Extremely sad news - Japan

This week started off well...

I had finally made it to Morioka where my branch office is. Due to me not having an apartment liveable in, no car etc they have paid for me to stay in a hotel - the only thing not included is the food.

I was more than greatful for their help - i'm trying to take each day as it comes, hoping for a day when a feel like i can get through this...i dont think ive truely taken in everything yet.

Part of me feels like i ran away, i got out of the chaos when in fact i should be there helping - but if you could only understand how i feel...it feels like something is clawing at my heart and trying to rip me apart from the inside. I feel bad not being there support my schools, students and community but at the same time i was given a lifeline to get out - i only wish more people who have a life line given to them because they sure need it.

Early this week i was informed Yamada HS was fine and being used as a refugee center...today though i was told 2 students are reported missing and presumed dead...i still have no information on my other school that was actually hit by the tsunami.

About an hour ago a received more news about a japanese friend who use to attend our adult English class that me and other teachers ran. She turned up every week. She was often tired from helping her husband with his mechanic business but was always happy. Her English was very good and she was very interested in travel and wanted one day to go to England...in fact she was due to go to Egypt soon.

She lived in Taro - i place north of Miyako which was flattened and no longer recognisable...we feared the worst but kept hope. Today my friends went back to miyako knowing i was safe in morioka. After checking in with all our other friends they were heading back to Iwazuimi for petrol, staying over night, before continuing back to Tanohata to continue helping. On the way they passed Taro and saw the main road had been cleared and so they were able to go to the town hall searching for answers. An eye witness reported that they saw her, her husband and her son helping their customers get to safety - unfortunately they were not quick enough and were all washed away.

I still cant believe it and i refuse to...i keep telling my friends there is still hope...the eye witness might have been confused and she might have got to safety - i know this is me in denile, hoping for something better or what ever it is...but if there is a God why would he cause such detruction and devastation, killing so many people, many of whom were the kindest people

Please continue to send support to those who need it most - the survivors are without homes, with little money to afford to rebuild, never mind replace everything they've lost. Give them hope for a better future because many have lost friends and love ones...children have been left not only without a home but without a family...help them, if you can, to rebuild and get over this as quickly as they can - for some it will be harder, i know this, but the japanese people are strong people - but even the strongest of people need support

May those we have lost rest in peace

Goodbye my friends

• miyako
• earthquake
• tsunami
• Japan
• TEFL
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