Japan is turning me into Howard Hughes

[Goji]

I have seriously been sick off and on since mid-October. I've probably been sick more days in the past three months than in the past decade combined. It's apparent to me that my immune system is having difficulty adapting to the germs on an entirely new continent. But it really doesn't help that in my work as an elementary school teacher, I am constantly swimming in viruses. Very grabby viruses.

By which I mean to say that it doesn't help that the kids I work with are the grabbiest people on the entire planet. It is a full time job keeping their hands off of me, especially my face. Now I like them. It's very rewarding work, but they keep making me sick and it's driving me crazy. Every time I get almost better, another mob of infected second graders will play "pile on the English teacher" and I'll come down with another two week cold. It's a problem that a lot of the other teachers at my schools and at my company seem to be facing.

But I'm taking a proactive approach. I wash my hands constantly. I carry disinfectant wipes with me wherever I go. I scoured the grocery store for what I think are vitamin supplements and take them every day. I have had it up to here with having a stuffed up nose and a cough, and if I thought standing upside down with my head in a bucket of piranha fish would do anything to help rid me of it, I would do it. It's making me afraid to touch anything at all with my hands. I feel like going to school in a hazmat suit.

And it's only December. It's not even officially winter yet. I've turned myself into an obsessive compulsive and I'm still going to be sick for the next three months. At least, for the record, I did get a flu shot. Let's hope to god it works.

 

[Amaris]

Wow. I forgot how old you are now. Goji, I remember when you were ruminating about your troubles when you were in high school. I'm sorry, I know that's off topic, but it just hit me when I read your post.

 

[Nardpuncher]

I live in Taiwan and yeah, I think it's easier to get sick over here.

I get the runs (sorry!) about 5 or 6 times a year. It's so common that it's not even really something to worry about. Like "Hey what d'ya know! I've got diarrhea again!" and carry on.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Aw, I thought you meant you were rich. I was going to ask for some funding.

I scoured the grocery store for what I think are vitamin supplements and take them every day.

I see a potential sitcom plot here.

 

[Nardpuncher]

^^ along those lines not long after I came to Taiwan I went to see the doctor for an inner ear infection.
I found out later he was a pediatrician.
There were a few kids there and he didn't say anything ( that I could understand at the time).

 

[iguana_tonante]

By which I mean to say that it doesn't help that the kids I work with are the grabbiest people on the entire planet. It is a full time job keeping their hands off of me, especially my face. Now I like them. It's very rewarding work, but they keep making me sick and it's driving me crazy. Every time I get almost better, another mob of infected second graders will play "pile on the English teacher" and I'll come down with another two week cold. It's a problem that a lot of the other teachers at my schools and at my company seem to be facing.

Wow. I knew kids were disgusting, but that's another level. Now, I like teaching, but thankfully I give lessons only to high-school and university students.

 

[Goji]

Wow. I forgot how old you are now. Goji, I remember when you were ruminating about your troubles when you were in high school. I'm sorry, I know that's off topic, but it just hit me when I read your post.

Yes. I am ancient and fossilized.

 

[WillsBabe]

I can totally and utterly sympathise with the cold thing. I am working my way through my third cold in as many months. I have been really rather poorly each time. My current cold made me so poorly in the night last night that I was conisdering call the doctor. A couple of weeks ago I even asked to change seats on the plane I was on because the woman next to me had a stinking cold, and then I went and caught another one from my husband.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I hope your immune system starts adapting quickly.

I've never taught small children, but the years I taught the mothers of young children I got sick much more than usual. Just took an extra step.

 

[Amaris]

Wow. I forgot how old you are now. Goji, I remember when you were ruminating about your troubles when you were in high school. I'm sorry, I know that's off topic, but it just hit me when I read your post.

Yes. I am ancient and fossilized.

I wouldn't go that far.
I just mean you've grown up, and now I have a tear in my eye.

"Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset..."

 

[propita]

Wow. I forgot how old you are now. Goji, I remember when you were ruminating about your troubles when you were in high school. I'm sorry, I know that's off topic, but it just hit me when I read your post.

Yes. I am ancient and fossilized.

I wouldn't go that far.
I just mean you've grown up, and now I have a tear in my eye.

"Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset..."

But it’s so good to hear of someone growing up and doing well with his life, being a good person and all that.

Back on topic, Goji, I hope you feel better soon and acclimate to the local bugs. Best of luck to you in 2011! And PLEASE keep us updated with your health and life in general. I find it interesting to read of people leading such a different--and positive--life.

 

[Amaris]

Yes. I am ancient and fossilized.

I wouldn't go that far.
I just mean you've grown up, and now I have a tear in my eye.

"Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset..."

But it’s so good to hear of someone growing up and doing well with his life, being a good person and all that.

Back on topic, Goji, I hope you feel better soon and acclimate to the local bugs. Best of luck to you in 2011! And PLEASE keep us updated with your health and life in general. I find it interesting to read of people leading such a different--and positive--life.

Oh, I agree completely. It's just... nice.

 

[Holdfast]

I scoured the grocery store for what I think are vitamin supplements and take them every day.

I see a potential sitcom plot here.

That was the bit of the OP that I picked up on too.

Anyway, any mention of Howard Hughes these days always reminds me of this:

Mr. Burns: We'll take the Spruce Goose. Hop in.
Smithers: But I…
(Burns pulls out a gun)
Mr. Burns: I said hop in.

 

[Colonel Midnight]

Yes. I am ancient and fossilized.

I wouldn't go that far.
I just mean you've grown up, and now I have a tear in my eye.

"Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset..."

But it’s so good to hear of someone growing up and doing well with his life, being a good person and all that.

