Hey 2012.
Just a few things on how to be awesome. First, some general points:
1. Try not to be a dick with the natural disasters. 2011 REALLY messed that up in an epic fashion. We're still recovering from those and we don't need more to deal with.
2. Get that global economy back on track. It'd be nice.
3. America kind of sucks right now, can you make it suck less? I know 2011 kinda screwed us over with the batshit crazy GOP presidential candidates and a sitting president who's less than hopey-changey these days, but you can do better.
4. Take advantage of that whole Mayan calendar ending thing. "The world will end as we know it." That's not a terrible thing, because the world as I know it isn't full of rainbows and bunnies and Nyan cats.
5. Keep the internet memes coming.
Personal points:
1. Related to the America-sucking-less point, I need Japan to suck less as well. I'd like to live there for a while longer without wanting to gaijin smash everything.
2. 2011 gave me all these great new wonderful people in my life. Keep that up, I like having funny kids in class and people to see on the weekends.
3. My family is happy and healthy. My friends are happy and healthy. I'm happy and healthy. Keep that up.
4. 2011 was a Rabbit year and I did all right, but 2012 is a Dragon year and that's kind of frightening. Make sure it doesn't eat me alive.
5. More j-boys. Sandaime J Soul Brothers is like the best thing ever, thanks to 2011. Top that.
And just so you're not alone in this, here are some things I'm going to strive for:
1. Pass JLPT N3 and improve my Japanese all around.
2. Expand my social circle in Japan. And not at international mixers, those are terrible.
3. See, do, experience more. I want great memories and stories, not useless stuff.
Let's do it, 2012!
Showing posts with label earthquake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label earthquake. Show all posts
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Friday, November 18, 2011
Mini-Post: Tuna's Gone!
Remember back in March when my mother thought I was going to die of starvation following the earthquake and sent me 29 cans of tuna?
I polished off the last can about an hour ago!
Even after I gave 10 cans to a coworker, it still took me the better part of 8 months to eat it all.
Thanks, Mom!
I polished off the last can about an hour ago!
Even after I gave 10 cans to a coworker, it still took me the better part of 8 months to eat it all.
Thanks, Mom!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
3/11 and 9/11
It's a big anniversary day for awful things that happened in the world - six months since the Tohoku earthquake and ten years since four planes were hijacked and forced to crash into three buildings and a field in Pennsylvania.
Much of my Four Months Later post still holds up, but there some updates. There are still a number of people in shelters, but more of the temporary housing units were completed and the government has moved most of the survivors into them. All of the household safes and other cash and documents that were found during recovery efforts were actually returned to their owners; it's not much but I'm sure those people appreciated it. The CEO of Softbank is still sticking to his word to put some obscene amount of money toward helping those affected, I believe it's something like his own salary for the next forever and then some.
I was surprised to read that mental health care services would be made available to the orphans of the earthquake/tsunami. According to that article there are only 300 child psychologists in all of Japan, which doesn't surprise me. Mental health care is one of those things you don't talk about, and if your kid has problems you ignore them in hopes that they'll go away (I have stories and I've heard stories). The fact that the government earmarked specific money to deal with it is a big deal.
As for 9/11, I think we're finally seeing the forest and not just the trees. I have a lot of jumbled opinions on various aspects of 9/11 that I can't coherently form into a nice paragraph, so I'll just forgo what I have to say and give you some videos. These are three cartoons from StoryCorps, a group dedicated to recording the oral history of everyday people in America. All them are very well done and I wish they had more than 13 available to watch, but the 9/11 ones are touching and important to share on this day. Get your tissues ready.
Much of my Four Months Later post still holds up, but there some updates. There are still a number of people in shelters, but more of the temporary housing units were completed and the government has moved most of the survivors into them. All of the household safes and other cash and documents that were found during recovery efforts were actually returned to their owners; it's not much but I'm sure those people appreciated it. The CEO of Softbank is still sticking to his word to put some obscene amount of money toward helping those affected, I believe it's something like his own salary for the next forever and then some.
I was surprised to read that mental health care services would be made available to the orphans of the earthquake/tsunami. According to that article there are only 300 child psychologists in all of Japan, which doesn't surprise me. Mental health care is one of those things you don't talk about, and if your kid has problems you ignore them in hopes that they'll go away (I have stories and I've heard stories). The fact that the government earmarked specific money to deal with it is a big deal.
