Update from Japan
21 Mar 2011 4 Comments
in Japan, Life Tags: earthquake, Japan
Hey all! Greetings from MS the Younger, safe and sound on the west coast of Japan.
Thanks everyone for your comments and asking if I’m ok <3 Sorry this post is coming so late, it’s been a bit of a roller-coaster the past 10 days here in Japan. Just to reassure you, please don’t worry, I am fine! I live on the west coast of Japan in Ishikawa Prefecture. We are 700 kilometers or about 350 miles (aka 8 hours driving) from the earthquake/power plant area. Truth be told, we wouldn’t even know what had happened if there wasn’t TV. Last Friday, at the time of the big 9.0 quake, I was at work in the teacher’s room taking a break between classes. We felt a small wiggle, a few of the teachers described it as “the room swimming before their eyes.” It only registered a 3.0 here. I’ve personally felt bigger, as we had a 7.0 quake nearby in 2007. Anyhoo, life hasn’t been disturbed at all here except for the stories on the tv and of people whose family or friends are located in the earthquake area. It’s really quite strange to go outside to a beautiful spring day and dinner with your friends when on the other side of the country people are fighting for their, and our, lives. A few of us teachers are hosting friends from the east coast for a while, and the rest of us are donating money, supplies, blood, prayers and doing our damndest to keep calm and reassure the people at home. So far we are in no personal danger on the west coast – we watch the news and check the radiation levels posted by prefecture by the government everyday. Considering our distance and the fact that the weather in the winter goes from west to east here, we are out of the danger zone. There has been no change in regular atmospheric or water radiation at all! So really the thing we all are doing is just trying to keep calm and informed and make the right decisions when necessary. On the more normal front, I’ve just completed my entry at the spring ikebana (flower arranging) exhibit!
Japanese quince, plum, camellia and blood-red dahlias for a verge-of-spring arrangement. Quite traditional and very different from last year's avant garde arrangement!
It’s amazingly difficult to take a good picture of ikebana arrangements, so this was the best I could do ^^;;; my corner of the exhibition hall was quite dark. Nature is also bursting out with spring color:
Plum blossoms in Kenrokuen begin to show their springtime splendor. I actually like them better than cherry blossoms. My ikebana name is "bai sui," which is the kanji for plum and water.
I’ve also started a kimono class!
My green kimono and white and orange obi sashes. Difficult to put on but beautiful to wear!
Sadly, at 170cm and with Western hips, I am a bit too big to wear the beautiful, cheap antique kimono that I find… my teacher is trying to convince me into buy a $2000 kimono! I think not!
Well anyway, all, I hope you’ll forgive me for that little normal-life side note. I have to keep going and immerse myself in normal details or I’d go crazy watching the news. Hope you’re all doing well and not freaking out where ever you are! Please continue to pray for the people in the affected areas and donate money to the Red Cross if you can!
<3 MS the Extremely Lucky and Thankful to Be OK!
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