Earthquake remembrance

In a little more than 12 hours - exactly one year ago today, the mega earthquake and tsunami struck Tohoku. I find it very moving, and I wanted to remember in the way those here are planning. So I asked my adult students. What will they do?

Nothing.

Seriously. They told me nothing. I don't understand this way of behavior and I find it appalling. On 9/11 we have minutes of silence, we pray, we re-watch what happened on the TV - all of that. And yet here, one year later, nothing to it. One of my students said she would go to a devastated area and spend money at stores and restaurants, but in like a month from now. I think maybe one or two students will say a prayer. That's it. I don't know, maybe because it's a Sunday and it's a weekend? There's coverage on TV and talk, but nothing else major. I'm sure in the devastated areas they will remember, hold moments of silence, what have you.

But the rest of the country (or at least this part of Tohoku!) appears not to be shedding any tears over the matter. Oh, yeah, was that today? Oh well. Let's ignore the fact that this disaster nearly destroyed this country.

I guess it's a cultural thing. But I'm so disappointed in all of these people. I'll remember, even if I came a little later.

Ticket, bought!

So the past few days... or week, it's been WARM. Let's not get carried away, it's like 40 degrees. But considering two weeks ago it was 20? SUPER!! The snow is FINALLY starting to melt, but there are still mountains everywhere of it, so it will still take a bit of time. The nice thing about this warm weather is that the birds are out. The past 2 days on the way to work, I've fed the pigeons. Luckily I had my Goldfish crackers at the ready! Today, I turned the corner and (I've heard pigeons are super smart) anyway, one came flying right up in front of me. I recognized it from yesterday and it seemed to recognize me.
Even a few sparrows came out to try to get some at the lunch crowd today. And I'm so nice, I stand guard over the pigeons because the crows here are gigantic, and will overtake them for the food. But, they don't come near people, so if I stay there, the tiny, thin pigeons get to eat! Which is nice, cause I've seen saddness.
My dad bought my ticket to come home on April 4th and I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I HATE WORKING NOW!!!!!!!!!!! Only because I am lazy and just want to get home... the people are all fine. I'm just excited!

March 11 is coming.

Me and my boss have been getting along great lately (Jonathan says it's cause I've quit) and when I know she's in a good mood, I like to ask her about the tsunami. She was in it last year and I had asked her when she first came to Aomori why she came here, so the story was somewhat told. But not a lot. Because I didn't want to make her cry. Today I asked her more... and here's what I found out.
She lived with her parents in a city that was kind of wiped out. She was at work and the earthquake hit so she and the others evacuated to higher ground. But before her parents headed for higher ground they went home to save their dog, Waffle. (Yes, that is her dog's name.) After the tsunami she said the water was 2 meters high in her house, so the they lost everything on the first floor, but the second floor was okay. For a month and a half they had no running water and for like, 3 months they had no electricity. She said some people came and stole stuff, but not from her house, from others who didn't live at their house. Her car was destroyed in the tsunami. And she has a pretty big PSTD when it comes to earthquakes - which I like to make fun of her for. But, she doesn't get angry at me :)
I asked her today if she ever got sad about what happened and she said she did, only earlier on. Now, not so much. I wanted to ask her if she knew anyone who was killed but that's like, utterly classless and I assume she knew a few ... at least. She said next Sunday (which is the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY) she's going home.
What's really cute was a few months ago, I was teaching a private lesson on Friday the 13th. I talked to my student about unlucky numbers and days, and that superstition (Japan's superstitious about the number 4) and I asked her if there were any days or numbers that she believed were unlucky.
She said 11. And I asked why.
Because of 9/11 and 3/11 (the Japanese disaster). I think 11 is a very bad day.
I have to agree!

ONLY ONE MONTH TO GO!!!!!

Tokyo, the second time around was so much more enjoyable. YES, I went alone (although I did meet up with my friend again on Saturday) but Sunday and Monday was all Melissa. All alone. On those trains. Cris-crossing my way across that massive city. DIDN'T GET LOST ONCE Y'ALL!!!!
Saturday I met up with Kotaro and after taking me to my hotel and such, we went to the Japanese Football Museum (we're both big fans!)

THE REAL WOMEN'S WORLD CUP TROPHY! WOOO!!!! sorry USA ladies!! XD

Where is 'Danmark?'

 

On Sunday I went around the city. In Ueno, I went to the zoo. They have pandas!!! And other great animals, but they don't have as much room as the zoo's back home. Which is sad.

And then I went to the Pokemon Center -- check that off the teenage wishlist! Thankfully, that was very close to Tokyo Tower, which was also on my list to visit.

Lastly, my hotel!