japan quake - freelance writer's diary from sendai part 1, 2,3, 4 & final - march 2011

8/7/2019 JAPAN QUAKE - FREELANCE WRITER'S DIARY FROM SENDAI PART 1, 2,3, 4 & FINAL - MARCH 2011

1/20

DiaryfromSendai,Japan(PartI)

March11,2011

byBravenSmillie

Sendai,beforetheearthquakeandtsunamithatstruck

onMarch11,2011

March11wasacold,slow-movingFridayafternoonatourhomeinSendai.Asa

freelancewriterandtranslator,Iwasmakingatransition,familiaronsuchidle

afternoons.Havingfinishedabitofurgentdeadlinework,Iwasshiftinggearsto

workonalistoflong-termprojectswithmorevaguelydefinedobjectivesand

prospects.Iturnedtoahobbyforafewminutestopassthetimeuntilourtwo

daughterswouldreturnhomefromschool,androutinedistractionswouldfree

mefromthoughtsofwork,businessandmyownfinances,untilMonday.

AlsoroutinewasabriefshudderundermyfeetasIstoodatanupstairs

bathroomsink,whittlingonapieceofdry,whiteclayIhopedtoturnintoa


2/20

porcelainfigurine.MinorearthquakesarecommonplaceinJapan,andhaving

livedherefor20-oddyears,Ithoughtnothingofit.Amomentlater,Ilookedup

frommyworktotakenoticeofanother,moreassertiveshudder.Thoughstill

faint,thisonehadaninsistent,snatchingcharacterI'dfeltbefore,andalways

seenassubtlymenacing.Thewindowswhisperedratherthanrattled,andall

returnedtonormal--briefly.

AnaerialphototakenoffiresandfloodinginSendai,

immediatelyaftertheearthquakeandtsunamion

March11,2011

Isoonsetmysharpcarvingtooldownontheglasscounterasthefloorvibrated

againinafineverticaltremorthatseemedtodrawoutlonger--thisonewasn't

fading.AsIhaddonehundredsoftimes,Idecidedtowaitandseewhatwasinstore.Theverticalvibrationslowedinfrequencyandincreasedinintensityas

horizontalwavesbegantosnatchatthefloorandwalls,gentlyatfirst,thenmore

powerfully.Thequestionnowwashowmuchdramawouldbeappropriatein

frontofmywife,Chiaki,whowasathomewithme.DoIdiveunderatable,

coveringmyhead?Certainlynot!Standunderadoorway?Reasonable.AsIstood


3/20

inthebathroomdoorway,suggestingthatChiakidothesame,therewasasense

underfootofridingaskateboardovermarblesorpebbles.Disorienting,butones

feetcouldstillbetrusted.

Thehorizontalandverticalvibrationsthenproducedwavelikeshocksthat

combinedintocrazedtwitching,lurchingmotionsofallfrequencies.Myworry

nowwaswhetherIcouldmakeitdownthestairstotheentrywayofourhome,

whichIfeltwasthemoststructurallysafeandunclutteredplaceinourhome.As

therolling,jabbingmotionsofthefloorandwallsgrewbeyondallpast

experience,Ifeltallconfidence,allsenseofappropriateearthquake

comportmentslippingaway.Nolongerconcernedwithdrama,Ireachedfora

railingasIlurchedforwardoverthetopstepsofthestaircase.Idonotremember

grippingormissing,onlyjoltingforward,downandaroundtowardtheentryway.

Themotionsbecamemorerhythmic,likeridinganoverspeedtrainasit

threatenedtojumptherailsatanymoment,thendid.

Ibrieflynegotiatedwiththeurgetoclingtonormalconcerns,asImoveda

sculptureI'dmadeoftheMadonnaandChildoffofanendtablewhereitmadea

totteringtop-heavydisplay.AsIplaceditontheshiftingfloor,thesoundofbig

thingsfallingdeepinsidethehouse,andofshatteringglass,snappedalast

tenuousthreadconnectingtothedelightfullyidleconcernsofaminutebefore.

