<p>The guy we know in Tokyo says the city is “fine”–still standing thanx to excellent building codes. Of course services are down and getting to the airport is a problem.</p>
<p>second spring–Waiting with you for good news!</p>
<p>tama, amusingly I didn’t notice any of those typos! </p>
<p>secondspring, I feel for you. My son spent winter break in Pakistan and India. There was an assassination the day he left.</p>
<p>Not only does Japan have excellent building code, they’ve done a very good job of retrofitting their older buildings.</p>
<p>Second Spring, hoping for the best. Sure it is an extremely difficult time for you. Waiting to hear the good news and relief when you know, along with all these other moms.</p>
<p>Good news! One of the kids got a message out that they were at the airport waiting at the gate. I assume they are on the plane. Thank you everyone for your support and reassurance. I really knew they would be okay, just appreciated this haven to vent my anxiety.
I remain riveted to the news and my heart continues to be with Japan. I hope these kids start a fundraiser when they arrive back at school.</p>
<p>Great news! I’ve been lurking.</p>
<p>Great to hear, SS, but please do let us know when you hear from him.</p>
<p>You can breathe again!</p>
<p>second spring-- I’ve been checking back to make sure. I don’t even know you and I feel better! Hope you see him soon! </p>
<p>I can’t watch the news. My heart breaks for the people in Japan. Truly.</p>
<p>Wonderful news, second spring! I’ve been lurking and holding my breath with you. </p>
<p>The news out of Japan is horrifying. Can anyone recommend an organization to contribute to? For Haiti, I contributed to Partners in Health, an organization I had been supporting for years.</p>
<p>NYMomof2 - check out Charity Navigator’s website. They rate charitable agencies. They already have a list up of many agencies that are four-star rated, that would be appropriate to give to for Japan.</p>
<p>[Charity</a> Navigator - America’s Largest Charity Evaluator | Home](<a href=“http://www.charitynavigator.org/]Charity”>http://www.charitynavigator.org/)</p>
<p>We made our donation through the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, another charity that has a great deal of experience dealing with dislocated people in catastrophic situations.</p>
<p>[American</a> Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Inc.](<a href=“http://www.jdc.org/]American”>http://www.jdc.org/)</p>
<p>Our son is in Japan for the year (living in Kyoto, which has been untouched by the earthquake and tsunami), and will be celebrating his 21st birthday in a couple of weeks. He has asked that friends and family members make donations to assist Japan in lieu of birthday gifts. We are counting our blessings that he is safe, even as our hearts ache for those in other parts of Japan.</p>
<p>teriwtt,</p>
<pre><code> Thanks for the Charity Navigator link.
</code></pre>
<p>As teriwt posted on another thread, Charity Navigator has a special page for the disaster in Japan. both the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Doctors without Borders (recommended by other posters) are listed there with the highest possible rating.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Just talked with my sister who lives on Maui and works in the restaurant/tourist business. She says the most damage to Hawaii from this event is likely to be the drop in Japanese tourists over the next 1-3 years.</p>
<p>I posted this in the other earthquake thread but am reposting it here for those who don’t read that one. This is a different perspective on the tragedy by an American living in Japan. It helped me understand the scope of the disaster much better.
[Some</a> Perspective On The Japan Earthquake: MicroISV on a Shoestring](<a href=“http://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/03/13/some-perspective-on-the-japan-earthquake/]Some”>Some Perspective On The Japan Earthquake | Kalzumeus Software)</p>
<p>Nikkei is down more than 14% as we speak, following the huge Monday loss. Will the blow to the Japanese economy pull the rest of the world into a recession? I hope not, but it is hard to be an optimist. US Markets futures do not look good at this minute.</p>
<p>And now an explosion at a third reactor, and personnel and supplies unable to get through, and freezing weather expected. It just keeps getting worse … :(</p>
<p>Thanks for the article that explains a bit more about why and how Japan was able to handle these crises so amazingly well. It is very helpful and an amazing view of a very disciplined country. It is heart-warming to read about how things proceed so calmly and that the elders and young are being cared for so well, and that the people are organizing themselves and moving forward.</p>
<p>second spring, I’m glad your son got out all right.</p>
<p>Well, the gas and water have been restored. First bath in four days - felt good. Plus fried - not raw eggs (a traditional Japanese breakfast) again.</p>
<p>My most vivid images from the earthquake are not being able to walk down the stairs to get out because the house was shaking so violently, my sweet yellow lab cowering on the trembling street terrified, with his tail firmly between his legs, and my son and I wondering if this was it - was our house going to collapse this time. And seeing my dishes and glasses in pieces all over the kitchen floor and counters and my houseplants spilling out onto the floor, their ceramic containers shattered.</p>
<p>Lines at the supermarket registers now are 25 deep but orderly and without a complaint from anyone, with shortages of most essentials, like toilet paper, tissues, eggs, bread. But supplies come in every day, and the early bird…</p>
<p>Middle and high schools are closed here since many of the trains are still not running, and gasoline is in short supply. Employees have been told to stay home if gasoline is problem for them.</p>
<p>I’m dreading another rise in the consumption tax, which is inevitable - how else will we ever pay for this disaster?</p>
<p>Staying calm about the radiation for now. There is nothing we can do but wait.</p>
<p>To all the CCers in Japan: gaman! That’s about all you can do.</p>
<p>One thing I’d like to do is calm nerves regarding the nuclear plant in ***ushima. The media is doing nothing but spreading FUD about it, and has done a generally awful job of explaining the facts. I have a colleague whose fellow nuclear engineering grad student wrote an FAQ out on wiki and I think it does a good job of answer a number of questions:</p>
<p><a href=“http://japannuclearsituation.wikispaces.com/[/url]”>http://japannuclearsituation.wikispaces.com/</a></p>
<p>Generally speaking, the big concern in Japan right now is not ***ushima-- that’s pretty likely to remain localized at worst. The big problem is going to be how Japan’s economy, and in particular Sendai, will recover.</p>