As for 9/11, I think we're finally seeing the forest and not just the trees. I have a lot of jumbled opinions on various aspects of 9/11 that I can't coherently form into a nice paragraph, so I'll just forgo what I have to say and give you some videos. These are three cartoons from StoryCorps, a group dedicated to recording the oral history of everyday people in America. All them are very well done and I wish they had more than 13 available to watch, but the 9/11 ones are touching and important to share on this day. Get your tissues ready.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Four Months Later (2 of 2)
I can think of a few awful events that have occurred in the last decade somewhere in my great homeland of America, but I was usually fairly removed from them. I was sleeping in my bed, safe and sound in Hawaii when those four planes wreaked havoc on the east coast in September of 2001. I watched the events endlessly looped on the news stations that day and in the weeks following, but I could go about my day as a freshman in high school and not think about it until someone brought it up. Hurricane Katrina and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico were events on television that other people had to live through. Not that I didn't sympathize with their struggles or wasn't angry at the government or BP, but I didn't have to deal with it personally. Terrible things can happen in one area and people outside that community don't even notice or care. America is just that big of a country where it happens.
From what I've gathered in my everyday interactions with Japanese people, this is not the case for them following March 11. Maybe they didn't feel the earthquake and only found out about it when they went home for the day, but it weighs on them. The threat of another big earthquake, not just in Tohoku but anywhere in the country, is very real and upsetting. No one is so removed from it that they aren't affected in a very personal way. People lose sleep over it. Some can't express what they feel - the stress, the worry, the fear. What happened in Tohoku is not something that has been forgotten by anyone in Japan, no matter how far away one lives, as it might've been in America. It surprises and humbles me because I don't think I'd ever see that back home.
For many of the people I talk to, they're just as concerned about total strangers as they would be their own family. Sometimes it comes off as an identity thing, "We have to take care of those people, we're all Japanese." We say those things in America too, "Oh we're all Americans at this tragic time blah blah blah," but it always came off as a nice sound bite to me. We say it but we don't mean it. I feel like Japanese people are a bit more sincere about it.*
The response to foreign aid also made an impact on me. I feel like no one can believe that people outside of Japan care. I've had people break down in front of me over how grateful they were for all the money that everyday folks and celebrities gave to charities, and how other countries sent soldiers to help clean up the affected areas. Someone told me that all the ridiculous amounts of money foreigners donated inspired her to start donating to international charities more often, and not only for disasters. I hope that all that money and good will actually goes toward helping the people who need it most.
Of course, these are simply my observations and I am always open to more viewpoints and stories. For myself, I still think I'm lucky and I can't complain about my current situation. This is the closest I ever want to be to this sort of disaster and I hope we don't have to live through anything like this again anytime soon.
*I've been reading more articles on how people from Fukushima are being discriminated against. I feel like that's happened before - group of people in Japan being treated badly because of fears related to nuclear radiation...
From what I've gathered in my everyday interactions with Japanese people, this is not the case for them following March 11. Maybe they didn't feel the earthquake and only found out about it when they went home for the day, but it weighs on them. The threat of another big earthquake, not just in Tohoku but anywhere in the country, is very real and upsetting. No one is so removed from it that they aren't affected in a very personal way. People lose sleep over it. Some can't express what they feel - the stress, the worry, the fear. What happened in Tohoku is not something that has been forgotten by anyone in Japan, no matter how far away one lives, as it might've been in America. It surprises and humbles me because I don't think I'd ever see that back home.
For many of the people I talk to, they're just as concerned about total strangers as they would be their own family. Sometimes it comes off as an identity thing, "We have to take care of those people, we're all Japanese." We say those things in America too, "Oh we're all Americans at this tragic time blah blah blah," but it always came off as a nice sound bite to me. We say it but we don't mean it. I feel like Japanese people are a bit more sincere about it.*
The response to foreign aid also made an impact on me. I feel like no one can believe that people outside of Japan care. I've had people break down in front of me over how grateful they were for all the money that everyday folks and celebrities gave to charities, and how other countries sent soldiers to help clean up the affected areas. Someone told me that all the ridiculous amounts of money foreigners donated inspired her to start donating to international charities more often, and not only for disasters. I hope that all that money and good will actually goes toward helping the people who need it most.
