When it's time to run away.

So March 11, 2011 is a day to be remembered. I was at my kindergarten at the time it happened... the quake that moved Japan. Yamanashi is on the cusp of the Kantou region. We are literally the western edge, which I am very grateful for. That being said, we still got hit with a quake large enough to scare me pretty bad. The kids at the kindergarten thought it was great fun, but parents who were on their way in to pick up kids, were running for hugs out of the fear they may not have seen their children again.
The quakes of course occurred before the tsunamis. All the damage you saw on the TVs, it was almost entirely related to the tsunamis, not the quakes, there's a big misconception about that, I think. When the quake hit, we didn't know if we were the center, or what happened even really. Our school care taker went to grab his radio, and listen in. The news came that the center was Miyage, quite far from us, and suddenly a great fear set in. Under earthquake procedure rules, we stayed outside, since the chances of more large quakes happening directly after are greatly increased. Sure enough, we had another huge quake, only about 15 minutes later, I think we got hit even harder that time, at least in Yamanashi.
Once another 15 minutes had passed, we wandered into the classrooms to see what the TV had to say... and suddenly the north eastern shore of Japan was in ruins. The tsunamis were rolling in all around Japan. The reports were saying many places were expected to get over 10 meters high of tsunami... I didn't really understand what a tsunami was, until I saw this. I figured it was just really big waves, much like the name says... but it's really quite different. It's as if the sea level has temporarily changed, and moves in land to meet that level. So when you say a 10 meter high tsunami is hitting land, it's not a 10 meter giant wave crashing down, it's more like lands that are 10 meters above sea level are going to be flooded with water. What this meant in some areas, was tsunamis hitting as far as 6 miles in land.
It really took a few days to sink in what was happening all around. The first day was ending, people were in a panic, no one knew if more big quakes were coming. Quakes were the topic that first day. I called my family and everyone at about 4 in the morning their time, just so they wouldn't wake up to hear about it and freak out. At that point, I was feeling mostly calm, but just disrupted form the regular flow.
Then day two came, and the first reactor blew. Before it blew, they were talking a lot about it on the news... we thought it was going to be OK, and then everyone freaked out with the first explosion. Our media began to switch pretty drastically from after the first to second explosion. Rather than getting doom reports just talking about bleakness, they began to discuss how radiation is harmful, what types are being released, the rates of dispersion, how to be prepared against it, what exactly was wrong with the reactors in detail. I was actually feeling very calmed by it, but many of my friends still had me pretty scared.
As the week went on, there were more explosions, and we were still having about 100 or so quakes a day, with big ones starting to hit my prefecture. The news with the reactors still wasn't looking better, and more scary news was coming out. The US was offering some ways out, through a really terrible deal.. I opted differently, but indeed to leave.
Somehow I felt like things were going to be ok, even when I bought my ticket... I knew Japan had to be OK... but there was this over whelming fear of being in it... My Japanese co workers were talking about not trusting the government. Everyone around me just felt displaced. Terrible jokes about the situation getting worse, stores running out of food and gas stations out of gas, trains around me weren't working, and I was feeling trapped, alone, dirty, and scared. I wonder if I should explain dirty... I just mean that... I felt to the point that I couldn't trust anything around me. I felt like the radiation probably wasn't that bad, but knew it had to be there, and I was so terrified to do anything around me. Didn't want to be outside. Didn't want to use any water that wasn't bottled.. even for bathing. Didn't want to eat any vegetables...(that one is a bigger concern right now actually). I just felt so tainted by everything, and I needed to get away from that, because I felt sick.
I guess this has been a long post... longer in words than anticipated, but I was wondering if people were wondering what happened. I guess the real thing I want to say is that.. I felt so bad for leaving. Leaving the people that were staying. All my coworkers were staying, still working. My friends, still wondering.. and there I was, leaving. Many of my friends wanted to leave.. I told them to keep my info just in case they had to get out. I will say, it really gave me a refreshing look at every thing happening, and in the end I am glad for my own health and safety, that I did leave. Even if the radiation wasn't effecting me physically, I couldn't deal with it mentally, or emotionally at all.
I said this on my facebook already, but I really want to say again... Thank you so much to all my friends. I feel so amazingly lucky to have everyone in my life, that I do. To those of you that just listened, or maybe gave some encouraging words, or a place to sleep, or a bit of money to help get me out... I just don't know what I would have done without you existing. Just thank you so much for existing.

