Blog - Doing fine!
Doing fine!
Sorry I haven't updated this blog in ages. I thought I'd write a little about how things have been here since the March 11 earthquake, just in case anyone would be waiting for some news or passing by.
When the earthquake happened, it was Friday afternoon around 3pm and I was at the office on the 9th floor. Things shook hard and everything fell down from shelves. We sometimes get smallish earthquakes which we are used to, but this time it didn't take a minute for people to realize this was a big one, and we all rushed downstairs. This was really scary!
Smaller earthquakes followed, and after a while the company boss and a few courageous ones volunteered to go back up to get everyone's jackets and bags. We then moved to a park nearby, and later to a strong building's entrance. Most trains had stopped service and most couldn't go home easily, but the company was able hold of 2 rooms at a hotel where some 15-20 of us stayed for a while, many for the night. I was lucky that a train line I could use got back into service, and I rode one of the most crowded trains ever, leaving at every station people on the platform who couldn't squeeze in. The train was also much slower than usual, taking long stops at every station.
For the weekend things were rather normal here in Tokyo. I didn't really see any apparent quake damage anywhere I went (except for near work where an old building had cracks all around it). Most shops were even open except some department stores, and the train schedules were still sparse. A friend's wedding on Saturday was still supposed to be held as of Saturday morning, but later it was postponed. Relatives in a nearby prefecture were out of electricity since the earthquake and until Sunday afternoon, and at this time still don't have running tap water. In Tokyo too we've been asked to avoid using too much electricity, so I've been offline most of the time and we also spent weekend daytime outside. Of course, these small inconveniences are nothing compared to what victims of the tsunami are experiencing upper north.
Now starting this Monday, there have been scheduled 3-hour electricity blackouts in many areas of Tokyo and surrounding prefectures to force saving power. This is causing further problems to shops, trains, etc. Train lines operate with reduced schedules, causing trains that are packed more than usual (I had to wait 3 passing trains this morning until I could step in), and many lines only operate a partial route if at all, leaving many people without any transportation.
Today at my office people came to work normally (I made it almost for my usual time of 9am), except some who couldn't make it at all, but after doing the essential we were sent home around noon in fear that other transportation problems would arise. Tomorrow we're going from 11am.
At the end of the afternoon I visited several nearby supermarkets and convenience stores, and most were out of daily things such as bread, milk, eggs, tofu, instant noodle bowls, tissues and toilet paper! Luckily we still have some stock of these.
Scheduled blackouts are expected to continue for the time being, and trains will probably keep experiencing problems too. These are little things we have to get used to, it's nothing compared to the more unfortunate.
Thanks for reading! I post more frequent news on Facebook, so if I know you please don't hesitate to become my "friend" if you aren't yet. (Please note that I only accept requests from people who I already know.)
Larger sizes and more photos at Flickr
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 23:02 | Tweet
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Just happy to now that you're ok!!! Hope you can recover normal life as soon as possible...
Posted by Damian on March 15, 2011 at 01:02
Glad to hear you're ok! I wish everyone in Japan lots of strength in weeks to come..!
Posted by Erik on March 15, 2011 at 02:51
Besides being over flooded by the media with the most dramatic events ... I was really curious to hear how the 'regular' day life now in Tokyo is ...
You think the empty shelves are a result of 'hoarding' ?
Posted by Peter on March 15, 2011 at 03:41
Hey Patrick, my wife and i were on our 10th anniversary holiday (without kids) and had just got to tokyo 1 1/2 hours before the earthquake. after it happened we decided to go home. we were lucky to get a flight (our plane was only a quarter full), and get to ueno where we got the keisei train to the airport. now we are home and hearing the news. i hope recovery takes a short time and things will return to normal again soon. good luck.
Posted by Andrew ffrench on March 15, 2011 at 19:07
Thanks all!
Peter, the empty shelves are the result of many people stocking up in case something bigger comes, otherwise we're not really lacking of anything at this time.
Andrew, whoa that's too bad of a timing! But well you were lucky to get a flight back so quickly, right now it's not so easy to go anywhere. I'm really glad that you didn't get stuck here.
Today, work started at 11:00 (I usually go at 9:00), and we were sent home at 18:00 to hopefully avoid the evening rush. Still I had to wait for a 2nd train because the first was too full, the result of reduced schedules because of scheduled blackouts.
Posted by Patrick on March 15, 2011 at 19:37
I hope you're still in normalcy that nuclear thing keeps dragging on. I was surprised to hear that the US Govt was offering to fly out all US citizens. I don't think my cousin in Utsunomiya was taking them up on that, and a buddy of mine in Yokosuka says that life is still normal there.
Posted by Alan on March 18, 2011 at 00:39
Hi ! just happened to pass by your site. It was very insightful to read first hand experience. Its good everything is okay there now though I understand that until now ( mid April) there are still some strong aftershocks. Are you a foreigner working in Japan?..Saw your other post with beautiful pictures. It refreshing to see such beautiful pictures amidst all news of earthquake.
Posted by Suzanne on April 14, 2011 at 20:50