If you would have told me five years ago that I would see a doctor at least once a month and be subject to an annual medical checkup, I would have scoffed like a Brit watching Spain win the World Cup. In the first 28 years of my life I’ve seen a doctor no more than a dozen times, with a horrendously inaccurate prognosis 90% of the time. However, since moving to Japan, a trip to some sort of medical clinic has become a regular occurrence. That said there is always a first time for something.
Today was the day of my annual physical examination. A day preceded by weeks of tall tales from co-workers consisting of stool samples, vast quantities of blood being extracted, barium ingestion, prostate examinations, and other equally nerve-wracking procedures. Yet, less than an hour in the clinic, I had emerged unscathed with the distinct pleasure of not feeling violated by medical instruments. In fact, the most difficult part of the whole process was finding the clinic!
Aside: The map that I was given was horrendously incomplete and had the direction of North facing opposite of where it was supposed to be, which led me to a 15 minute walk in the wrong direction before asking an officer at the local 小判 [koban] where I might find the darn place … but I’ll my rant about “maps” in Japan for another day.
The exam was scheduled to start at 10:30, and I had arrived 15 minutes early. They had me change into their preferred clothes from the waist up and, less than 5 minutes after sitting down in the waiting room, I was already being examined by one of the legions of doctors on call at this clinic. マリーンクリニク in Nagoya specializes in annual checkups, so everything was run incredibly efficiently. There were at least 40 people waiting with me to be called, and every doctor had their own area of specialty. I managed to see five of them in 45 minutes before hearing those wonderful words that let me escape from the incredibly clean confines of the building: 終わった [edit].
Because I’m under 35, my exam was relatively simple. It consisted of a urine check, eye exam, BMI check, blood pressure check, height and weight check, health and lifestyle consultation, and chest X-Ray. Had I been 35 or older, I would have needed to drink some barium to check circulation, be subject to a prostate exam, and submit a stool sample. Suffice to say, I’m not looking forward to 2014.
All in all, the exam was not nearly as painful or humiliating as my co-workers had made it out to believe, which means that you shouldn’t always listen to people when walking into the unknown. As far as I can tell, aside from a terribly poor vision score, I am relatively healthy. The 6 kg weight gain in the last 12 months wasn’t quite what I wanted to see, but this will be motivation enough for me to start exercising again. If I truly want to get back into programming full time, I can’t let my waistline grow too much. A few hours of cycling up and down the hills near my home will do a world of good.
Have you had an exam in Japan? Was it everything you expected?
Holy radioactive crap, dude, that’s the exact clinic I had my yearly company physical a month ago!
お綿 → 終わった
Hmm … if I’m not mistaken, this clinic is right near where you work, too.
My bad on using お綿 … that’s what I get for not double-checking my post before hitting “Publish”.
I had my first checkup this year at 35, no barium or stool sample. Kind of like what you went through. I’m fine. Thanks for asking.
Lucky you, Alan. A few of my colleagues are none-too-impressed that they’ll be taking the barium test at some point this year. I wonder if the requirement is managed by the employer, or set based on the industry we work in….
My checkup was voluntary as I don’t work full time. That might have something to do with it. I was prepared to go the whole way though.
KoUban is written 交番 and clinic as クリニック. 小判 (koban) is an oval gold coin used in Edo Japan and found on Meowth’s head. Be careful ; )
P.S. I didn’t realize you were living in Nagoya?
あー、本当だ。
This is what happens when you can’t hear the ‘u’ in most Japanese words and seriously haven’t studied kanji for four months
. So, on that note, I guess it’s time to stop writing software for the company (for a slave’s wage) and get back to studying Japanese!
I live in Gifu prefecture, but I work in various places all over Aichi and Mie. Hopefully that’ll all change soon, though
It’s ok, I haven’t been near Japan in over four months
If you haven’t seen, readthekanji.com is excellent for practicing.
As far as maps, stupid question, but do you use google or yahoo maps for directions? Or a service on your keitai?
Where are you looking to move to? Getting too bored of Sakae and Oosu Kannon?