Of course, these are simply my observations and I am always open to more viewpoints and stories. For myself, I still think I'm lucky and I can't complain about my current situation. This is the closest I ever want to be to this sort of disaster and I hope we don't have to live through anything like this again anytime soon.
*I've been reading more articles on how people from Fukushima are being discriminated against. I feel like that's happened before - group of people in Japan being treated badly because of fears related to nuclear radiation...
Monday, July 18, 2011
Four Months Later (1 of 2)
Japan won the Women's World Cup earlier today, and it was fantastic and amazing on its own for a variety of reasons. It was the first time any Asian team won the tournament, and the fact that the Nadeshiko won it after this spring's earthquake/tsunami was a big deal. Everything was well and good until the more bitter Americans got on the internet to say all kinds of horrible things about the team and how they didn't deserve the win. I wasn't awake to see it myself, but I read that racial slurs aimed at the Japanese and references to Pearl Harbor were trending on Twitter and I saw some fairly indignant reactions to the game on Facebook from my own friends.
I've been meaning to post an update on things concerning 3/11 for a little while and considering the lovely comments people are making, I thought now would be a good time to remind anyone who stumbles across my blog what the Japanese people are still going through four months later.
Buy a print here, it's sweet and proceeds go to charity.
There are more than 20,000 people dead or missing.
There are more than 37,000 people still living in shelters (i.e. school cafeterias, community centers, etc). If you need those numbers put in prospective, Creighton University's student population is about 7,000 and the University of Hawaii has more than 20,000 students. Survivors of a devastating double-disaster (triple if you count Fukushima) been living in shelters that make my freshman dormitory seem like a luxury resort for the same length of time as a semester in college. Problems with theft and sexual assault have arisen, and the general lack of privacy is a huge burden for everyone living in the shelters.
The increase in suicides following 3/11 has prompted the government to do a survey on it. There are at least 132 children who lost both parents in the tsunami and maybe 1,200 who lost at least one parent. Mainichi Daily killed most of the links, but I the stories I've forced myself to read about how these people are suffering leave me feeling helpless and numb. I think of my students and I can't imagine that sort of horrible tragedy befalling them - it's heartbreaking.
TEPCO appears to be run by a bunch of idiots who are really good at hiding their idiocy. Fukushima experienced a melt-down by the morning of March 12 and eventually experienced a full melt-through. At this point we're on par with, if not worse than, Chernobyl. But they didn't tell anyone until a few weeks ago and I hope someone is going to jail for that, among other things. We had radioactive beef circulating Tokyo supermarkets, but apparently it doesn't glow green like on The Simpsons and most of it has already been ingested. Oh, and they're not compensating elementary schools or old folks' homes that were affected by the nuclear disaster. I didn't know I was back in America where it's okay to screw over students and old people! I should also mention the yakuza were more helpful in the aftermath of 3/11 than the government to some extent, mostly because they laugh in the face of red tape.
This is all the "official" stuff, too. I'm going to write about my own experiences next time, because some of that is important and I haven't talked about it all that much.
And stop berating the Japanese for winning a very meaningful soccer game and giving them a reason to celebrate in these difficult times.
And stop berating the Japanese for winning a very meaningful soccer game and giving them a reason to celebrate in these difficult times.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
BIRTHDAY POST
My birthday was last week YAY. But I haven't updated this blog for TWO weeks, so here we go~
Two weeks ago I went to my first Urawa Reds game! It was a charity game against Yamagata to raise money for those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. I went with two friends I "inherited" from the teacher I replaced back in February, and they used to teach some of the players' kids so they are BIG fans of the Reds. It was my first time to see the Saitama Stadium, where they played some World Cup games back in 2002. It is possible my brother has those very games on a VHS tape somewhere. The Reds didn't have a cheer section that day so I wasn't able to hear the slightly Engrish Urawa Reds fight song, but I still had a good time. We won the game and I gave a nice sum of money to some cute player afterward (who wasn't Genki, unfortunately).
Two weeks ago I went to my first Urawa Reds game! It was a charity game against Yamagata to raise money for those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. I went with two friends I "inherited" from the teacher I replaced back in February, and they used to teach some of the players' kids so they are BIG fans of the Reds. It was my first time to see the Saitama Stadium, where they played some World Cup games back in 2002. It is possible my brother has those very games on a VHS tape somewhere. The Reds didn't have a cheer section that day so I wasn't able to hear the slightly Engrish Urawa Reds fight song, but I still had a good time. We won the game and I gave a nice sum of money to some cute player afterward (who wasn't Genki, unfortunately).
