Scared in Tokyo

[pwintess]

Hi. I'm a 17 year old student who moved from Australia.

In the first few months I moved to Tokyo I have experienced a shocking earthquake and my confidence in being able to be strong is diminishing...

Ive grown up in an area where the only risk when going out is the risk of being mugged or being hit by a backing out car...
Now, since Ive moved to Tokyo, I have been hearing about nuclear explosions, large scale earthquakes and now hearing about the Great Tokai earthquake expected to hit Tokyo sometime in the next 20 years..?

To be honest I'm semifreaking out...
I want to stay and not give up on my dream and not be afraid but I'm finding it quite difficult with every one back home screaming for me to come back...

I thought maybe if people could let me know their situations... and maybe give me some strength..?
Sounds a little corny but I would really appreciate any comments :)

Thanks in advance :]

[Matti]

To be honest I'm semifreaking out...
I want to stay and not give up on my dream and not be afraid but I'm finding it quite difficult with every one back home screaming for me to come back...

You could remain in Japan but still stay relatively safe. Have you consider taking a train further down south? You would be able to see how things progress from a safer distance.
Should things get worse you still have the option of taking a flight out of here.

For the time being I'd advise you to ask your parents for having funds sent to you account covering a possible flight ticket, hotel and daily needs, if you don't enough available yourself.

And keep your cool.

[hml]

Troll Alert!!

Beep! Beep! Beep!

[Matti]

Troll Alert!!

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Perhaps. But my reply is still relevant to anyone in the same situation.

On the other hand... I'd imagine that someone in the same situation starting new threads asking the same question.

[Don Juan]

I am working and going out with girls as usual. The only thing that have changed is my determination to help and do my best for the epople here. Japan has made me happy. I am not leavint it in its hour of need.
Hi. I'm a 17 year old student who moved from Australia.

In the first few months I moved to Tokyo I have experienced a shocking earthquake and my confidence in being able to be strong is diminishing...

Ive grown up in an area where the only risk when going out is the risk of being mugged or being hit by a backing out car...
Now, since Ive moved to Tokyo, I have been hearing about nuclear explosions, large scale earthquakes and now hearing about the Great Tokai earthquake expected to hit Tokyo sometime in the next 20 years..?

To be honest I'm semifreaking out...
I want to stay and not give up on my dream and not be afraid but I'm finding it quite difficult with every one back home screaming for me to come back...

I thought maybe if people could let me know their situations... and maybe give me some strength..?
Sounds a little corny but I would really appreciate any comments :)

Thanks in advance :]

[well_bicyclically]

...Sounds a little corny but I would really appreciate any comments :)

Thanks in advance :]

you take you life in your hands everytime you step out of bed in the morning.... well Don Juan, everytime he gets into bed.... no matter where you live.

It is Earth! Get used to it!

[hml]

I am not leavint it in its hour of need.
Well said. I respect you, sir.

you take you life in your hands everytime you step out of bed in the morning.... well Don Juan, everytime he gets into bed....
Maybe even *revere* you...!

[well_bicyclically]

Well said. I respect you, sir.

Maybe even *revere* you...!


oh, honey... take a number and get in line!

[hml]

oh, honey... take a number and get in line!

Sorry, my comment was directed at Don Juan. But I'm sure you're a sweet little pussy.

[well_bicyclically]

Sorry, my comment was directed at Don Juan. But I'm sure you're a sweet little pussy.


no, I meant DJ as well. His dance card is always full... butt, I am sure he can squeeze it in... I mean, squeeze you in...

[hml]

no, I meant DJ as well. His dance card is always full... butt, I am sure he can squeeze it in... I mean, squeeze you in...

Ah, I see it now.

Anyway, I said I revere him - not that I wanted to do a 3P with him.

[xHime]

How exactly did you not know that Japan in itself accounts for more of the world's earthquake sabove 5.0+ than any other country in the world?

It's earthquake central and they're still waiting on the Tokai Earthquake that could destroy Tokyo entirely. If you didn't do any research before coming out then that's really unfortunate, but you really ought to weigh the pros and cons. Do you love living in Japan enough to die in a quake? If so, stay. If not, leave.

Personally I'd rather risk dying in a quake than living anywhere else, but the foreigners who can't say the same ought to just go home and stay there. The Japanese are dealing with enough and they don't have the option to just pack up and leave when the going gets rough so if you don't want to stick around when the country's at its lowest then don't bother.

I don't see how living in Japan is your "dream" if you don't even understand its basic geography.

[pwintess]

I did say thanks in advance but I'm thinking I should take that sentence back. Out of this whole thread I only got one descent and helpful reply and the rest of you are nothing but a bunch of rude sad people.

My dream? What would u know about me? How dear u start questioning my dream! Im seventeen and for the past 12 years I've been working my ___ off towered this dream. FYI my father is Japanese so you say "foreigners" but I'm more of a Japanese than u could ever be your self.

I don't know where u all grew up but this kind of predicted disaster is a new for me. Just because u made up your mind about wether u want to risk ur life dosnt mean everyone else has. It's not a damn crime so learn a bit of kindness!

Thank you to the one man with his helpful words and to the others, I hope you all never have children because you will be no help to them what so ever. Good bye

[well_bicyclically]

you are welcome.

