Happy Halloween!  I’m wearing a mask.  No.  I’m not going as a sexy nurse.  I’m at work.  I’m sick.

In Japan, it’s considered polite to wear a protective mask while you’re sick.  It’s not so much intended to protect you, the festering germ hotel, but to protect the innocent people around you from your plague infested spittle bits.

Somehow, it’s supposed to be good for me too.  Something about keeping out the dry air and the humidity being good for my throat.  I can’t at all figure out why recycling my damp, disgustingly hot, sour smelling, virus laden breath, is even a slightly good idea.

In Japan, you’re supposed to go to work even when you’re sick and wearing the mask is a great excuse to do shitty job.  However, they won’t let me do anything to make myself feel better.   You are not allowed to eat or drink anything in class.  They asked me if I would be able to speak loudly when I taught today but they told me I may not bring cough drops to class.