The Current Norm

Life is settling into a tension-filled schedule.  We know how the day is suppose to go and are following it, but always with a worry in our hearts.   The big question right now is whether to evacuate.

The Navy detected very low level radiation, akin to a transpacific flight, but have shared the precaution that we should stay indoors and seal obvious airflow into the houses, if we want.  We are not playing at the playground after school and Sullivans elementary has recess inside right now.  Thor, Io and I bike to school in the morning but that is only for two more days then school is done for the year.  (Thor will be a kindergartner in April!!!)  We cover up and I wash out clothes each day, this radiation is easily absorbed by water.  I even bought some masks just in case...the Japanese pharmacist I bought them from went to school in Rockford, Il for a while.  He even knows of Woodstock! 

There are to be rolling blackouts twice a day for the rest of the month. That was suppose to start three days ago.  I have yet to have one, though nearby neighbors have had them.  Perhaps our little section is just that much better about conserving energy.  Oh Yeah!     We are going to do most of the shopping on base since local stores will be having trouble with supplies. At this point though the base stores are fairly well wiped out for now.  Still quite a bit, but limited amounts of everything since they cannot depend on refrigeration all day every day.  Between overstocking for emergencies and buying items to send up north, only the most unessential items are still at the stores.  Our local train line is out of service for now, but we do have a car and the bikes as needed. Alexandra is at school at the base but Thor's last week of preschool is on a day to day basis (and none today). Luckily we have gas for cooking and the water also comes without power, so mostly we are unaffected.  Plus, I can check facebook on my phone...so important you know!

The base was limiting gasoline to 10gals a turn and now 5gal.  That just means more annoying people will go through twice I suppose.  There are lots of stations running out in town. Luckily we drive so little that I only filled up to 8.5gal.  Due to the (low) radiation in the air Jon is driving to work right now, so we are using a bit more, but even that is only 10 miles a day.

I heard the intercom go off again Tuesday morning...lots of"Japanese japanese tsunami japanese japanese tsunami japanese japanese tsunami"  Then the English saying that the tsunami alert had been lifted.  Worry then relief.  Now it goes off with no English translation, but they are just sharing the latest version of the blackout schedule.  Occationaly our cell phones will buzz with a funny buzz.  That means an earthquake is about to hit (about 2 to 10 seconds warning usually).  There are still tons of quakes through the island, but we only feel a few a day here; maybe one today, Wednesday, but I did not feel it.  Civilians are not being allowed to go north and assist until the shakes subside.

Right now everything is just waiting.  Although it is obviously a different story up north, for us the Earthquake and Tsunami are done.  Little damage at all.  There is just the general increase in the number of recent quakes.  The thing everyone here is worried about is the radiation.  I know two Americans who have left and my neighbor and his daughters family have gone to the in-laws for the time being.  We have started to add more iodine to our diets, just in case (though it turns out we are a bit low anyways).  That will help if there is a radiation spike.  Otherwise I am trying to keep the kids busy without running around outside.  Tempers are a bit short right now.  At least the Navy has become a bit more communicative recently.  They caught a lot of flack at the town hall meeting for not sending out an "everything is ok we will give you more info later" message  (You can facebook Command Fleet Activities Yokosuka if you want base updates)

And so now I sit, and wait for Jon to get home...and roll some beeswax candles because we don't have many right now.  They smell so nice :-)  I check facebook much too often, but I am stuck inside so the opportunity is at times to hard to resist.

I really like it here.  The country is lovely, the plum trees are blooming, people are friendly and so welcoming, especially if you bow and have a spattering (like 'hello' and 'goodbye') of Japanese.  The climate is quite nice and it is starting to feel like home.  I would really hate to have to leave after only just arriving (and before the cherry trees bloom).  Jon's intern has been called home and she is bitterly disappointed.  Yes, natural disasters, blah blah blah, but the opportunity she is losing... and she only finished the welcome to Japan classes Friday.   Her moms is relieved though...as I am sure my Mother and Mother-in-law will be if I come home, or rather, if I bring the grandchildren home :-)

Oh highpoint today, Ioanna was cleaning the toilet for me...with her toothbrush!   Hmmm, sweet girl.  Luckily I just happened to buy her a new one at the store this morning so not so bad.

Different things about Japan
~ You don't hand payments to cashiers, you put your cash or card in a little plate.
~ When they ask people to conserve energy, the public actually listens!
~ When referring to themselves, Japanese point to their nose not their chest.
~Streets are not labeled, you find addresses based on the area, then area section, then block number then house number.   Out of towners are screwed. 


P.S. Did I mention the worst part of conserving energy is turning off the toilets so the seat is cold!!!  I am so bringing a toilet when we move back stateside.