Chiaki?Whereareyou...whereareyou?Iyelledtomywife,implyingthatshedbetterbeunderatable.Infact,Chiakiwasdoingherbesttoformarighttriangle

withherbodyineffortstobraceupaprizedantiquewritingdeskwithglass

cabinetabove.


4/20

Idonotremembertheendoftheearthquake.Itmayhavestoppedsuddenly,and

itmayhaveslowlyreceded.Ionlyrememberputtingonsandalsandajacket,

thenwanderingoutintoalightsnowfalltowatchtheevacuationatTakamori

ElementarySchool,wheremydaughtersTina,10andElena,7,areinthesecond

andfifthgrades.

Amap,showingtheepicenteroftheearthquake.


5/20

DiaryfromSendai,Japan(PartII)

March11,2011

byBravenSmillie

Somehomesandneighborhoodsweredamagedmore

thanothers.

Whenthefloorandwallshadstoppedtwistingandjolting,therewasawoozy,

slowswayingoftheground.Neitherclearlyhorizontal,verticalorperiodic,it

producedanoddsensationsomethinglikestandingonsolidgroundafterdaysor

weeksatsea.

IcalledtomywifeChiakiagain.Findingthatshewasunhurt,Itrottedoutintoa

lightsnowfallandheadedtowardthenearbyelementaryschool,whereI

imaginedIdfindmydaughtersTinaandElenaenjoyingabreakfromclassesout


6/20

ontheplayground.Idonotknowwhymyfirstthoughtwasntadesperateneed

toseeandprotectthemimmediately.Ididntrun,butstrolleddowntothe

school,handsinpockets,jinglingkeys.

AsImovedthroughthestreet,Isteppedoversmallcompressedripplesand

rupturesinthepavementeverywhere.Isawfinebutserious-lookingstructural

cracksinwalls,scrambledroofingtilesandbrokenwindows.Somehomeswere

spareddamage,somenot.Noonewascallingout.Isawnooneonthestreet.And

thelightdustingofsnowdampenedallnoise.

Attheplayground,thechildrenwerefilingoutofthefive-storybuildingin

orderlyfire-drillstyle.Itwasfreezingcoldandsnowingafterhavingbeenwarm

inthemorning,sonoonehaddressedwarmlyenough.Iwalkedaroundthe

assembledgroupofabout200studentsandfeltabitfrustratedasIcouldntfind

mydaughters,orevenidentifyanyofthekidsIknow.Nonesmiledorwavedat

meastheyusuallydo.

Theyweredifficulttodistinguish,andnotjustbecausetheywereeachwearinga

standard-issuesilver-grayfireretardantheadcovering.Therewassomething

elsecommonintheirappearance.Everykidhadthesamemask-likefacial

expressionathousand-yardstarethatisastonishingtoseeonachild.

IfinallyidentifiedElena,myseven-year-oldandwenttoholdontoherandmaybeclownaroundalittletocheerherup.Shewasshivering,soItriedtogive

hermycoat.Shesaid,I'mnotshakingbecauseImcold,its...that...andshe

couldntdescribeit.Itdawnedonmethenthatthesekidswereallinshock,

probablyforthefirsttime.Imadeherputonmyjacket,andweheldontoeach

otheraswesquattedonthesandyturf.


7/20

Thelazyswayingofthegroundbeganagainandwelookedacrossthe

playground,watchinglong,low,quickswellspassacrossthesurface,andthe

groundvibratedlikegelasaftershockscamethrough.Sometimestheground

seemedtorotateslightly,asthoughtheplaygroundwereabowlofpuddingwith

usatthecenter,anditbeingtwistedbackandforthbysomeonegrippingthe

circumference.Thisisimpossible,ofcourse,eveninanearthquake.Andyetthere

itwas.