The day after the game, I went to the Aeon Laketown mall to go explore. Apparently it is the largest mall in all of Japan, and I can believe that. I can usually conquer a mall in a day, but this one was a little overwhelming. Didn't help that I was kind of sick and and I got to experience a lovely 6.6 magnitude earthquake while I was there. I kind of thought I was going to die, or at least get stranded on the Musashino line. No photos, unfortunately, but just imagine a really nice and spacious American mall transplanted into Japan.
This past weekend, I FINALLY WENT CLUBBING OMG. Half-dragged Tracy and Marissa to my faaaaavorite club evarrrrr --- ATOM. Lots of j-boys with crazy hair, lots of good music, and lots of fake eyelashes on my face (see photo). Finished work at about 7pm, met up with the ladies at about midnight, and came home about 7am the next morning. Can't be pulling too many of those anymore, but I had a blast.
I should really buy a legal copy of Photoshop now that I can afford one.
I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but drunk Japanese people are HILARIOUS. We don't have to do much to stand out anywhere in Japan, since we're gaijin and all, but crazy people kept coming up to us. My favorites were a group of kickboxers with one non-kickboxer friend who kept asking us to punch them in their stomachs, because obviously they can handle it. Not sure if he wanted to be punched, but I personally made sure non-kickboxer friend wasn't left out.
I spent most of the next day sleeping and went to Gyu-Kaku later in the evening with a friend. I couldn't read the menu or anything useful, but I do know I ate a lot of really good meat and cow tongue. There were no $7 pitchers of Kirin or dipping sauce trio like we have in Hawaii (they had shoyu, oil, spicy stuff and minced garlic on the side), but IT WAS SO GOOD OMG. Too bad I didn't think about taking pictures until after I was already full.
$30 meat platter YUMMMMM.
See the fatty meat in the shoyu? DELICIOUS.
The next day, which was this past Monday if you haven't been keeping track, I met up with Tracy and Marissa so they could take me out to dinner for my birthday. We went to the Hard Rock Cafe at the bottom of some hotel/fancy shopping mall and I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH I MISS AMERICAN FOOD. Never thought I'd ever miss nachos and barbeque chicken. Some lucky person had a birthday early during dinner and there was a big show about it, so OF COURSE I got the same treatment at the end of our dinner. I was slightly embarrassed but I thought it was very sweet of the girls to do that for me. I got an ice cream brownie sundae, a big Hard Rock photo keychain, and a 15% off coupon for the gift shop which I promptly used to buy a Hello Kitty Hard Rock cell phone strap. SUPER SUGOI.
And this past week I've been getting all kinds of boxes and packages from my family for my birthday! Here's a big photo of most of the stuff I've gotten:
I didn't even know Tokidoki made a charity shirt!!! IT'S SO AWESOME. I love it as much as Caroline loves her floppy hat and I wish I could wear it every time I look at it~
Thank you to everyone who made my birthday special~ I look forward to one more kindofnotreallybirthday thing next week with my two coworkers who had birthdays recently, too. BECAUSE I LOVE THEIR CHICKEN FACES (inside joke, don't worry about it).
Friday, March 18, 2011
Back to Work
Despite the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear crisis, the corporate whip continues to be cracked and I returned to work yesterday. I know many people in the company wished they had more time off to deal with everything, but just for myself I was kind of happy to have something to do other than watch the news all day. The trains aren't running at full capacity so I don't feel comfortable going really far into Tokyo, and the blackouts just make life so much more hectic than necessary. Complain complain complain, I know.
Having class was kind of nice; I had some of my favorite students come in so it wasn't a hard day. One of the girls came in with her stuffed animal dog, and none of her other classmates came so I had her bring the dog into class and I had two students. Around 5:15 one of my Japanese coworkers started running around like a mad woman, and it wasn't until after my class ended at 5:50 did I find out we were going to have a blackout in 30 minutes. GREAT. I left and ran home to make dinner before the lights went out. Power was out for about three hours, which meant I had electricity in time to watch Arashi on TV!!!
