3.11.2011

I decided I'd post my journal entries from the day of the quake and aftermath.  Don't judge too harshly, these aren't works of a literary genius...


3.11.2011
Probably had the scariest day of my life.  Around 2:30pm an 8.8 earthquake hi Miyagi ken.  I was skyping with Kirby when I heard my earthquake alarm on my phone go off.  At first I didn't know what was going on.  Then I thought I'd wait it out because I'd experienced earthquakes in Japan before.  But I soon found out that I had experienced nothing like this...


I don't think I realized how bad it was at the time.  Might have been in shock.  I also don't have a bunch of stuff to fall off my walls, so I didn't notice the complete destruction of my home until I began to evacuate.  Kirby yelled at my to get out and I grabbed my computer and ran.  It was like I completely forgot all safety procedures that they teach you in school about getting under table or door frame.  I just bolted outside.  But even outdoors was a nightmare.  The trees were swaying, telephone poles were tilting, the roads with buckling, cracking, and water was gushing from the earth!  Then I was struck by horrible guilt that I left Mei, my foster cat, in the apartment, so I ran back inside when the shaking had subsided a little.  The minx slept through the whole thing!  What a lucky girl.


I was terrified that the next earthquake we would have would send me into a nervous breakdown.  Unfortunately, we had 18 or so aftershocks within the next hour.  It's almost midnight now and we are still having earthquakes.  Every time we're hit by another one I freeze, adrenaline pounding, ready to run outside again.


I guess we are big news in the world.  Mommy and Daddy said that Fukushima is all over NBC and the 5 o'clock news.  Oregon is even on emergency warning for a tsunami.  I think (I hope) that our tsunami has passed.  I haven't been downtown to check out the damage.  I can't even get there because my tunnel underneath Route 6 is cracked and very unsafe.  They've closed the road.  The news said that we are supposed to get 30ft tsunamis.  Crazy....Onohama, Soma, and Sendai are underwater.  Just to name few.  Chiba and someplace up in Hokkaido are on fire!  Not exaggerating in the least bit.


I still don't have power at my house, so I'm staying at Bob and Fujie's until I can go home.  Unfortunately I had to leave Mei.  I feel really bad about it, but she has food and water and I know if I brought her here she would just get stressed out.  I hope that she is safe and warm underneath all the blankets like she normally is with me.  At least one of us might be able to sleep tonight.  This constant shaking is giving me a wicked headache.  I hope I can talk to Kirby and my parents soon... 

Earthquake Aftermath

I have relocated back home to Oregon.  It's a bittersweet feeling.  I am eternally grateful to be surrounded by family and friends who are completely supportive of my decisions.  They have been my rock and I am so tired.  Even after returning to the states and no longer being force-fed news of the catastrophe, I feel surrounded by it.  There is no escaping the endless questions about the earthquake and tsunami.  How do you explain that to people?  Even more so, how do you explain that to people at a loud bar?  A place to go to relax and have fun is still tainted with the forced feeling of answering other's incessant questions.  Are they just curious or do they actual care?  Are they going to do anything about it?  Fundraise?  Donate?  Or are they like the other scare tactic fear mongering media addicts that just want to know to satisfy their urges?  It gets old really fast.


Then I feel guilty about not wanting to talk about it and not watching the news and basically sticking my fingers in my ears and singing when Japan gets brought up.  It's like I'm running away from something that isn't going to disappear anytime soon.  It's been about a decade since Hurricane Katrina and we don't hear anything in the news about it anymore, but they are still recovering!  How long will it take for Japan to rebuild?  It hurts to think that a place as beautiful and caring as Japan should have to endure such a hardship.  These people have touch my heart so deeply and yet I feel useless in helping them.  Currently I am trying to work with Oregon State University to start a fundraising event.  It is still very much in the planning phase but hopefully it will ignite soon.  I can't stand sitting in my parent's house feeling hopeless much longer.

Due to the 9.0 earthquake on Friday, my blog posts will be temporarily delayed.

Under the Sea

Daddy is always wanting me to write about my food exploits, so I'll give him one.  Many Americans think that the sushi we eat in America is the same traditional kind of sushi the Japanese eat.  False.  Sushi served in America is very..."Americanized".  I can't think of another way to explain it.  The Japanese don't eat sushi rolls (unless they are hand rolls).  They eat nigiri style sushi and sashimi.  It is made by hand and artistically displayed.  (Although, California rolls are becoming more popular).  They pride themselves on the freshness and quality of the fish, not wanting to mask the flavor with sauces like spicy mayo.  I'm afraid my little brother might be disappointed in comparison.


However, I do want to see his face when they take a live crab, cook it in front of you, and then ask you to eat it...whole.  They don't take the guts out, organs intact, and give you nothing to crack the shell open with.  Why?  Because you eat all of it.  Brain, shell, and all.  (by the way, I asked my friend who majored in science if this was safe, but she assured me that crab poop is mostly seaweed anyways - yummy).  Or how about eating fish heads?  I've found that not only is it the softest meat, but fish eyeballs are delicious!  Don't worry you only eat the membrane around the outside. ;)

Daaa Da Da Da Dummmm Dummm...

It's starting to look like spring, despite the brutal cold, and along with spring comes Graduation!  All this week we've been practicing for two hours a day.  It's the most elaborate middle school graduation ceremony I've ever seen.  They make these poor kids practice the songs over and over again, even though they can barely move their fingers - it's that cold.  I'm pretty miserable doing nothing.  But when I asked my J.E.T. (Japanese English Teacher) what the big deal was when one student didn't say "hai" loud enough, she told me that middle school graduation is a big deal because it isn't mandatory for the kids to continue onto high school!!  I mean, 97% of them do go onto high school, but it's their choice to, not the government's.  These 14 and 15 year olds could just stop learning now.  That's crazy to me!  I'm not sure for the reason why.  Maybe way back when they needed the kids to work in the rice paddies.  But why the precedent still remains is a mystery to me.  Luckily, I think everyone of my Hirono sannensei (3rd year students) is furthering their education.  Some of my favs have even gotten into some really good schools.  I'm so proud of them!

Re: Why I love Japan...

That post was a reflection on the Japanese's genuine consideration for humanity, not that I just like to get cheaper taxi rides home.  They also do considerate things like ring bike bells when they go around corners (which is the actual purpose of a bike bell...not just to scare your neighbors).  They flash their tail lights when you let them pass you on the highway, and they turn off their headlights while they wait across the intersection so you're not blinded.

I love Japan for so many reasons!  From their everyday mannerisms and exceptional politeness to their cultural acceptance of slurping your soup.  Japan is beautiful!  Well...maybe not right this instant.  But it was spectacular in Fall (I wish I had my Nikon DSLR then) and I am excited to capture the delicate magnificence of the cherry blossoms in Spring.  I promise to enjoy my remaining time here and share it with you.