Whenoneoftheseweirdcontortionswouldoccur,whateverteacherorschool

officialwasaddressingtheassemblywouldpausebrieflyanduncertainlybefore

bringingthemegaphonebackintospeakingposition.Itwasonlyaslight

hesitationinwhatwasreallyaseamlesslyprofessional,well-drilledconductof

thesafetyprocedures.YetIcouldnthelpnoticingit.Idseenitsomewherebefore

anddecadesago,inacrowdwasitaplanecrash?Atrafficaccident?Afire?I

couldntremember.

Weheardaseriesofexplosions,softlyinthedistance.Butwhileseeingthesolid

groundturnliquidbeforeoureyes,werebeyondconcernaboutwhatthesemight

be.


8/20

DiaryfromSendai,Japan(PartII)

March11,2011

byBravenSmillie

DamagedroadsinSendai(source)

AsImetmychildrenontheschoolplaygroundwheretheyhadevacuatedafter

thequake,Itriedtosplitmytimebetweenseven-year-oldElenaandten-year-old

Christina.ButIsoonrealizedthatElenaneededmoreimmediatecare.AndIwas

startingtofeelthebiteofthebitterchillaftergivingElenamyjacket.Don'tYOU

startshaking,Daddy!shesaidatonepointasIshiveredfromthecold.Wecan,butyoucan't.Iheldontoherforawhile,partlyjusttokeepwarm,thenleftto

checkonChristina.

Tinahadjoinedasquattinggroupofclassmateswhowerehuggingand

encouragingeachotherinanimprovisedscrum.Forthefirstofwhatwouldbe


9/20

manytimesinthecomingdays,IheardmyselftalkinawayInevercouldhave

beforewithoutasardonicsmirk:Ineedyoutobestrong,now,Tina.Canyoubea

strongbigsisterforme?Herresponsewasequallynewandraw,somethingId

havecalledhiiiighdramajustanhourearlier:Icanbestrong,Daddy.Gotoher.

Ithinksheshavingherfirstearthquake.

IwentbacktoholdElenauntiltheteachersconfirmedthatallwerepresentand

unhurt.Theythenbeganreleasingeachchildtoparents,carefullyconfirmingand

matchingfamilyidentities.Notonlydidtheteachersactinacalm,professional

manner,buttheseamlessproceduresextendedtotheparents,whohadalso

preparedforjustsuchanevacuation.Iwasthere,Idthought,onlybecauseChiaki

happenedtohavethoughtofcheckingonthekidsbeforetheyweresenthome.In

fact,shedsentmetotheschoolasonewell-definedstepinaprocedurethatwas

secondnaturetoeveryonebutme.

Asthethreeofuswalkedhome,Inoticedthatmydaughtersteethwerenolonger

chattering.Webegantotrytofindwaysoftalkingaboutwhathadjusthappened.

Theytriedtalkingaboutthequakeastheywouldtheanticsofaclassclown,a

sceneinascarymovie,aboastofsomethingamazingtheywereprivyto.It

wouldntfitintoanyoftheusualframes.ItriedtomakethemlaughSorryabout

thequake.Donttellanybody,butIthinkoneofmybigsneezessetitoff.They

werehavingnoneofit.Itwasntgoingtobethateasytogetbacktonormal.We

walkedsilentlyforawhileandIrememberedthemask-like,stunnedexpressionthatallthechildrenseemedtowearduringtheevacuation.Iwantedtogetatit

andfindoutwhereitcamefrom.SoIaskedthemeachwhattheysawanddid,

startingfrombeforetheshaking.

Initsbriefway,Elenasstorytolditall:Everythingwasshaking,shaking,


10/20

shaking!Wewentunderourdesksandpeoplewereprayingandcryingand

screaming.Andthingslikebooksandbagswerefallinglikecrazy.Wewent

outsideandthenDaddycame.

