"Down With The Sickness"

If Koreans take anything seriously, it is usually health related. With the recent spread of swine flu (which they actually do refer to by it's proper name of H1N1), the government has gone as far as to take everyone's temperature upon entry into the country, and quarantines people with fevers and suspected cases of H1N1. Most of it seems to be stereotyping as well - as it seems a lot of fellow expats who were traveling this summer to places like Thailand or the Philippines are or know someone who has been quarantined for a week upon their return to Korea.

The school systems have been buckling down to try and combat the virus as well. My school, like many, has between 1,000 - 2,000 students, and is located in a very densely populated area - so it makes sense that any outbreak of disease is going spread quickly if not dealt with.

As such, our school system has established the following precautions:

1. All students were shown a video about H1N1 and how to protect themselves from getting sick.
2. Students should wash their hands often with hot water and soap.
3. All homeroom teachers should take their students temperature before school.
4. If a student feels ill, they should report it to the nurse.
5. Students and teachers should wear masks if they are sick or if they want to prevent themselves from getting sick.
6. Avoid infants and the elderly, as their immune systems can be much weaker.

Ok, I don't have a big problem with any of this - it all makes sense. However, let's delve into some of the more realstic aspects of every day life in my school.

1. Students rarely wash their hands - even after using the bathroom, as there is only one sink, rarely soap, and the bathrooms are pretty gross.
2. The homeroom teachers take the students temperatures with thermometers (mouth, ear, and infrared). They don't sterilize them after each use. (the infrared one doesn't need this of course).
3. Most students come to school even if they are sick as their parents force them. Then they just spread it around.
4. The administration gave the teachers hand sanitizers for their offices - but there is none for the students.
5. This doesn't necessarily apply to the schools but: When you go to eat with Koreans, they generally eat community style where you're putting chopsticks into your mouth and then back into a community dish and spread the germs around.

I suppose it's a good thing that kimchie cures all diseases - it's too bad that I don't really eat it though!