F さん （３０代）

February 27, 2016 On 3.11, I was working at a dental clinic and returned home on the 4th day. I walked in the water at the hospital and arranged to get water and food. I went through the mountain to go home to confirm my family’s safety. Then I went back to work again. In total, I was at the hospital working for about a week. I thought the patients might come back to the clinic as soon as the electricity returned. I prioritized to work on preparing the medical chart. At home, seven relatives were evacuated and living with us. As we were not living at a shelter, the water and food were not provided. Our neighbors were helpful to share the springs and the well water. The volunteer people shared goods with us too. A reflective stove and a hot water bottles were helpful. I could have stayed at home but my coworkers were so nice that they let me live at the office. In other parts of Ishinomaki, there were some places that were not affected by the earthquake. I was surprised to see the difference. “What’s that? When will it be our turn to get the electricity back? I wear the same clothes and my hair was messy”. I was feeling sorry for myself. Even in the same city, the surrounding situation is different depending on where you are located. I did not feel it was reality when I saw the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (1995) on TV. I did not know how it would be like to live without water or electricity. We cannot take things for granted. If and when Tsunami ever comes, all you must is to escape to survive. You never know if there is tomorrow for sure. If you have something to tell someone, you should do it. If you have something you want to do, do it. When I was 6 years old. My grandfather who was close passed away. It gave me a chance to think about death. Some cannot live thought they want to live. I think I was influenced by my high school classmate and my aunt’s death too. I recall my aunt used to say “you never know what the future holds”. For my aunt who did not have any children, I was like her daughter. I would like to live up with her words. Now the support of my mind is my family and acquaintances. A violin teacher’s mother escaped to a higher ground and survived. Then later, she went back to the lower ground and died. I just had talked with her 5 days before her passing. She used to say “You can make beautiful sound when you eat homemade dishes. So please try cooking for someone you care”. I enjoy piano and violin lessons as there are some songs that I would like to play myself. I feel so happy once I can play the songs that I could not play before. It feels like I am exploring to find happiness. These days, I have dreams escaping from something. When I was at kindergarten student, I was so shy and bullied. I was always feeling I was inferior to other children. My mother told me to learn music as a hobby. I did not want to stand out alone. I was happy with my own small world. I would like to play at a retirement center. I had a dream when I was 7 or 8 years old to learn ballet, piano and violin. It came true and I am taking the lessons now. The music that I was continuing to learn has been a support to me and it heals me so much. It is a way of self-expression. I have to live! Because of 3.11, I had a chance to meet with new people. I appreciate the bonding and connection of people. I must be alive for me and to make my dreams come true to enjoy my life.