expect to pay 140,000 Won, which is not cheap!
• Show up at 9:30am to be the first in line. Otherwise you will have to sit around and wait your turn. I believe the office will run till 12pm on Saturdays. 
• Obviously come in a healthy state. 
• Another point is to just not tell them you have a certain medical condition or that you are on certain medicine. You want to pass the test and not complicate things. I actually goofed up on this since Yonsei is the hospital I visit for my GI disease, but they said it was okay.

Test Procedure:

• I think a lot of people are kind of worried about how they will do the Cannabis test. Apparently it was just as simple as peeing. But you have to divide your pee in to two containers. 
• First they check your vitals, weight and eyesight. Then you sit in with a doctor and she asks about your medical condition.
• Then the doc has you change into a hospital gown, where you then get a chest examination along with testing your bowels area.
• Afterwards, you go do your blood test, peeing and chest xray. 
• Tada ... all done. They didn't check my teeth this time...thank God!
• The results should be finished in about 4 - 5 days and they will give you a slip of paper for when you should return to pick it up. (Which you can do on a Saturday as well.)

Keep in mind schools tend to take their teachers to some hospital for their health check, but mine makes us go by our selves. In this case, you likely have to miss work to get to a local hospital in time. I didn't want to miss work and so that is why I did it on a Saturday.  Also know that if you live near a major hospital they will likely perform a health check during weekdays, and you can get it done faster if you made an appointment.

What a day!

Sneaky Friday

Eight hours of work blows by pretty fast when the amount of stuff you need to do surpasses the time you have to do it in. Not to mention most of your time being eaten up by meetings and figuring stuff out. So when the end of Friday came today at work it felt like a mirage...I just couldn't believe it.

Between Wednesday and today I managed to decorate my classroom, look at the book and figure out a teaching strategy and learn that getting my health check is complicated. Speaking of the health check, which is a requirement to get my new ARC card, it can't be done at my local hospitals. Well, actually it can be done at one but the hours they do it are in the morning and guess what...I work at that time. There are only 4 teachers that need to get it done at the school and some of them went yesterday to the local hospital only to find out they don't do the health check anymore. To cut this story short, some of those teachers are going to show up early at the other local hospital Monday to hopefully be done in time for their first classes and others might try a bigger hospital in the afternoon.

As for me, I am going the route of trying to get it done on a Saturday. After much digging around the various international health clinics around Seoul I decided to go to Yonsei. For one they are the regular hospital I visit to get my GI check up done, so I am familiar with it. I called them about getting the health check done on Saturday (tomorrow) and they said they can't make appointments, but you can show up and wait. So guess what I'm doing bright and early tomorrow?

If that fails I will join the other teachers early at the local hospital to hopefully get it done that way. Otherwise, I will keep looking for a Saturday one that works. The stressful thing about this is that my school requires us to have KEB bank accounts in order to get paid, but I don't have one. In order to get one you need your ARC card. Payday is the 25th and so I am hoping to have all this done before then so I can get my money.

The classroom is decorated, but of course not really to what I would want to look like. However, I got the board organized with labels for "Today's Date" and "How's the weather?", along with a section for team points. There is still a lot to do, but mostly I just wanted things to be generally ready for the first week of classes.

Next week will be interesting, as Monday and Tuesday are level testing days and then the real fun begins Wednesday.

It's been a whirlwind and I have never worked this hard before at a job in Korea. Despite this I do like the fact that I am in charge of so much and am challenged by it all.

Hopefully next week I will take pictures of the classroom and the area so you guys can get a visual understanding of it all.

Doctor,Ewha,Gamarjobat

The hospital I frequent to renew my prescription for my Crohn's disease has for the past 5 months not really impressed me with their care. I come in and sit down, the doctor says something to my boyfriend in Korean and they have a conversation, but not much questioning goes on about my health. Instead, the Doc just renews my prescription and sends me on my way.

That is why we decided it was time to find a new Doc and one that spoke English. So JH did a lot of research to find out which hospital can help a foreigner out and in my specialty department. He found Yonsei Severance Hospital which is located near Yonsei University and the Ewha area.

Meeting a new Doctor meant I had to bring along my documents and be prepared to retell the story of my illness. When we arrived at Yonsei hospital the building was huge (sorry no pics). Indeed, walking inside through the check in area felt like I was walking through an airport. But I have to say this was one well planned hospital. My comparison of hospitals comes from the free health care received due to being a poor student when I was sick. Let's just say that San Francisco General Hospital looks like a hell-hole compared to Yonsei. For there weren't any vagrants or screaming crack addicts to be found. I saw a few sleeping business men, but they looked harmless.

At Yonsei they have a special section just for foreigners. A whole other office where the staff speak English. I went there first to check in for my appointment. I was met by an intern who took me to the GI department, where I waited just 30 minutes before seeing the specialist doctor.

The visit went great and his English was all right. I will be returning there next month for a routine blood test and doctor-patient consultation.

