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Japan_Hopeful_Oshika

I finally had the opportunity to ask the teacher who I work with in Sendai, Japan about where he was on the day of the earthquake and the tsunami.

He told me that he was at his school at the time of the earthquake. His wife, who is a school nurse, and his sons were at separate schools. His daughter was at home. He said that his school building is solid but there was a big shake. Then it stopped and then they went out on the school ground. That night his older son walked home. His younger son stayed in school until his daughter picked him up and he and his wife drove home. Their schools became places of refuge with many people.

I wondered how his mother-in-law stayed safe from the tsunami since her house was by the sea. I knew that her house had been badly damaged. He said that her family heard the warning that said ‘Come tsunami, run away hill!’ She and her family went up the hill by car.

He said that he and his family are safe. They have water and rice. They have power. They lack heating oil and have a limited supply of fuel for the car.

On Thursday, March 24th they will return to school for one day and then have graduation on Friday, March 25th. It is the end of the term.
It has been an eventful week. I was grateful that he took time to share with me.

Here is a photo of a preschool in Sendai. It appeared that the van floated to the front of the building.