Since moving to Japan one of the biggest underlying fears I have had has lied with the fault line just east of the country. Coming from Grand Junction, Colorado (which ironically enough just had its third earthquake in my lifetime on January 24) I have never considered an earthquake to be a predominant threatening natural disaster in my life. However, coming to Japan I knew I would undoubtedly be in for some ground shaking experiences. My foreshadowing was only confirmed with the Tōkai earthquake safety evacuation folder I was given upon my arrival.
On March 11, 2011 Japan experienced one of the worst tsunamis ever as a result of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake. The disaster was known around the world and effected not only Japan but other surrounding countries in Asia and even reached as far as Hawaii. Needless to say, I have been a bit uneasy about the stability of the ground in Japan.
In the five months I have lived in Japan I have known about and experienced two earthquakes. The first one I was unaware of until I came to the office after working overtime in my classroom and was informed of the minor tremor. I was pretty bummed that I had missed my first earthquake.
[Fast forward two months] We had a scheduled earthquake drill set for February 6, 2013. It was raining that day so the earthquake drill was cancelled. However, later in the day as we were getting ready to go outside (after the rain has stopped) I felt what could only be described as an earthquake. Due to my experience with earthquakes heart fell to my stomach with panic even though the quaking lasted no more than 5 seconds. It was so short my co-teacher even suspected that it was just a big truck passing by. About a minute later my boss came in to ask us if we had felt the earthquake. Still shook up I nodded and hoped I was doing the right thing in continuing to usher the kids outside for our "outside time" and into safety from further earthquakes.
We were the only class who felt the "earthquake" and we were also the only class who "evacuated the building." There is also no record of an earthquake anywhere near Japan on February 6, 2013. However, with my bosses confirmation and a few Facebook status updates, I feel confident that the first earthquake I felt was not in my head. I am now one step closer to being prepared for a real earthquake, on the record.
On March 11, 2011 Japan experienced one of the worst tsunamis ever as a result of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake. The disaster was known around the world and effected not only Japan but other surrounding countries in Asia and even reached as far as Hawaii. Needless to say, I have been a bit uneasy about the stability of the ground in Japan.
In the five months I have lived in Japan I have known about and experienced two earthquakes. The first one I was unaware of until I came to the office after working overtime in my classroom and was informed of the minor tremor. I was pretty bummed that I had missed my first earthquake.
[Fast forward two months] We had a scheduled earthquake drill set for February 6, 2013. It was raining that day so the earthquake drill was cancelled. However, later in the day as we were getting ready to go outside (after the rain has stopped) I felt what could only be described as an earthquake. Due to my experience with earthquakes heart fell to my stomach with panic even though the quaking lasted no more than 5 seconds. It was so short my co-teacher even suspected that it was just a big truck passing by. About a minute later my boss came in to ask us if we had felt the earthquake. Still shook up I nodded and hoped I was doing the right thing in continuing to usher the kids outside for our "outside time" and into safety from further earthquakes.
We were the only class who felt the "earthquake" and we were also the only class who "evacuated the building." There is also no record of an earthquake anywhere near Japan on February 6, 2013. However, with my bosses confirmation and a few Facebook status updates, I feel confident that the first earthquake I felt was not in my head. I am now one step closer to being prepared for a real earthquake, on the record.
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