I’m fed up with sick people in Japan.
I get sick, I stay home and try not to get others sick. My co-workers though come in to work sick therefore getting me sick.
2 days ago I brought back omiyage from Osaka. I put it on the team table. One of my sick co-workers comes over and coughs his sick all over the table. So much for eating the omiyage
Today I go to Subway Sandwich (one of the few places near my work). As the guy is making my sandwich I notice he’s sick, sweating with a fever and coughing AS HE’S F*CKING MAKING MY SANDWICH!!! Rather than chew the guy out I just threw the sandwich away.
I get to work a different co-worker who had the good sense to stay home yesterday is in to day coughing and hacking non-stop.
I’m EFFING READY TO GO POSTAL ON THEIR ASSES!
I’ve been stay at home level sick 3 times in the last 2 months and I can tell given the sick these guys have I haven’t had it yet. I’m pissed off enough that I feel like going home just to avoid them and telling my boss I’ll be back in when the sick people are no longer there.
Another thing, it’s that time of the year when the train aholes (I mean train operators) decide in their infinite wisdom to turn off the air conditioning because it’s not hot outside. So, the train becomes the most humid sick infested place in all the world. IMO the train companies should be held liable for all the pain, suffering, medical bills and lost productivity they cause when they do this.
WTF is wrong with these people. You’d think that in a society where not bothering/imposing on others is one of the pillars of their whole way of living that spreading your sick around would be up there with murder but no, to the Japanese missing work is considered putting people out. Of course if they thought it through they’d see that getting everyone sick is the far bigger cost to everyone than missing work for a couple of days.
It sounds to me like you need to improve you immune system a bit if you have been sick 3 times in the last two months. Vitamins, orange juice, better/more regular meals and maybe even a tonic might improve things.
People coming into work sick is wrong as they do spread disease but the culture in most places is that it shouldn’t matter and unless you really are dying then taking a day off work isn’t an option. I used to do that but now take the sick days as your body is really telling you, you need a rest.
As for the air conditioning in trains, I get really pissed with cinemas in the summer. If you go to a late showing, the one before they close, they always turn the air conditioning off half way through the film so by the end you are a sweaty mess. It’s just a cost saving exercise but one that shouldn’t be allowed.
After few years spent in Japan, you still arent used to this ? You *know* that many sick people think that they would lost their job if they wouldnt go to their jobs while being sick… At least this is written in many articles about Japan
A sick sick society ?
I’m serious. There are a TON of sick people here hacking away worse than Kevin Mitnick, so I was taking Vitamin C and multi-vitamin tabs once a day. When I ran out and forgot to buy more, guess what happened? I got ubersick and missed all of TGS
Things really aren’t much different in the states… I mean, i suppose it depends on what industry you’re in. Here in Japan it’s just a general rule of thumb that you go to work unless you’re buried (just being dead isn’t good enough). .. although that certainly doesn’t seem to be the norm at my company.
what bothers me is that you have two camps in japan… you have the “put a mask on at the slightest sign of a tickle in your throat” camp and the “i don’t even know well enough to COVER MY MOUTH WITH MY HAND WHEN I COUGH” camp. unfortunately, there seems to be an overwhelming number of members of the second camp and they obviously don’t have the brains to figure out that if you’re gonna cough your sick all over the place you should just stay home and isolate the problem.
with regards to the trains and airconditioners… Just this morning I was wondering why the A/Cs were still running on high. (so i guess it differs depending on the line) … I was astonished that on 9/23 (the official start of autumn) that suddenly everyone was wearing long pants and long sleeves and scarfs and jackets NEVERMIND THE FACT THAT IT WAS STILL 26C out. it would save so much energy if a) people would still dress appropriately for the weather (i.e. wear light clothes when it’s warm out) and b) they would adjust the A/C units so that it’s not so cold… or open the windows instead.
the fact is it’s hard to find a good balance in the trains (for me anyways) … in the winter they crank the heater which would be ok if i didn’t have to wear a freak’n parka on the outside of the train … so then being in the over-heated train wearing a parka isn’t healthy either.
anyways, a bunch of students in my class apparently have colds… some of them even took a day off because of it… i’m hoping i don’t get sick. hope you can avoid it also.
I don’t mean to suggest they need to keep the air conditioning on in the train to keep it cold. They just need to keep the air circulating. When they turn them off ……….. well, think about it, 100+ people in a crowded room with no open windows or doors
As for coming to work sick, I think or rather wish that anytime someone got sick and came to work because they thought their boss would take it out on them if they didn’t they should walk over to the boss and cough all over him or her.
Maybe they’d get the point.
Whatever happened to those? That was one of the neat things about Japan when I was there; the whole country was sick, but everyone was wearing masks. Overflow from the SARS scare? Do people just not do that anymore?
Wash your hands…a lot. The majority of virii are not airborn, but are transmitted via fluids. Coughing of course can transmit fluids, but most of the time we touch all kinds of stuff then rub our eyes, eat food, chew our nails, and that kind of thing.
