Virus defeated, clinic cleared, level Up!

Life Reset Journal  by Sio

That day I thought a few cough drops could fix my sore throat. But it got worse day by day, until I was shivering in bed like a virus was throwing a party inside me.

Seeing a doctor never crossed my mind. Making an appointment in Japanese terrified me. How do I start? What’d they say? Many clinics don’t accept foreigners without Japanese. For me, this was mission impossible.

By day 5, I couldn’t hold on. I forced myself to call with my less than N5 Japanese. The nurse surprisingly understood me. After several rounds of clarifying the time, I finally caught 12:45. It felt like smashing the first boss in a language game.

At the clinic, the nurse asked if I spoke Japanese. My heart sank. But luckily, they let me in. The doctor kindly used a translator and gestures. Surprisingly, it was smooth, I understood almost everything. Level 2 boss? Not so scary at all.

Back home, I felt totally refreshed. Not from the meds, but from unlocking a new life achievement: handling a doctor’s visit in Japanese! Level Up!

Scary things always seem worse in our heads. Once you face them, they’re rarely as bad as you feared. I feared speaking up, but once I did, even broken words still got me through.

In a new place with a new language, fear is always there. But as long as I push myself forward, I can keep leveling up, smashing one boss after another!

Sio

Resetting life in Osaka after years in the UK, France, Spain, Canada & Argentina. Seeing people and cultures from many sides.

Follow @anotherlifeclub and restart Another Life with me.