Thursday and Friday

2011.9.22-23

The opportunity for me to go up North and help the tsunami victims arose. I wanted to do some sort of volunteer work while here in Japan, so when I saw the notice I was sure that I would go. When I originally applied to go, all of the spaces were filled. However Thursday morning I was told that due to an unexpected withdrawal I would have  a seat. So I packed a bag. We had a brief introduction meeting and left Nisshin at 8:00pm. 12 hours later, we arrived in Tohoku.

That morning we pulled into the town and witnessed the destruction that had occurred. It was moving to see the shore line that had once been covered in trees wiped clean except for one lonely tree. The tree has been marked as a beacon of hope for the reconstruction of the town. Once we arrived at the volunteer center, we changed clothes and headed out. We drove to a dock and were given instructions to remove the debris from under the sidewalk drains

 (I included a picture).

In Japan, there are narrow streets with concrete stones and tunnels that allow for rain water drainage. Because of the tsunami they were all filled with muck that was preventing them from working.

We worked most of the day away and then we headed to an orphanage that was near a bathhouse.  Unfortunately the children were away that day so we were unable to see them but I did get to use a Japanese bath. The hot soaking water was very relaxing and we had a little rock garden view. It is defiantly different then in America but it was still a nice experience. We headed back on the road that same night and arrived back just before nightfall. I was so tired from not being able to sleep on the bus that I crashed almost immediately.