Natural Disasters Galore

Okay, so I didn't feel the first earthquake, but I definately felt the second and third one. The strongest one was 7.3 on the richter scale, where a magnitude six earthquake can "inflict widespread damage in a populated area". Fortunately, this earthquake occurred 70 miles off the coast, and six miles beneath the ocean floor. Apparently, tall buildings in Tokyo were swaying. As for me, I'm fine. No damage to my apartment, and the only thing that fell was a water bottle, and a portable stereo (which had originally been precariously balancing on my t.v. anyways). Pretty crazy, though, getting woken up around midnight because the EARTH IS SHAKING!!! At first I was thinking "wow, and earthquake, this is pretty neat". Then it got a lot stronger, and I remembered I was supposed to go duck under a table, or stand in a doorway (which I did). Then, it got really strong, and I remember thinking "okay, you can stop the ride now, I'd like to get off...". I can't describe what it's like to have what was once solid ground tremble beneath your feet. Crazy tsunamis near the coastal areas too; fortunately, I'm far enough inland that it won't affect me. And to top it all off, there are two typhoons heading this way (one will most likely miss most of Honshu, though).

Anyhow, I came to school today, and taught my first four classes. It went well. There is a very obvious difference in how the kids act between grade levels. Since I'm responsible for basically the whole school (500 or so kids), I'll be giving the same lesson all week (my self-introduction). This is good, becasue I don't think I was completely comfortable until the last class today, but bad because I have to do the same thing over and over (but less prep time, I guess). Anyhow, I should probably get back to work.

Just a quick note to let you know that I wasn't one of the people hurt in the earthquake (in fact, there was negligible damage in my particular area), and that my first day teaching at school went well.