A Spoonful of Holiday Cheer

Pills and Christmas centerpiece. The small packet beside the pill train contains Tylenol 3 "just in case head pain too much," as per Dr. Park. I swallow a spoonful of medicine three times a day.

Just a day after the intensive winter re-attendance classes started, I got sick with the flu. All that my new students have seen of me so far is a mass and mess of feverish, achy, cranky flesh. The flu had really robbed me of all my usual classroom spunk and spark. I feel that damage has been done, and that my winter classes are irredeemable. Sad.

I didn’t go to the doctor’s immediately, as I should have. I waited and waited, hoping I’d get better. I always try to ride out the cold and conquer it with weapons such as chicken soup, rest, lots of tea and vitamin C. I hate it when doctors here give me so many pills that I have to swallow them in multiple goes with three glasses of water. I also hate it when they give me that dismissing blank stare when I ask them what exactly they want me to take. Possibly suffering from chronic sinusitis and bronchitis (who’s to know – I don’t really trust the doctor who came up with the diagnosis), I cannot afford to grow too resistant to antibiotics, in anticipation of future acute attacks.

However, this time I couldn’t cure myself, as one important factor was missing: rest. The end of the semester and the need to wrap it up, plus the all-day intensive teaching allowed for no rest. On Thursday morning I felt a bit better. I was even able to make pancakes for breakfast with Clare who came over early in the morning to say goodbye before her trip home. By the end of the day, however, I was sick as a dog again, left with not choice but to cancel the last hour, afraid I’d collapse right in front of my students. Friday, I went to see the doctor her in my neighbourhood. He was nice enough, but just as I feared, he prescribed a handful of pills to be taken three times a day for three days.

It’s Saturday morning now. My stomach has difficulties processing the pills. I have this weird pain there, like a rock is rolling against the walls of my stomach. I wish I knew which one(s) is/are antibiotics. I would pick them out and continue taking them, as it’s not advisable not to finish them, but would not take the rest. God knows what they are. The make my head feel heavy, and I am very sleepy.

It is no secret that Korean have had a wild love affair with antibiotics. It was only a few years ago (until 2000 I think),when they could purchase as many antibiotics from the pharmacist as they wanted to, without a prescription. Add to this antibiotics used in raising livestock, and you have one seriously antibioticed- out nation. A report from the World Health Organization claims that Koreans have the highest resistance to penicillin. Probably to other antibiotics, as well. AND, four years later, in regards to biodrugs, I must be half-Korean. My first 6 months in Korea, I was constantly sick with all kinds of respiratory problems, and I took more pills than in all my previous life.

I can just imagine me growing older with a weakened immune system, resistant to antibiotics, a safe playground for all kinds of germs. As for now, I’m trying to work, but I feel nauseous and uninspired. I am also trying not to let go of the traces of that Christmas spirit that the X-mas tree decorating party planted.

The after-Christmas Dinner eggnog/mulled wine/Christmas cake gathering at my house had to be cancelled. My germ-infested, crumpled tissue littered place can't be anyone’s idea of a festive Christmas environment. Everyone was very nice and understanding about it, offering to rush over with soup, Chinese herbs, extra medicine, etc. No need for that, as with Doug and Eunha living above me, I'm all set and taken good care of.