Week 1 in Tokyo
Felt sick on the plane. Tried sleeping. Couldn't.
The night before was frantically trying to pack. Took me 6 hours. with an hour break to sleep.
Managed to pack everything into 2 suitcases and 1 carry on bag.
Driven to airport by Bro-in-law. Sisters and little niece came along.
sister and and little niece
I have no idea I had the chicken pox virus until I
was waiting to get my passport stamped at Narita
airport. I suddenly noticed 2 really tiny bumbs
on my forearm. At that time I was already feeling
very tired and unwell. Coughing as well. It doesn't
help the ambient temperature at that waiting hall was
about 30 degrees celsius. Or maybe it felt that way.
Anyway I was unconfortable.
Was greeted by JET Tokyo Orientation Assistant. Got 1
of my luggage sent direct to Sapporo. The rest will
be with me throughout the orientation. Boarded the
bus. Was told that Singaporean JETs are the final
batch to arrive. whoopee. I was too tired to think
already. it was 6pm. I was damn hungry and thirsty.
Felt so sick. I needed that transfer factor.
About an hour and a half later, reached
Keio
Plaza Hotel.
So glad. We were all whisked away to a hall to get
our passes and our goodie bags and hotel room keys. I
wasted no time. Made plans with Melissa and Ned (Hong
Ee) to have dinner together at 9pm. Got into the
room, popped open the luggage and took a few transfer
factor capsules. Felt so glad.
Got free internet. Made calls to Singapore.
Went down, saw Ned, waited for Melissa. We weren't so
picky because we're too hungry. I had "ten don" 580
yen. Damn that's expensive but I didn't think too
much of it. My head was already close to spinning.
Felt better after food. Ned and Melissa was kind
enough to cut short any plans to venture out that
night knowing I was sick. So they accompanied me back
to the hotel. But not before we dropped by a 100 yen
shop to buy big bottles of water.
Next morning, I felt a bit better. The coughing fit
starts again. Put on the business suit and off I
went.
Apologised to Jessie I couldn't join the Hokkaido
prefecture dinner outing later. Was feeling really
sick. Really. Throughout the whole day was looking at
my hands to see if any new spots came out. None. Body
temperature increased. I don't know how I managed to
survive through the end of the day. The welcome
reception had nice pastries. Too bad I couldn't eat
much. All I wanted to do is run upstairs and sleep.
Took more capsules and dranks lots more water. More
tiny spots appearing on neck and shoulders. Worried.
it was 9pm. Went down to the CLAIR hospitality room
where there's people from CLAIR stationed there 24
hours to help you out. Told them I think I have
chicken pox. One of them, Sacha walked me to the
Tokyo medical university hospital.
Only the emergency dept was open. Waited slightly
below an hour. Told doc and showed him the symtoms.
He wasn't too sure because the bumps are smaller than
regular ones. (Grateful to transfer factors!) Anyway
he gave me medicine and cream. Fee was expensive.
47000 yen total. I was told I can get back the money
through insurance. That's a relief.
Tuesday morning. Got up. Temperature lowered to
normal. washed my face. Now has tiny red dots at the
sides and neck. Not too big. Attended the morning
part of the orientation.
With Wei Yuet, wandering around after breakfast
At about 11am, I went up to my room and slept. 12pm
went down have lunch and then went back up again to
sleep the whole day.
Got a call from Sacha about 5pm. He said he'd thought
he'd find me here because Jessie asked where I was
because I'd missed the Sapporo City workshop. I was
too sick to be downstairs. He told me to rest. I
slept. Room mate came back. Told him to get me
something to eat.
CLAIR staff including Sacha came up to my room in the
evening to check on me. I was too sick to do anything
else. They were very kind to buy my sandwich and
salad. I had no appetite then (one of the symptoms)
but I felt I had to eat something. They explained I
needed to go to the doctor again the morning after to
get the doctors letter so that they can fax over to
sapporo's board of education explaining that I can't
go to work and no able to fly the next morning also.
They will also help to arrange my accomodation for
the next few days till I get better.
I am very thankful and grateful to CLAIR staff
members who have helped me out during those difficult
times.
I slept. Temperature 39.2 degrees celsius.
The next morning, the day when everyone left the
hotel to their respective prefectures, I left the
hotel for the hospital. The doctor confirmed I was
having chicken pox. Gave me more med and whitish
paste to rub on the bumps.
Moved to
Diamond
Hotel
at Chiyoda-ku. 3 minutes away from CLAIR's office.
That sounds comforting. Bought food to stock up and I
was good to go. Can't do much. Body too heaty.
Bathed. Slept. Tried lots of ways to cool down. Drank
lots of water.
No appetite. High fever again. Slept uncomfortably.
Next morning put on the surgical mask, wore long
sleeve and I head out to buy more food. Damn the
weather was so hot I came back and realised more red
bumps appearing. damn it!!. This cannot continue. I
need to stay indoors where the temperature is much
cooler.
lots of red boils. not too big thankfully. Its all
covered with white paste now
Transfer factor running out. I need to ration. Damn.
It finally ran out later that night. I've had enough
of the high fever that I've been having night after
night. I'd better warn my family back home to get
vaccinated. Older folks who have not gotten chicken
pox will have it worse. And then there's my niece. I
touched her nose just before I left the airport!
Was advised by an old lady who made up my room to
drink green tea and soak myself in the bathtub. I did
all that she asked me to do. And I was glad.
Temperature hovering around 38 degree celsius. Drank
more green tea. Felt better. I think I drank close to
about 10 cups. Oh the caffeine! Argh... tea has 1/3
the caffeince of coffee. Had salad for dinner.
Tasty actually, with the cooked prawns and dressings.
I couldn't sleep. Watched BBC. the only english
channel available. Managed to sleep at 3am. By this
time I was very relieved. Temperature maintained at
37.6 degree celsius.
Peaceful slumber.
Friday till Saturday same procedure. Morning grocery
shopping. Rest of the day rest in my room.
Saturday morning was interesting. I was inside
DOUTOR
waiting for my sandwich. I Heard loud serious voice
announcing something over loud speaker outside on the
roadside. I think I know who those were.
The Uyoku
dantai.
Got my sandwich and I left. I saw convoys of vans and
buses. All of them generating so much noise and carry
Japanese flags and another flag I can't remember what
is on it. They all came from the direction of
the
Yasukuni
shrine.
The place where I'm staying is near there.
Sunday. Thought of walking to the
Yasukuni
temple.
But I'm not up to it. I'd rather rest.
Well that wraps up week one! Tomorrow I've got a
medical appointment to see if I'm OK to fly on
Tuesday.