Our First.......................

We knew this before moving here that Japan frequently has earthquakes. If you have lived here before, you have probably experienced 1 or 2 quakes....even if it is just a tiny tremor.

Since have been here we have heard about several earthquakes, yet never felt anything until today!

This morning at about 9:40 am I was brushing my teeth when all of a sudden I noticed the rack above of washer shaking. As I noticed this, Jamie said "Sara, did you feel that?" I had a mouth full of toothpaste and mumbled "Uh-huh". As I muttered these words I felt the ground start to shake! Jamie and I took cover under the door frame and since I didn't have my glasses on I couldn't see what was happening around us...I only felt the building sway from side to side. It seemed to last FOREVER, even though it was only for about 1 minute. I would say to Jamie "Is it over yet" and he would say no just by looking into the kitchen and seeing that the curtains were still moving.

Thankfully nothing happened or nobody was hurt in our area, but unfortunately a couple of people died and many were injured where it actaully happened. Even though earthquakes happen all of the time here....experiencing your first one is quite freaky! The epi-center of the quake was just off the coast of Ishikawa (N.W of Osaka) and measured 7.1 on the Richter scale. Since we don 't understand what is being said on the news...we aren't sure what the intensity was here, but some students were saying it was about 3.0.

It was nuts....something that we both hope we don't have to experience again!!