The title pretty much sums up what happened to me….I got the H1N1 flu.
This is similar to how I contracted the flu
A couple of months ago, there was mass hysteria about the flu and EVERYONE in Korea was freaking out about it. Since then, people have forgotten about it and most kids have the first round of the vaccine. Soooooo, if I would have gotten the flu then…it would have had some perks like not working for about a week or so…BUUUUUUUTTTTTT since I got it about 2 weeks ago, my director said I can just work since all the kids have the vaccine. DAMN IT! Just my luck.
The health care system here is quite amazing. I went to the doctor 4 times. He speaks pretty good English. All 4 times over the course of 5 days I had a fever. I ended up getting prescribed medicine for 15 days and 5 days prescription of TamiFlu (the TamiFlu was free for some reason). For the visits to the doctor and the medicine my final bill came to around $13 US. Pretty sweet if you ask me.
The medicine the doctor prescribes comes in little packs of 5 – 8 pills. What are these pills? Hell if I know. Do they work? For the most part, yes they do and they are so cheap I don’t care anyway.
How was Swine Flu one might ask? I felt pretty bad for a few days, but I never thought I was going to die. I have woken up with hangovers far worse. I was able to work while being sick and not murder any children….so that is good. It was as bad as the normal flu or a really bad cold. I never feared for my life….
I am all better now, but I am sure with 250 dirty little kids around my 5 days out of the week, me killing myself slowly with Soju and time-traveling all over Korea I will be sick a few more times before I leave. At least I know it won’t cost me to much money!
Tags: cheap korean medicine, h1n1 flu, how I felt, influenze, korea doctor, korea medical system, South Korea, South Korea ESL, swine flu, TamiFlu south korea, teaching esl
Chris,
Good to hear that you’re doing well. Interesting story about your experience getting the flu and visiting the doctors office. Good stuff man. Keep the postings coming. Hope all is well.
jt
Hey!! How is life? I saw some pics of you on Katie’s facebook…lookin’ buff big guy!
Congrats dude! I got swine flu as well and my experience with the health care system in China was slightly more confusing but equally as cheap.
I think I made out like a bandit because of it though. The 3 days before Christmas I was quarantined, and yes my Christmas break was ruined, but the week after that (which was my last week of class) none of my students came to class because they were afraid of getting sick! So basically I finished teaching two weeks early.
Thank you swine flu!
If only I had gotten it 2 months ago, I would have been able to score some days off….but I get it after the whole ‘epidemic’ is over with in Korea.
People still get swine flu? Too bad you didn’t get it back when it was cool.
At least you won’t die and you sound like you’re doing fine. Could you imagine being the guy that dies from swine flu and people are like, “swine flu? that’s soooo mid to late 2009″.
Get well!
Only silly foreigners still get it I guess. That would be pretty horrible/funny to be “that guy” who died after the hype was over. I am fine now, no worries….