Having class was kind of nice; I had some of my favorite students come in so it wasn't a hard day. One of the girls came in with her stuffed animal dog, and none of her other classmates came so I had her bring the dog into class and I had two students. Around 5:15 one of my Japanese coworkers started running around like a mad woman, and it wasn't until after my class ended at 5:50 did I find out we were going to have a blackout in 30 minutes. GREAT. I left and ran home to make dinner before the lights went out. Power was out for about three hours, which meant I had electricity in time to watch Arashi on TV!!!
Yes, this is a weekly segment on the show.
I was flabbergasted to find out at least two of my fellow trainees will be leaving Japan, one of whom will be gone maybe two weeks. Of the ten in my group, they live THE FARTHEST from the disaster areas. Did I mention I live the closest and I do not fear for my life because there is no reason for me to be afraid? Because I am 150 miles from the reactors and will probably never be evacuated because the *radiation* will have almost no effect on me where I am? That this has been repeated by authorities in and out of Japan? Well I just did so now you know. I can understand leaving for good more than I can understand leaving for a week and coming back. Pardon my French, but shit is not going to magically get better in two fucking weeks. You will, at some point, have to develop the mental and emotional defenses for dealing with the crisis because IT ISN'T GOING TO GO AWAY ANYTIME SOON. If you can't do that and decide to leave, that's one thing. Going home and coming back "when it's better..." you'll be gone a damn long time.
Adding to the panic is also about the worst thing you could do. The western media is hyping this up and stirring up as much fear as they possibly can, and I feel like a lot of people are overreacting. There is no panic in the streets of Tokyo, people aren't developing third arms or fifth eyes. Nuclear Reactor Boy has not taken a poop yet. Y'all in California and Hawaii need to be sending all that iodine you bought to Fukushima because it isn't going to do anything for you over there. I don't know how the airports are right now, but even if I were thinking about leaving, I'd do it a little later. Embassies are trying to get their nationals out of the affected areas and I'm not about to take up a seat on an airplane that someone else needs more than I do.
And in this FEAR and HYPE, I honestly feel that some people are forgetting about those who have been most affected. Pray for the people you know and make sure they're okay, but don't forget about the people you may never know who desperately need your support. Keep buying the shirts and the wristbands, keep texting the charities. Those things make a difference, no matter how small or insignificant you feel you contribution may be.
My own mother sent me a whopping 29 cans of tuna yesterday, even though I've told her I'M FINE I'M FINE I HAVE FOOD I HAVE MONEY DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME every time I've talked to her. I will eat each can feeling very loved~ I hope she sent me a cookbook with all those cans.
Charity Shirts
Want to support Japan and the charities helping with the relief efforts, but think texting is totally lame? Buy some awesome shirts designed by celebrities! Let me tell you, I WANT THE AYU AND SALVATION ARMY ONES SO BAD but the post office isn't working very well in Japan so they'll have to get shipped home.
Ayumi Hamasaki + ViVi collaboration shirt - 1500yen
The Japanese LOOKS scary, but I promise the important parts are in English.
EDIT: No longer available :(
Edit: ANOTHER SHIRT.
IDK if they'll ship international,
but if you find a WC store you can buy it!
And if you can stand to text money to the other charities or make donations, please keep doing so! But you don't get a cool shirt out of it.
I had my first official blackout last night and I do want to write a post about yesterday, a first hectic day at work (though it did have its good moments). I'll have to make another post about that when I come back home to a hopefully lit apartment.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Ikebukuro in the Dark
I ventured out of my town for a little while and went to Ikebukuro. It's one of the big cities closest to my town, so I'd be less likely to get stuck there than somewhere farther out like Shibuya or Shinjuku. My blackout was scheduled for about 6-10pm, probably the worst time of the five groups since that means NO LIGHT and NO HEAT. I wanted to get out of the apartment so I wouldn't be sitting in the dark freezing.
I thought I'd go for a stroll through my old station, wander through Seibu department store and Loft (one of my favorite Japanese stores), maybe walk up to Don Quixote and feel like I'm back home for a little while. I caught the train a little early so I could hopefully see some of the big department stores before they closed. Instead, the town was half dark.
I have to assume everywhere else in Tokyo looked kind of like Ikebukuro did -- half-closed and half-dead. Most of the big stores were open, like Bic Camera, Don Quixote, and Matsumoto Kiyoshi (Japanese Longs), but I hadn't left early enough for the department stores. I found a flashlight in my closet but most of the batteries were sold out at all the stores. Thankfully I bought a little one from Bic Camera, and I knew just enough Japanese to hear they were selling them on the 4th floor!
