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Emails from our friends in Japan since the disaster struck.....

Here are excerpts from some of our visiting students from Summer 2010 in correspondence with their host families – although many of them are in Osaka and Nagoya, over 200 miles away from the disaster zone, their lives have definitely been impacted :

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(From a student in Nagoya, Japan who stayed in Milton last summer)

Thank you for praying and sending many mails!

I and my family are O.K.!!

My father was in Tokyo and it has earthquake.

And the day of earthquake, my mother was in Tokyo too, because she was sightseeing.

And It was my school camp’s final day. I wanted to go back to may house, but my mother couldn’t go back Osaka, because trains didn’t move.

So I was in my grand mather’s house in Osaka the day.

I was worried about my parents very much!!

And my sister was in soccer camp, but the place was safety!

But now, we are in our house in Osaka, and Osaka is safety place!

But still now, my father is in Tokyo and he is working, so I’m worried about him.

And we can’t know when we’ll have the earthquake in Osaka.

So we are very scary!!!

But now, we’re O.K.

Thank you for being worried.

This summer, I must study!

Because next year, I have the university examination!!

Love,

Nao

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(From another student from Nagoya who stayed in Milton last summer)

Yes I am OK!
I’ve been on school trip in Okinawa which places on the beautiful ocean, and
now waiting the plane to Nagoya at the airport.
I am not sure whether my family is safe, but they may be OK.
Problem is that my old sister lives in Urayasu which is closer to the point of the earthquake than my city Nagoya!
Tokyo Disney land that she works in is now closed because of a worrying of tsunami.
I am so surprising at this tragedy in Japan. There are people dying and the Tokyo tower which is a symbol of Tokyo is broken!!

Thank you for worrying about me and my family.
When I arrive to Nagoya, I will send you some details of this earthquake.

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(From a teacher in Tokyo who comes to Milton every year)

Steve,

Good evening. Thank you so much for your reply, and I am so glad that you understand the situation. I think this is a most difficult time of period to Japan after World War 2. It will take several years and cost a lot of money to recover from this earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant crisis.

Unites States was so reliable to Japan, and Japan realized how existence of U.S. is so big. For example, so many Europe countries change or cancel their international flights to Narita, Tokyo because of radiation proliferation, but all U.S. airlines served on-time, on-schedule flight to U.S.. Japanese must thank help and understandings from United States. Distance between Japan and U.S. are far, but keep doing this kind of exchange program will make our hearts stay closer. Thank you so much for your support.

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(From one of our Milton host families)

Hi Steve
Yes of course we contacted Kei’s family right away to be sure they were ok. His mother was so unbelievably gracious – she actually sent her apologies and best wishes for the people in California who were somewhat touched by the remnants of the tsunami. Amazing! Thanks for the connection to the red cross as we were wondering how best to help. Thanks again

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(From a teacher in Nagoya on March 15, a few days after the big earthquake and tsunami hit)

Hello, Just as I started typing we just had another earthquake that lasted about 3 minutes. 4 days ago it was a level 9.0 in Miyagi, but Nagoya was 3. The one we had right now was also 2, but it was 6 in Shizuoka. 4 days ago it lasted for about 5 minutes with a brake of one minute and then another 7 minutes. Todays was about 3 minutes. Both are quite long for earthquakes. Anyway, so far, Nagoya has not been damaged. We are all sharing electricity to send to the north. I hope we might learn that nuclear power plants aren’t really worth it. This is the third time they have caused major damage. Thanks for caring about us.

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(from a student from Nagoya who visited Milton last year)

Dear Mrs. Janet, Mr. Sachi , Nicolas

Thank you for sending

e-mail. My family and I are fine. We didn’t direct damage.
Sorry to concern.

But, east of Japan direct damaged.

There is no life line.
But, around country helped. All of Japanese thanks.
Especially, America helped relief goods and water coolant reactor material.
Japanese was surprised by
early correspondence.
All Japanese are thanking
and moving.
Thank you very much.
However, I can’t forget staying in America.

I decided that I would take an examination America College.
I want to study performing arts (Musical, Straight play).
There is no one subject in Japanese college.

Sincerely 富川陽平　Tomikawa Youhei

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(from a teacher from Osaka, who visited Milton in 2009)

Dear Steve

Thank you for your concern.
At the moment we are unsafed here in Kansai by the terrible events northen Japan .
There are a few shortages in supermarkets,for example bottled water ,but no major problems ,
so please don’t worry about us.
I’m sure we are much like you ,watching the events on T.V.And Finding it difficult to believe.
However ,we very much appreciate your kind words during what is a difficult time for our cuntry .

Please also thank Cathy for their concern and let them know I am safe and well.

Best Wishes
Mariko Asano