Back on topic, Goji, I hope you feel better soon and acclimate to the local bugs. Best of luck to you in 2011! And PLEASE keep us updated with your health and life in general. I find it interesting to read of people leading such a different--and positive--life.

Errr... good person? Are we talking about Goji here, or Pod of Goji!?!?!?!

Cheers,
-CM-

 

[Goji]

I wouldn't go that far.
I just mean you've grown up, and now I have a tear in my eye.

"Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset..."

But it’s so good to hear of someone growing up and doing well with his life, being a good person and all that.

Back on topic, Goji, I hope you feel better soon and acclimate to the local bugs. Best of luck to you in 2011! And PLEASE keep us updated with your health and life in general. I find it interesting to read of people leading such a different--and positive--life.

Oh, I agree completely. It's just... nice.

You people are odd.

Anyway my story gets weirder. For some reason the "Health Committee" at one of my schools decided it wanted to interview me about what Americans do to prevent catching a cold. This despite the fact that since I have been sick for two straight months, maybe I am not the best person to ask. But I did it anyway and they took a video of it.

Today we had an assembly and they played it for the entire school. And a large number of parents. All of whom acted as if they had gained tremendous new insight from my interview. Oh yeah, and I'm still definitely sick.

 

[ALF]

I have seriously been sick off and on since mid-October. I've probably been sick more days in the past three months than in the past decade combined. It's apparent to me that my immune system is having difficulty adapting to the germs on an entirely new continent. But it really doesn't help that in my work as an elementary school teacher, I am constantly swimming in viruses. Very grabby viruses.

By which I mean to say that it doesn't help that the kids I work with are the grabbiest people on the entire planet. It is a full time job keeping their hands off of me, especially my face. Now I like them. It's very rewarding work, but they keep making me sick and it's driving me crazy. Every time I get almost better, another mob of infected second graders will play "pile on the English teacher" and I'll come down with another two week cold. It's a problem that a lot of the other teachers at my schools and at my company seem to be facing.

But I'm taking a proactive approach. I wash my hands constantly. I carry disinfectant wipes with me wherever I go. I scoured the grocery store for what I think are vitamin supplements and take them every day. I have had it up to here with having a stuffed up nose and a cough, and if I thought standing upside down with my head in a bucket of piranha fish would do anything to help rid me of it, I would do it. It's making me afraid to touch anything at all with my hands. I feel like going to school in a hazmat suit.

And it's only December. It's not even officially winter yet. I've turned myself into an obsessive compulsive and I'm still going to be sick for the next three months. At least, for the record, I did get a flu shot. Let's hope to god it works.

Japan made me sick, too.

Not sure where you hail from, but chances are the thickness of the air there will be a big change for your respiratory system. Wait until June-August, when the dreaded "Yellow Dust" shows up!

My conditions worsened the first three years there, then tapered off for the last two bebut I still had some nasty skin conditions and acne like mad (which I never had before in Canada and haven't had since my return 2 yrs ago).

One of my Japanese skin doctors (who are fortunately easy to see over there and not particularly expensive) suggested my overall immune system was weakened due to the alien nature of the culture shock. Being on the defense all the time lowered the general strength of my biological countermeasures, he mused. It's possible he was right... I dunno. I'm just glad to have my long term health back.

Japan kicks ass though, and as long as it doesn't kill you, I would advise to enjoy the ride.

Sick kids with grubby mitts climbing all over you is a real setback, though. It's interesting: To me it seemed the responsibility over there for not getting sick is always on the healthy person.... that's why everyone wears face masks and continues to go to work no matter how sick they are. It's expected. Not sure how much flak you've come up against getting time off for medical excuses. It depends on how understanding your office support staff and supervisors are.

You should try doing something I never has the gumption to do: let the management know you don't want to get ill... and do lessons with one of those face masks on!!

Stay well, Goji.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

I scoured the grocery store for what I think are vitamin supplements and take them every day.

I see a potential sitcom plot here.

That was the bit of the OP that I picked up on too.

Anyway, any mention of Howard Hughes these days always reminds me of this:

Mr. Burns: We'll take the Spruce Goose. Hop in.
Smithers: But I…
(Burns pulls out a gun)
Mr. Burns: I said hop in.

How many dobermans do you have by now?

 

[RoJoHen]

But it’s so good to hear of someone growing up and doing well with his life, being a good person and all that.

Back on topic, Goji, I hope you feel better soon and acclimate to the local bugs. Best of luck to you in 2011! And PLEASE keep us updated with your health and life in general. I find it interesting to read of people leading such a different--and positive--life.

Oh, I agree completely. It's just... nice.

You people are odd.

Anyway my story gets weirder. For some reason the "Health Committee" at one of my schools decided it wanted to interview me about what Americans do to prevent catching a cold. This despite the fact that since I have been sick for two straight months, maybe I am not the best person to ask. But I did it anyway and they took a video of it.

Today we had an assembly and they played it for the entire school. And a large number of parents. All of whom acted as if they had gained tremendous new insight from my interview. Oh yeah, and I'm still definitely sick.

What new information did they learn?

Wash your hands? Don't touch other people's faces?

 

[Holdfast]

I see a potential sitcom plot here.

That was the bit of the OP that I picked up on too.

Anyway, any mention of Howard Hughes these days always reminds me of this:

Mr. Burns: We'll take the Spruce Goose. Hop in.
Smithers: But I…
(Burns pulls out a gun)
Mr. Burns: I said hop in.

How many dobermans do you have by now?

There are two lines I yearn to say in earnest:

"Release the hounds"

and

"Fly my pretties, FLY! <pause> Ugh. Continue the research."

 

[FPAlpha]

another mob of infected second graders will play "pile on the English teacher"

Sorry but..

That just sounds so cute and adorable!

Anyway.. eat healthy, maybe do a little sports on the side and hope for the best.