The Influenza Quarantine

YOU CALL IT INFLUENZA, I CALL IT THE FLU
For the entire past week (Monday - Friday) I was home sick. On Monday I was ready to go to work, but I noticed that I was moving a lot slower than usual. As I sat in the teacher's room, sipping on hot coffee, I noticed that I hadn't taken off my wool peacoat. On any normal day, that coat would be off the moment you step into the teacher's room because they keep that room very, very warm. But in fact, I was kind of shivering.

Then my friend finally came and I asked her if it was cold in the room. She responded, with sweat beads on her forehead, "No, it's hot!" I then put one of those nifty kairo heat packs on my back to see if it would help. But after about 10 minutes, I just wasn't looking to good. So we went to the nurse and found out that my temperature was 103.5 degrees F!

We headed over to the clinic, a first for me, and told them that I might have the flu. Immediately they handed me that dreaded face mask and for the first time, I felt the warmth of it on my face. It took a long time before I was finally seen. During my wait, they decided to put me in a quarantine area. The quarantine area was dark, I couldn't believe they didn't want to turn on the light in this section! I was blocked off from everyone else by corridors, alone and in the dark. I thought it was so funny.

Then FINALLY, the doctor brought me in. He couldn't really speak English, but he could write it. So I read his messages and answered with yes's and no's. Then just to make sure that I really did have the flu he recommended that we take the Influenza Test. "It will only take 15 minutes," he reassures me. Seemed okay...

...Until! He brought out this long, q-tip-looking stick. Apparently for the Influenza Test you have to stick this thing ALL the way up your nose! My dear lord!

And so he did. And I squeezed my eyes so hard - it was so painful. The nurse even jumped in and helped push it further. Why!? I'm sure they prodded something they weren't supposed to. Teary-eyed, I reached for a tissue.

15 minutes later, and the test indicated that I had the flu (as if the high temperature, fatigue and aches didn't already diagnose it as such). The visit and meds weren't as expensive as I thought it would be since we pay National Health Insurance. It came out to be about $30.

My boss told me that I should stay home for the whole week. Wow - 5 days at home. How boring! And to top it off, this was the week of the English Speech Contest! I was supposed to help coach 2 students for 3 days of this week. Luckily I got some practice in the week before.

I felt so bad for missing work and practice, but I was highly contagious and in Japan they take the flu, or influenza as they like to say, very very seriously! Isn't apparent by the long sick leave?

Somehow I managed to let the week fly by. I slept a lot and drank so much fluid that I should've just stayed in the bathroom. Everyone stopped by and brought so much food. It was all really kind (I can't believe how much they do for me), but sometimes I just don't want anyone to come over when I'm sickly.


So now, I'm feeling a lot better. I still have a very phlegmy cough. You know how a cat purrs? That's how I sound when I exhale. (-_-)



THE GIRL'S ON TOP!
I just mentioned that during the past week, there was an English Speech Contest. I was supposed to go and support my students, but because I was sick, I didn't. Instead, I told the teachers to please tell them that I wish them the very best of luck and to remember my pointers!

Then Friday, I got a call from the section chief and he told me that one of my students placed 1st! In his words, "_____-san is TOP!" I told him the easiest thing in English, "I am sooooooooooo happy!!!!"

And I was. I could not believe it. That really made my week. I sent a message to the teachers to tell her congratulations. But then I thought about it, and decided that it would be better if I just called her. So I called her house - and told her congratulations! and that I was so happy for her. =)

Yay!



SOOOOOOOOOO COLD!
Well today isn't so bad, but yesterday! Goodness, yesterday seemed like it was sooo cold. And it must've been. In the morning, I wanted to take a shower, and I come to find out that my water wouldn't turn on because it was frozen!

I almost cried and I let out a few F---!'s S***!'s because I really, really wanted to take a shower and it was sooooo icy cold in the shower. The water that was left on the shower ground had turned to ice and each time that I stepped on it (because I had to) my feet were struck with pain.

I threw the shower head around, hoping that the water would just start. And for 10 minutes, nothing happened. I just couldn't believe it. Darnit Japan!

Then, like a miracle from heaven, the water started - cold at first and then the warmness. I was so thankful, and I had a good shower.

Clearing the Snow Every Morning
(This was when the snow wasn't so heavy)

WHAT!? THERE'S ICE ON MY HUBCAPS!
So more snow stories. Yesterday I also decided to take on the immense task of clearing all of the past week's snow off my car. I hadn't stepped foot outside of my apartment for 5 days and I was a bit scared to see what my poor mini hoonie looked like.

It was covered. I wish I took a picture of it. There was a good foot of snow on top of my entire car. Not to mention the snow in front and in the back of it. Where to begin?

It took me 30 minutes to clear all the snow off my car. Then I discover that ice had formed on my tires, on the hubcaps and between the tire and the frame of the car. Oh my! I tried kicking it off and that only resulted in a lot of pain in my foot. Then I pounded the crap out of it until it would fall off.


It's just not fun in the winter time. It's pretty, but not fun!

The Best Snow Leaves I've Ever Seen