The Day the Earth Moved...

How can I even begin to tell this story? The past week and a half has inched by. It was filled with shaking from both myself and the floor, countless hours of alertness, friendship, hurt, hope, airports, security lines, panic, food, family, relief, fear, heartbreak, strength and sadness. The events I am referring to began on March 11th, 2011.

As most crazy days do, this one began normally. I woke up, did homework, had lunch, checked my mail, went to the BX, came home and sat on the couch with my laptop in my lap. About 2:46pm it feels like my couch is shaking. Have you ever had a dog? When they scratch their ears with their hind legs, sometimes it feels like the house shakes for a second. But Cheyenne is in my line of vision, and she is asleep on her bed. “Huh. Strange.” I think. “Oh, it’s still shaking. Oh, look at my lampshade. Oh! It’s an earthquake!” And I’m embarrassed to say that for a split second I felt excited. Earthquakes are very common in Japan, and I hear about them all the time, but I’ve never felt one. The second floor usually doesn’t. But then, it’s still shaking and I can see everything I own rattling, and I can hear it. And the Earth sounds as if she’s moaning. And I panic because I don’t know what to do. I quickly realize this isn’t okay. This is major. My mind searches for an answer about where to go, because with each passing millisecond the house shakes a little more. And it's rattling, and rolling. I get in the doorway of my bedroom because it’s a metal frame. I cry out for Cheyenne to come because the entertainment center hutch is rocking back and forth and I’m waiting on it to fall and crush her. She doesn’t hesitate to listen and as I brace myself in the doorway and actively am praying out loud, “Oh God, please make it stop. Make it stop shaking. The towers! Oh God, those towers! Stop it. Why won’t it stop? It’s still shaking! Father, make it stop!!!” And I can hear my blinds banging from side to side, hitting the window frame, then shifting outwards and slapping against the glass window, and I can hear my neighbor’s dogs barking. And it’s still rolling. I’m being pulled from side to side and it doesn’t make sense. I’d always imagined an earthquake would feel like you’re shaking from side to side, but it doesn’t. It rolls, and turns and twists, and you can’t keep your feet planted. It’s terrifying. I watch a picture frame fall over, but then it’s done. It stops. The Earth stops moving, I take a deep breath, and want to break into tears. What do I do now? I look at my bookshelf that’s been re-organized. It’s just stuff. Nothing’s even broken. The people. How are my neighbors? I can hear front doors being opened, and I get Cheyenne on a leash and we go downstairs where we meet two of our neighbors.

They both felt it. I didn’t imagine it. None of us knew what to do when it happened. Jane was about to walk out the door because she had somewhere to be at 3. We discuss aftershocks, and tsunamis. I gasp at the thought of a tsunami. The island is so small, and we all know it would cause a lot of damage. We wonder where the epicenter was. A word I’d learned only a week or two prior, in the English class I teach. The center of the earthquake. Where it began.

We talk about our friends who live in “the towers” which are 9 story apartment buildings on base, there are tons of them. We try to call our friends, but the cellphone lines are down. We discuss that it must have been really close, or else it was a huge earthquake. I take Jane’s dogs upstairs with me because I’m not going anywhere, and we were afraid if another one came, we didn’t want stuff to fall on them.

I got back inside, and immediately google, “What to do in an earthquake”. I read about getting under a sturdy piece of furniture, crouch to the ground, hold on. I come up with a game plan to get under my dining room table if it happens again. I pulled up facebook, where everyone and their mom at our base has already posted comments such as “Whoa! Earthquake!” Or “Rocking and rolling in Japan!” And other witty things. I think I posted something about how scary it was.

I turn on Fox news. Nothing about Japan. I turn on CNN, nothing. From my house phone, which is still working, I call my friend who is pregnant and has a 2 year old and lives on the 8th floor. She’s okay. She only had a vase break, but she and her little boy are okay. She says she googled the earthquake and gives me the link. It says the quake was a 7.something and all it says it was off the island of Honshu. I can’t do anything but think, “No shit. Why isn't it more specific?”

I google Japan earthquake. Nothing. Then someone puts on facebook to watch the Japanese news coverage. Duh! And then there’s the tsunami. There’s a giant wave. And I begin praying again. Silently this time, but fervently. And it hit shore. I’m watching this live and the homes are being swept again, I see cars, and ships being tossed like toys in a bathtub. The cars are trying to outrun this wave, but it’s hopeless. They’re gone.

For the next few hours I can’t tear myself away from the TV or the internet, except for the 3 major aftershocks. When it started shaking, I yelled for the dogs to come, and all 3 of them did, and we crawled under my kitchen table. I have Cheyenne in the nook of my arm and the other two babies by the collars. They aren’t going anywhere. They understand.