Ate dinner at McDonald's, because I needed to feel a little bit more like an ignorantly fearless American. I couldn't tell if this was the regular crowd at McDonald's or if there were people like me trying to stay away from the blackout areas. Some guys playing DS games, some business men, a few couples. There was another girl on her phone by herself, but she didn't look too happy.
I got called into work(!) this morning. I don't know what exactly I'll be doing with no classes to teach and not enough Japanese skills to perform other office duties. Maybe I can convince someone to check up on our new hire, a Japanese guy who is apparently from Sendai.
I thought I'd go for a stroll through my old station, wander through Seibu department store and Loft (one of my favorite Japanese stores), maybe walk up to Don Quixote and feel like I'm back home for a little while. I caught the train a little early so I could hopefully see some of the big department stores before they closed. Instead, the town was half dark.
Don Pen in the dark.
One of thee Bic Cameras close to the station.
Up by Sunshine City. Even the arcade was closed.
Sorry it's fuzzy. Coming down from Sunshine City.
I have to assume everywhere else in Tokyo looked kind of like Ikebukuro did -- half-closed and half-dead. Most of the big stores were open, like Bic Camera, Don Quixote, and Matsumoto Kiyoshi (Japanese Longs), but I hadn't left early enough for the department stores. I found a flashlight in my closet but most of the batteries were sold out at all the stores. Thankfully I bought a little one from Bic Camera, and I knew just enough Japanese to hear they were selling them on the 4th floor!
Ate dinner at McDonald's, because I needed to feel a little bit more like an ignorantly fearless American. I couldn't tell if this was the regular crowd at McDonald's or if there were people like me trying to stay away from the blackout areas. Some guys playing DS games, some business men, a few couples. There was another girl on her phone by herself, but she didn't look too happy.
I got called into work(!) this morning. I don't know what exactly I'll be doing with no classes to teach and not enough Japanese skills to perform other office duties. Maybe I can convince someone to check up on our new hire, a Japanese guy who is apparently from Sendai.
IF YOU CAN, PLEASE HELP
Donations can be sent to:
Mercy Corps via Peace Winds Japan
Convoy of Hope --- text TSUNAMI to 50555 to donate $10
The Red Cross --- text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10
Save the Children --- text JAPAN or TSUNAMI to 20222 to donate $10
The Salvation Army --- text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to donate $10
Lady Gaga is selling wristbands on her official site. HOW AMAZING IS SHE. These are being sent out on the 25th so buy now!!!
That's just a short list, you can Google to find more.
If you are IN JAPAN, don't feel helpless! You can do plenty:
- Conserve electricity. Blackouts may not be necessary if we use less.
- Donate blood. There will be a few stations with blood donation rooms, including Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Machida stations. (Please note there are restrictions)
- Give some cash at Lawson. They are accepting donations for Japan Red Cross until the 26th.
- Stay positive! We're all doing our best, so let's continue to do so until this crisis is properly dealt with.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Update Post-Earthquake
In my humble opinion, the situation in Japan has not gotten any better.
Experts continue to say that we're probably going to experience more strong aftershocks, 7.0 and higher on the Richter scale and above a 5 on the Japanese scale. I don't even know what's going on with the nuclear power plant in Fukushima but it's not under control yet.
The government had scheduled blackouts for most of the Kanto area, which is made up of Tokyo prefecture and the surrounding areas. There are currently five different groups that each have different scheduled blackout periods. The blackouts were supposed to be about 4-5 hours long, but the government didn't enforce most of them today, thankfully. My area had three different groups listed, way to be specific TEPCO!
Maybe I won't have power ALL DAY *yay*.
I think all of these things combined sent people into a bigger panic than necessary, because the convenience stores and grocery stores have absolutely nothing on the shelves. Even the vending machines are all out of water. I was with Tracy yesterday, wandering around Yokohama station, and all the food vendors didn't seem to have any problems. Starbucks' bakery in the station had more than enough baked goods, certainly more than I'd seen in one place since the earthquake. All the restaurants were open for business as usual.
Today was a completely different story at my grocery store. I don't think it gets this bad in Hawaii when we have tsunami or hurricane warnings.
Prepackaged soup aisle.
No fresh meat products.
A group of lonely Pepsi bottles.
