I'm sitting here in my room, TV off because I can't handle it anymore, contemplating plane tickets online. Should I book a plane ticket home for the end of my program, or tomorrow?
I can't tell if the news and government are down playing the seriousness of this or if they really have it under control. Friends and family have been sending me local news reports that all state different opinions, my own host mother doesn't know what to do, and my school/program coordinator hasn't gotten a hold of me (or any of the other students here).
It's so hard to judge because Fukushima is pretty far from Tokyo (about 160 miles or so which in retrospect isn't really that far away) and they've only evacuated people within a 12 miles radius of the plants (or at least as far as they've told us).We're still feeling after shocks (a couple hours ago a 7.0 hit a northern prefecture) and all the "officials" on TV looked just as scared as I'm starting to feel (though it's not so much that i'm scared but more unsure).
*Some related stories: http://www.katu.com/news/national/117868844.html <--what does partial meltdown even mean?!
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110312/UPDATE/110312014 <-- even Oregon is worried!?!!?
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/12/explosion-at-japan-nuclear-plant-disaster-death-toll-rises/?icid=main|main|dl1|sec3_lnk1|205878
I don't want to expose myself to possible health issues (but I don't want to run away if it's really under control) and I don't want to leave my host family behind (will they all fit into my suitcase!?!)
I just don't know what to do but don't want to freak out unnecessarily. Anyone out there got any ideas? Should I wait it out? Should I run? Can I even get a plane ticket back home at this time?? My life has never been so complicated.
I can't tell if the news and government are down playing the seriousness of this or if they really have it under control. Friends and family have been sending me local news reports that all state different opinions, my own host mother doesn't know what to do, and my school/program coordinator hasn't gotten a hold of me (or any of the other students here).
It's so hard to judge because Fukushima is pretty far from Tokyo (about 160 miles or so which in retrospect isn't really that far away) and they've only evacuated people within a 12 miles radius of the plants (or at least as far as they've told us).We're still feeling after shocks (a couple hours ago a 7.0 hit a northern prefecture) and all the "officials" on TV looked just as scared as I'm starting to feel (though it's not so much that i'm scared but more unsure).
*Some related stories: http://www.katu.com/news/national/117868844.html <--what does partial meltdown even mean?!
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110312/UPDATE/110312014 <-- even Oregon is worried!?!!?
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/12/explosion-at-japan-nuclear-plant-disaster-death-toll-rises/?icid=main|main|dl1|sec3_lnk1|205878
I don't want to expose myself to possible health issues (but I don't want to run away if it's really under control) and I don't want to leave my host family behind (will they all fit into my suitcase!?!)
I just don't know what to do but don't want to freak out unnecessarily. Anyone out there got any ideas? Should I wait it out? Should I run? Can I even get a plane ticket back home at this time?? My life has never been so complicated.
