So nice to be able to shower and wash my clothes! Although that means I have nothing to wear for a couple days. It dropped 10 degrees from Iwaki and started snowing!! My parents are trying to get me to come home. I understand that they are worried but I'm not entirely sure if their fears are justified. It seems to me that the American media is sharing much different news than the Japanese: radiation scares, people sick, nuclear core meltdowns, etc. It's like they want people to panic. But maybe that's why the Japanese government isn't telling us, to prevent a panic. But if it was super serious you'd assume the government would expand the nuclear evacuation zone around Daiichi. Bob says that Daini in Tomioka is cooling down or somewhat stable. I just can't stand all this conflicting news!! But Daddy said English teachers were leaving Iwaki and Candi (who is now in Osaka) confirmed that they are. I don't know what I should do. I would like to see everyone back home but not if it's going to cost a fortune! We'll see what comes of it. If they book me a flight for later in the week, who even knows where I'll be. I have no idea how long this nuclear mess will take to clean up or when I'll be required back at school. It would suck to get all the way home and then summoned right back. I hate waiting.
Flight booked for Friday at 3:40pm with a layover in Seattle.
On a more solemn note, the death count and missing people estimate has risen to 16,000 people and it's expected to actually be around 20,000 people. Horrible. I don't feel like it's real because I'm not there and I don't understand enough Japanese to comprehend their heart wrenching stories of experiencing the earthquake and tsunami. It seems cruel to ask Bob to translate the stories while they are so shocking and raw. However, there have also been good stories. A 62 year old man was found 3 days after the tsunami 15km from shore floating on the roof of his house. A 70 year old woman was trapped for 92 hours and survived. It's these little victories that make it almost seem better. But then the images on the news just remind you that people's lives are ruined. A whole town is completely wiped out, like it never existed. Even other JETs have been reporting that some of their students are missing, or worse, confirmed dead. I remembered that some of my students live closer to the ocean in Hirono and I pray that they are alright.
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