There were some things still stocked but these are the three photos that wanted to upload properly. There was no rice, instant ramen, pasta, meat, seafood, or water. Most of the frozen food was gone. The dairy section had some cheese and butter left. Some juice boxes and small bottles of soda were left (I got two bottles of C.C. Lemon). LOTS AND LOTS OF BOOZE I was tempted to buy some and get drunk by myself, but I held myself back from the 1000yen gallon-sized bottle of sake.
I went up to the second floor to see if people bought up medications, but the pharmacy section was already closed and covered up. There were no baby diapers and most of the feminine needs aisle was empty (did buy two little boxes JUST IN CASE). I was kind of curious to see if the condoms had all been bought out, since blackouts tend to provide population booms haha.
I am hoping that in the next few days rescue and recovery efforts in the northern region continue and we get some happy news of survivors. I read one man was rescued nine miles out at sea, he is on my list of BAD ASS PEOPLE who are AMAZING. Things desperately need to get better, I don't know how I'll survive if the current situation continues. I have enough groceries to last me a while, I have power and heat and everything I need. But at some point I will have to buy bread or catch the train somewhere or SOMETHING.
Trying my best to stay positive!
IF YOU CAN, PLEASE HELP
Donations can be sent to:
Mercy Corps via Peace Winds Japan
Convoy of Hope --- text TSUNAMI to 50555 to donate $10
The Red Cross --- text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10
Save the Children --- text JAPAN or TSUNAMI to 20222 to donate $10
The Salvation Army --- text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to donate $10
Lady Gaga is selling wristbands on her official site. HOW AMAZING IS SHE.
That's just a short list, you can Google to find more.
If you are IN JAPAN, don't feel helpless! You can do plenty:
- Conserve electricity. Blackouts may not be necessary if we use less.
- Donate blood. There will be a few stations with blood donation rooms, including Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Machida stations. (Please note there are restrictions)
- Give some cash at Lawson. They are accepting donations for Japan Red Cross until the 26th.
- Stay positive! We're all doing our best, so let's continue to do so until this crisis is properly dealt with.
Friday, March 11, 2011
EARTHQUAKE!
I survived the seventh strongest earthquake ever recorded. HOLY SHIT.
I don't remember exactly what time it hit, but I tweeted about it shortly after it stopped at 2:55pm.
http://twitter.com/#!/carlislenoriko/status/46086902855643136
It lasted a good long time. It started out like every other earthquake I've experienced in Tokyo, sort of mild and motion-sickness-y.
Then it got a little stronger. Oh well, that's kind of fun.
Then it got A LOT stronger. Fun over.
And it didn't stop :( PANIC.
I started freaking out, the Japanese staff started freaking out, and I saw people leaving buildings. Everything outside was shaking, trees, power lines; I was shaking. I thought, "If it gets any worse we are all going to die."
It's about 10:00pm right now, I'm still feeling slight aftershocks. So far, about once an hour we get a long aftershock that makes me want to get up and RUN.
But I am alive and I am well, if not a little on edge. I'm LUCKY. My Facebook blew up with people commenting on my updates and generally making sure I was okay. I FEEL SO LOVED <3
I'll try to update my blog and Twitter with charities and things like that. Don't know if anyone else saw the entire freaking town get washed away by one wave, but I'm sure they will need something more substantial than good thoughts.
Stay safe~
I don't remember exactly what time it hit, but I tweeted about it shortly after it stopped at 2:55pm.
http://twitter.com/#!/carlislenoriko/status/46086902855643136
It lasted a good long time. It started out like every other earthquake I've experienced in Tokyo, sort of mild and motion-sickness-y.
Then it got a little stronger. Oh well, that's kind of fun.
Then it got A LOT stronger. Fun over.
And it didn't stop :( PANIC.
I started freaking out, the Japanese staff started freaking out, and I saw people leaving buildings. Everything outside was shaking, trees, power lines; I was shaking. I thought, "If it gets any worse we are all going to die."
It's about 10:00pm right now, I'm still feeling slight aftershocks. So far, about once an hour we get a long aftershock that makes me want to get up and RUN.
But I am alive and I am well, if not a little on edge. I'm LUCKY. My Facebook blew up with people commenting on my updates and generally making sure I was okay. I FEEL SO LOVED <3
I'll try to update my blog and Twitter with charities and things like that. Don't know if anyone else saw the entire freaking town get washed away by one wave, but I'm sure they will need something more substantial than good thoughts.
Stay safe~
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