I think about calling my parents, but know it’s after midnight there, and they both work early. There’s no way for me to contact George until he gets on Skype. So, I call other people around the base and make sure they’re alright. The base checks on me. George’s commander’s wife calls me. I say I’m fine. The squadron calls me; friends call me, my phone rings about 6 times. Those who don’t call, send mass Facebook messages asking if everyone is okay. We Facebook chat. Everyone has a different story, but everyone is okay!

Jane comes back and spends the rest of the afternoon and evening with me. We choke back tears as we watch the images of the country we love and call home, being destroyed.

I get home that evening and realize that when my parents, family and friends wake up in the morning and turn on the news, they’re going to worry about me. So I wait until about 4am their time and then call. My dad answers, and I explain that there was an earthquake, and when they turn on the news they’ll see how bad it was but I promise I’m safe. He tells my mom, and I’m relieved they won’t worry. Except, the worry just begins.

Then we hear that Yokota took in 11 airplanes that had been diverted from the Narita airport, and they need volunteers with the Red Cross to help. So we go. Jane and I take off to the Taiyo rec center on the base and wait for instruction. They have too many volunteers so I sign up for a shift for the next morning.

I get home that night and decide to send an e-mail. Here’s a copy of it (edited, this time):

Hello friends and family!

Just wanted to send you all a message and let you know that I perfectly fine! About 2:50pm here this afternoon there was an 8.8 earthquake about 230 miles from me. My house, which is on the second floor, shook like crazy. I had a couple of picture frames fall over, and everything hanging on the walls is now crooked, but nothing was broken! I did have some friends who live on the 9th floor of an apartment building here on base have things break (one had a tv fall off the wall) but there have been no injuries reported on base! What a blessing!

The quake itself was horrifying. The noise it brought was super eerie! It sounded like a monster rumbling outside and I could hear the blinds in my house bouncing back and forth off the window frames. I had always imagined an earthquake would shake side to side, but my house shook back and forth, left and right, up and down-- I don't know how else to explain it- except that I didn't like it one bit!!!

Cheyenne and I stood in a door frame and held on. It shook about 2 minutes! That is a really long time to have your home shake! I heard someone on the news report they thought it was 4-6 minutes long. I'm not sure, but I know it was WAY longer than I ever needed to feel one!

We also felt after shocks all afternoon, well, even until about an hour ago... we'll probably feel them all night, and maybe into tomorrow! Ick!

The main airports here in Japan are closed and Yokota Air Base (where I live) is taking in airplanes! The Red Cross here on base has been quick to respond, and I went in to help and am signed up to help from 7am-12pm tomorrow. There is going to be plenty of help needed throughout Japan for the next few weeks (if not months) and I'm happy I'll be able to do something! We're supposed to get an estimated 2500 people here that need to sleep in our community centers tonight.

Please keep Japan in your prayers. Just heard them say on a Japanese news channel that 3.98 MILLION people are without power tonight. Which means no heat, and it's supposed to go down to below freezing tonight... it's even supposed to snow. Watching the footage as it was happening just miles from me has been devastating. I feel pretty helpless. Japan is a wonderful country who will get back on their feet quickly. And continue to pray for the other countries throughout the Pacific that are being affected by the tsunamis that have resulted.

I'm a little shaken up (pun completely intended) but am fine! I am very thankful to be alive and well, warm, with food and water (and a little glass of wine).

George is off in a lovely sandy country right now and won't be home until June-ish, so he is fine too! Thanks for all of your concern!

Our cellphones were out all afternoon, but they are working now (you can't call it without costing us both an arm and a leg) but my home phone which has worked all day is now not currently working. I'm sure as people are waking up throughout the US people are calling us all here in Japan to check and it has jammed the lines! Call if you want, but know that I am fine!!!

I love you all!!!!!

Chelsea




I FINALLY got to talk to George that night around 10pm. He had just heard about the quake and was very worried, but we both felt so much relief to be able to see and hear each other. I love Skype. And I love George.

So, that was just the beginning. That was the first day. Quite literally—the day my world was shaken. I am safe and well in Smyrna, Georgia with my family. Cheyenne is here too. How I made it here is another story, for another day. I’ll be sure to tell you all about it.

Please continue to pray for their country. It is the saddest thing that I’ve ever experienced, watching Japan fall apart. They’ll prevail. I’m sure of it.

Chelsea

Here's one little picture I took of a bookshelf I have in my living room. The DVD's got shifted, and a few things fell, but nothing even broke.




