There is one thing that I have to talk about now, I think. I still remember what I did clearly on this day 10 years ago when Hanshin Awaji earthquake occurred. I did not really think that I blog about this, but lots of programs and news articles are on TV and newspaper recently, and I have known some people's experiences on the earthquake's day, so it made me want to share my story. Today, on January 17th 2005, I woke up around 5:40 just to be awake at 5:46, the time when the earthquake occurred 10 years ago. I had thought if I try to close my eyes for silent prayer, I would fall asleep, so I was just awake around the time. After Hanshin Awaji earthquake occurred, I did not donate money, or send stuff to Kobe. I did not take any action for the people who suffered there. I feel this blog is like 'sorry' for it(?). Can you see what I want to say? I am a bit confused. Now 10 years have passed, and I have learned about lots of problems that make people suffer around the world in our class, and now I feel kind of guilty. As a survivor, I should have had to do... Lots of TV programs and news articles have made me think like this.

On January 17th 10 years ago, my bed shook, and I woke up. My sister and I used two-storied bed at that time, and my sister slept on the up's, and I slept on the lower's. When the big shaking came, my mother shouted "Don't move". When she talks about that day, she always say that she regrets what she shout. Now I think that mother wanted her children not to be panic, but she says, she regrets it because if my sister's bed fell on me, I would die.

Though the shaking was really big around my house, I cannot compare it to Kobe's damages.
My sister said that we went to school on that day. It is strange that we went to school as usual after such an earthquake while people in Kobe lost everything.

I also remembered that on that day, I went to swimming school after I came home from school as usual. I went to school, and took classes as usual, so I thought my swimming school was open as usual too. My father sent me to the swimming school by a car, and when I entered, stuffs there told me that the lessons were canceled, so I had to go back to my house. My father had already left there, and planned to pick me up an hour later, so he was just on the way home. I did not have money, so I asked the stuff, "Can I use the phone, please?", and then, the stuff answered, "Sorry, but the lines were out of order at the moment because of the earthquake in the morning. we cannot use telephones today". There were few people in the building, so I had to wait for my father for about an hour alone.

I was ten years old at that time, and it is surprising for me that 10 years have already passed, but I watched a TV program that one person who lost his friends or family said, it does not matter how much time passed. His mind is still on that day. He still see the confusing cities even though streets and cities have been reconstructed so beautifully.

Did you do anything special on 17th? I think that each of us remember the day quite clearly, as we were around 10 years old then. Some of my classmates told me their experiences of the Hanshin Awaji earthquake, and I was surprised and shocked by some stories. I guess many people still have unstable life and feeling. I think that those people still need counselings, and special cares to spend each day. I was sad when I watched a news reporter asked kids what do they think about the Hanshin Awaji earthquake, and one little boy just said, "I do not know! I do not know!". I hope that people not only in Kobe but also everyone will not forget the earthquake even though it was a terrible disaster. How can we let little kids who did not experience the earthquake, or were not even born at that time realize how terrible and sad situations the earthquake brought to people? I hope that more kids will think about the Hanshin Awaji earthquake, and get knowledge about disasters because knowledges can prevent lots of damages.