The whole thing cost 12,500 Won because they give a discount to patients with my disease. The cost of this visit is what amazes me. In America just to consult with the Doc would have cost $300, even though it was paid by the city of San Francisco.

After our time in the hospital we contemplated going to COEX for KIAF. But I was feeling a bit too tired to see art and just wanted to kick it around Ewha. So we parked at the Ewha University parking garage and took a stroll around Ewha.

The campus...

I spotted this sign and wondered if in this building someone was selling Ikea furniture products.

Ewha is a great area to buy some fashionable goods. I wanted to buy these socks but JH insisted they are meant for children.

Some flats~

We agreed on lunch at Quiznos. I couldn't pass up having a sandwich for lunch.

After lunch we browsed around some more. An Ahjumma went past us carrying somebody's lunch on her head. She did it as if it were her 1,000th time.

We went into a gift and stationary store.

While we were in the store we spotted a coupon to the show Gamarjobat. I had heard about these guys through the K-blogging interwebs and knew they would be a smash hit. (Ha ~ I just said "smash hit.") "Gamarjobat" means hello in Georgian, in case you didn't know. source

These guys were great and their performance was lovable and whimsical. They take their inspiration from street theater. What they do is essentially put on an act where they don't speak. Yet they did make sounds during their first act.

To warm up the crowd in their first act they gave us slapstick kind of magic tricks. They engaged the audience and kept everyone laughing. They played off of each other and created a competitive relationship. After they finished their first act the audience was ready to accept a performance where the characters do not speak, and subtle comic references are to be seen in facial gestures and bodily movement.

The rest of the acts were little short stories, one including a dancing teapot. Certainly you could get taken away by these guys due to their sheer brilliance at wacky imagery. I am not sure if it is something JH had ever seen before, but he had a great time. I even saw some Grandma's and Grandpa's in the show and wondered how they took it.

These guys have been doing their act for a while so I would catch them before they retire. Their show completes their Korean tour on the 26th so go ahead and catch them at the Mapo Arts Center.

source

Swine Flu Hunt

Something tells me that the Swine Flu or H1N1 virus is starting to have an affect on native teachers out here as news of quarantined teachers starts to show up.

Not only that but just today my coteacher got a call in the middle of class.

Her: "Joy! Do you have the H1?"
Me: "What are you talking about?"
Her: "The pig virus, do you have any symptoms?"
Me: "No." (serious and confused look)
Me: "Why?"
Her: "Somebody is asking, there are some cases."
And she proceeded to tell them something on the phone and then we continued class.

I don't know about you but I think local governments are on a hunt now to check for any teacher showing "signs". Sure I can understand the concern for the safety of the children, but I know this search is going on in the typical frenzied way.

My real concern is that I am going to America on my summer vacation and am now wondering if I will be quarantined after my return. I am going to do some reading up on quarantine procedures so that if I end up in that situation I know what my rights are.

Good luck to those who are quarantined, especially if you are new to Korea and this is part of your first few months experience here.

**Update: 5/26
School nurse called our classroom and inquired whether I had been to America in the past month. Um no. You have seen me here everyday. Sometimes you gotta wonder.

Korean Lesson: Thursday

The rain comes down and the clouds shadow the sky, but warmth is found next to a heater fan.

Today's lesson is:

나는 오늘 피곤해요.

I`m tired today.

피곤= tired

오늘=today

나는=I'm

보고싶어요

I miss you.

BK chose these, I feel, due to that these are sentences we usually say to each other normally. So now we can practice saying them in Korean. I already know how to say "I love you" so I can add on the "I miss you."

I should be at the lunchroom eating with the teachers but I am scheduled for my health check. This is a requirement for my school transfer. The hospital told my coteacher I shouldn't eat lunch due to a certain blood test. But I know that it doesn't really matter. Anyways, what does mean is that we will go after she finishes lunch to the hospital. And after that I will go eat lunch. Also she is going to accompany me to the bank, as I need to transfer money back home. I wish I could wait and wait till the exchange rate settles down but my American bills have deadlines.

Anyways hope everyone is staying warm and cozy.

Look at the Korean Healthcare system

This weekend wasn't as eventful as previous ones, but that was okay because I really needed to get some things done.

First off was a visit to the GI Doctor:

For those not in the know, I have a chronic illness called Crohn's disease. When the conditions are bad and I am not in remission the symptoms are the equivalent of having the stomach flu. Needless to say it is important that I keep in regular contact with a doctor and also keep my medicine replenished.

One might think that living far away from family and their local health care system poses as a threat to someone with a chronic illness, for example if you have diabetes too.

Questions like:
How do you get your medicine?
Is the health care system up to date on your disease?
Will it be costly to receive treatment?
Will I receive insurance or should I buy travelers insurance?

Answers:

So yesterday (Saturday) I managed to get these answers up close and personal. I visited the Yang Hospital. Amazingly to get to this hospital all I had to do was walk a couple of blocks in my own neighborhood.

