2nd day - 1: March 12, Sat.

We woke up around 6 am. Partially due to several aftershocks during that night, we couldn't had good sleep. Dan fell asleep as soon as he finished his banana, and he started snoring. How self-centered he is!

While we had small breakfast with banana and snacks, Ken told us that we had three consecutive earthquakes at that moment yesterday. He showed us one-segment TV program on his mobile. We couldn't believe our eyes. What are we watching?

When we got out of the car, we saw 40 or 50 neighbor families also spent their nights in the car in that parking area. We came back home since Ken wanted to check the rooms. Dan still complained it was dangerous, but we shouted him. Books and bottles are scattered in our computer room, but monitors remained where they were supposed to sit. Only several cups were broken. Our 37-inch TV set was slightly moved, but did not dropped. Light cover dropped. Book shelves kept standing. So did my drawer.

Our rooms are at the second floor. It was built after the great Hanshin earthquake in 1995, so the building implements quake absorbing structure. Ken joyfully declared those were nothing. His office was much more disasterous. His office building was closed now and to be destructed. He cannot get in there to take his belongings.

We checked everything. We confirmed no power, no water and no gas. It was still chilly. We wore coats in the rooms and went blank for a while. From the Hanshin earthquake lessons, we were certain that help should come in a couple of days. Power should come back maybe in a day. Water and gas may take longer, but probablly in a week. Many volunteers and Self-defense Force should bring something to eat. We had earthquake drills, so we had rough idea about what we should do.

So, we started to clean the rooms. Kids did their room. I did kitchen. Ken did our computer room. we finished our mission by noon. We had lunch. I cooked salad. Cucumbers, tomates, and lettuce. We enjoyed adding dressing. But. I forgot that water stopped. When you put salad on four dishes for each. You should rinse them. How? I served chopsticks for each. How can I clean them? I opened a large bottle of water, which is the one I stocked for earthquake. It expired in 2007, so it is not suited to drink. I used the water for rinsing.