Just in case you are watching the news and are worried about the big aftershock in Ibaraki, yes, it was Japanese level 5 -, or M6.1 here. But we are STILL okay!
Nothing fell down. But I hope adrenalin is good for us because this time I had a massive surge of adrenalin. In English this is called the "fight or flight" response. It means we fight or escape. I can't find the Japanese words for this, but here is a link about it in Japanese.
By the way, please don't panic about the spinach news either. Some spinach from NORTH Ibaraki, just near Fukushima tested positive for LOW levels of radiation. The vegetables in Tsukuba are okay.
To be really honest, I'm more worried about agricultural chemicals that are sprayed on most vegetables all around the world :)
Please, let's try to be calm and use commonsense. The people in the disaster areas are doing their best to live every day. In other areas we shouldn't run around like chickens with our heads cut off. 狂ったように
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
One week
It is hard to believe that one week has already passed, isn't it?
I hope everyone is doing well, where-ever you are tonight. We are still here in Tsukuba and don't have any plan to go anywhere.
We went to Kasumi supermarket at Lala Garden this morning to get some necessary groceries, and it seemed to be almost normal. There were enough fresh foods and even the bakery inside Kasumi was open. I've heard most of the other shops in the mall are due to open on Monday the 21st.
The gasoline stand across from Lala Garden had a looooong line when I went to the classroom this morning, but about 1 hour later it was closed. I'm sorry, I haven't heard of anywhere to buy gasoline easily.
The cats have been REALLY naughty today. They understand what aftershocks are and look up quickly when the first rumble can be felt in the ground, but they don't seem to be able to predict an earthquake is coming.
The fish freeze quite often - I guess they can feel vibrations even before we can hear sound - and I guess it means they felt quite traumatized at the time.
For readers not in Japan, it is difficult to explain but you can hear the bigger aftershocks before you feel them. It is like the ground is growling :( Luckily there have been fewer shocks today and tonight. Most last night were over magnitude 5, so basically earthquakes in their own right, but short which is a good thing.
Anyway, Tsukuba and Japan are my home and I don't want to go anywhere else.
I hope everyone is doing well, where-ever you are tonight. We are still here in Tsukuba and don't have any plan to go anywhere.
We went to Kasumi supermarket at Lala Garden this morning to get some necessary groceries, and it seemed to be almost normal. There were enough fresh foods and even the bakery inside Kasumi was open. I've heard most of the other shops in the mall are due to open on Monday the 21st.
The gasoline stand across from Lala Garden had a looooong line when I went to the classroom this morning, but about 1 hour later it was closed. I'm sorry, I haven't heard of anywhere to buy gasoline easily.
The cats have been REALLY naughty today. They understand what aftershocks are and look up quickly when the first rumble can be felt in the ground, but they don't seem to be able to predict an earthquake is coming.
The fish freeze quite often - I guess they can feel vibrations even before we can hear sound - and I guess it means they felt quite traumatized at the time.
For readers not in Japan, it is difficult to explain but you can hear the bigger aftershocks before you feel them. It is like the ground is growling :( Luckily there have been fewer shocks today and tonight. Most last night were over magnitude 5, so basically earthquakes in their own right, but short which is a good thing.
Anyway, Tsukuba and Japan are my home and I don't want to go anywhere else.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Open shops
Yesterday in my area these shops were open:
Marumo, in Ninomiya Village, next to Aoki on Nishi Odori
They had milk and other dairy products in limited amounts. At that time, no meat but many vegetables.
Couronne Bakery
Seemed to be operating as normal
Hozomi Vegetable Shop
It has been open since Saturday as usual. Many nice vegetables and eggs.
Hanamasa Supermarket
Lots of meat, and fish.
The 3 gasoline stands from Nishi-odori to Route 408, on Doho Park Street were closed.
The convenience stores on the same street are open.
----
The internet says that Lala Garden Kasumi is open, but the other shops are closed. Maybe that means all Kasumi are open?
Yamashin Home Center was open on Sunday and Monday up to 2pm.
If you know any shops open in your area, please tell me and I will add them.
Marumo, in Ninomiya Village, next to Aoki on Nishi Odori
They had milk and other dairy products in limited amounts. At that time, no meat but many vegetables.
Couronne Bakery
Seemed to be operating as normal
Hozomi Vegetable Shop
It has been open since Saturday as usual. Many nice vegetables and eggs.
Hanamasa Supermarket
Lots of meat, and fish.
The 3 gasoline stands from Nishi-odori to Route 408, on Doho Park Street were closed.
The convenience stores on the same street are open.
----
The internet says that Lala Garden Kasumi is open, but the other shops are closed. Maybe that means all Kasumi are open?
Yamashin Home Center was open on Sunday and Monday up to 2pm.
If you know any shops open in your area, please tell me and I will add them.
Thursday, still okay :)
Good morning,
We are still okay and are staying in Tsukuba :)
If you are bored, you can send me an email ...
ak
We are still okay and are staying in Tsukuba :)
If you are bored, you can send me an email ...
ak
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wednesday - we are all okay.
Everything is okay today. There are aftershocks but please don't believe the foreign media reports about radiation. It is sensationalism.