[jrp]

I did say thanks in advance but I'm thinking I should take that sentence back. Out of this whole thread I only got one descent and helpful reply and the rest of you are nothing but a bunch of rude sad people.

My dream? What would u know about me? How dear u start questioning my dream! Im seventeen and for the past 12 years I've been working my ___ off towered this dream. FYI my father is Japanese so you say "foreigners" but I'm more of a Japanese than u could ever be your self.

I don't know where u all grew up but this kind of predicted disaster is a new for me. Just because u made up your mind about wether u want to risk ur life dosnt mean everyone else has. It's not a damn crime so learn a bit of kindness!

Thank you to the one man with his helpful words and to the others, I hope you all never have children because you will be no help to them what so ever. Good bye

Awwww, kids these days are such drama queens.

[Jakebullet]

Pfffft. Troll

[mikey23]

stupid troll.

[Tcheburashka]

I hear your fears.
When I was in Tokyo in 2009, everyone knew that earthquakes were a norm of life in Japan, but those were <2.0 on Richter scale. Knowing that a 9.0 is possible and actually experiencing it are different things. Everyone - locals and foreigners - knew that it would hit one day, but it would be silly to say that people signed some kind of a pact, like by moving to Japan they committed to not complain if there would be a 9.0. You know you can get robbed any day in the streets, but you don't say you disclaimed the robbers by deciding to go out!
It is more often than not that people move to other countries without caring one inch about geography and whatnot. And why would they? We all hope for better. Even in Japan dying in a 9.0 earthquake is still less statistically likely than a car accident on a highway in USA, is it not? So, everyone who stays in USA is clearly irresponsible, ha.
A 17-year old alone in Tokyo, whose family is away, does not have to be a drama queen to feel scared after a 9.0 earthquake, so why don't you guys move on.

My two cents to the original question: just lay out all the alternative plans you may have for your life. Will you be happy if you relocate from Japan to another place, whether to your parents home or elsewhere. When you get a guts feeling about it, it turns to be a simple decision. Don't think about stuff such as that moving back will make your parents happy. Think about yourself only. Parents and everyone else have their own ways of adapting to the situation.

They say, try to think how you would feel about your decision 5-10 years down the road, would you be happy, would it matter?
And it is a good advice that if you are still seriously scared, consider moving to the south of Japan at least temporarily.

[bt2]

Hi. I'm a 17 year old student who moved from Australia.

In the first few months I moved to Tokyo I have experienced a shocking earthquake and my confidence in being able to be strong is diminishing...

Ive grown up in an area where the only risk when going out is the risk of being mugged or being hit by a backing out car...
Now, since Ive moved to Tokyo, I have been hearing about nuclear explosions, large scale earthquakes and now hearing about the Great Tokai earthquake expected to hit Tokyo sometime in the next 20 years..?

To be honest I'm semifreaking out...
I want to stay and not give up on my dream and not be afraid but I'm finding it quite difficult with every one back home screaming for me to come back...

I thought maybe if people could let me know their situations... and maybe give me some strength..?
Sounds a little corny but I would really appreciate any comments :)

Thanks in advance :]

Semi-freaked out seems the new normal... Of course no one can guarantee what will happen in the future, and you should do what seems right to you... There is danger in everything that we do, every action and inaction.
Here is what I did... I went back to the regular monthly phone calls home, stopped focusing on the news, and went back to living my life. I live in Tokyo, and I will live in Tokyo, and I am not going to spend my days debating that with anyone; I'd rather fill them with beer/friends/work

[ksnasi lurker]

[QUOTE=pwintess;1093776]Ive grown up in an area where the only risk when going out is the risk of being mugged or being hit by a backing out car...
Now, since Ive moved to Tokyo, I have been hearing about nuclear explosions, large scale earthquakes and now hearing about the Great Tokai earthquake expected to hit Tokyo sometime in the next 20 years..?

[QUOTE]

There hasn't been a nuclear explosion. There has been an explosion at a nuclear power plant: that's an entirely different thing.

As far as earthquakes are concerned, you should have known how prone Japan is to them.

Australia has also had its fair share of natural disasters recently, particularly floods, drought and forest fires, with many lives sadly lost. Many other countries have similar risks, including a high risk of a major terrorist attack (e.g. London).

At least I can walk the streets of cities in Japan without a significant concern of mugging or attack.

At the end of the day, you make your choice. If it bothers you and you prefer to live in an earthquake-free area, then go home. If, on the other hand, you love this country and its people and want to help build a future here, then stay. If you want more 'strength' go home to mummy and ask her to keep you safe from all the nasty earthquakes and bad things in the world....

[kurogane]

FYI my father is Japanese so you say "foreigners" but I'm more of a Japanese than u could ever be your self.

I have to say, he whines just like a Real Jpanese Man whose had his carefully laid plans rent asunder while away from the protection of Mommy's apron...............



Australia has also had its fair share of natural disasters recently,...

You forget to mention the shameless nativist mawkishness that shocked the world after that douchebag Croc Hunter got his just desserts.

Oh, and the men.................the Australian men...............now that's a genuine natural disaster........


:p :rolleyes:

[Kagari]

if its your dream then live with it and put away your fears in the cupboard....

its been my dream to live in japan, and now that i am here i can only say i really don;t want to leave at all, i take all the good and the bad and learn to live with it....