Roujin debut

Looming on my desk…

Tomorrow is my roujin debut - the Turning Point Physical Examination I wrote about last month. This could be as important for my social life in old age as it is for young mothers taking their babies to the playground for the first time. I wonder what I should wear?

The ku sent me a big manila envelope stuffed things to read, fill out, and bring with me. A medical history. A permission slip for the barium x-ray. A questionnaire about my Hepatitis C risk factors. And the “ben no torikata” - a do-it-yourself stool sampling kit.

I figured out how to use it from the pictures and simple instructions in the accompanying pamphlet. The joys of functional semi-illiteracy.

The medical history is another matter. I know that one question asks “Do you have any of the following conditions?” but except for high blood pressure I have no idea what the conditions are. One of the kanji looks like kushiage (skewered foods) over heart. What the hell is that??

I’ll just answer “no” on that one and hope for the best.

Maybe as the only gaijin in the room (I can pretty safely assume), I will meet all sorts of wonderful old ladies like me. On the other hand, we’re all likely to be nervous, stressed and disinclined to chitchat.

I’ll report in tomorrow. For now I must fill in forms and plan my outfit.

Posted by kuri at April 18, 2006 12:09 PM