Now I want to hear you all out – those of you with some months or years experience in Japan. Im Male, married to a Japanese, have a toddler.
Since my kid is going to kindergarten I experience the literal clusterfuck. With about 70%-80% chance, when she gets sick, I get sick. My wife in most cases doesn’t bat an eye.
Looking at my male foreign friends with children I hear very often they are sick too -but the Japanese mother is fine. Also, i have colleagues without children who a quite often sick. (Except for those who rarely go out in Japan or meet people). My friends work like me in a rather stressful environment but to be fair – it’s maybe 45-60 hours workweek with a rather good work life balance for Japan.
I had the theory since I wasn’t born here many viruses my body doesn’t know in the Japanese form.
Can people here share this experience or is my circle of friends, colleagues just very special to you?
10 comments
In my first year in Japan I was an elementary school ALT. I was sick for two weeks every other two weeks. My immune system was useless lol
Have completely same problem. Every time thinking it because my weak immunity.
I’m sick all the time because of my terrible diet of Sukiya and Matsuya. I lost so much weight that I have to take protein shakes just to make sure I have enough calories per day. I went from driving everywhere to walking everywhere and while I’m looking fit AF, I feel like crap everyday lol
My first few years here I worked at a private eikaiwa teaching mostly elementary aged children and some toddler playtime classes. I was near constantly sick. After I quit, I got a light cold once a year or less.
The children here are absolute gremlins.
I’m sick more than I used to but I think it’s just down to me being way more stressed than I used to. More work, more responsibility, more fast food, less vacation, less sleep, less exercise. Also, I am not getting younger.
It could be a lot of things. Bacteria, viruses, dust, pollen, allergens, climate, air quality, etc that you are not used to.
I rarely get sick, but when I went to Singapore I immediately got a nasal infection because of the A/C and mold.
Sit in a sauna for as long as you can, then get into an ice bath then repeat as many times as you can. Do this 3 times a week and you will never be sick again.
I’ve been the sickest in my entire life in this country. Experienced sickness I never knew was possible when I was back in my home in the UK. Built up that immune system though! The viruses here hit different.
Before having kids, I would get a cold maybe once a year. Now with a 3 year old in daycare and a 1 year old, I seem to be getting a cold every few months.
Don’t seem to have problems I get up to some pretty nasty things too