Confessions of A Working Girl

大丈夫=だいじょうぶ=daijoubu=It’s all right

Today was the first day of class since the earthquake and tsunami. It only took an hour to get to school, like normal. Conversely, this annoyed me, since I had left a little over two hours early just in case. Anyway, the first difference was that two of the level one classes had been combined. And by talking to several friends, I learned that some of the morning classes had been combined as well.

With the two level one classes combined, by the time everyone was there, there were about 17 or 18 of us, I didn’t count, but it looked similar to a normal class before the earthquake, minus one or two people. That many students have gone home, though I’ve heard that many are returning for next semester, which begins in April. (This semester ends March 26th)

The first thing we did in class was go to a meeting on the eighth floor. (My class is on the second floor). Have I ever mentioned that the elevator in the KCP building is so teeny tiny that it can fit maybe 3 people? Ergo, we had to use the stairs. Good exercise, I know. But annoying.  And I hat how that makes me sound all spoiled from being able to ride elevators and escalators. >.<

Ah, anyway, the meeting was, naturally, about the earthquake and the radiation thing. And since it was something so important, every word that the principal of the school said was translated into English and Korean, so us students who barely know Japanese would be sure to understand completely. And what I came out understanding was that currently, there is no danger staying in Tokyo. Nor is there expected to be. KCP should be counted as a credible source on these things…because they are a government recognized school, most of the information they have on these topics come directly from the Japanese government.

For the earthquake, we were told that for perhaps the next month or so, expect tremors. But they should all be relatively small tremors, so no big deal. Then came the radiation thing, which I know all you guys are worrying about, what with the American Press’s propaganda by focusing on the damaged areas of Japan, not the part where I actually am. KCP did mention that as well–every country, including Japan, is hearing all kinds of information, some true, some not. In the end, they said, it was up to us to decide what was true…and if we can’t tell, we can always call them and they will tell us what they know based on what the government has told them.

The nuclear reactors are in Fukushima, which is approximately 200km from Tokyo. The reactors were damaged slightly in the quake last friday, but they are currently being controlled. It should not come to anything as bad as Chernobyl–the Chernobyl reactors, once they reached a certain heat, were untouchable and uncontrollable. The reactors in Fukushima can still be controlled, and highly trained workers there are dumping seawater on the reactors to help cool them down. We were told that this is a major difference between the two groups of reactors.

It is true that some radiation was released into the air in Fukushima. But several reasons make this not a danger to the people in Tokyo. One is that there is currently a western wind going over Japan–ergo the radiation is being blown out to sea, not down towards Tokyo. And even if there were a northern wind blowing towards Tokyo, the distance between Fukushima and Tokyo makes it so that any radiation that reaches Tokyo should not harm human health, should not be fatal. Most of the time they said wouldn’t harm human health, when they were talking about radiation, but at one point, they did say should not be lethal. Not sure if that was a mistranslation or what, or if I didn’t pay as much attention as I thought I was…

Anyway, they did say that there should be no danger of the radiation leaking below ground and tainting the water or anything, and since there’s that distance between Tokyo and Fukushima, there should be no danger from radiation. I think I mentioned this last time I wrote, but by the levels they’re getting, although they’re slightly higher than normal, a day in Tokyo is still less radiation than one flight from Tokyo to New York. It’s explained on this page here.

And of course, until the end of April, there are probably going to be occasional black outs, as Japan rations out the energy that is still running–there is a limit per day, for Tokyo. An email from KCP said:

Due to the lack of power in Tokyo, currently the daily maximum power

that this metropolitan area can use is 33500000kw...

During night time when more people get home and use power for heaters,

there is a possibility that it exceeds the limit. If that happens we

would have unexpected blackout.

It seems pretty clear cut to me…if I can buy a few more candles, the black outs won’t even bother me that much. And really, if I go home now (which I’m not doing, see next paragraph) is there any guarantee that at home I am safe from earthquakes, tsunamis, radiation and blackouts? No, there really isn’t. (That was a rhetorical question. ) So since life here is going back to normal, I might as well stay here.

Not that I want to go home yet, because I do and don’t (e.g. the same feeling I’ve had since I left…the feeling of liking where I am and having fun, but missing people in the US). Another reason now is actually not a good time to go home is because plane ticket prices have jumped to out of my price range due to the earthquake and tsunami. Thank goodness I bought that ticket for June 22nd before the earthquake. And even that was over $1000!

I’m really not worried…sometimes I think that maybe all this won’t catch up until I actually reach home, and then I’ll be scared of the earthquake, somewhat belatedly. But that’s all for the good now–it means I can concentrate on not developing a crippling fear of crowded trains, which was threatening even before the earthquake made the trains run a little less frequently.

I’m really ok. I keep repeating this because everyone keeps asking. I’m not stupid, much as I like pretending sometimes. If I really felt unsafe, I wouldn’t stay, stubbornness aside (that means that I can push it aside). But with the information I have, the information I can find, and the information I can trust, I don’t feel that there’s any real threat.  I promise to keep in touch with everyone, as I have been doing since the earthquake–in fact I’ve probably been more in touch since the earthquake than before it!

So yeah…that’s what I’ve learned. And you know what? I better stop typing…I have a test tomorrow. ^_^

2 Comments » Dad:

March 17th, 2011 @ 12:34 pm You won’t believe this, (alright, you probably will) but I just spent the last 20 minutes agonizing over every word for a reply to this post. It was truly beautiful, and made me all teary as I’m sure it would have you.

It was a loving testament to you being an adult and making an informed decision, and to the fact that parents and other loved ones, always perceive you as a little girl, and voice their concerns out of deep love and affection and a protective instinct that can’t be stopped. And, that I only hope that you would take into account all opinions in the pursuit of your decision and then do what you think is best. It will always be supported even if not agreed with.

Believe me, I said it much better than that. But…somehow the whole damn thing deleted itself, leaving me to try and rewrite this patchwork comment.

Even though we know you are an adult, it is our job to be a royal pain in the ass. What I am trying to say is we will try to not be such a big pain.

Damn…this comment didn’t make me cry like the original deleted one did…I really wished that you could have read it before it disappeared into hyper space. I’m sure it would have made you weep as much as me at it’s beauty and deep felt sentiment.

Perhaps someday it will resurface somewhere where we can both see it, as I couldn’t rewrite it, because it left me emotionally drained.

Please know that you are loved, deeply cared for, and missed, and please accept this comment as a replacement for the vastly superior one that disappeared.

AUnt Roz:

March 18th, 2011 @ 5:56 am You ARE loved deeply - And that is why we have been overly vigilant in making sure your decision is informed - We all know, as with any adult, it IS your decision.

I cannot refrain from three last comments on the matter and then I will stop for good:

1. I hope you are right that the Japanese government is the ONLY government without a vested interest in playing with the facts - Although I suspect they all are, so as many newspapers and sources as possible are the best way to gather the reality

2. It IS the same as a ride in a plane -Every single day for 24 hours

3. We love you dearly Wendy and it is human to want to protect those we love as you might want to try to keep us all safe - Though it is, of course, not possible,

And now, no more meltdowns from your aunt who loves you. (pun intended)