Tinasstoryrevealsmoredetail,ofpeoplesreactionstochaosandofthe

evacuationstrategytakenbytheteachers:Weweredoingmathaboutshapes

anditwasFriday,andthenitshookandweonlythoughtitwasjustatinyonethat

stopsimmediately.Butthenitshookfromthefloor,andalmosteverybodywas

crying.Thentheteachersallopenedthedoorsandwindowssotheywouldntget

stuck.AndourteachersaidDuckdownunderyourdeskandsaveyourhead!

Itwaslikewewereonabigboatandwewereholdingontothefeetofourdesks

anditwasgoingbackandforthandbackandforth,likerowingaboat.Andit

shookupanddownandsideways,soIbangedmyheadandithurt.And

everybodywaspraying,andalltheboysweresayinginJapanese,It'sOK!Were

surviving.ItsOK.Wecandothis!Andthenwhenitstoppeddowntoalittletiny

bit,likebetweenthebigshakes,welinedupreallyreallyfastandwerandown

thestairstogetoutsidebeforeitstartedshakingbigagain.Theteachersand

principalwerereallygood.Theywereoutinthehall,andsaying,Areyoustill

alive,fourthgraders?Youreok!Bearwithit!Youredoingfine!AndIdidntthink

iteverwouldstop.Weheardsoundsintheroadlikeboomboom,echoing.Ithink

thatwasthecrackswesawintheroadlater.

Thenwegotoutsideandwefeltreally,reallysafe.Andafterthat,westarted

thinkingaboutourmomsanddadsandallofusstartedcrying,eventheboys.I

washoldingontotwoofmyfriends.Wetriedtobebravebutwewereshakinga

lot.Iwasreallycoldandshivering,butalsobecausewewerereallyscared,and

theshakinginourmindsandinourlegswasreallyreallymakingusshake.Then


11/20

daddyarrivedandwenttomylittlesisterElena.Itwasherfirstbigearthquakeso

shewasreallyreallyscared.


12/20

DiaryfromSendai,Japan(PartIV)

March11,2011

byBravenSmillie

Peoplewereliningupoutsidegrocerystores,which

helddwindlingsupplies.

AsmytwodaughtersandIwalkedhomefromtheirschoolafterthequake,I

begantothinkaboutwhattodonext.Whatdoyoudonext?Thoughits

contentshadbeenmoreorlessrandomized,ourhomeappearedtobespared

structurally.Ihappenedtohavebeenreadingafewapocalypticnovels

recently,likeOneSecondAfter,LucifersHammerandTheRoad.And

suchstoriesoftenstartoffwithasceneinwhichthemanofthehouse,

discerningdoomsquietapproach,stridestothebathroomtofillthetubwith

water.Iwasjustabouttodoso,whenChiakisuggestedthatIgotothebathtub

andfillitwithwater.

Hereshowshespenttheafternoon:


13/20

Iwasatthekitchencounter,doingsomepaperworkwhentheshakingstarted.

Idknownthatalargeearthquakehadbeenforecastasverylikelytostrikethe

areawithinadecade.Soasthetremorgrew,Ibegantothinkthiscouldbethe

one.

Imovedbackafewstepsbehindmeandsquatteddown,bracingmyright

handontheglass-shutteredbookcasethatwasthetophalfofanantique

writingdeskIfelttheneedtoprotect.Iputmylefthandagainstourdining

tableasIwatchedaheavycast-ironlightingfixtureswingbackandforthfrom

theceiling.ItsweptacrosswideningarcsuntilIwasafraiditwouldhitthe

ceiling.

Bravencalledtome:Whereareyou,Chiaki?AreyouOK?Theshakingwent

onandonuntilInoticedthelightingfixturesswingbegintolosemomentum.I

steppedbackintothekitchenareaandfeltsomethingsandyunderfoot.

Granularsugarandshardsofshatteredglasscoveredpartsofthefloor.The

waterstillran,buttheelectricityandgashadshutoff,andIrealizedthatI

mightnothavethemagainsoon.IaskedBraventogototheelementaryschool

topickupourtwochildren.

