Haruki Murakami
And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure, whether the storm is really over.
But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm is all about.
* * *
This is the experience of an Indian student in Japan.
I'm continuously thinking when Japan was the first country to be impacted by Corona from China because of the luxury ship Diamond Princess from China in January. By now it would have gone to stage 4 like European countries. When Japan was hit with the virus, my parents asked me to come back to India for a few months and go back once it settles.
But in Japan everything is normal till today. We were going to the offices daily, we are availing of all essential services. No restaurants are closed, no malls are closed, no lock down. Metro trains are moving normally, Bullet trains are moving normally, all international borders are open. Also, Japan has a high percentage of old people like Italy.
* Tokyo has the highest number of foreigners living. It is one of the best tourist attractions with a
lot of foreigners calling.
* Only services stopped are schools and public events.
* Lock down kills the chain process for a dense country like India.
* Tokyo is the most dense city in the world and how is it controlled?
* We are leading just the normal life as usual.
* Am only scared when I see updates and news from India.
I thought about it and probably it is because of the culture of the Japanese people, where the rules suggested to prevent Corona virus, were practised by them from childhood.
* Japanese people wear masks when they travel or come out. Usually we see 60% wearing masks
daily on normal days. They wear masks even when they catch a cold.
Normally, receptionists, government officers, doctors, nurses, station masters, train staff, police,
janitors, etc wear masks daily at work. During winters, the children are made to wear masks so
that they don't spread cold. At homes they have the Kodomo masks and normal masks. The
Kodomo masks are for children which fit properly.
* Japanese people lead a life where they don't bother others. They don't litter. They use dustbins
to litter or spit. Cleanliness is part of their culture. They are taught how to be clean and the manner
in which they should behave in public before learning alphabets in schools.
* They don't shake hands but bow to greet.
* Washing hands is a part of their culture. Soaps and sanitisers are available in public toilets, office
entrances and usually in every public space.
* In restrooms, the people wash their hands and wipe the sink area too to make it ready for the next
person to use it.
* Wet tissues are carried to clean their hands frequently.
* They usually maintain social distance.
My take.
My dear young lady, I'm glad that you've noticed the good things about Japanese culture that have prevented the spread of the Corona virus. But what you seem to have missed out, in the bargain, are the numerous good things about the Indian culture. Each country has its own rich culture dictated by the geography, the weather and the availability of resources. The sad fact is that the Indians had gone abroad and returned to practice all the wrong things practised by the others......in reality, many such foreign returned Indians have stupidly aped the citizens of the country they come from, on return.
Just to give you an example : there's a family from our neighbourhood who comes from the US, every year on holidays and takes bath with bottled water as the water available through the Municipality lines are not clean enough for them! Their backyard would be littered with hundreds of plastic bottles after they go back!
You must know a few of the things that existed in our country and continues to exist in many parts, even now, like :-
(a) A brass pot with spout filled with water, placed at the entrance of the house, for washing the
hands and feet after return from outside.
(b) Food is had by the entire family together so that everyone is aware as to what is to be
discussed on the dining table. There was an unwritten law that money, women and politics
shall not be discussed.
(c) Wash basins were unheard of within the dining hall. Utensils with water were placed outside
to wash down before and after food.
(d) There were no cases of prostate problems because only Indian toilets were available, that too
at a distance from the house.
If many of the old practices were being practised by all Indians, believe me, we wouldn't have required a lock down to beat the Corona virus!
And you must also know that the Japanese people love their country very much. Can you say the same thing about yourself, young lady?
Tailpiece.
A quiet day!
And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure, whether the storm is really over.
But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm is all about.
* * *
This is the experience of an Indian student in Japan.
I'm continuously thinking when Japan was the first country to be impacted by Corona from China because of the luxury ship Diamond Princess from China in January. By now it would have gone to stage 4 like European countries. When Japan was hit with the virus, my parents asked me to come back to India for a few months and go back once it settles.
But in Japan everything is normal till today. We were going to the offices daily, we are availing of all essential services. No restaurants are closed, no malls are closed, no lock down. Metro trains are moving normally, Bullet trains are moving normally, all international borders are open. Also, Japan has a high percentage of old people like Italy.
* Tokyo has the highest number of foreigners living. It is one of the best tourist attractions with a
lot of foreigners calling.
* Only services stopped are schools and public events.
* Lock down kills the chain process for a dense country like India.
* Tokyo is the most dense city in the world and how is it controlled?
* We are leading just the normal life as usual.
* Am only scared when I see updates and news from India.
I thought about it and probably it is because of the culture of the Japanese people, where the rules suggested to prevent Corona virus, were practised by them from childhood.
* Japanese people wear masks when they travel or come out. Usually we see 60% wearing masks
daily on normal days. They wear masks even when they catch a cold.
Normally, receptionists, government officers, doctors, nurses, station masters, train staff, police,
janitors, etc wear masks daily at work. During winters, the children are made to wear masks so
that they don't spread cold. At homes they have the Kodomo masks and normal masks. The
Kodomo masks are for children which fit properly.
* Japanese people lead a life where they don't bother others. They don't litter. They use dustbins
to litter or spit. Cleanliness is part of their culture. They are taught how to be clean and the manner
in which they should behave in public before learning alphabets in schools.
* They don't shake hands but bow to greet.
* Washing hands is a part of their culture. Soaps and sanitisers are available in public toilets, office
entrances and usually in every public space.
* In restrooms, the people wash their hands and wipe the sink area too to make it ready for the next
person to use it.
* Wet tissues are carried to clean their hands frequently.
* They usually maintain social distance.
My take.
My dear young lady, I'm glad that you've noticed the good things about Japanese culture that have prevented the spread of the Corona virus. But what you seem to have missed out, in the bargain, are the numerous good things about the Indian culture. Each country has its own rich culture dictated by the geography, the weather and the availability of resources. The sad fact is that the Indians had gone abroad and returned to practice all the wrong things practised by the others......in reality, many such foreign returned Indians have stupidly aped the citizens of the country they come from, on return.
Just to give you an example : there's a family from our neighbourhood who comes from the US, every year on holidays and takes bath with bottled water as the water available through the Municipality lines are not clean enough for them! Their backyard would be littered with hundreds of plastic bottles after they go back!
You must know a few of the things that existed in our country and continues to exist in many parts, even now, like :-
(a) A brass pot with spout filled with water, placed at the entrance of the house, for washing the
hands and feet after return from outside.
(b) Food is had by the entire family together so that everyone is aware as to what is to be
discussed on the dining table. There was an unwritten law that money, women and politics
shall not be discussed.
(c) Wash basins were unheard of within the dining hall. Utensils with water were placed outside
to wash down before and after food.
(d) There were no cases of prostate problems because only Indian toilets were available, that too
at a distance from the house.
If many of the old practices were being practised by all Indians, believe me, we wouldn't have required a lock down to beat the Corona virus!
And you must also know that the Japanese people love their country very much. Can you say the same thing about yourself, young lady?
Tailpiece.
A quiet day!
No comments:
Post a Comment