Khrist. What a bunch of North American anal crybabies. If you don’t like living/working/breathing/standing/sitting/eating/screwing/etc ad nausem next to/with the Japanese why not just leave Japan, or don’t get involved with’em in the first place? After 30 years in/out of Japan I’d rather shoot the shit with a spitting/farting/burping/cussing/leather faced/gut laughing Japanese contruction site day laborer than listen to this whiny crap. うるせえ。
You’re making enough money to be able to toss away a subway sandwich without serious debate, regardless of the sick assclown!
I hear you about the bullshit where people won’t take time off when they’re sick and just end up infringing on the health of others, but Gregg, if you’re getting sick so often maybe you have a health problem that needs sorting out, too.
A weak immune system (and by your own descriptions, you have one of the weakest I’ve ever heard of) is a result of poor diet and personal maintanence.
As people have stated: take multi vitamins. Ingest a LOT of Vitamin C. One glass of organge juice a day: MINIMUM. A lot more should be taken in over the course of a day. FLU shot: get one. Exercise if you aren’t active. Sleep longer hours. Stock up on cold medicine. Most importantly, as as halready been stated: WASH YOUR HANDS A LOT. Additionally, carrying around handi-wipes to use when needed will help. If your’e shariing computers, swab that keyboard down with a sani-wipe before you code away.
Finally, it is NOT rude to tell people to cover their mouth, to ask someone else to prep yoru sandwich, or to take someone to task for coughing over your food. Fuck cultural protocol. Woudl you use cultural protocol if a bear was attacking you and you had a chance to fight back? You’re fighting disease and illness and there’s a time to say, “hey, you’re sick and I dont’ want to get sick so I don’t want this/don’t do that, be careful. cover your mouth when you cough or your nose whne you sneeze/go see a doctor.”
If they are offeneded they can either get over it, or fuck off. Really.
Greg, I love your blog and have been reading it for about 3 years, but man, sometimes you need a fucking spine. That’s a brutal way to put it, but dude, you’re smart, 40, and have some life experience. You’re on the corner looking across the street of “middle aged.” Now, roll up your fuckign sleeves, take a deep breath, let out a growl and stand up for yourself when it’s about your health. If you don’t – nobody will. Additionally, it’s the least you can do to respect yourself.
With a pandemic around the corner you really need to take better care.
The best offense is a defence, bro.
Be well.
Thanks for the advice.
As far as taking care of my immune system well, I have always been sick more often then my friends. Even in elementary school. I take multi-vitamins, vitamin C, for a while I tried echinacea. I wash my hands, I don’t touch handrails or door knobs unless I have to. I open doors with my shoulders if I can. When I use the a public restroom like at work I wash my hands, take a paper towel to dry them, then fold over the towel and use it to open the door so not only do I not have to touch the door but I’m effectively cleaning the handle for the next guy.
Lately I’ve been wondering if our building is sick as in if there is something in the vents in the air conditioning / heating system that needs to be cleaned. I have no idea how to test for that and it’s probably in my head but I was sick for 5 days in mid sept (flu like) and I felt pretty great when I finally went back to work but it only took a couple of hours to feel like a new cold was coming on with respitory symptoms.
http://www.airbornehealth.com/main.html
… the quality of the air in Tokyo; it’s not necessary the “best” per se … Not to mention people smoking here, there, and everywhere. There’s really nothing like walking somewhere while someone in front of you puffs a cloud of smoke and the wind just happens to be blowing in your direction.
I think in some of the offices in Tokyo (and elsewhere in Japan) some people smoke in the whole place … so it’s possible that there are some seriously “ill” buildings there.
I just saw this on CNN today and thought about your experiences in Japan. Quite a contrast, eh?
http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/20/news/economy/sick_days/index.htm?cnn=yes
And are you OK now? How are you feeling?
I guess, you go to your offiece while you’re getting sick is good in Japan. It makes you look diligent or earnest or….somthing like that, may be.(of course lots of people’d say “no” ,but….)
Anyway I hope you’ve been getting better now!!
Gisei and gaman are the two most beautiful things in the world. Sicker than all get-out, to sacrifice by coming to the office and working your ass off, all the while feeling like lumpy dog vomit — nothing could be more magnificent or be worthy of more praise. In a true sign of selflessness, they share their sick with all others in the office like omiyage. Then everyone can get a piece of the magnificence.
All sarcasm aside, I was never sicker than when I was in Japan. Sick every sick season, a fever of 39+… Yuck. Back in my home country, I am never sick. In Japan, I felt like Petri Dish 11312 — incubating the next test-strain in a bio-warfare experiment. I feel for you.
Hmmm, this the bonus system of the japanese companies…You have to be here…to show yourself in front of your boss…I remembered when I was working in a japanese company (yeah, game developer too (^_^) ). Everybody just go home just after their direct boss. just be here when the boss is here…
Now, I m working in shanghai (yeah, still game developer) and the chinese are doing the same… the guy who is sitting next to me is coughing like hell, and my throat is beginning to hurt…did I caught something from him too (T_T)…
Greggman: Another good procuct is Emergen-C by Alacer which is a local company here in OC. I travel quite a bit for business and occasionaly find myself on a flight seated next to or near people who really should be home in bed (sound familiar?). I’ve been taking 2 packets every day for the past 2 or 3 years now and haven’t been sick once. Couldn’t imagine not taking it now. http://www.alacer.com/default.asp
Good luck!