Soonafter,IwentoutsideandsawTinaandElenacominghomewithBraven.

AsIwalkedtowardthem,TinasaidMommy!andwehugged.ThenIalsohuggedElena,thenboth.Theywerecryingabit,butseemedrelieved.

Sowewereallfourhomeandunhurt.Butastheshadowsgrewlong,eachone

ofuswouldsometimesabsentlyfliponalightswitchonlytoberemindedthat

wewerenowwithoutelectricity.Thefaucetssoonwentdry,andasrooms


14/20

grewdim,webeganprioritizing,rushingtocompletethemostbasicchores

beforedarknessfell.Simplethings,likesecuringcandles,findinganancientBic

butanelighter,acampstoveandenoughfoodforthenight.Aftershockswere

continuous,andaddedtothedisorientationanduncertaintythatcamewith

thedark.

Hadwereallycheckedthestructureofthehouse?Shouldweevacuate?The

childrenhadseenanemergencysheltersetupattheschoolgym.ChiakiandI

wonderedaloudwhatweshoulddo,andthatwasabigmistake.Thekids

sensedouruncertaintyandpanicked,convincedthatwewouldalldieifwedid

notsleepintheshelter.Wedbuiltthishousetwoyearsbefore,andtook

specialcaretomakeitstronginanearthquake.Idecidedwedmakeasafe

roombyclearingoutallheavyobjects,establishanevacuationpath,andsleep

togetherthere.

Thatnight,weallprayedtogetheramidcontinuousaftershocks.Iheldone

daughterineacharm,feelingthemwinceeverytimetheroomjoltedagain.

Eachtime,theyinsistedthatitwouldgrowintoanotherbigquakeandkillus.

TheyspokeofdeathmorefranklythanIthoughtpossible,andsoonexhausted

themselves.BeforeImyselffellasleep,IprayedthatIdchosenright.

Onthemorningafterthequake,thingsstartedlookingup.Withvirtuallyno

phonesormedia,andlotsofbasicoldfashionedhousechorestodoincludingfetchingwaterthenextfewdayssometimesfeltlikeacandle-lit19th-Century

idyll.WejokedthatElenasroomactuallyseemedtidierafterthequakethan

before.Neighborstookwalkstovisitandhelpeachother.Theentire

neighborhoodexchangedfoodandassistance.Ibecameahandymanofnote,

specializingintheingeniousmanipulationofneedlenosepliersandaluminum


15/20

wire.Withoutambientcitylight,westrolledwithcandlesatnight,and

reallysawthestars.

Then,aroundthethirdday

afterthequake,thenuclear

talkturnedserious.When

spottycellphoneservice

resumed,Ilookedaroundat

theInternetandbegantodrink

oftheavalancheofnews,

scuttlebutt,official

admonitionstoremaincalm

andscientificanalysesboth

reassuringandalarmist.Some

friendswerethinkingoffleeingthefallout.Newsreportsshowedabulls-eye

ofconcentriccirclesonamapofourregion,withredinthemiddle,wherethe

reactorswereburning,andshadingtoorangeandyellowfurtherout.Wewere

outsidethepaleyellow,butnotfarenoughforcomfort.

Signsofseriousconcernsometimesvergedintopanic.Andnomatterhow

muchIstudiedthefactsandtriedtoremainrational,itaffectedme.Thesigns

ofincipientpaniccameinwaves,somefromacrosstheworldinurgent

Facebookmessages,andsomefromconversationsinthelinesthatsnakedthroughtheparkinglotsofblacked-outsupermarkets,whichwererationing

diminishingstocks.Warningswerebroadcastagainstdrinkingtheiodine

solutionscommonlysoldasadisinfectantgargle.Andexpertsexplainedhow

youcanwashradioactivedustoffofyourbodywithsoap.


