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I don't think I need to write anything about last weeks events or the current nuclear crisis.. you can open any news page in the world and find that.
What's getting to me is the under current of panic.
I'm an exchange student in Osaka (350 Miles away from Fukushima) and we're having people (read other students..) be advised by their home universities and embassies to abandon ship and get out. Everyone is falling like dominoes. We've had a bunch of new students (who are due to start arriving from tomorrow) pull out already. I've no idea how many are actually going to show up. Starting to wonder if i'm going to be the only one left in the building at this point (we all live in the same apartment complex)
The British embassy has contacted me via email thrice, and my girlfriend via phone once trying to track me down.. but they are just saying stay out of the danger areas and don't go north unless absolutely necessary.
I realise Japan is going through what looks like something from a Roland Emmerich movie, but honestly. apart from the 30cm tsunami hitting wakayama and not causing any major damage (that I know of) Kansai area is untouched. It's like nothing has happened. (Apart from me standing in the freezing wind today with a bunch of Japanese students collecting money for the victims etc) Life is going on as normal, no one seems to be overly worried.. apart from the foreigners (and their embassies) and I'll be honest.. it's starting to panic me a touch.. everyone seems to be bailing.
I realise this seems a bit scattershot as a blog, but then i think that kind of conveys the thought pattern of everyone here.
It's like being inside a movie over here at the minute.
PS. For those who may ask.. I was on a train near Tennoji when the earthquake struck.. didn't feel it. We didn't know there had even been one until I got back home and checked facebook and then NHK and BBC no one on the train seemed to notice, no one mentioned it at the stations, I didn't over hear any chatter either.
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The climate of fear that permeates all major news events these days is appalling. I'm glad you were far enough away to be untouched by the chaos. Business as usual!
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Must've been terrifying hearing about it especially when you're in Japan. Try to stay calm and be safe yo. <3 from Teamliquid~
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I would gladly take the spots of those students who gave up their exchange... can't believe they are letting such an amazing opportunity go away..
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I would definitely go, especially now. Not only do you get to study abroad, but you have the potential to help people who really need it.
The fear of a nuclear catastrophe isn't something to hold lightly, it could be the reason why many are withdrawing.
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Canada13410 Posts
On March 17 2011 01:41 Chimpalimp wrote:
I would definitely go, especially now. Not only do you get to study abroad, but you have the potential to help people who really need it.
The fear of a nuclear catastrophe isn't something to hold lightly, it could be the reason why many are withdrawing.
Yeah I mean the fact that the nuclear plants (6 of them) are having issues and they are all really close to eachother poses a huge risk. I mean as long as you want to stay there by all means, try and stay safe but if all six plants go I hope that you manage to get out of Japan since it will probably be heavily irradiated near the plants and radiation will most probably affect the whole country and others around it.
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A lot of people here on base near Yokohama are worrying a lot too. It's totally unneccessary. Our chain of command mentioned staying inside earlier this week, but since then it's pretty much been forgotten. The American news is trying so hard to make this seem like the end of the world, but it's not. Down in Osaka you'll be fine.
Up here where we're oh so likely to be exposed *roll eyes* we're really just a little wigged out by all the earthquakes that don't seem to stop.
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People in Shizuoka aren't really worried. Depressed a little and concerned for people up north but not for ourselves.
But I know foreigners are having a hard time sometimes because some of the international media coverage especially about the reactor situ is pretty hysterical and sometimes very misleading (eg. there was one report which had shots of Tokyoites with masks for pollen allergy - very very normal here - and giving the impression it was an anti-radiation measure). This makes their families and friends back in their home countries panic and go generally bananas.
I will admit sometimes it's possible to wonder if you are really thinking straight, and maybe you should be heading for the hills or whatever. But basically, the way things stand now, if Fukushima is going to be a health hazard at all, it's going to be a local one.
Stay safe. Don't freak out.
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Osaka27174 Posts
Why haven't you come south and had a beer with me yet? Unless you are like 15, that would be embarrassing.
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yeah down in the south everyone is just going on with their daily lives, virtually unaffected. foreigners are doing a lot to helo out though, especially in terms of donations.
i have to fly out of tokyo in a week and a half or so but everyone who has been at narita in the past week has told me that there was a bunch of bs and long waits to get out of japan. hope this is cleared up by then. me needs my spring vacation ^^
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On March 17 2011 12:24 Manifesto7 wrote:
Why haven't you come south and had a beer with me yet? Unless you are like 15, that would be embarrassing.
I'm 26 but I don't drink :p I'm just a poor student, not a lot of travelling funds, don't often make it out of Osaka really.
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The British FCO is chartering flights out of Tokyo to Hong kong, and advising people to get out of there and move south. I believe the Americans are saying the same. Squeeky bum time..
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EPT