Inside the hospital was neat and clean, with friendly personnel at the front desk. BK went with me so all I had to do was follow his instructions. I think if you are a foreigner visiting a hospital in a foreign country and do not speak the language, it would be wise to take with you a native speaker.

Within minutes I was sat down with a GI specialist. I brought my medical records from back home and handed them to the doctor. He seemed to not have a problem reading it, but did read it carefully. He spoke to BK and then he went on his computer and searched to see if he can prescribe me my medicine. This he was able to do, except one of my drugs he could not find a matching company but was able to find the matching formula from a different company. Afterwards he discussed something with BK and we were dismissed.

Blood test:
As part of my drug treatment I take a pill which works against my liver, so I need regular blood tests to determine whether the drug is depleting my white blood cells.

So we went upstairs in the hospital to the blood room. I for one can't stand needles, no matter what hospital I am in. So I looked away and hoped it would be over soon. The first try I didn't hold my fist hard enough but managed to do better on the second try.

Results of visiting a Korean hospital:
Keep in mind that this hospital basically specializes in just gastrointestinal issues. It isn't a big University hospital and so I think that can be cause for its genial atmosphere.

All in all, I have been very pleased with Korea's health system and National Insurance Program. The total I had to pay from this visit was 10,000 Won, or about $10. Compared to America, when I had no health insurance, this visit would have cost me on $35.

Filling Prescriptions:
I take a large amount of pills, lets just say 13 in one day. So making sure I get each and every pill is important.

Going to a Korean pharmacy is just like visiting one back home. You take your prescription slip to the pharmacist, they mumble something and then you sit on your ass and wait.

One particular difference is that they don't put your meds inside a bottle, rather inside wax paper daily packets. Here is a photo explanation: Next to my package of pills is some Birth Control Pills. I was not able to bring with me a year supply of what I take at home, so I am going to have to switch to what Korea offers. Looks pretty similar to what I take, so I hope there won't be any complications. Total cost was roughly 87,000 Won or abut $88 US dollars.

Back home I was on the Poor Man's healthcare system, so my drugs only cost $5 a month...looks like I have to spend more. However still affordable.

Well that is my experience of the health care system. This won't be the last time I visit the doctor so we will see if this good service keeps up.

See for yourself

A video of my diggs! I moved in today and the company cleaned my place before I got here so that was very nice of them.


So yea I found a wireless connection!!!! I don't know how long I can stay connected but there hasn't been a problem so far :)!

Ah it has been a whirlwind lately. I went for my health check yesterday and kind of got lost and had difficulty getting person to help me but it finally worked out. The experience of feeling lost in a foreign country is certainly not the best feeling but also exhilarating.

I like new place and there are few areas that need improvement (bed) but all in all I bet I have more than most people. One thing though that is missing from all of this...is my Bo Kwan. I now can't wait for his return.

But school will keep me busy. Well I am off for sleep my first night in my new home.

:)

training is over

Hi ya'all!

So training at the YBM head office finished today. And again I am really grateful to have this training but still don't know quite yet whether it will come in handy. The first month is going to rough because I will be going through all the steps of figuring out what works while at the same time still adjusting to my foreigner life.

Today's training was not as intense as the last few days and highlighted some important aspects of teaching. Such as always have a plan and to remember that your kids are a lot smarter than you think they are. I already kind of know that second part from being around kids at camp so I hope I remember that in class. Also our teacher took us out for a lunch treat at a place in the Insadong area. Insadong looked like what China Town looks like if you have ever been to one in New York or San Francisco, mostly because the streets are lined with shops selling basically the same tourist trap stuff. Peppered amongst these stores were some places selling art and pottery. I really want to go back there and spend more time checking it out. While I was there I saw an art supply store...so woo hoo!

I think being around other foreigners helped me understand that I have a dual role here in Korea. One I am a foreigner to Koreans and two I am a foreigner to other foreigners. Sometimes I see random other foreigners on the subway or street and I smile at them but I tend to not get a smile back. I don't know if that is intentional or just coincidence.

So I am still resistant to walk into a Korean restaurant by myself and order food. I think it is a taboo here to sit in a place and eat alone, so there is that problem first off. Next, I don't know what to order and also I am still getting use to what I feel is the "Korean" taste that Korean food has, and that really isn't the spiciness. Just in general Korean food has a certain taste that when you aren't in the mood can be not appetizing.

So what do I do instead?

Well I go buy a sandwhich in the "Family Mart" and eat some cheese and crackers. I know not a meal right? But satisfying enough...till I get a grasp on food. My schedule for when I start teaching will have me coming home around 8pm so that really isn't the time I am use to eating dinner. These adjustments will certain take some time to accept but I will try my best not to let get me down.

Anyways, tomorrow I go back to my company and observe more classes. Afterwards I will be heading off to a hospital for my health check. Yea finally some paperwork is getting done! But that doesn't leave much time for lesson planning for my classes on Monday...maybe I can get it done this weekend.

Speaking of which Saturday I will move into my Office Tel and I don't think it has Internet. So unless I have time to go to a PC Bang updating and email will be slowwwww.

Ok well :)