So, there had been a recent cold going around to all the students. For most, it lasts about 4 to 5 days (based on what my friends who had it before me had said). While writing this, I am currently with the cold. Although it sucks being sick and being sick in a foreign country while it is still warm/hot out, it's also nice because I am not the only one wearing this (see below) around campus.
Yes, I am indeed wearing a face mask. The reason for that s not to spread your gross foreigner germs around to everybody. It is not a fashion statement but a concern for the health of others. Japan is so nice in that sense. I had been wearing that since Sunday until Tuesday - but I should have been wearing it longer ^^;;. As of today, most of my symptoms have gone away, except my coughing. It hurts to cough, but I hear once you have a coughing fit and cough your brains out, you'll be 100% better the next day. Hopefully, that will happen soon. And honestly, I don't even know if they work at preventing the germs to spread. But whatever.
You'll see the Japanese people wearing these during class, on the bus/trains, while getting food in the cafeteria; basically, anywhere in which you are in contact with other people. I wear my mask even when using the bathroom in the suite just in case? I even wore it to Traditional Japanese Dance practice on Tuesday.
It is also like a safety net for other people to see you wearing it. It makes them aware that you might not be feeling well. I say "might" in this case because I know a few people who wore them when the outbreak had just started. It was so they wouldn't get sick. In my Japanese class, I was wearing a mask so the professor (sensei - pronounced "sen-say") didn't call on me. When it came to the partnering section in class, I was looking a bit pale (as Sara had described it), so he asked if I was okay. My voice was off due to the symptoms and the coloring in my face and temperature in my body led me to say "chotto" (pronounced "cho *pause* toe). Chotto is the Japanese word for "a little." I could have said "no, I'm not fine" [iie, genkijanaidesu. E-ay, gen-key-ja-nae-des] or something of the sort. But that is not the Japanese way. The Japanese are not as direct as us Americans are. So even if they feel like total crap, they will still stick to "chotto." I don't know how to explain this well? Anyway, he allowed me to not participant in class because I was not feeling well.
In the States, if you were not feeling, you either A) send an email to your professor explaining why you are/had been missing class, B) show up to class and cough, sneeze, blow your nose in class while distracting other students from their work, or C) go to your class and leave if the symptoms get worse. Here, you can do A and C, but I don't think B would be very acceptable. The students wear these masks to keep the dusk/pollen/germs from entering their noses and mouths thus reducing the sneezing situation. But, each time you cough, it hits you back in the face, so it's kind of gross. And if you sneeze, ew~ (I haven't done that one yet, but a friend of mine has).
I forgot to pack pain killers and medicine with me when I came over so I really felt terrible when I was hit with it. I was complaining to my mom about it. So she gave me the idea of posting on Facebook asking to see if anyone had medicine. Now, in the US, I would feel more comfortable just walking to my neighbor's room and asking if they had any (I usually had a supply so it was normally opposite, but sometimes I would need to borrow); however, I don't know any of my floormates that well. I do have a few friends on my floor, but I don't want to disturb them. Anyway, I followed my mother's suggestion, and well, it made me very happy to see all my friends here being so nice and caring about it. I even got private messages asking if I was okay and need anything. I am really thankful to have friends who care about one another so much like this. I was very touched! Here was the results (with last names blocked out to protect them): you can click one them to make it bigger
But it wasn't just my friends that were so caring of me, but also my roommate, Yuki. When she found out I was sick, she sent me a private message asking if I was okay and seeing how I was doing. Yuki, if you are reading this, thank you so much for caring about me! I really appreciate your kindness~! ♥ [Especially yours, Erin!! Thank you so very much for the masks and ibuprofen!!] Since she was gone away for the weekend, she was not in the room for the "worse" part. I feel bad because now the "worse" part is me just coughing away at night. However, once she got back, she also gave me some medicine. It really made me happy that I have such caring friends and roommate! Thank you!!
So, this post was to talk a bit about being sick in Japan, but also to thank all of those who were concerned about my health. I am almost 100% better, but still not quite. I really appreciate your concern and how much you care about me. ♥ It makes me happy that I have gained a group of really kind people that help out one another when they can (and at such a late time at night no less!) Thank you all!!! When I was feeling pretty crappy, you guys had cheered up my mood and made me very happy to know my friends are so nice to me! ♥ THANK YOU~!!!!!! ♥
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