Thank you so much for all your messages and comments! I’m sorry that I can’t reply to every messages so please accept our deepest gratitude!
We are still here in Tokyo. My husband hasn’t gone to the office because of limited train schedule but his job allow him to work from home. Stores are started to run out of food now because people are buying more than what they usually need. The sights of empty stores shelves, not to mention the dimmed light to save electricity, has caused more panic buying. This is bad for people in the disaster area where everyday food is scarce now.
I think the best thing to do now is to stay calm, not panic, and find the correct information before making any decision. The nuclear situation is worrying but so far everything is still safe here. My highest respect to the people who’ve been working hard at the nuclear reactor risking their own lives to keep the reactor cool. We will certainly leave when the situation become too risky to stay, but now is not the time yet.
Meanwhile, the disaster coverage has been running continuously on television, each time with new footage and stories from people who have had a close encounter with the disaster. People who have managed to escape, but lost their loved ones, their homes, their everything. I can’t imagine how that might feel.
But it is amazing to see people ‘s reaction towards the horrible event. We don’t see hysterical crying on television, although you can feel the unbearable sadness through their eyes and maintained words. News are delivered matter-of-factly, no gasps, no drama, and especially no dramatic music background. People turn to helping each other and everything is still kept in order.
My husband walked for 5-6 hours that night, but he didn’t have to worry about other things except walking. A lot of people were walking with him, no one was taking advantage of the other, no crime happened that night. No cars ran through red lights and no accidents. When the red lights for pedestrian turned on, everyone stopped walking and did some stretching. And when it turned green, they walked together again, in silence. You might think it is eerie, but that is what I call efficient. Don’t waste your breath talking or even crying because you need it to do more important thing.
Now that the disaster-stricken areas need electricity badly, the blackout schedule is started to roll this week. People cooperate by turning off unnecessary lights and limit using electrical devices. Stores are doing the same by turning off electrical doors, store signs, and background music. We try to do the same by staying in one room most of day, at night we only use one lamp in the room. The heater is off most of the day, after all we still have jackets to wear when it is too cold.
I looked out of my bedroom window last night and everything seems darker than usual. The spot where sign stores usually blinking were black. I don’t know, it is somehow beautiful that everyone is together in this, and everyone can participate in helping others even by only turning off the lights.
This is a strong and well-prepared country. And while I’m not a Japanese, I’m happy to be part of it right now. Ganbatte, Japan.
I’m joining the Japan Quake Appeal in cooperation with A Bit of This and A Bit of That, and will host a raffle for a bag of goodies. All you have to do is make a donation to GlobalGiving to enter the raffle. The raffle will be posted tomorrow after I take the pictures, so stay tuned. Please note that we are in no way affiliated with GlobalGiving, that’s just our chosen method of getting funds safely to the affected area.
Hello, I came across your blog by chance, while browsing amongst like miinded crafters ( I love your blog by the way ). I just want to let you know that we here in Dubai in middle east are watching the updates on the news, every day. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the people in Japan. You are a strong people over there. Your dignity and way you are presenting your selves in the midst of this terrible time is touching the hearts of people all over the world…..we see people in Japan coping calmly and with dignity and strength. God bless everyone….God bless…..Lynn in Dubai
I think that through this disaster Japan is setting an example for the rest world of how to handle unimaginable hardship with sacrifice, kindness, a strong sense of community and dignity. Thank you for sharing your hope and experience. You are all in our thoughts and prayers!
Mbak Novita,
glad to hear that you and your little family are safe.
Saya kagum sama Jepang, rasanya orang2 di sini (Jerman) lebih panik dan heboh dibanding mereka yg di Jepang.
Our prayers are with all of you, please stay safe.
Mis mejores deseos para que poco a poco todo vuelva a la normalidad. Rezo por vosotros y vuestro pueblo, que esta dando un ejemplo único para el resto de la humanidad.
Un beso
Wish you all the best! It’s really amazing how disciplined people in Japan are.
Your post made me smile. It’s true that during these very hard times, Japan has shown strength, discipline and courage–truly admirable traits that every nation must learn from.
Happy to hear you’re safe, those are hard times for everyone there. Your post deeply touched me, it’s a shame for human race that symphathy and brotherhood shows only facing such a disaster, but I feel full of hope when reading that despite desperation people are helping each other. I have always taken for granted that people deserve a dinner, a warm place and a roof to stay, I’m very shaken now. Please ganbatte.
