An Update from Japan.
First of all, a big “Thank You” to all of you who emailed, commented, and sent messages our way following the recent earthquake in Japan. We sincerely appreciate your concern.
Aaron & I (as well as our families) are OK.
I was in Tokyo and Aaron was just outside of Tokyo when the earthquake hit. It’s hard to explain what it was like except to say it was very scary. But as you all know, the real tragedy was not the earthquake but the countless tsunamis that ripped across the Tohoku coastline.
Our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones or have been displaced as a result of this natural disaster.
Many of you have asked for an update on what things are like over here so I thought I would write a quick post about my observations.
Living in the Kanto area (away from the hard-hit Tohoku region), the biggest impact I’ve seen is a widespread sense of uncertainty–the uncertainty of the fate of loved ones living in Tohoku, the uncertainty of how big the next aftershock will be, when gasoline will be available again, if there will be a blackout today, what the current level of radiation is, what trains are running when, and simply when things will be back to “normal.”
It’s hard for us living in the Kanto area to complain when we see the destruction and suffering happening just north of us. But I definitely feel the level of anxiety rising around me.
That being said, we have been amazed yet again by Japan and its people. Even following a disaster of this colossal magnitude, everyone is calm–everyone has been cooperative, patient, polite and understanding. There is no chaos in the streets, no rise in crime, no angry citizens. The country has come together to help one another during this time of need.
So much has changed since March 11th, but we are doing our best to keep in good spirits and do our part to help with Japan’s recovery. Please join us by keeping Japan in your thoughts.
We will be back with HHJ as soon as things settle down.
-Kevin
