Today

Niigata's Earthquakes

1st one

Magnitude 6.7
Date-Time
Monday, July 16, 2007 at 10:13:28 AM

2nd one

Magnitude 5.8

Date-Time

Monday, July 16, 2007 at 3:37:46 PM

A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Japan on Monday, injuring more than 150 people as it toppled houses, triggered mudslides and set off a blaze at a nuclear power plant.

In areas northwest of Tokyo, which were hardest hit, houses were reduced to rubble and a bridge was nearly cracked in two by the force of the mid-morning quake, Japanese television footage showed.
The government set up a crisis-management centre after the quake, which was powerful enough to shake skyscrapers and send goods flying from the shelves of stores in Tokyo more than 200km away from the epicentre.
Officials said they were hunting for survivors. More than 150 people were taken to hospitals, mostly in worst-hit Niigata prefecture, after the quake, which was first listed as 6.6-magnitude and then upgraded to 6.8.

The tremor set off 50-cm tsunami waves which hit the Japanese coast within minutes. It was followed by aftershocks, including one measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale.

Service on Japan's famed bullet trains was suspended as a precaution while Niigata airport temporarily closed its runways to check for damage.

Television footage showed flames billowing at a nuclear power plant in Kashiwazaki although there was no apparent risk of radiation.Plant officials said the fire was in the part supplying electricity to the facility and that the four reactors automatically shut down following the jolt.

The quake also triggered mudslides in Kashiwazaki, where soil was already loose after a major typhoon over the weekend that left four people dead or missing and flooded hundreds of homes across Japan.On the Japanese scale which measures seismic intensity, the earthquake registered six out of seven, meaning it had the potential to cause damage.

Japan lies at the junction of four tectonic plates and endures about 20 percent of the world's most powerful earthquakes.Niigata was the scene of a major 6.8 Richter-scale earthquake in October 2004. Forty-six people were killed, many of them elderly who suffered fatigue and stress as they stayed in shelters and felt hundreds of aftershocks.

***As I'm typing this blog now, I'm still feeling small aftershocks. Everything will slowly start to sway/shake and I keep wondering if it'll get harder, but then it dies down.***

Happy 4th

Morning parades, chili cook-offs, no work, BBQ, going out on the boat, and evening fireworks!

Ohh.....fourth - miss ya!!!

Shirone Kite Festival

Every Tuesday. Every freakin' Tuesday.

I cannot -repeat- CANNOT stand my 3rd years at my base school. They are the most lazy, non-creative, careless students I have ever had the chance to teach. I'm usually a very lenient and easy-going teacher, but these kids literally get on my last nurve and I just can't deal with them! I admit, I have some 3rd grade classes where 2 to 4 students won't work and sleep at their desks the whole period (which I still don't like about Japan, but can accept at times) but at my base school, AT LEAST 3/4 of the 3rd years blatantly refuse to work. They'll sit there and stare at the wall rather then think. They'll hand in empty worksheets not caring about the grades. They'll only write one sentence over and over -"I play soccer."- when they're suppose to be writing about where they live. I hate to say it, but these kids are either brainless or just plain indolent. I've tried playing games and I've tried having them draw English mangas - anything to get them out of the usual English book routine into trying something new and fun, but they...just...don't...care. So, guess what kids??? I don't have to care about your class anymore either. It's only repeating vocabulary words over and over again and long writing worksheets for you from now on. Which is what...4-5 more weeks? Hallelujah!!!! It's a pure blessing I'm leaving Japan because I couldn't teach these kids for another week let alone a year without pulling my hair out!!! Thus, ends my ranting. Thank you!

Sasadango

These Japanese sweets were given the name"sasadango" by the troops of Kenshin Uesugi (16th century samurai warrior) who would carry them as provisions.
They would mix the "dango" (dumplings) with "yomogi" (mugwort) and wrap them in "sasa" (bamboo leaf) hence "sasadango".
Although traditionally eaten at festivals during June, it has now become a popular Niigata souvenir to take home.

In olden times, every family made many during the holiday periods.

Now a days, there everywhere again for summer and I love it!

I'll deffiantly miss mochi when I'm gone.

And I'll esp. miss getting the frozen ones for school lunch and as little gifts on my desk.

New English Board

I get sick and tired and people (aka teachers at school) asking me "So, what did you eat in America?" They always assume it's just hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. So, I made a new English board to show some of the famous foods from across USA. I couldn't list everything, but I think this kind of covers some of the major ones - Sour dough clam chowder bowls, fajitas, gumbo, Philly cheese steak sandwiches, and Chicago deep dish pizza.

Brownie points if you can spot the spelling mistake!!!

I just saw it now in the photo even though its been up for about a week at school.

Just...great! :)

Lots of time on my hands!

heheheh Since I'm working on a new blog, I've been feeling really artsy lately. So, I made this collage of my face. It has to be snippets of at least 20 pictures of me takin at different angles and with different lighting, but it was kind of fun putting them together. Low and behold....me....

The new me

Well, my time in Japan is coming to an end and so must the ol' blog. I've been working on a new one for the future, where ever that may lead! :)

http://johannadarilek.blogspot.com/

Seaside Drive

For some odd reason, I woke up today at 6am and couldn't go back to sleep. After laying in bed for 10 mins. with an even odder amount of restless energy, I thought I should take advantage of this and do something on this beautiful sunny Sunday morning. So, I went on a seaside drive. It only takes 10 mins. (seriously!) to get to the sea from my apartment in Nishikawa.
The roads were practically empty except for the fisherman and farmers. Lovely!

Kakuda Cove

Such a wonderful day!!! :)

I should do this more often.

Also-

One of the reasons I really enjoy living in Japan is that you get books AHEAD of the actual release dates. (I'm not sure if they know they're suppose to hold them or what...but...?) hehe These are two books I pre-ordered back in January and got them this past weekend when they're not to be released for sale until next week in the States. Woo-hoo!!!

Good weekend.