Dear Novita, I read this post and I said to myself: What a lesson!! I was thinking these days… Japan sacrifice shows the world how important is the awareness of love (connection, acceptance, joy, respect, etc.) for all the humanity and the Earth. And now japanese people show this, bring this in life, even it is so horrible what actually happened. Your husband’s story about people walking together on and on, in silence, about how everybody save the electricity so it is still some for everybody, how people stay calm and save their energy… What a lesson! This can really change people’s view about beeing human.
I also follow your blog for about one year. I learned a lot from you and you and your family became familiar to me. I am also a mother, my son is a very bit younger than Sidra, and I have a girl of 19 months. I am so happy you and your family are safe.
I send my prayers to you and all Japan, all the angels be with you! Thank you for who you are!
Lots of love, from Romania,
Oltea
Good to here from you. The Israelis are watching the news all the time to get updates from Japan, we cross our figures for you. And in more personal note: I hope for the best, in the morning news I heard that the radiation level in Tokyo is now 40 times higher then usual, I do think you should leave if you have the option. Your safety is the most important thing. Keep us posted.
Liron
Thank you so much for the concern! The radiation level was peaked for a while early this morning when a fire broke but it has since gone down again. Even at 40 times higher, the radiation is still lower than having an X-ray taken. I find that the foreign press tend to sensationalize a little bit.
We follow all the development carefully and will certainly leave when it is become too risky
Thank-you for this post! Sending lots of love and prayers your way! Please keep us updated!
I am praying for all those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Glad to hear your family is okay. And yes I absolutely agree that the Japanese handle this situation well. People are calmed and they are working together and help each other out during this difficult time.
Thanks for sharing your story. I’m glad to hear your family is safe.
Sending positive thoughts for the continuing safety of yourself and your loved ones, and my heartfelt sympathy to all of Japan. Thank you for posting about Global Giving. I have made a donation. It is good to hear from you in Japan, about a charity that you believe can be a particularly good help right now.
hi Novita, today for the first time I’ve realized that you live in that area, so I jumped here to see if you’re safe, I’m glad to know that you, Sidra and your DH are ok, I have the maximum respect for Japanese people, I really love their culture and I always thought that they are a great people. stay safe and calm, and of course leave if it’s necessary to do it. Love and huges, Giusy
PS: I will donate!
Dear Novita
Thank you for your update.
Over here in Switzerland we have been following the news. It is so horrible. I am so glad you and your family are okay.
Best of luck to you all. Our thoughts are with you. Be safe.
I just hear on the news that the Swiss journalists have all left Tokyo now because they fear that there will be an exodus out of Tokyo in the upcoming days. So make sure that you and your loveones leave early enough if possible!
Take care. Hoping to hear from you soon again.
Love, Jackie
First off, HAPPY WHITE DAY!!
I am glad to hear ya’ll are safe and well!
They way you described everyone walking home and on TV is very dignified. Ya’ll are very strong people, our hearts are with you.
Sending loveing thoughts…you are beautiful and strong
Beautiful post~~ thank you for the update!!!
~Did I tell you I got your package in the mail Thursday afternoon!! Thank you so much Novita!!!
Thank you for updating.
I’m thinking to all of you everyday…every hour.
Being together and helping is the better thing to do in these cases.
Take care.
Love from Italy.
hello, do not worry about us, I hope that everything will be fine, or possible.
Of course we love to hear
you wear well
kisses
well said novita! ive been following the coverage and i am amazed at the calmness and dignity japanese people have shown after their everything was destroyed. there was no hysterical crying, no looting. people stood in line to buy food from super markets, even though they are super hungry. amazing. all the best to them and your family, and great effort raising money for them! I will participate.
I’ve been following all the news of the earthquake and the first persons I thought about when I saw the news was a dear old friend that -I knew after- is not living in Japan anymore, and you Novita and your family. I ran here to see if you were all ok. Thanks God all of you are ok. I’ve been very impressed about all the news happening, and now about the danger with the Nuclear power plants…. I just hope everything can be controlled. Thank you for sharing your point of view, and to give us the rest of the world a confirmation of the order and consciousness from the Japanese people. Big enormous *hugs* from a Venezuelan living in Germany.
Hi! i’ve been following your blog anonymously for a while now. you write beautifully and especially this post. i’m hooked to the news since the quake. just know that the whole world is in the suport of japan, and have so much respect for the japanese people and it’s noble behaviour. take care
so good to hear that you are OK.
my thoughts are with you, your beloved
ones and all the people in japan.
take care!!!
nic
Me alegro que tu tu marido estéis bien. Da mucha pena ver por televisión la total destrucción de ciudades o pueblos. Es impresionante ver barcos encima de viviendas, pero lo peor, lo que más me llega al alma es ver cómo la gente, no grita, no corre despavorida, solo lora silenciosamente y con total recogimiento a sus seres queridos que ya no están con ellos. Es un país muy, muy, avanzado en todos los sentidos, se repondrán de todas las catástrofes que les están sucediendo y desde el resto del mundo les miraremos con orgullo, por ser un país tan civilizado, tendremos que aprender de ellos, ese respeto por sus seres fallecidos no es comparable a nada, no hay gritos,ni pillaje, solo ganas de superarse.
