By I posted a few days ago about the six English teachers that were quarantined with swine flu in Korea. Via Brian in Jeollanamdo, it just so happens that one of these English teachers is keeping a blog while kept in quarantine. Apparently it isn’t just six English teachers being quarantined but up to seventy if you can believe it. What some people have been complaining about is that there were Koreans that were exposed to the swine flu and they got to go into quarantine at home while the foreigners were put into quarantine all together in a separate facility.
So what is life like in quarantine? Apparently not so good:
So the room confinement didn’t go over very well. Now we have Korean hall monitors roaming about, doing the occasional room checks. Still, we go out, mingle, and fight for reception on the one wi-fi signal that actually works in this entire building. All the other internet connections mysteriously stopped working today and they’ve been extremely apathetic about fixing it. ”We look into it,” with a bored nod.
Frankly, I don’t think the Korean CDC has any clue what they’re doing. We’ve been told we’re under arrest, detention, that we’re “not guests here”, and one of the higher ups (you can tell they’re higher ups in Korea because everyone underneath them nods when they say something), even said: “What you want, cigarettes, beer? That make you happy?”
I think they missed the memo that we actually wanted a way to talk to the outside world (friends, family), some daily exercise, and not being talked to like prisoners, children, or child-prisoners. Of course, like a former teacher of mine said about Korea: “Think about where you are, then think about what makes sense…now do the opposite!”
I think peoples spirits tonight are about as low as they’ve been in the last 72 hours. The general community sense is that of animosity now; we understand the situation, we’re not going to go running into the hills infecting children with a new pig-virus, but those actually holding us here appear to have been replaced with some hardliners high up at the Ministry of Health who’s butts are so tight that when they fart only dogs can hear it. [Under Quarantine]
This conversation with the US Embassy was quite humorous:
Me: “Hiya! I just thought the Embassy should be aware that 30+ U.S citizens have been quarantined right outside Seoul for suspicion of swine flu exposure.”
Operator: “Okay, well it’s a weekend, and we’re closed. Monday’s memorial day, so could you call back on tuesday?”
Me: “You…you’re serious?”
Operator: “Is it an emergency? Cause if it is we have someone we can call.”
Me: “Um…let’s see, there’s 30 americans in quarantine for swine flu exposure. Basically, we’re arrested. It’s totally cool, don’t worry—we’ll call on tuesday—”
Operator: “Okay, thanks for calling.”
Me: “No wait—”
*click*
They have since been able to contact the US Embassy, who is supposed to visit them soon. So check the blog out along with Brian’s site who continues to post updates on the quarantined English teachers.
It is the sad reality. No mistake...
7:47 am on May 26th, 2009 1
Let them stay there with their stems, seeds, and irony.
8:04 am on May 26th, 2009 2
Swine flu… bird flu… mad cow…
I sounds like a pathogen petting zoo.
8:55 am on May 26th, 2009 3
There really isn't any positive aspects of a foreigner living in Korea. They're totally anti-foreigner unless they can make a buck off of you. They don't have any social graces or compassion for anyone. 9 out of 10 blogs on this RokDrop site are negative.
I bet it's virtually impossible for a foreigner to spend one day in Korea without a bad experience to disturb or ruin their day.
Someone tell me I'm wrong.
9:06 am on May 26th, 2009 4
Brian, remove your mask and start cough in their faces.
9:11 am on May 26th, 2009 5
For them to do this to these young people is a despicable travesty. How can a country be so backward except I realze they're one of the most racist places on earth.
Why? Oh Why? would anyone subject themselves to being treated like foreigners are treated in South Korea. What has South Korea done for the world except support the Communist North and people like vile Roh, who ate so much of his nationalist BS that he jumped off a freaking cliff because of it.
When will normal, decent people realize that S. Korea is as bad to foreigners as is the north?
10:59 am on May 26th, 2009 6
11:00 am on May 26th, 2009 7
…and I might be wrong but I would suspect drawing on those masks greatly reduces their effectiveness.
7:51 pm on May 26th, 2009 8
You are wrong. There are many positive aspects of Korea for foreigners. It is virtually impossible to live anywhere without having at least 1 negative thing happen to you.
7:42 am on May 27th, 2009 9
I am old and in my younger days never saw it, but in the US prior to the 1950's they had quarantine it the US for contagious diseases. They would put a sign on your house saying quarantined and the disease you had. I have just seen pictures of it when I went to grade school back in the 1950's.
9:29 am on May 27th, 2009 10
A little more understandable. Prior to the 1950s health care worked like this: you get sick and you either get better on your own or you die. At that time keeping you from repeating that cycle on other families was primitive, but understandably so.
6:41 pm on May 28th, 2009 11
Hey guys, if you have the symptoms then just deal with the situation, it's not like you've being fed stale bread and brackish water. South Korea has high pop density (typically 4,000/sq. kilometer in the cities) so they cannot very well let you loose until you're in the clear. Stop thinking of yourselves for a moment and make an effort to understand things from their perspective. Otherwise you're just adding credence to the stereotype that Americans are all just a bunch of egocentrics.
10:23 pm on May 28th, 2009 12
There might be some good experiences for foreigners but if you're sitting in a restaurant in Korea will they sit by you? Nope.
1:24 am on June 4th, 2009 13
Actually, one of my good NON-KOREAN friends has been staying in Korea for her third week now, and she has told me that people treat her great! They help her with directions, and make sure she is heading in the right way. She said that she feels so welcome and the people are very friendly. Now what
3:35 am on June 4th, 2009 14
Well, she hasn't been in Korea long enough. I've seen in time and time again. A newbie arrives and the first month is fantastic.
For this gal, once she becomes victim to the overt Anti-Americanism that exists in Korea she will change her tune.
I live here in Korea. I have discussions with both my American and my Korean friends. Whenever I mention what it's like for an American outside the ville area it opens their eyes very wide.
I've backed this up by showing it to them as well – The restaurant experience is my favorite(No matter how well dressed, quiet, and unassuming we are) and it has worked EVERY SINGLE TIME WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
6:01 am on July 13th, 2009 15
Great post!
6:50 am on July 29th, 2009 16
Sometimes it's really that simple, isn't it? I feel a little stupid for not thinking of this myself/earlier, though.