16/20

Andthentherewasthatexpandingbulls-eyemapwithChiakiandour

daughtersandmesomewherebeyondtheyellowcircle.IcouldseeitwhenI

closedmyeyes.Whenoneofmydaughtersaskedmewhatthebulls-eye

meant,Isaiditwasjustsomethingabouttheweather,andfeltlikeId

swallowedcoldlead.


17/20

DiaryfromSendai,Japan(Final)

March21,2011

byBravenSmillie

Photostakenonthedayoftheearthquake.UploadedontheblogofSendaiTakamori

PublicElementary,wheremydaughtersattendschool.http://www.sendai-

c.ed.jp/~takasho/takasho_blog/

Duringourlow-techpost-quakeidyll,Idtakentomakinglong,careful

reconnaissancetripsonmybicycletolookatthestateofroaddamage,changesin

trafficpatterns,storerationlinesandthegasstations,allofwhichwereeither

closedorhadkilometer-longlinesofcarswaitinginhopesofafutureration.The

quakehadimmediatelydisabledelectricgasstationpumps,andasubsequentrun

onfuelemptiedstoragetanksthroughoutnorthernHonshuthatsmytheory,at

least.Soweresistedthetemptationtousethecartoziparound,visitingfriends

andrunningerrands.IknewIhadjustoverhalfatankofregularabout23liters,

andlookingatthosegaslinesmadeitseemworthsaving.

Ononeoftheserecontrips,IbegantosufferfromaconditionIcallcoffee


18/20

deprivationheadache,andstoppedataroadsidevendingmachineforsomequick

caffeine.Twoyoungmen,perhaps19or20,hadgottherebeforeme,andwere

feedingin1,000-yennotes(worthabout$12each),methodicallyemptyingitofall

itsdrinkskerplunk,kerplunk,kerplunk.So,itscometothis,Ithought,androde

onwithoutmyfix.Thisindignity,asmuchasanythingelse,tippedmeinthe

directionofleavingtown.

Irrationalorsmart,ifweweregoingtotrytodriveouttoanairport,Ifeltwed

havetodoitimmediately,beforetheroadscloggedupwithothersjustlikeus.

ChiakisparentswereclamoringforustocomestaywiththeminTakarazuka,near

Osaka,wellsouthwestofanypotentialdanger.So,strugglingtocontrolournerves

andsoundcasualforthekids,wepackedupandtookatentativedriveofanhour,

westfromSendai,acrossthemountainstoafriendshouseinYamagata,wherewe

enjoyedrunningwateragain.

Buttheedgysenseofimpendingpanicremained.Allworkingbusandairtravel

outoftheSendaiareawasbookedsolid,andwefoundthatthesamewastruein

Yamagata.Wehadntrunintoheavyroadtraffic,though,possiblybecausefewhad

enoughgaslefttotrygettingout.

Tensehoursofsearchingamiddiminishingoptionsyieldedusfourseatsonaflight

outofthelocalairportinAkita,adriveofabout4-1/2hoursnorthfromYamagata

bythemountainroute.Justlikeanydadabouttotakethefamilyonaroadtrip,Ididafewthumbnailcalculationsoffactorslikemileage,weatherandroad

conditions.Butonthistriptherewouldbenomarginforerror.Theredbenohelp

orgastocountonalongthewaytoAkita,andanysimplemishapcouldputusin

serioustrouble.Wouldthesnowbepackedorfresh?Wouldfreshsnowhide

cracksintheroad?We'dhavetoforegotheheater,useneutralgeardownhill.


19/20

Wouldouroldbrakepadshandleit?Theredbedozensoftunnelstopassthrough

upthere.Wouldtheybedamaged?Heavysnowfallwasforecasttostartinhours.I

triedtothinkofeverypossibleflawintheplan,butknewIdmisssome.