Espero que sigáis bien.
Muchos besos y saludos de Anabel, desde Madrid.
I was in Japan last Novembre and found the Japanese mentality difficult to discribe, kind of cold, detached, sufficient indeed, but allways allways very respectful. The way the Japanese people (as far as I can see/feel on television) are handling this situation is humble but strong, and again there is a lot of respect for eachother.
I hope the best for Japan!
hi,
{this is first time i’m leaving a comment, sorry for being silent for so long}
i’m glad that you & your family are okay. i too keep thinking about people at Japan even when i have no one there. it’s just that as a human being, we feel what people there were feeling by just looking at the pictures or news.
and i’m too impress with how Japanese handling their emotion. on the first day i notice that no loud crying or people shouting. it’s a tragedy but the environment is calm. people are moving to help but there are lesser tension.
hope that people from other country can learn too; that grieving won’t solve a problem.
i’m not sure how to stop this long comment. but just wishing you a safe and a good day.
I think it is a testament to the world of the beauty of Japan and the Japanese people of how we should all act in times of turmoil. Even in these difficult times, the Japanese are respectful to one another and calm. Our prayers are with you and all those who are suffering.
I’m glad you’re okay, dear. Kami di tanah air selalu berdoa untuk semuanya. Everything will get better soon. God bless you. God bless Japan.
Thank you for taking the time to keep us informed!
I love your story about how people do their best to go through this all together and with dignity. I am also – as probably most of the world – totally impressed with how people in Japan handle with the situation. They’re really giving us a lesson about how being hysterical won’t solve problems or change a sad situation. I am sure I could use some of that wisdom from now on in my every day life.
They’re isn’t much I can do for now to help but please, do know all my thoughts are for Japan these days.
I am so glad you and your family are doing well. I, like the others, am so amazed at how civilized and dignified the Japanese people are being in this crisis situation. I hope the rest of the world will learn from this
Thank you Novita. I have been checking every day to see if you have posted; so glad to read your calm words. Blessings on Japan in these dark days.
Thank you for updating us. I am glad to hear that you and your family are staying safe. It is also wonderful to hear that everyone is working together during this time. All the best to you as you journey through.
Thank you for this post!
My thoughts are with you, your family and all the people in Japan.
Dear Novita, thank you for posting this, it brought me tears. I just can’t write anything about it right now, because my heart is almost burst with mixed feelings and my nerves are tensed too much. I know that it’s not the time to be flattened on the ground, though. What you wrote must be very explaining to others, but at the same time, to me it’s very encouraging. I felt as if you did it for me. I have no words to thank you enough for it.
Again, so glad you and yours are safe and well. If you hear of any organization or group collecting toys for the affected chilren, could you let us (or me) know? I’m a toy maker and I am planning to collect handmade toys for those affected once the more immediate needs have been met (food, water, etc). I have been trying to find an organization to donate these to, but haven’t had any luck. My American friends living in Fukuyama aren’t aware of any. =/
Thanks so much!
Best of luck to you and yours, and those touched by this disaster. Our thoughts are with you. Be safe.
Dear Novita, good to hear that you are doing relatively fine. I can only agree. I am totally impressed about how the Japanese handle this situation. As promised, I have put up my raffle contribution to the ‘Japan Quake Appeal’, yesterday. Let us hope to get as many people as possible to donate! Take good care.
http://nettevivante.blogspot.com/2011/03/japan-quake-appeal-raffle-please-share.html
I totally agree with the sentiments you express here. Japan’s response has been dignified and serene. I have a renewed respect for the people of Japan. They are not moaning or wailing, or screaming or crying. They are quietly and gradually beginning the long process of putting lives back together. I am astounded and humbled by the people of Japan, I truly am.
Px
God Bless Japan and the people so they might be stronger then before.
It’s beautiful how humanity comes together in this times. But it should’nt be necessary this kind of things to make people together. Maybe it gets people near to God, near to what really matters: love.
Be strong!
People from Japan are giving a lesson to the rest of the world.
Glad to hearing from you!
Beautiful post, Novita, it really touched my heart. I think one thing is for sure, the entire world is looking at how Japan is – very calmly with utmost civilization – reacting to the terrible situation. Our hearts will stay with Japan.