Anayama fun day, and the big move.

Well it's official. I'm moving! In less than one month, I will be moving to Gifu prefecture, and working as a full time kindergarten English teacher! Kind of crazy to believe I've been working as a teacher for a year already. Truth be told, I'm a bit sad to go, I'll miss my friends and job here. But, over all I think it's the right choice... a better job, better pay, and closer to Celes! Probably my next post will be from Gifu! For now, here are some pictures from my recent adventure with Celes to Anayama, just a 20 minute trainride away!

Halloween Kindergarten and my room

amazing sky and.... small? creatures post

It hasn't been that long since I posted, but I felt like showing off a few things. One day last week, I was walking home from work, minding my own business wrapped in my head.... and suddenly I looked up! The sky was so astoundingly beautiful. I had never ever seen colors fading in across like this before! I just sat there and stared at it, in the midst of walking up the little mountain. I had wanted to share this since then, but haven't had the time. Nowthe other day, I found some crazy creatures, so I figured I'd just make a small post.







Aside from the sky. I saw this little caterpillar at work the other day. This is his tail end.
Head is on the right side!
Same concept with this guy I saw on my way to work! Head on the left side there. Didn't have time to get a cool shot sadly.
Then, walking home from work the other night, I saw this.......
It's a worm!!!
About 15 inch long earth worm!!!! I didn't know such a thing even existed until this night. Apparently they CAN get a whole lot bigger.

I headed to the store, and came back, that's about 20 minutes. This guy was in almost the same place, but now had a leaf on his head!

Aside from these creatures, I also saw a MUKADE!!! And, the fuzziest caterpillar I have ever seen in my life. I will work on trying to catch pictures of these.... but the mukade will probably be a bit on the difficult side. That's all for now!

long awaited and editted china, just like the real thing!

One month after the fact, I bring you...... CHINA!
For those who don't know: I spent one month in China studying the game of go. Fun times, good people, interesting sights, but maybe just not *my* place, fun times anyway.






My friend challenged a worker in a market to a game of go! They ended up playing 5 in a row instead.
 This is right next to a nice fancy mall.
This place is also known as the Japanese go club, I recommend if you are in Beijing and want a nice match of Weiqi!

All the Chinese ice cream, next to some Dreyer's ice cream in 100% English.
Famous Asian fruit called a Durian.

Pandas!






The same market place as above with the guys sleeping on couches. Later in the day time, they pack up, and the market comes out til about midnight.

Pretty view from my apartment.
I miss this experience!
The most clear weathered day my entire time in China. Almost every day is so smoggy with pollution, that you can barely see even 3 blocks down the street. But the day after a rainfall, it tends to clear up quite a bit.
My friends acting cute!
Nothing beats a game of Go in the park.
Welcome to the Altar of the land of God and Grain. Oh, so exciting.


hello kitty!







We sat at this place, just enjoying the world, for quite a while... it was my favorite place in Beijing, ended up going back a few times. It's in the park next to the forbidden city, across frmo Tiennanmen Square.










The bell at a famous Zen temple called Yong ZeDong... it cost 10 yuan if you want to ring this bell alone.. I don't recommend this temple at all, far too....... impersonal.


Did I mention Chinese people hate rules?
Turtle dragon!
















Oh hello Mr. Monk!


OK this is absolutely the best restaurant name ever.

The Great Wall of China is amazing. I have been to many touristy places in my life, but this is the first and only that sincerely felt more like a journey, or a quest, than just some place a guide book pointed out. Everything about the climb was just amazing! I joined my friend in walking it barefoot, too!






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If you see the two paths on the sides here, we actually climbed up the right side, and down the left. This was *after* climbing up and down a completely separate part of the mountain!







My good friend Nikolaj and I at the edge of the wall!










Welcome to the Summer Palace. Another recommended place if you go to China. Very beautiful place.
















These kind of rocks can be found in parks all around.










Welcome.... to a very... interesting market.
You can EAT SCORPIONS! No real flavor to them actually, just the spices... very crunchy



Surprisingly, this market is very popular. It is known only for the exotic strange foods about.










Outside the forbidden city.