I was so angry about it today that I called Australia. I called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Media Dept.), the Australian Broadcasting Commission - ABC, and the Sydney Morning Herald, to ask them to report responsibly :(
It is horrible that the foreign news just wants to have exciting stories and that they twist information to make it sound worse.
Anyway, now I am in a bad mood because if we cannot trust national news like the ABC, who can we trust?
Take care everyone.
ak.
I was so angry about it today that I called Australia. I called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Media Dept.), the Australian Broadcasting Commission - ABC, and the Sydney Morning Herald, to ask them to report responsibly :(
It is horrible that the foreign news just wants to have exciting stories and that they twist information to make it sound worse.
Anyway, now I am in a bad mood because if we cannot trust national news like the ABC, who can we trust?
Take care everyone.
ak.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
About Tuesday night
Hi.
I just want to let everyone know that everything is fine, but we just have to be careful about what TEPCO (electricity company) is doing.
Last night I cancelled lessons but the power didn't go out :( This evening there is another scheduled cut.
The power is supposed to come back on about 7pm, but I guess at that time everyone will be at home. I don't want to ask you to come out again, to come to the lesson for the later classes. I know everyone is worried about gasoline.
I really hope next week will be okay. Right now, if there is electricity, I'm happy to have lessons. (Already finished the first one this morning!)
Take care,
ak
I just want to let everyone know that everything is fine, but we just have to be careful about what TEPCO (electricity company) is doing.
Last night I cancelled lessons but the power didn't go out :( This evening there is another scheduled cut.
The power is supposed to come back on about 7pm, but I guess at that time everyone will be at home. I don't want to ask you to come out again, to come to the lesson for the later classes. I know everyone is worried about gasoline.
I really hope next week will be okay. Right now, if there is electricity, I'm happy to have lessons. (Already finished the first one this morning!)
Take care,
ak
Tuesday after 3:30pm is cancelled
I'm sorry, TEPCO has released the new power cut schedule. It will start about 3:30pm.
Let's cancel tonight's lessons.
Thank you.
AK.
Let's cancel tonight's lessons.
Thank you.
AK.
Monday, March 14, 2011
No lessons on Monday, March 14
The electricity is scheduled to be stopped from 4:50pm to 8:30pm. (Group 1, central Tsukuba area)
I'm sorry, this means we can't have lessons. This morning the electricity didn't go out, but we cannot take that chance tonight when it is dark :)
ak.
I'm sorry, this means we can't have lessons. This morning the electricity didn't go out, but we cannot take that chance tonight when it is dark :)
ak.
Electricity
Almost all of Tsukuba (especially around the center area) is in Group 1.
You can find a PDF on the TEPCO website:
http://www.tepco.co.jp/images/ibaraki.pdf
Monday morning.
Group 1 electricity stoppage from 6:20am was “canceled” but the situation is being checked.
It might suddenly go off during the alloted time if Tokyo Elect. Co. needs to do so.
You can find a PDF on the TEPCO website:
http://www.tepco.co.jp/images/ibaraki.pdf
Monday morning.
Group 1 electricity stoppage from 6:20am was “canceled” but the situation is being checked.
It might suddenly go off during the alloted time if Tokyo Elect. Co. needs to do so.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Classes will be as normal
I think it is okay to have classes as normal. The building is okay and the owner (whose office is downstairs) says it is safe.
The elevator will be checked tomorrow, but please use the stairs in any case.
The only problem is the electricity stoppages, but let's deal with those as we have to. I have the schedule TEPCO gave out.
Thanks
AK
The elevator will be checked tomorrow, but please use the stairs in any case.
The only problem is the electricity stoppages, but let's deal with those as we have to. I have the schedule TEPCO gave out.
Thanks
AK
Another site for emergency info
http://tsukubanews.wordpress.com/
By the way, if you live in Tsuchiura, it is in Group 1 or Group 5 for the electricity cuts.
Please see group 1 in the previous post.
PLUS
Group 5
3:20pm - 7pm
By the way, if you live in Tsuchiura, it is in Group 1 or Group 5 for the electricity cuts.
Please see group 1 in the previous post.
PLUS
Group 5
3:20pm - 7pm
Most up to date emergency info for Tsukuba
Please go to this website and see the info for the latest information about water, electricity, etc.
http://blog.alientimes.org/2011/03/earthquake-aftermath-information-for-tsukuba-residents/
Please read all the comments because they are updated as more information comes in. I've just checked the Tokyo Electric Company website and put the information for the schedule power cuts.
http://blog.alientimes.org/2011/03/earthquake-aftermath-information-for-tsukuba-residents/
Please read all the comments because they are updated as more information comes in. I've just checked the Tokyo Electric Company website and put the information for the schedule power cuts.
The times that the electricity will be off tomorrow in Tsukuba are:
6:20 – 10:00am (Group 1)
4:50pm – 8:30pm (Group 1)
6:20 – 10:00am (Group 1)
4:50pm – 8:30pm (Group 1)
12:20pm – 4:00pm (Group 3)
Tsukuba City falls into Group 1 and Group 3, depending on the part of Tsukuba. (Which parts are which are not given.)
This information has just come directly from the Tokyo Electricity Company website at 9pm on Sunday night.
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