Weeks after the Earthquake

Following the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan, there was a lot of fear and uncertainty surrounding everyday life. Whether it be waking up to another large aftershock, reading reports of the extent of the damage in Sendai or watching coverage on NHK (national news agency) of the various reactor housings exploding, there was a lot to keep your mind racing. I think what possibly affected me the most about these few weeks was the misinformation coming from news sources around the world, but in particular from America. News agencies made it seem as if everyone in Japan had been washed away in the tsunami and that the nuclear crisis was immediately effecting everyone on this small island of Japan. Yes the crisis was bad. Yes there was reason for concern. But No there was no need for the amount of fear caused in the US.(Though causing fear is something America is known for, so why am I so surprised...) I remember reading that people in California had started to take Potassium iodine to combat the increase amounts of radiation that they were being exposed to. Really?...

 As the time passed, my class sizes began to diminish as my friends and classmates where being summoned back to their universities. The earthquake happened right as people were leaving for trips back home as it was our 10 day spring break. Many of them never got a chance to come back. Two of my roommates, Rene and James, left for home with every intention of returning after the break, and instead got denied by their schools and were forced to stay away. Rene's room still sits full of all his belongings waiting on him to return. Everyday that passed more of my friends lost their battle with their home universities to reject having to return home, and so day by day I said goodbye to friends who were devastated and heartbroken for having to cut their exchange short. I will never forget the complete empty feeling of sitting in a class that a week ago was full of discussion and chatter of friends and classmates that was now reduced to 3 students, sitting quietly taking notes to try and take our minds off of our departed friends.