Seikotsuin is a new word and a new place for me once I reached there to assist my friend working at the reception and assisting the Sensei(doctor) of Seikotsuin. Its a massaging center of Japanese style. They have some masagging chairs and other equipment there. The one I went was the Watanabe seikotsuin of Tajimi near the Tajimi station. Watanabe sensei is really kind and she tried explaining things in English. As I was exposed to Japanese fully at this place it was really difficult for me during the first days. I was supposed to help my friend, Mrs. Nittaya(Noi) in cleaning and my job is to enter the details of the patients in the computer and help in other matters like documentation and other things. By a month, I also become part of that Seikotsuin.
Due to some physical problems I took a gap of around half a month from there and again joined. We had a great time there. Most of the patients coming there were old people, with their body pains and other issues. The main part of the treatment is some special tapes. There were tapes of three different sizes which has the shape of a gate and there were other shapes too. Based on some details about the pain and the part of the body, Sensei will do massaging and paste these tapes over specified parts of the patient's body. At last, most of them were given some pricking in the back side of their toe which I was scared of seeing. The pricks were done using burned incense sticks.
When Noichan got sick for some days in between, I was supposed to do everything at the Seikotsuin. The main part is taking some readings of every patient using an instrument there. Sensei explained it to me and I rote it in a piece of paper for my personal usage. The first time, it was difficult for me to carry out this part as I have to check my piece of paper frequently. Later, it was interesting for me and I could do it without checking everytime. But the days when Noichan was absent were sometimes difficult to manage everything alone if the number of patients increases.
As the patients are mostly old people most o therm are friendly and patient.They will not rush at all. It is actually a real relief for me during my first days.As I took time for returning the balance amount and prepare their documents ready when they come, they will wait with patience. Later I managed myself to carry out everything and talked with most of them about myself and India as they wish to know various things. Most of the old ladies are talkative and they like to talk to us if we are free. Some of them will bring souvenirs and presents for us when returning from their trips. Some have different hobbies like doll making, bag making, gardening, flower making and so on. Such people used to bring veggies, flower bouquets, and other items or us. Even they used to bring home made Japanese food items also. The people coming there will be coming again and again as the treatment should be carried out for some days .
I went there for improving my Japanese which I achieved to a great extend. I had only the morning session that is officially till 12 pm or sometimes it will last for 1 pm or even after that. After the morning session at the clinic, we ate lunch together which all of us take from home. We exchanged various food items. From there, I learned to eat Japanese food items, experimented eating new foods. Sensei explained many Japanese things: about the food , language usages and so on during our lunch time.
My friend who as already working there is a native of Thailand and married to a Japanese staying here in Tajimi with her two children. Sensei is a native of Kyushu island of Tajimi and she moved with her hubby to Tajimi. Eventhough she is around 60 years old she is very energetic and loves hiking and travelling. She is still trying to learn English well but her busy schedule is a bottleneck for her efforts.:(
I learned many Kanji characters and their reading and was able to read some of the names of the patients and I was able to prepare the admit card and other documents ready for new patients after some time. The main advantage of my time there is that I learned to manage the money : to easily tell the amount in Japanese and understand what the customers are telling back, to return the exact balance amount with telling the amount tot hem and so on. Also I learned the way to behave int he polite Japanese style to the patients and other people. The usages of some Japanese words and expressions and the correct way of doing things in the Japanese style : like in documentation as well as eating. :P
I am thankful to the Sensei as well as my friend, Nittaya who gave me a chance to join them for a long time of six months there. Also most of the customers who visited us during this time were friendly and helped me in one or other way with my Japanese. Thanks for their presents and cuisines they made for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment