The difficulty of getting sick in Japan

I'm currently working as an ALT at a junior high school through a dispatch company. And this past week I caught a particularly nasty cold. I'm from the USA, so I'm accustomed to just working through a cold, even with a minor fever (I could never afford to go to the doctor in the US, or afford skipping work). 

However, when I showed up for work, everyone said I sounded and looked horrible and they promptly sent me home with specific instructions to 1) go the the doctor 2) not come back until healthy. Both come with difficulties I'm sure many can related to. 

First, the doctor's office. I go to a private practice that's near my work and my apartment. It's new and bright and uses a lot of natural woods. I really like it. I also live in a rural area, so there are very few native English speakers and very few places offer any kind of English support. So even though the staff are friendly, I still have to slog through a reception form in 100% Japanese -- slowly looking up all the obscure medical terms and kanji on my phone. I've had little reason to commit time to memorizing Japanese for things like symptoms, organs, diseases, types of medication...so it's always the same struggle. 

Eventually you see a nurse who will basically run through everything you just circled on the form. And then you'll see a doctor who will do it again. Maybe glance at your throat. Listen to your breathing. And finally tell you what you've known all along: You have a cold. It's probably a virus. Here's 7 varieties of pills for your symptoms. But at least everything is affordable. There's no way I could see a doctor and get medicine for under $20 in the USA.

The second part was somehow more stressful -- staying home and resting. I stayed home for three days, Monday to Wednesday. And each day that I called the school and told them I was still sick, I felt a huge surge of guilt. I felt bad that I wasn't working! "Don't think poorly of me, please!" Then the school has to contact my dispatch company who then contact me. And the guilt redoubles because I always feel like I have to justify everything. "No, I'm actually sick. The school sent me home, they don't want me there. Yes, I went to the doctor. Yes, I'm resting. No, I didn't stay with another sick ALT to get sick on purpose." 

I was finally well enough to go back to work for Thursday and Friday. Those days ended up being super busy and I feel SO much more exhausted than I usually would be. But at least I could work! Everyone is kind and checking up on me. And I really appreciate that. 

At the end of it all, it has made me realize that even getting sick is something affected by your culture. The USA's medical care system and unforgiving attitude toward sick leave causes me to feel certain ways for simply taking care of myself in Japan.