March 14, 2011 - How I Love Japan
HOW I LOVE JAPAN; My Personal Account of March 11, 2011s Strong Earthquake
"Even when clouds conceal the path ahead and when our way twists through valleys of troubles, LOOK up for God's mercy sustains us. He will send a keeper of the prison to to remind us of HIS GREAT LOVE". Truly God is good! In the midst of the strong quake and tsunami, God gave His faithful servants peace!
It was my last teaching day at my Junior High School yesterday.
After an emotional short program, I left the campus at 1:15 p.m. With 2 bagfuls of stuff, I was in a hurry going to Ikebukuro to pay for my plane ticket.
Plying from Asakadai to Ikebukuro, the train driver made an announcement. I was not mindful of it for it was normal everytime train stops unexpectedly. Innocent of what was happening, i felt a strong force - like train was swinging left and right, being pushed to and fro. Young people started to scream and some adults seemed worried and praying.
Looking outside the window, a lot of people were going down from the mansion on the opposite road. Alarm sounded everywhere, uniformed men with helmets ran for help. Young mothers carried their babies and some carried their dogs and cats. One young lady with her white undies only. I saw some old men with their canes but have helmets, too.
Now I am learning to love Japan, they are so prepared for EMERGENCIES like this.
Quake was strong and long. The strongest and longest quake i have ever experienced. I called my relatives and friends but line was cut off. The train staff walked around making sure everyone was safe. He offered a bottled tea to an old man. He tried to calm everyone down.
Few minutes past, another scary strong quake occurred! This time, I was a little horrified. THIS MUST NOT BE NORMAL! I prayed silently, Lord if this piece of land breaks open and will eat up this train and will be my end, Thy will be done!
Quake after quake after quake for 2 hours, inside the train. I hope, I was outside so I could escape. Still later, more quakes but this time, they were fainter and shorter. Few minutes later, the train driver announced that all train lines all over TOKYO had stopped operation. He advised everyone to get off the train and move to the nearest station, about 5 minutes from from where we were. Passengers were so organized. They walked quickly to the emergency door. Each one waited patiently for their turn. As I was nearing, I saw 2 station staff assisting each passenger going down through a slide like thing. I thought, I would slide down. Surprisingly, the slide was soft, my feet were strongly grounded as I stepped down. With my 2 bagfuls of school materials, the staff was very polite and helpful to carry them for me.
Now, I am learning to love Japan. The system amazes me in the midst of a tragedy.
Walking through the narrow road in between the rails, i thought of taking picture of the road I
was trodding
. 
Walking, walking, walking. At every corner of the road leading to the station, there was a staff guiding us where to go. On the station, i followed a long queue to the public telephone. Discipline is inherent among people. They talked on phone very briefly. It was my turn at last! I dialled 4 numbers but to no avail. Can't contact any of my relatives and the travel agent I was going to meet. Talked to the Station Master but did not get definite answer as to when the next schedule will be. Instead, i was offered to go down and rest on the stranded train.
Now, I am learning to love Japan. They are always after the comfort of the people.
Without noticing time, i had a short nap on the train. Heard of another announcement requesting people to make norikae either by bus or taxi because train had totally ceased operation for the day..
With only Y5,000 in my wallet, i cannot take a taxi. It won't be enough to reach my place. Granting that I had money, still i cannot take a ride because there was no bus nor taxi at the station. The queue was very long then. I went back to Station Master asking for direction on how to go to Shiki, a bigger and more modern station. Again, the only way is taxi. More so, the connecting bus' last trip was 7:30 p.m. He was apprehensive, i can't reach Shiki by then. Hopeless, but instinct must work. Called one of my students who has a car, asked for help but got a dry reply. She advised me to just stay where I was and I will be safe. Beside, I was very far from where she was and road was closed to traffic.
Will i still love Japan?
Station master must have been annoyed but i never stopped asking where the nearest Mc Donald's was? Where the nearest convenience store was? Where can I sleep in case worse comes to worst? He replied, "cho cho omatte kudasai". I stayed at one corner uncomfortably. A few while, i heard of another announcement, I was enliven, I heard the familiar word "Shogakkou" meaning Elementary School. I knew they were evacuating us to the Elementary School. My heart beat faster. Now, i realize this must be what my student meant. " Stay where you are and you will be safe".
Now, I am learning to LOVE JAPAN. It is after the safety of its citizenry.
At Kami-Itabashi Elementary School, we were met by a male teacher and led us to the gymnasium. Wow, the school was so clean and "mabango". When we entered, there were already some people, adult and children alike. They maybe from the neighborhood, i thought.
A lady teacher called representatives from each team or in my case, just myself, led us to the first floor where blankets and plastic mats are stored. Amazed, amazed, amazed! Blankets were neatly vacuum-packed in a foil material and blue plastic mats in transparent plastic bag. This time, we were about over a hundred people and each of one got fresh blanket and blue plastic mat.
Oh, how I love Japan! So organize and neat even in EMERGENCIES like this.
