On catching the plague

Somehow I managed to, on my first week of class, catch a cold. Lovely the timing of these things.

Well, in treating my cold, I've learned a few things about medicine here in Japan. For one, drugstores in Japan sell only drugs for the most part. This may sound like a no-brainer, but in America, drugstores regularly stock everything from pork rinds to lawn chairs. They are basically the bridge between an actual retail store and a gas station on the corner. So "drugstore" is a bit of a misnomer.

But in Japan, drugstores are perhaps more aptly named. They sell drugs. They might also have make-up or other related products, but don't expect to find much else really.

You may have seen photos of it before, but oftentimes people who are sick will wear a face mask. This is not only a courtesy to others in blocking them from sickness, but it can occasionally also be used to protect yourself from becoming sick (or sicker, as the case may be). There are so many people in Tokyo, though, you're bound to come in contact with a germ or two. As they might say in Japan, しかたがない.

But if there is some bright side to be found while I'm roughing it eating Halls and drinking cough syrup for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it's probably this. Here's the pack of kleenex I purchased from the store:

And yes, the actual tissues are branded with pokemon as well.

Until next time. ~thette