WesetoutfromYamagata,andruraltownroadsgavewaytoagradualclimbinto

lowmountains.Arounddark,IwatchedtheodometerandfuelgaugepassapointI

wascallingV1,thepointofnoreturn.Moremilesandhourspassed,eatingup

preciousfuelontheclimb.IbecamesofocusedonmileagethatIevenslowedthe

windshieldwipersdown,hopingitwouldsaveanounceduringthetrip.Andwhen

thethoughtflashedthroughmymindthatthegirlsfightinginthebackseatmight

costuspreciousfuel,Irealizedmynervesweregettingfrayed.Itwasthen,about

50kilometersoutofAkita,thatIsawinthedistanceatinyyellowdotshining

throughthesnowinthedark.CouldthatbetheyellowofaShellsign?AsIdrew

closer,Isawtwotaillightsbrightenbrieflyandveerlefttodisappearintoit.That

glowwasaShellsign,whereamanwouldsell9litersofhigh-octaneandsaveus.

Therestofthetripistravelogue.

Thenextmorning,thefourofussatinapassengercabin,watchingthevideo

screenwithafeedfromacameraunderthefuselage.Iwatchedthedottedlineon

therubber-scuffedrunwayslidebackunderusanddrawaway,concernedabutthe

carIdjustleftbehind,mywifesparents,work,andhowIdjugglethecreditcard

billswedrackedup.Cartrouble.In-laws.Bills.IclosedmyeyesandthankedGod

forreattachingathreadthathadsnappednearlyaweekbeforethethreadconnectingustotheordinaryconcernsofapampered,modernlife.

Ourheartsgoouttoallthepeoplewhohavelostlovedones,theirhomes,their

freedomandpeaceofmindinthedisaster.Andatthisminute,bettermenthanme

areatthecenterofthatbulls-eyemap,bychoice,facingdownthefearsweran


20/20

from.Theyrefightingtosavetheirfamilies,communities,countryandindustry

fromfurtherdisaster.Bywritingandpublishingthisstory,Idontwanttoimply

inanywaythatwerepresenttherealvictimsorothersmostdeeplyinvolvedin

thisunfoldingdisaster.Oursisthestoryofaclosecallonly,andlotsofpuredumb

luck.Imsureitchangedthefourofusinwayswellunderstandintime.Weall

madealotofdecisionsinthepastweek,andIknowwe'llstandbythem,asa

family.

***Anyone with an ounce of compassion will feel compelled to do something immediate to helpthe people now spotlighted in the media. But its not clear that sending money to Japan is

whats needed. Please consider the many superb charities that help the forgotten earthquakevictims in Haiti and elsewhere in impoverished countries, where monetary donations canreally do some serious, long-term good. Our family, for instance, sponsors a child in Calcuttathrough Children International (www.childreninternational.org ). You can, too, with a fewmouse clicks. Charitable donations like this can help those who lack the hope that comesfrom Japans robust domestic economy and infrastructure, its world-class engineeringexpertise and the economic wherewithal to bounce back fast. Theres an immediate need forcivil engineering and linguistic expertise in stricken areas of Japan, but, as the New YorkTimes article linked below indicates, Japan does not lack for basic disaster relief necessities.

Meanwhile, messages of moral support and encouragement from people overseas really can

mean a lot to Japan's earthquake victims. If you would like to encourage the children,teachers and families of Sendai Takamori Public Elementary School, where I picked up Tinaand Elena on the day of the quake, please send a brief e-mail that a youngster wouldunderstand to the school at: [email protected]. Im sure any messages of prayer,encouragement and friendship will be of great help. Im also sure that they will be able toshare the messages with schools that have suffered more directly from the devastation. Youcan visit their website (Japanese language) at: http://www2.sendai-c.ed.jp/%7Etakasho/

Within the website, photos taken on the day of the quake have now been posted at:http://www.sendai-c.ed.jp/~takasho/takasho_blog/

And here is a link to the New York Times article on the questionable effectiveness of sendingcharity cash to Japan:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/world/asia/16charity.html .

japan quake - freelance writer's diary from sendai part 1, 2,3, 4 & final - march 2011

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