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Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I'm wondering how everyone is doing after the earthquakes hit Hokkaido this morning? I don't know alot of the details, but they measured a 7.8 and 7.0 at 5 AM. There are probably more to follow.

Please let us know how you are doing and what you experienced.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

No problems here in Sapporo unless you want to talk about my spilled tea during the aftershock. A friend reported that she had to open the auto-locked door to her apartment to let in her neighbor, a man who dashed out excitedly in his underwear and locked himself out. At least I had the sense to grab my pants and wallet and stand in the doorway.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Always thinking Glenski.

It's one of the few times you got caught with your pants down. Wink

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

My pants weren't down. I was wearing pajamas.

However, I didn't mention that the aftershock caught me in the shower...

kamome · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 19 Location: Hokkaido

A few things jumped off the walls and shelves.................it woke me up as did the second one at 6am...............why couldn't it have been at a more socially acceptable time?

It was the biggest quake I've experienced in Japan anyway.

KateCee · Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 72 Location: China....no more.

Good to know all of you are safe.

BenJ · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 209 Location: Nagoya

you grabbed your wallet...?

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

That wallet probably contained the gaijin card. Without it, you're suckered round here.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Besides my wife and daughter, I would have grabbed my laptop.

What would you take first in an earthquake?

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Yes, my wallet. As lajzar wrote, it has my alien card (brand new, by the way), new driver's license, credit cards, ATM card, and a few other vitals. I'd have grabbed my photo negatives and box of important files, but they are in different rooms, and the way the apartment was shaking, and the fact that it was 4:50AM, I wasn't thinking of anything else by pants and wallet.

My wife is staying at her mother's home, or I'd also have swooped her up.

Why does grabbing one's wallet sound so strange?

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Grabbing your wallet is a very good idea ... especially if it's loaded with cash.

If it's a serious earthquake, the banks and ATM's are going to be out of service for a while. So you're going to want to be cashed up ... Just in case!

A.S.

BenJ · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 209 Location: Nagoya

sounds strange to me because everything in it is replaceable.

foster · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 Location: Honkers, SARS

Taking your wallet, or bag for a woman, is essential. yes, it is all replaceable, but you will something to prove you are you!! I would grab my passport and my wallet as well. ..possibly my return ticket if I had one.

april · Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 83 Location: Australia

While I lived in Japan, I was very organised and actually had an emergency bag located right next to the front door. In it I had a jacket, socks, shoes, large towell, toilet paper, torch, bottled water and packaged food (which I replaced regurlarly), painkillers, bandages, photo copied id, and list of emergency contact numbers.

It wasn't actually an earthquake that prompted me to do this, but Sep 11. I got a little extra cautious after that event... I thought I was actually being paranoid by doing that but all my students and Japanese friends assured me that they had emergency bags too, or maybe they were just being polite!