Tsunami Season is here!

I’m more than sure that everyone knows about the earthquake and tsunami that hit main land Japan on 11March.  As the world watched the devastating effects of these natural disasters that would claim thousands of lives and displaced even more, we would all learn the worst wasn’t over.   As of today, 22March, three of their nuclear plants have exploded and released deadly radiation in the air.  The news is reporting how the milk and vegetation has been tainted with radiation, some scientist or experts are saying the amounts of radiation in the foods are low and not harmful.  But there are also reports of just the opposite, warning people about the risk of cancer if eating foods contaminated with radiation.

 

There is talk of relocating some of the people evacuating here to the island of Okinawa…that seems to have sparked another kind of panic here…a food shortage!  Last week people converged on the Commissaries emptying shelves and preparing themselves for what could possible turn into a food shortage for some.  Some fear that very soon food could be rationed out because of the influx of people.  At this point everything is up in the air, but as for me food was not my top priority.

 

With so many family members and friends calling or emailing, maybe for a second I entertained the thought of returning home.  I thought about the lives that were lost in hurricane Katrina and the people that lost everything.  What about Haiti and the earthquake last year… some people are still living in the rubble and with uncertainty about their future.  Natural disasters plague this earth…we can run, but we hide.

Yes, when they issued the tsunami watch here on the island my first thought was “what am I doing here on this rock, surrounded by water” and the warning alerts were more than unnerving. On base there was a guy, with a very stern voice instructing people to go to higher ground over the public announcement system…like myself, everyone understood the urgency and was running to higher ground…it was pretty surreal and then I had to shake my head and get off that base!  What I would later learn is that Kinser (the base I was on that Friday) is on the lowest part of the island and borders the East China Sea.  So if it’s a tsunami or a typhoon warning, Camp Kinser is always on high alert…hopefully the pictures give you an idea of why.

Anyway, I have a contingency plan, but keep praying for the local nationals and foreigners in Japan.

Until next time…

This is the parking lot of the building I work in...to the right there's the sea!

When the weather is good, this is my lunch view.  

Picture taken from the high point of the base where everyone was instructed to go.

Time, weather, school…sighs :(

I know it has been more than a minute since I’ve updated you guys on the latest and greatest here on the island of Okinawa, but the truth is I’ve just been living the normal routine life the past several weeks.  Full time job + Full time school + Uninviting weather = Not much to share :(

Several of us had planned to zip line a couple of Sundays ago, but the weather would not cooperate.  A few people still braved it, but as for Stacey, hanging 120 feet in the air with only a harness to keep me supended…and there’s no net below, I at least needed the sun to pretend to shine.  Check it out for yourself http://www.okinawahai.com/my_weblog/2008/10/okinawa-hai-rea.html   My son had a few comments when I told him I was going…catch me offline for that conversation…LOL

Anyway, I have been visiting the local San (Three) A’s , it’s the grocery store.   I can’t read anything on the packages (who’s surprised), but their fruit here is amazing.  The first time someone had strawberries at their house I thought they were artificial.  You would have thought I had never seen strawberries before, I was taking pictures and asking where did you find these, were they being sold on the side of the road, what?  That’s when I was turned on to the San A’s and how the locals here take should pride in their produce.  The following week I was there and yes, the strawberries were still candy apple red and sweet.  All the fruit and vegetables were pleasing to the eyes…5000 yen later I was sampling the blueberries and blackberries, oranges, grapefruit, Asian pears and apples.  Even the carrots were different, very large and a beautiful orange color.  I have been to the San A’s at least once a week just to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating the week before :)   I’m going to be really sad at the end of strawberry season. 

Oh, I almost forgot…I know it’s a lot late, but the Superbowl parties!  The 14 hours time difference didn’t stop anyone, including watashi  (me or myself).  The kick off started at 7:00 am, that’s in the morning just in case anyone's confused, you don’t have to re-read it.  It started with a kick off breakfast and during half time they brought out the regular Superbowl foods.  I was running a little late and didn’t get there until around 9:00 and the place was packed, the bar was in full swing and beers were being order by the 6-pack.  This one guy say that beer and eggs weren’t a good combination…imagine that!  It was a good time, but two things were missing, hanging out with people I knew and I just wasn't that hyped that early in the morning.  It'll be different next year! Just FYI, that Saints banner was greeting me as I walked through the doors.  Who Dat Nation Baby!!!!!

Hopefully, in a couple of days I’ll have some new adventures or stories to share…until then!

Don't they look great!



Yummy!!!






How did this get in here...LOL