I’ve started to write this about a dozen times and I don’t even know where to begin. Then I get tired and stop. So I have all these drafts waiting to be posted but haven’t gotten around to finishing them. The truth is, I don't really like writing and I don't think I'm good at it, so it takes me awhile to collect my thoughts.
So I’ll take things one day at a time and start by telling you about the day of the earthquake.
I was at work and around 3pm the office started buzzing with news about an earthquake in Sendai. The Japanese staff started frantically calling the schools in that area to check and see if everyone was okay. It was seriously impossible to get a hold of anyone because the power was out and the phone lines were dead. I honestly had no idea how big the earthquake was and how bad the damage was. I also do not remember being in an earthquake (even though I was definitely alive and close enough to feel the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989). So not only did I not know what the people up in Northern Japan were experiencing, but I had no idea how to comfort the teachers who were lost and scared. How scary it must have been for them to experience this in a foreign country, with no way to contact others by phone, and with no way of being prepared for this to happen.
The teachers described the earthquake in great detail to me. They said their instinct immediately told them to run out of the building, where they stood with others in the street as they watched building sway as if they were “under water.” Some teachers saw parts of buildings fall off right in front of them, but thankfully no one was trapped or injured. The 4-6 minute earthquake felt like hours to those who were waiting for it to end.
I thought the earthquake would hit and things would go back to normal. I did not know that the “yoshin,” or aftershocks were basically “mini-earthquakes” that were probably worse than the initial earthquake because they seemed endless and made it difficult to calm down or sleep.
With the help of the entire staff we were able to locate the teachers and make sure they were all safe.
Some people stayed in shelters that night with a combination of little or no food, no water, and no power. It must have been freezing, and I can’t help but thinking, how did they go to the bathroom???
Some people I know said they felt the earthquake in Osaka, too, but no one was hurt. People in northern Japan’s apartments were completely trashed and even parts of Tokyo had broken dishes scattered across their apartments when they got home. I however, did not feel anything. I was so touched by all the emails and messages I received asking if I was okay. I felt guilty knowing that so many thousands of people were suffering and people wasted energy worrying about me for no reason. I’m sorry for those who worried about me but I am so grateful for your love and concern. I am also so happy to see all different types of Americans showing their concern for Japan. Thank you all for supporting and caring about this beautiful country.
The news and thought of the damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami is so devastating. When I look at pictures it breaks my heart.
I know Japan will work hard to rebuild houses and buildings, but it seems so difficult as things seem to be getting worse.
I pray for Japan to return to normal soon.
I'll try to post more blurbs this week about what's been going on in Japan. I need to break up all this information into small chunks. Email me if you have specific questions or post a comment.
