One Week Later: Evacuation, that’s a powerful word. It’s always matched with events when a formidable circumstance or predicament forces the panic stricken and helpless to flee. I’ve been through one of those once in my life before, going through it again is too ironic of an option; but I’ll get to that later. Many I know have left. Some went right after the first earthquake, others waited. Today more departed Japan. Their reasons varied but the commonality was uncertainty.
It’s been a long and heavy week and I can see how the uncertainty triggers the survival impulse. What we are certain about is that the biggest natural disaster ever to hit Japan struck one week ago. That there are thousands confirmed dead and about 10 thousand still missing. The images of entire communities washed away will linger in fabric of this country forever. Right now there are people patiently suffering and humbly seeking deliverance. This I know are certainties. A sideshow of this epic disaster is also the shadow of a nuclear catastrophe. It’s a shadow, a big mean dark shadow that scares us all. But the size and scale of the source of this shadow is completely unknown. We are kept in the dark. The news media here tell us trivial things about reactor science and how the workers and specialists are fighting the meltdown.
What they don’t tell us is whether it’s deadly, dangerous, our at what level of concern we should be at. They’ve done a great job at citing measurements and even elevating the nuclear disaster level at the reactor to a “LEVEL 5” which surpasses 3 Mile Island. Thank you for keeping score; but please let the masses know what the dangers are. What the sentiment should be towards any harmful effects. Are my children safe, are we in danger, should we leave..?
These are what people here need to know. Certainties and Uncertainties were the thoughts that occupied today. As for today itself, it was much better than the others this week. For a friend of mine he said it best “It’s a great day…” as his son was born today. Welcome to the world new born son of my good friend Peter. Once you get a name I’ll make for proper introductions. Good news, something certainly good to be warmed by. As for the rest and other events today. Most stores had limited their hours.
Signs and non essential lighting dimmed. The shelves in grocery stores are still bare. My friend’s restaurant had to be closed for 3 days due to the lack of cooking ingredients. The day was clear and very windy until the hazy night came that was lit by a full moon. On this night I’m typing this as fast I as I can, I want the words and meanings to flow out, I want to hit the upload button before anything changes. I want to be able to post this and be able to say that today there were no major tremors, aftershocks, or new earthquakes near Tokyo. Today nothing shook us here. A turn for the better I hope, a turn for more certain things.
Linh Vien Thai is Amerasian, born in Dalat, South Vietnam, where he continued to lived during the war. He left for the U.S. and is now an American living in Tokyo. He enjoys adventure traveling and doing what’s right to make the world a better place.
