Wow what a week.
Left Changi AIrport, sent off by family and friends.
family and friends
Was coughing badly on the plane.
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.
