I awoke on the Monday, the day that would be my first day of work with excitement, nerves and trepidation. Thoughts of, ‘would the staff talk to me’; ‘would I understand enough’; and ‘what if a cute doctor saw me in my unflattering powder blue uniform’ swirled around in my mind. The rota was done so that we had Monday mornings off. However we had been asked by Oka-san to go to the hospital early as she would be taking us to register for our Alien Registration Card. Since arriving in Japan we have had the whole ‘be early’ speech drilled into us. We have been constantly told that we must be early. If that Japanese say a time then we should be there at least ten minutes before. So me and Flora trying to be good volunteers arrived ten minutes early. We were then told we were too early and would have to go away and come back when the clock struck exactly nine a.m.
With bemused expressions, a shrug of our shoulders we turned and went down to the first floor to get a drink from the vending machine. Flora got water, I got aquarius. I hate just plain water, she loves it, I love sweet, sugary drinks she hates them. It’s another one of our differences.
Having got our drinks we slowly made our way back to the third floor constantly checking Flora’s watch. When the big hand was at the twelve and the little hand at the nine we tried again. This time we were met with a big smile and Oka-san who had turned us away ten minutes ago acted as if this was the first time we had come to the office and a bemused and laughing expression from office crush. Oka-san still stated that she was not yet ready so she took us into a room to wait….why she couldn’t do that when we had come the first time I don’t know. It is another thing I calk down as a Japanese thing. There are a lot of chalk marks under that title.
After waiting about 10 minutes Oka-san came in, checked to make sure we had everything needed to register and then we were on our way.
Oka-san is a tiny lady, just coming up to my chest. I’m 5ft, 5 inches but she out walked me without any effort. After being drive to the government office where the taxi driver proceeded to describe our skin as so white we were the colour of snow and would belong better in Hokkaido. The strangest part of the registration is that the staff are Japanese, can’t speak a word of English and then proceed to rewrite everything you have already written.
When we had registered, it’s not that interesting to write about, we were taken to the hospital. We had our first lunch there where another bout of hilarity ensued. Trying to teach Flora how to use her chopsticks to cut into the fish so she didn’t up the entire slab. It was funnier because Mr, office crush was sat across from us watching the entire thing with his now common expression of bemusement. Flora got very embarrassed and every red when I told her. I do love messing with her sometimes. Humour is always important in this situation.
Going back to the office so Oka-san could take us to our respective wards and introduce us. There we were met with a widely smiling Mr Office crush who asked us if we enjoyed lunch and if Flora enjoyed her fish. He always seems to be a happy fellow.
I was taken to the ward 7 west or７西階. No one could speak a word of English but made up for it with their easy smiles and gracious attitudes. When they realised I could hold a basic, very basic, conversation that were all thrilled and eager to just chat to me so that instantly I felt welcomed.
I was placed to follow a tine woman called Tanae-san, 田苗さん, who could speak no English, not even hello. She moved around and did all of her work a speed, ferocity and pride which is not seen in England especially as her job is nothing more than a glorified skivvy.
We were told they were healthcare assistants and we thought of the carers in British hospitals. They are nothing like that. The only interaction they have with patients is to take them for their x-rays or to show them where they would be staying if they were new to the ward. On an average day their jobs/duties consisted of clean and make beds, scrub clean soiled underwear, sheets and clean used commodes. They also printed and scanned paperwork for patients, cleaned the fridges and the urine bottles. That’s it.
In England one would do those sort of jobs half-heartedly and with self-loathing about the degradation of the work. In Japan it is nothing like that. The staff whilst resigned to the fact that this is their life has pride. It’s refreshing.
On my first day following the spritely Tanae-san around I felt almost like a stuffed lemon. Though I suppose they wanted me there. There is not much I can do as I cannot speak fluent Japanese. Some of the duties I felt were given only because they felt I was holding them back and they really didn’t know what to do with me. In the past 3 days I have stamped more than 500 patient name cards, paper clipped 1000 sets of instructions together and restocked the cupboards more than 5 times. Whilst my brain hurts from constantly trying to translate everything everyone says I also feel that some of my brain cells are dying.
On Tuesday mornings we are to work at the nursery next to where we live. It’s a fun job but certain things definitely make the two of us raise our eyebrows. The kids are a lively bunch, jumping around for attention and staring at us with confusion about why our skin is different to theirs. I do not mean this is in a creepy way but the Japanese kids are so cute you just want to eat them all up. Much cuter then British kids.
The one thing that made us raise our eyebrows was the toileting/potty training. In England only the trained professionals do that in a separate room, but the Japanese staff saw no problem telling us to take the kids underwear off. Another mark under ‘Only in Japan’. It’s a good job I have nephews and nieces who I’m used to changing the nappies of.
On Thursday afternoons we are to work in the kitchen. It is only for two hours but more brain cells die in the process. First of we die in embarrassment being forced to wear plastic white shoes, a 3 times too large white coat and a blue hair net. Our duties for the next two hours were putting lids onto plates. That’s it. No more, no less. Those two hours are the longest of my life.
The best day so far has to have been Friday afternoon. We were told to go to the office where Mr, office crush came out and asked what we were doing Tuesday 20th. After saying we were free he used if we wanted to go out for food with some of the office. We said yes. He nodded, stated he would tell us more when he had decided where we would go and went back to work.
We spent only an hour doing menial tasks. We were then send to the doctors room where the kind girl made us coffee, gave us biscuits and proceeded to talk to us for the next three hours, her friend Eri-san a doctors clerk joining us. The time flew by and we hope it means we will soon have Japanese friends to go out with.
It was the end of the week and we were going to have a 3 day weekend due to Monday being a public holiday. Though on Monday we have been invited by a lady at the hospital to her house for lunch with Oka-san as well.
Well that’s it for now. I shall tell you more when I can.
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