Check out these reputable links if you would like to donate money/supplies, or your time-- if you're in Japan. Japan needs all the love they can get:

www.crashjapan.com

http://www.redcross.org/


AND Here's some more interesting links:

This is my fantastic friend Kate's blog. She's in Japan still and is working and doing incredibly brave and gracious things for Japan. She has wonderful information about what you can do to help... check out the blog from 3/11/11 and after.
http://tdubandkate.blogspot.com/2011/03/31111.html

This is an interactive map so you can see how MANY quakes they've experienced in the past week and a half.
http://www.japanquakemap.com

This is a cartoon that's aired on Japanese TV to explain the nuclear problems to the children of Japan. It's pretty funny!
www.urlesque.com/2011/03/17/nuclear-boy-cartoon-japan/

This is the bases official website. It's got up to date information on the truly INCREDIBLE things the USA and many other countries are doing for Japan, and the victims of the quakes/tsunamis. I am SO proud to know and be associated with the people at Yokota. Truly, they are heroes. From the pilots flying the planes, to the mechanics working on them, to the groups packaging supplies, loading the planes, the spouse groups making food around the clock... the outpouring love from Yokota to Japan is overwhelming. They're amazing.
http://www.yokota.af.mil

School Buses

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned the school buses here in Japan, but each one seems to be different and unique! I always see this bus driving near base and think it's so funny, I finally had my camera with me and took a picture of it as it drove by! Neither of them are very good, but I tried. :)

Da-Ru-Ma Festival

I am pretty sure I already blogged about the Daruma Festival I attended, but have just 2 pictures I wanted to share from it. George and I colored in our dolls eyes, and we're both looking forward to our wishes coming true so we can color in the other!

Here's a picture of us with our warm chunky sake.

And here's one of us buying our dolls. Sorry my back is to you. Thought it would be neat for you to see the dolls lined the streets!

An Overnight Culture Trip...

Oh brother. I haven’t written in ages, and it feels good to get something written down!!! January came and went, February is flying by too. Which is good news for me- I’m ready to get this deployment over with! So far the support has been incredible. Truly. I have only made myself one or two meals since George left. Everyone just keeps feeding me, or inviting me out to lunch and dinner. It’s so wonderful to have people here to lean on when this whole military life rears its ugly head. So far, I’m doing very well. I’m sad of course, and I miss my best friend, but skype is my saving grace. I’m so so so so so so happy I can hear his voice, and see him. I can sit here at the computer and chat, just like he was in the room with me! Obviously it’s not the same, but it could be worse!

I got to go on a very neat trip in January. My awesome friend Kate invited me and our friend Lacey along on an overnight onsen trip with the culture club she belongs to. There were 8 American women and 6 Japanese women. We left the base on Friday morning and took a chartered bus to a town called Kusatsu, it’s a touristy hot springs attraction. We stopped at some funny Japanese rest stops, and tried some new things to eat. One of them was a pancake drink from a vending machine. Imagine liquid pancakes with butter and syrup. But don’t think of it as too thick. It was actually pretty heavenly. :)

We got to our hotel, checked in and went off down to the village area. It was snowy where we were and the streets were icy. We had lunch, (I had chicken and rice along with some edamame with salt. So delicious!), walked around a very stinky but pretty sulfur hot spring, and did a little shopping. We made it back to our hotel and did a little onsen-ing. Yes, the giant naked hot tubs. Still sounds a little weird when I say it like that, but it’s not weird at all. (Well, maybe just a bit).

The products they have in the bathrooms are incredible. Face washes, moisturizers, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, foot lotion, collage treatments etc… of course they are for sale in the gift shop. A lot of us fell in love with a face wash that’s a gel, and as you use it, your skin peels off. It doesn’t have the substance of an exfoliant but does the same thing, but on a whole ‘nother level. When we found it at the gift shop, it had labels on it that resembled an award for 2010 and the Japanese women we were with encouraged our purchase, so a lot of us bought a bottle of it. I do love it.

After the onsen we went back to our room and put on our Yukata’s, which is a type of traditional Japanese dress. Most of the people at dinner were wearing them. We had a really fun time taking pictures in them. We couldn’t stop giggling and doing funny poses. Thanks for being fun roommates Kate, Lacey and Stephanie! It was SO fun to have a girl’s weekend, just what I needed! AND of course, I forgot my camera at home… so thanks to Lacey for sharing these pictures with us all!