Japanese people have the best packaging style I have ever seen. I tried to open up the foil bag but I can't. I tried to tear it, but it was so strong. Having a short packaging experience, I knew that the material was first class. I must tear it neatly for future use. One obasan helped me. She showed the small cut which made it easy to tear a part of the bag, whewwww! Plastic mat was so big, can accommodate 4 people maybe. I was invited by the obasan to lay my mat close to them, offered me cheese bread and tried very hard to understand my broken Nihonggo. They were so patient to me and they assisted me in any way they can.
Knowing that I was an English teacher, she said that I am scared when I hear someone speaks English but with me, she said, " I feel so comfortable". I also had a chance to play with some children as I have some teaching materials, balloons and bells in my plastic bags. Discreetly, i took another shot but one obasan was not comfortable, Speaking in Nihonggo, I understood, it was not a welcome idea. One of them commented and I slightly understood like, " it's ok, she is Filipino and a teacher".
I smiled at them and started to deviate the story. I told them i CAN'T contact my family. They also started to tell me that they too, cannot call their family members. I was successful of deviating their attention. I was relieved! Later, I got a message from my brother, ROBERT, asking for my whereabouts as everyone of my relatives from Philippines, America and Australia were so worried. Among relatives, it was only my husband and me who were still UNACCOUNTED for. I replied to the mail and so was happy that it went through. I immediately called up my husband Ron! Thanks God, His provision was really with us. Ron, too was safe and sound! I texted my brother and so he posted our status at FACEBOOK . Everyone was relieved except for my son, Ram. He will be having a final test in ROTC this morning, but he cannot clean his shoes, can't cut his fingernails and can't prepare for the drill. Whatever it takes, God bless my son. We LOVE HIM SO MUCH!
Next step was that I pretended so sleepy and hid under my good smelling blanket. I erased their pics from my celphone, in case they complain, whew!!!!
Came 1:00 a.m., i had to go to the toilet. Wow, i was surprised that "volunteers" or "PTA members" in black uniform took turns in watching us overnight. Opened the doors for me quietly as i was going closer to them. Going down, i met a lot more people who have just arrived. Maybe around 20 of them. Was a little concerned though, one obasan on my right was not there anymore. I thought she moved to another area as she was scared of my camera, oh poor she!
At 6:00 o'clock, I heard more footsteps. I knew it was morning but was so lazy to stand up. More people are coming. This time, i guess we were nearly over a hundred people. I heard the obasan talking that there was already a train going to Ikebukuro. I forced myself to wake up and prepared to go.
Folding my blanket and mat to its original fold was a challenge. Again, the obasan friend, helped me and easily she did it herself. What a handiwork!
Oh how I love Japan and its people! They are gifted with special talent like this.
Announcements were posted on the board. Helplessly, I can't read. Again, my instinct MUST WORK!!!! Bravely talking to the man in uniform, asked what was that paper posted on the board, he said "Train Schedule". But oh no, that was only a schedule going to Ikebukuro. No schedule yet for trains bound to Kawagoe. Braving the cold morning, i bid goodbye to the obasans and some friends i met and proceeded to the eki.
Waiting patiently and making train transfers i reached Shiki. While on the train, we heard a loud fall. A standing man of his 40's fell straight on the floor. As a rule, you can't touch the victim. You have to ask for help. Two old women ran to the EMERGENCY BELL . When train stopped at Narimasu Station, 4 uniformed men with stretcher were already waiting outside.
Oh, how I love Japan now! They are so calm yet organized!!!!
Getting a transfer train to Kawagoe, I met a familiar face. I couldnt recall where I met her but she recognized me first. She introduced me to her 2 other friends, whom she met at the restaurant in Ikebukuro while waiting for a train also. I soon learned that she was also a teacher.
I told her I was very hungry having just one piece of small cheese bread at night and no breakfast yet. Oh Japanese, how I love you. They always have small kimuchi in their bags. She offered me a pack of biscuit and that's what I ate while on the train.
One of her friends, a Travel Arranger, and spoke very good English went with me at the same station, Kami-Fukuoka. Talking while walking in English, someone heard us and greeted us "pa sometimes-sometimes ka pa". Oh my, she was my cousin Amy. She just came from my sister Nick's house, where she spent the night with because she was scared sleeping in her mansion. Thanks God, cousins, too were safe.
Reaching my apartment at 7:30 a.m., the first thing I did was to pray again thanking God we are all safe. I turned on the PC, Iwas so touched by the over 100 messages from relatives, Avon friends, high school classmates, neighbors and friends around the globe. Discounting the fact that many more messages are pouring while I was online. I had to answer every greeting and well-wishers.
Now, I learned to love Japan and its people but more so, I must keep the love of my own people, who in times like this, you know they care.
Allow me to attach this quotation written by my son, Robin. "When toils and troubles come again, God's sovereignty prevails. All things work together for good to those who love the Lord, to those who are called according to His purpose. God takes care of every sparrow how much more elaborate His plan for His children? :)"
On a normal day to day life, we may not acknowledge God's wonders but He uses different techniques - sometimes bold strokes and dark shades, sometimes soft touch or 3D effect - to develop a unique portrait of us. I must be sensitive to HIS call while it is not yet late!o
