Today is a bit of a continuation of yesterday. But something of a first for me nonetheless. You see, Japanese employers require a full medical check up as part of the employment process. Today was that day. We checked at the local hospital yesterday and there advice was to get here nice and early to get the process underway. 'Expect to stay for about four hours and it will cost about $300' was the advice.
So, up bright and early to navigate the Japanese hospital system for myself. Now, I have visited friends in hospitals previously, but I've never needed to visit as a patient, here or, for that matter, in Australia (specialists rooms are another matter though). I feel pretty fortunate in that respect.
For a full health check, that means working my way around all the different departments in the order requested of the nurses, no more and no less: urology (yes, really), X-ray, hearing, seeing, weight, height, blood pressure...round and round and round we went. Folder here, number there, sit here, sit there...
Three hours later, I was done, a clean bill of health mostly...except for slightly higher than usual blood pressure which, I suggested jokingly, might be the difference between northern and southern hemisphere pressures...to a young doctor who didn't see my joke. Don't do small talk with the doctors...
All done, and for about half the estimated cost and with no major language barriers. I guess that was my main concern, this being the first time and all...achievement level doubly unlocked!
So there was little left to do except celebrate with a coffee and a stroll to check the progress of the cherry blossoms...since cherry blossoms paint a far superior picture to the inside of hospitals, wherever they might be.
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| Pink as white |
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| On a stunningly clear blue sky day |
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| In the park, admiring the beauty |
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| Just a peek here and there |
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| A lone bloom |
And today I learned, via a TV screen during one of my interminable waiting moments, that many people confuse the cherry blossoms with almond tree blossoms, also blooming at this time of year. Fancy that. I'm pretty sure we're onto the cherries in this neighbourhood though.
[Camera : Canon EOS60D, 28-80mm, 10.55am-10.56am, 11.39am, 25 March 2016]