We had dinner, which was a buffet at the hotel. This was my first Japanese buffet and it was fun to try a lot of new dishes, with the aide and guidance of our Japanese hosts! I didn’t find anything that I fell in love with, but it was still fun to try. After dinner we went and sang karaoke! The hotel had rooms set up, similar (but on a smaller scale) to the black cat karaoke I’ve talked about in the past. We took turns singing American songs and Japanese songs. We tried to do songs the Japanese women would know. I think one of them even selected YMCA. Which let’s face it—everyone knows it! We had a great time drinking wine, Lambrusco (a new favorite if none of you have ever tried it, it’s an American kind of wine? It reminds me of sangria in a bottle…) and champagne. We shared snacks and fruit, and sang Happy Birthday to our friend Stephanie. I discovered sweet rice cakes on this trip, and now I eat them like candy. (I’m sure they’re not that good for you, but they’re better for you than American candy, that’s for sure).

We went back to one of our hotel rooms, and since this was a “culture trip” the women brought different Japanese crafts for us to make. We made a cellphone charm, origami, and chopstick holders before it was time for bed (and maybe some others that I can’t remember!) We went back to our Japanese style hotel room which consists of bamboo mats on the floor and basically a sleeping pallet that’s stacked in the closet for a bed, with a buckwheat pillow. I brought my own pillow so that helped some. It actually wasn’t that bad, and very common for a Japanese hotel. (You also take off your shoes before you enter the room).

The next day after breakfast where I tried nato, (fermented soybean, that I truly almost made me throw up at the table), we went to a demonstration of how “in the olden days” they would cool off the hot springs so the towns people could bathe in the water. It’s naturally super-hot… I don’t remember the temperature now, but know that it’s smokin’. I got to participate in it, which was really neat. They took giant long planks of wood and splashed them in the water with incredible force. I found it very difficult to maneuver, but the demonstrators seemed to have it figured out.  I don’t know if there are any photos of me doing this, I’ll have to ask around. It was neat to see!

After that, we walked around town, had lunch, got a few Chu-Hi’s for the road. And then took the bus back towards home with a stop at the famous Kokeshi doll factory! We were very behind schedule for the day so we just a short time to spend there, but it was very cool to see! The factory we stopped at makes (I think) 90% of the world’s Kokeshi dolls, so it was pretty impressive. They had traditional dolls, newer style dolls, dolls wearing different uniforms and outfits, children, pets etc. I bought a little bride and groom Kokeshi couple, and a Kokeshi Mary holding baby Jesus doll. They are all really cute. That factory sells things at the annual Bazaar the base holds so if I’m in town that weekend I’m really looking forward to getting some more as gifts! (And maybe a few more for myself.)

It was a really culture-filled weekend. I wish I spent more time traveling Japan instead of sitting on my butt around the base. I do get out way more often than some, but not as much as others. I really am looking forward to finishing school so I don’t feel guilty spending my weekends away from my books and computer and the studying I’m neglecting!

Pass this blog around to your friends. I get really excited when I get a new follower. :)

Mucho love,
Chelsea

George's Mustache

George and some of his buddies he's with decided it would be a good idea to follow the icky military tradition of growing a 'stache while deployed. Trust me. I'm just as disgusted as you are. He's so proud of it. Thought it was too funny to not share. This is not even two weeks worth of growing. It's only going to get worse. Why he wants to cover up his handsome face is beyond me!!!

A quick message from George!

Chelsea's followers,

I just wanted to let ya'll know that I made it over "here" OK. Where is "here"? Well I can't exactly say, but it's not difficult to figure out. I've been staying busy: flying, masters classes, military education classes, skyping Chelsea, etc. I'm already sick of the sand and am ready to get back to Japan. Mainly because I heard our "child" has been acting out. I'm sure Chelsea can fill you in further. Chelsea has been the greatest (as usual) writing me almost every day. She's the best. If you feel the need to write me, ask Chelsea and she can get you my address (baked goods are appreciated by everyone on our crew! Yeah, shameless plug, I know.) I hope all is well with all of you. Take care and I hope to see ya'll soon.

George

Here's a picture of George and our good friends Dereck and Kevin in their new flight suits, and their "Boonie Hats".

Where's George?

Hello,
George traveled to Bangladesh in September. He made it on a PacAf (Pacific Air Force) video. Here's a link to it:

http://www.pacaf.af.mil/shared/widgets/popup.asp?url=http://www.pacaf.af.mil/shared/xml/rssVideo.asp?mrsstype=3&contentid=123222879&contenttypeid=1&type=video&pos=1


It's video of him putting on his helmet... he doesn't say anything, but I am proud of him and will give him the 3 seconds of fame. :) See if you can find him!

Chelsea