Caught a ride to Musashino with Akira. After parking the car, we walked the short distance to the school, International Education Blueprint (IEB). Marci was just finishing a class. It was lunchtime. Together, we walked to an Italian restaurant nearby. It had a steep stairwell on the outside of the building. Once inside it opened up to a large area of seating. We sat down and ordered a lunch set. (Set: your entree, soup, or small salad plus a drink of your choice.)
I love the Japanese way of serving a towelette to wash your hands before eating. We all had spaghetti for our entree. I’ve learned to carry a small camping style fork just in case the restaurant does not have forks available. Fortunately, this restaurant did serve a small one to me when asked. You think this sounds crazy – but, try eating spaghetti with chopsticks (Hashi).
After lunch, Akira was off to the University for appointments. Marci still had two more classes to complete later in the day. Her office assistant was putting up decorations for the holidays when we arrived back at IEB. Who said I would miss out on decorating for Christmas? While Marci prepared for class I helped with decorating, using many of the fun decorations they have collected over the years. I put a small tree together with lights.
They had a large box of ornaments for the kids to choose one ornament to put on the tree as they arrive for class. Akira has a collection of winter wonderland buildings, all kinds of bells, little animals – some soft and fun to hold – some things to just look at from afar. He also has a collection of blow-up figures brought back from the U.S., a great snowman sitting just outside the street level classroom.
The afternoon class was made up of students Marci has known since they were babies at the daycare center across the street. She visits there once a week and the kids learn songs and phrases and such. Anyway, this group of students, 5-7 years, were really talented. They speak English fairly well for being so young. You can tell that they love their teacher (Sensei). It was very enjoyable to watch them being taught in such a fun way.
The second class was about to start. This was a group of older students. Suddenly, the building started to shake and move in a rocking sensation back and forth. I froze. Marci flew by me and opened the sliding door to the outside patio. I sat there wondering why she opened the slider.
In the room next to me, I heard the other teacher saying of course in Japanese, get down – get under the table – get under the desk. I was wondering what I should do myself when Marci came back to the room I was in and said Mom, come stand with me under the door frame. She could see what was going on that way in both classrooms and would know if she should get us all out of there.
During the last year’s Sendai quake (March 11, 2011), everyone including instructors were escorted out of the building and into the middle of an open area. She and Akira, at that time, then went across the street to the daycare to help get the little children out to safety. She says that it was much worse than what we were experiencing now. The kids knew exactly what to do.
Together they dropped down and under they went. In the meantime, I am wondering how long this movement is going to continue. This is no little quake. Later, I discovered it was in a similar area, offshore, and up closer to Sendai. The people in that area are still going through a great deal of hardship. Some are still displaced. The workers for the electric company are still trying to get a handle on the proper function of the nuclear plant.
Finally, the rocking ceased. The children climbed out from under and continued to take their jackets and shoes off. They chose an ornament to decorate the tree and – stepped into the classroom where classes were ready to begin. Wow! Just great kids, all 4-6th graders.
No one did a lot of talking about it among themselves which surprised me. Marci asked one student if he was ok, and he said, yes – just nauseated. The lesson began. When Akira arrived back from the University he told us that he was just leaving a building and felt and saw the quake happening. But, he said had he been on the freeway, he might not have known it took place at all.
You’ve had some really interesting experiences already! You’ve jumped in with both feet, I’m so proud of you mom. I bet by the time you’ve been there a year the earthquakes will be no big deal to you either. Or at least you know your “job” and just move to your safe place take care of your earthquake task and then move on. How fun for the kids to have a little bit of the western style Christmas. Excited to see pictures! xoxo Mikaela