Many people here who’ve posted about using Airborne and other such OTC branded “health” supplements are all ignorant of one fact: it is precisely because Greg is a foreigner in Japan that his health is constantly in a state of turmoil.
These illnesses contracted are not very familiar to Greg’s body and guess what? His immune system is ill-prepared to take on the condition that he goes through REGARDLESS OF WHAT HE DOES OR TAKE to improve his health. Know this, you could be in the best of health and yet still succomb to the most harmless of colds.
I remember reading about how the Hawaiians were stricken with the disease of Captain Cook’s crewmembers and how a minor illness became a devastating plague and wiped out large numbers of people. Pure and simple, this is mostly an issue with regards to how well your body can adjust to foreign germs and diseases.
The only advice that can be given is to either come back to the States if you are not able to cope with your surroundings or just grin and bear it and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle in the best possible way you can. At your age though, this would be a harsh prospect to endure, but thank your lucky stars you’re not 60 and trying to do this. I’d highly recommend joining a fitness club, having a balance diet and consume in moderation. If you wish to continue living in Japan, you should just have to suck it up each and every time you do get sick (think of it as an experience for your immune system and that it will hopefully improve with each new experience)
You could also try getting yourself those masks and keeping it on whenever your co-workers are sick. Not sure how effective they are, but I’m sure something is better than nothing.
Dude, I’m in the states and work at CVS and I see sick people all damn day. The thing about colds/flus is once your body fights the organisms and develops antibodies you shouldnt be worried even if a sick guy hacks on your sub. Now I know what your thinking, “arent there diff strains of these illnesses?”. Yes, but if your staying in the same environment and exposed to the same organisms you would still be making antibodies. I would say you should try some once a day multivitamins and drink plenty of water. Airbourne is also good since each tabley contains 1000mg of vitamin C, zinc, and some other good stuff.
Well, you fellas have made some interesting points, but I can’t help feeling that you’ve overlooked something very basic: Japanese companies don’t pay people for sick leave. Any days off come straight out of an employee’s annual holiday entitlement, which may only amount to 10 days. I’ve forced myself to go into work in the past if I didn’t think that my ailments were worth a day’s pay.
An hour-long search on the Internet has revealed that Japanese law has yet to establish a provision for sickness holiday entitlement (as of July 2008), which leaves it to the discretion of businesses. Labour unions around Japan are certainly not earning their cut of our salaries.
As for Subway, well, you’re obviously better off than I am, Greggman-san, because you threw away close to 1000yen when you should’ve said something to the dying staff member. Bitching and moaning on a blog is all very well if it’s funny, but why not practice what you preach?
… being sick is frustrating. People aren’t at their most tolerant when they are sick, least of all when they suspect they’re sick because someone else just infected them with it *when it wasn’t necessary*.
Everyone’s definition of necessary differs, not least between cultures. But Gregg is doing his stuff and getting by in a foreign country, something many people talk about but never actually try for themselves. It’s a constant bombardment on your tolerance levels, usually in relative social isolation and without the usual support systems of friends and relatives! And if a man can’t come home and write a rant to express his frustrations (in a far more positive way than he otherwise might) and post it on *his own blog*, what the hell can he do.
So he had a whinge. So … who doesn’t? Let he who is free of this sin case the first stone!
First up, Victoria, if you are Gregg’s mother, then I’m sure he’s a lovely boy. However, people who don’t want to open themselves up to public scrutiny (or ridicule) write a diary and keep it under their bed. Internet blogs are fair game. I also suspect that Gregg is finding his life in Japan far more enjoyable than he would in his home country, otherwise he’d get his whingeing butt on a plane and resort to a job flipping burgers in his local Wendy’s when he realises that copying Genki English lessons isn’t really a transferable skill.
More blog entries, I say. They’re great. Woo! Yeah!!
I’m gonna second the bit about building immunity to foreign viruses. I hardly ever got colds or flu back in America, but then upon coming to Japan I was catching colds again after having NONE for years and years. I have a pretty awesome immune system (by the time I was in high school, colds lasted 2 days tops), but it’s tough to do battle with an unknown enemy.
Here is the real systemic problem beyond all the gripes. Most Japanese companies do not have any provisions for sick leave and require employees to use their regular leave to cover sickness. So there is absolutely no incentive for workers to stay home and recover if they hope to have any vacation days. I know of a woman who had cancer in a small Japanese company. She not only used up her regular vacation days accumulated over 10 years of work there, she also had her bonus docked proportionately for days needed for follow-up tests and treatments once her vacation days were expended.
Yet, you can claim “mental suffering” and stay at home for months on end with full pay, or with pregnancy get 9 weeks off with full pay and government subsidies.
With a pandemic perhaps around the corner, this needs some rethinking.