Ms. EF (a woman in her 60’s) E.Fさん（６０代）

September 16, 2014 My previous house was swept away in the Tsunami. Immediately after the earthquake, I rode my daughter’s car with my mother and my aunt heading to the elementary school to take refuge. The gym was locked and while we were trying to get to the school building, the Tsunami caught us. When I realized, I was on top of a shoe cupboard surrounded by water. We all got separated, but my daughter and I found each other the next day. The volunteers placed flower beds only alongside of the major road where buses run but not by the land where I used to live. I brought the flowers that survived the disaster from the land where my house used to be to the temporary housing. I won the lottery to move into the public housing and planning to move next fall, but I am keeping it to myself as I feel bad for others who didn’t win. I don’t want to give up my land just yet. We can rebuild a new house near where my old house stood, but I am not willing to do so fearing another Tsunami to come. I was not happy about how the relief goods were distributed after the disaster. Some people took many blankets and others took many clothing items. I am not looking forward to moving in to the public housing as it does not come with a yard. It is an apartment without any soil to plant. I wish I could live in a house. I am not happy with how the local government is rebuilding the area without considering local people’s opinions. It is being handled by people who do not live here. I am against building tide embankment because it won’t be strong enough. I like sewing and doing crafts. Volunteers from Tokyo are helping to sell my crafts. I survived the disaster. Once in a while I remember my formal kimono that used to be stored in my drawer of my lost house. I’ve only worn it once. I have vision impairment and will need help moving to the public housing. I cover my tomatoes with plastic to protect them from birds for my grandchild who comes to pick my tomatoes. I told my neighbors not to feed the cats. The craws that gather around the garbage collection area are bothersome. The soil around the tulip bulbs that were planted by the temporary housing had been washed away by the heavy rain. I dug out the bulbs and planted them by my old house.