トーマス・C・カンサ
Each home was used as a learning place. I made it my obligation to sit and have coffee with the volunteers and homeowners and get them to tell us about their personal experience during and after the tsunami. These coffee sessions brought the volunteers and families closer together. Their stories are not written anywhere, which is why it was important that we have an oral history lesson. It marked the first time that volunteers and experienced volunteers were exposed to a personal relationship. I encouraged the volunteers to write a thank you card to the people that were kind enough to let us into their homes and to share their experiences.
I feel that I have changed and this experience has helped me revalue my own life. The people were magical.
The Americans declared an eighty kilometer radius and the Japanese government a thirty kilometre radius as as a no go area. That did not in any way change my planned schedule to get there as soon as possible. Back home my wife and daughter waited anxiously to hear from me. It may sound crazy but one does get so overcome by the enormity of this great disaster that one has no time to even think about fretting families. In the face of the disaster we soon forget about the people who might be worrying about us. You just do whatever you can and are able to do because there is no time to stop and think. Back in my tent it was freezing. I wanted desperately to call to say I was safe but there was no way to recharge my cellphone so !