The Talandis Family in Japan

Big earthquake hits Japan- We’re OKAY!

As you probably all know by now, a big earthquake hit Japan this afternoon, off the northeast coast. Long story short: We’re all together and OKAY here in safe Toyama. Details are coming in fast, and it looks like this is the strongest quake ever measured. It has created tsunamis that have really hit the coastal areas hard. I’m now watching the telly as farms, fields, and villages in the Sendai area are being engulfed by the waves. It’s like something out of a Roland Emmerich disaster movie! Unbelievable. Personally, I didn’t feel a thing since I was on a train from Kyoto to Toyama when it hit. I was in Chiba on Wednesday teaching a demo lesson, and I did feel a small quake then. It was a small one that shook the teachers room just a bit; it was barely noticeable. This happens from time to time, and you get used to it, frankly. I didn’t learn about today’s quake until Shinobu picked me up at the station. Friends in Toyama have said they could feel the quake rumble the area, but nothing too drastic. Waves only about 50 cm high lapped up on the shores. Oh! Luke just told me he could feel the shaking at his school. Wow. I wonder if this is the first time he has felt one? People on the east coast were not so lucky! You can see the images all of the tv and Internet now… sheesh. Anyway, we’re okay. You can see from the image where the epicenter was, and where we are. Toyama is one of the safest areas of this country. We are extra happy to be living here today!