1st Tohoku Trip Completion Report

We went to temporary house to take action by communicating with people who affected by tsunami, talk to them,

make them happy even for a short time.
In temporary house, we introduced about many countries.
For example, Indonesia, Thailand, Romania and Sri Lanka. At temporary house, there is old people. Other temporary house, there is children.
Their age is different, but they have a common point. It is everybody is laughing and cheerful. But, verybody have big big sadness.
So we have to take away the sadness. We went there to take action!
Nanako

In the afternoon, we went to Taro area. Taro area is very close to sea.
We met Mr. Akanuma. He’s a volunteer guide. He is from Taro area. His house is gone, because of Tsunami. He must be sad but he tries to share Tsunami story to us.
After the tsunami everything is gone. No house, No school, No hospital, No people, No money. Just only empty land.
He told us that you can see many rubbles after tsunami, people called them garbage, but once those pieces were our memories, I was shocked to hear that.

Next, we went to fish market. We saw many fish. We talk to one fisherman and he said “he lost his house” but, he tries to share and he work hard to make Miyako city come back. Let’s support each other.
Misaki

We learned that it is better to see the reality with our own eyes.
We learned that TV and Radio cannot trust for 100%. We learned that the rubbles in Taro area, the effected area, was only 1% cleaned. And this is called reality.
We learn from the volunteer guide Mr.Akanuma not to forget, so we can share, share the reality, and we are here to share so we can help for a better future.
ThanTan

The great things we learn through Day2 are “the power of cooperation” and “the importance of sharing information”. Taro area in Miyako city,　In this area, tsunami happened many times and they learned that when it comes, “Don’t search your family, just escape to high place.” It is a teaching to save future of their family. Taro area people know this information, so many of them can survive. And we should share information. The cooperation is important as same as sharing information. Many people can survive because of their cooperation and people in temporary house, help each other and they live with smile. We have to keep in our mind these two things.
Shintaro

Yamada town is clean now, but there was still burned cars, many many rubbles. Cars were crushed out of shape. There was the foundation. Only the foundation.

I frightening for the situation. When I saw the cars or foundation, I doubt it. Because, it seemed like it is in a movie.

Mr.Suzuki, our guide, explained us about Yamada town. He showed us “the reality”. For example, we went out of the bus to see the height of tsunami, we also saw there are many types of rubbles, like the garbage from concrete, car wheels were divided in the area. We must remember about “Tohoku suffered heavy damage” If TV or newspaper doesn’t report on it. We must remember!! We are one big family, we must help each other.
Rio

Day three in the morning when we visit the affected area in Yamada-Town, we met Fisher man. They were lost house and money…and everything. It is such a serious situation, however they give us many Sea-weed. And they said “GANBAROU”. I think they have warm hearted.

Then now, they get new boat and support from many people. But still Tohoku is not perfectly recover. Even so, Tohoku people are working hard to live normal again. So we should help them and start from simple thing that we can do. I hope that all Tohoku people can get their normal life back.
I promise that I’ll do my best for Tohoku.
Eka

We spend our time with children from Zonta House, these children were affected by Tsunami some lost their houses or family members. We are here to take action by create a place for them to enjoy English with games and cooking lunch from different countries and eat together.
We are very happy that we could do some things to make them happy and for them to know that there are many more people who still care and support them always.
Pubu

Today we met Takeuchi sensei. I think she is a very strong person. She had 2 Kumon centers, but because of the disaster, one of the Kumon center washed away by Tsunami, and the other one got burned. She had nothing but hope. However, from that hope, she started again to teach the student by borrowing the place from Zonta house.
It is a learning center for people who want to study, children who can not study in the temporary house gather here. Even though the condition is sad (some of the floor is broken, no light near Zonta house.) fortunately, there are many organizations that help them, such as Gakken, Kumon, Bread company. From this experience, I believe that when there is a hope there must be a way to make our dreams come ture.
Tika

We learned about Miyako city Tsunami story from one girl. Her name is Anna. She joined EIC in 2008. So she is EIC family too. She lives in Miyako city near from city hall. Miyako city hall hit by Tsunami. At that time, she was in the school and teachers ask them to the temple to escape. So she was safe. But, a lot of her friends’ family lost their house and life. Teachers told her not to see the view when Tsunami happened, but she hided and she saw it. And she realize how terrible of the condition. Before Tsunami happened, her dream was to be a lawyer, but now after Tsunami, her dreams change, she wants to do something and take action from herself. Now she wants to be a nurse or a person who can help injures people. May be for Anna to tell her story is not easy and very difficult, but she was very strong and brave. I feel motivated to share Tohoku story to many people, and I also hope Anna’s dreams come true.
Hiroto

Visited the affected area in Yamada town, got on with local children and visited Zonta house, We did many things.
We felt many things individually. After left for hotel, we wrote today’s summary. And we shared each other. Certain our friend said, “Affected area need power of cooperation.” For example, when Tsunami came, many building washed away. There are many rubbles in Miyako city, There are many volunteers came from many places and cleaned the town. Also, in Zonta house, there are many cooperation from different places, for example, books donated by many educational company, chairs donates by Mie prefecture, bread from bread company and three volunteer girls from Tokyo came and teach.

Also there is another big cooperation from EIC 2011 participants, remember “Well Done Points” From Well done points, we could help Zonta house to repair the center too and now the center is in a good condition for study.
So we think power of cooperation is very important. We all can be part of it.
Minami