Earthquake, possibly last big post about this
Hi friends,
Things have been crazy over the last week, but I believe things are finally starting to look up.
I don't know if you've heard, but there has been a major exodus of foreigners from the Tokyo metropolitan area. So many people left after the radiation scare that Narita is clogged up for days. I felt like a bad daughter for telling my mom I was staying, and I feel like she's unhappy with my decision, but honestly I very much doubt the government is lying about the radiation levels. The WHO backs me up on this. Things in Tokyo are going to be fine.
It's times like this, when the people up north need help from us-- money, food, gas, emotional support, etc. that we need to step up and deliver. I will be helping with a couple charity fundraisers within the next two or so weeks. Hopefully I will find some way to be helpful after those are done, too. The people up north have dealt with so much since March 11th. A 9.0 earthquake, huge tsunami, nuclear scare, snow storm, lack of medical attention, food, and heat. Some people have lost their whole families. Over 1,600 people are dead, still thousands more are missing.
Japan will overcome. We are lucky that countries all over the world care about us, and that the people of Japan are hard workers who have had a long history of natural disasters. But rebuilding lives will take time, and there was a lot destroyed that can never be replaced.
Keita's friend Kicchan, who worked as a host up in Sendai, lost everything. The quake was so huge that it woke him from sleep. He was extremely lucky to have a shelter just across the street from his house. He went there right away, afraid of what could happen next. The tsunami came and destroyed his apartment building. Thank goodness the shelter he was in was a tall building. He escaped with his life, but lost everything else. Now he and his boss, the only two people from the host club he was working for who are currently accounted for, have to come back to Tokyo and work in Kabuki-cho, which is notoriously dangerous and dirty. You guys probably think I am making this up, but no, it is the truth. :-( Kicchan's girlfriend, who is a hostess at a different club, is still up in Sendai in a shelter and has no place to go.
Life in Saitama, though I reported in previous reports that things were a bit crazy, have settled down. We have had a series of scheduled power outages, because the power grid is severely weakened at the moment. Me losing three hours of electricity a day seems like the least I can do if it helps the people up north get power.
Grocery stores are returning to normal, but gasoline stands are still short on gas. People with cars have to be careful of driving. The trains are a mess, but thank goodness my train line has mostly returned to normal.
A major hero in this event for me, at least, has been Mr. Edano. He's the man in my icon. I think everyone will come out of this loving him. He has taken so much responsibility and seems to be doing far more than PM Kan. He is a boss!
This will probably be my last earthquake post like this, I hope. I am finally starting to feel like things are coming back to control.
I'm sorry that I haven't been able to comment on your posts, friends. :-( This time, though I was off from work and was able to read what you all wrote, I felt so out of sorts that I couldn't even put two positive words together.
As my school heads into spring break, though, hopefully I'll have returned to normal.
I don't know how to end this entry, or to even write things linearly or in any semblance of order, so I will leave it here: I love all you guys on my FL. Each and every last one of you. :-)
Things have been crazy over the last week, but I believe things are finally starting to look up.
I don't know if you've heard, but there has been a major exodus of foreigners from the Tokyo metropolitan area. So many people left after the radiation scare that Narita is clogged up for days. I felt like a bad daughter for telling my mom I was staying, and I feel like she's unhappy with my decision, but honestly I very much doubt the government is lying about the radiation levels. The WHO backs me up on this. Things in Tokyo are going to be fine.
It's times like this, when the people up north need help from us-- money, food, gas, emotional support, etc. that we need to step up and deliver. I will be helping with a couple charity fundraisers within the next two or so weeks. Hopefully I will find some way to be helpful after those are done, too. The people up north have dealt with so much since March 11th. A 9.0 earthquake, huge tsunami, nuclear scare, snow storm, lack of medical attention, food, and heat. Some people have lost their whole families. Over 1,600 people are dead, still thousands more are missing.
Japan will overcome. We are lucky that countries all over the world care about us, and that the people of Japan are hard workers who have had a long history of natural disasters. But rebuilding lives will take time, and there was a lot destroyed that can never be replaced.
Keita's friend Kicchan, who worked as a host up in Sendai, lost everything. The quake was so huge that it woke him from sleep. He was extremely lucky to have a shelter just across the street from his house. He went there right away, afraid of what could happen next. The tsunami came and destroyed his apartment building. Thank goodness the shelter he was in was a tall building. He escaped with his life, but lost everything else. Now he and his boss, the only two people from the host club he was working for who are currently accounted for, have to come back to Tokyo and work in Kabuki-cho, which is notoriously dangerous and dirty. You guys probably think I am making this up, but no, it is the truth. :-( Kicchan's girlfriend, who is a hostess at a different club, is still up in Sendai in a shelter and has no place to go.
Life in Saitama, though I reported in previous reports that things were a bit crazy, have settled down. We have had a series of scheduled power outages, because the power grid is severely weakened at the moment. Me losing three hours of electricity a day seems like the least I can do if it helps the people up north get power.
Grocery stores are returning to normal, but gasoline stands are still short on gas. People with cars have to be careful of driving. The trains are a mess, but thank goodness my train line has mostly returned to normal.
A major hero in this event for me, at least, has been Mr. Edano. He's the man in my icon. I think everyone will come out of this loving him. He has taken so much responsibility and seems to be doing far more than PM Kan. He is a boss!
This will probably be my last earthquake post like this, I hope. I am finally starting to feel like things are coming back to control.
I'm sorry that I haven't been able to comment on your posts, friends. :-( This time, though I was off from work and was able to read what you all wrote, I felt so out of sorts that I couldn't even put two positive words together.
As my school heads into spring break, though, hopefully I'll have returned to normal.
I don't know how to end this entry, or to even write things linearly or in any semblance of order, so I will leave it here: I love all you guys on my FL. Each and every last one of you. :-)