The Truth Behind the Disaster
One quake story that I liked
the most was “My Tohoku Earthquake Experience” by McKenzie Miller from The American School in Japan. I found her
story rather interesting and I thought her experience in Japan during the
earthquake was extraordinary. This story has made me reflect on myself. After
reading her personal narrative, I reflect back on myself and I think, “Why am I
complaining about my life right now, when people in Japan are having
a more terrible life right now than me?” McKenzie’s story has made me change
the way I thought of myself.Before reading the stories from students somewhat
close to my age, who have experienced, and have been affected by the earthquake
in Japan, I was always complaining and whining about my life, always wishing
for a better and easier life with no stress and work. After reading many
articles on quakestories, especially McKenizie’s, I feel lucky. And I feel
satisfied and happy with my life just the way it is. But now, looking back at
what I had thought, I feel really foolish, especially comparing my life to the
lives of people in Japan right now.
In McKenzie’s story, she has faced confusion, fear, and
frustration. I feel that I know more about what actually happened in Japan
reading her story and also others, rather than watching the news or reading
news articles on the Internet. I can actually understand and feel what it was
like to be in Japan during the earthquake, and all the things people there had
to go through. Especially in McKenzie’s story, I could feel her fear when she
was worrying about her family’s safety. This is what she wrote, “I pulled my
phone out of my back pocket and called my dad. The call didn’t go through. I
tried my mom, still nothing. I dialed my home phone, but it didn’t work again.
The phone lines were jammed. I tried each one again, but still nothing. Again,
it didn’t go through. One more time, and I finally reached my dad. He was safe,
on the 27th floor of his building. He said the building was still swaying a
little bit, even fifteen minutes after the earthquake. He hadn’t talked to my
mom yet, but he would try to call her.” Also, I could feel the confusion she
felt when she wrote, “As soon as I left the building, the shaking turned
violent. I stumbled over to where other people stood. I grabbed onto my friends
for comfort and balance. This wasn't real, it couldn't be. Earthquakes aren't
this big, I thought. I looked around in panic, everything was shaking. The
flagpoles quivered, bending unnaturally. A bus close to me rocked back and
forth, following the shaking of the ground. Accompanied by the screams and
panicked chatter of middle schoolers close to me, I heard a low rumble as the
high school building before me shook.” Now, I know the truth that people had to
go through in Japan, the feeling of leaving loved ones and friends back, the
feeling of eagerness to know whether your family is safe or not, and many other
things that the people who have been affected in Japan had to go through.
How would you have reacted if you were in Japan during the earthquake?
