Another kid at my school was out with the flu today. In the morning report, I heard them remarking to one another that it was because he was so bad at remembering to wear a mask. Everyone agrees on this: a gauze mask is the most effective way to guard oneself against the flu virus. As I listen in on this conversation, my expression is neutral, but my heart scoffs with all the scoffiness I can muster. I like to consider myself above all this foolery with masks.
Then I hear my name. I hate it when they do this: talk about me while I'm sitting right there, and then nobody bothers to explain to me why I'm being talked about. But, this time, I've got enough context to decipher the gist of what they're saying.
Basically, I'm the only person at my school who isn't wearing a mask at all times. I tried it for a while, just to keep others happy, but the truth about masks is: they're nasty. They're itchy and they make breathing difficult, so, at least in my case, that means that I'm constantly adjusting them. With my hands. So the germs on my hands are easily passing to my face--to my mouth and nose and eyes and all those places that I'm usually very careful to not touch while I'm trying to avoid getting sick.
But if everyone in Japan is obsessed with wearing surgical masks to stay healthy during cold and flu season, then there must be some evidence demonstrating their effectiveness, right? In all my perusing of the internets, I was unable to find a single article or study affirming that these types of masks do much of anything to keep a healthy person from getting sick. An article in the New York Times cites research presented at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in San Francisco. Researchers concluded:
Surgical masks are designed to trap respiratory secretions (including bacteria and viruses) expelled by the wearer and prevent disease transmission to others. Surgical masks are not designed to prevent inhalation of airborne particles.I wish there were a means for me to present this argument to the teachers who eye me and my uncovered face suspiciously as I pass them in the halls every day.
I'm left with a bit of a moral dilemma. Is it better to stand my ground as a person who doesn't come from a culture where it's normal to wear a gauze mask in public when you're trying to keep from getting sick? I mean, not only are they incredibly uncomfortable, but there's no scientific evidence that they're actually helpful! However, I am living in their country, and if wearing a mask makes them feel better about me, should I just bury my pride and go along with it?
When it doesn't go against my moral principles, I always do my best to be culturally sensitive and to not offend the people around me with my flamboyant gaijin ways. Eventually, I suppose I'll just have to cave and go along with it.
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4 comments:
Don't mask! I always used it as one of my ways to remain distinct and to remind the teachers that I wasn't Japanese and therefore was not obligated to recede to the shadows for everything. Anyways, I tried it once and just couldn't bear it. Hold out! Be the nail that sticks out and does not get hammered back in.
Oh the other hand.... if you DO where a mask, you get to put stickers all over it. Also, you don't have smile, grimace, or bear your teeth at anyone. You can save your energy for acting surprised and scowling. Also, you mouth profanity very clearly when you are angry and no one will know. Also, if you are good at impressions like Matt, you can blame out-loud profanity on other people. >:-[]
They both have good points. The scale might be tipping toward the argument FOR donning a mask (Danica, what if there were a court of law where humor and sarcasm always won? I'd pick you as my lawyer!)...if you were a mean person who enjoyed mouthing obscenities to your coworkers. However, I think you're made of something much more pure than that, and say, just be yourself. And I don't think that being yourself includes a mask.
Well, everyone here is freaked to no end about swine flu. So, here's an update:
Last week, one of my English teachers approached me in the morning and said, "Meghan-sensei, the principal and vice principal are very much worried about your health. Especially because you are young and the new flu is especially DANGEROUS to young people. So they want you to please wear a mask. I can give you some today, but please go to the store and buy some and please wear them."
Holy cow. I wore one to class for the next two days. And, yes, Danica, it did save me a lot of energy in making facial expressions. And I did silently mouth curses over the situation and those around me were none the wiser.
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