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What did you think when it was March 11th? We suffered the biggest earthquake in Japan for many centuries. For Japanese people an earthquake is not rare, but for most of people from overseas, it is an unusual thing, and there are many overseas students and teachers in Obilin University. So we interviewed two people from abroad about March 11th earthquake to see what they thought.
[Interview from Shutaro]
Shutaro: Hi there! Today I will interview to people from overseas about March 11th earthquake.
S: Hi!
Man: Hello!
S: Hello. Can I ask you some questions?
M: Sure.
S: What is your name please?
M: My name is Peter.
S: Where are you from?
M: I come from Scotland.
S: What are you doing in Japan?
M: I’m working as an English teacher.
S: How long have you stayed in Japan?
M: I’ve stayed in Japan for about 15 years.
S: Today, I’ll ask you about March 11th earthquake.
M: Okay, sound interesting.
S: Have you suffered an earthquake in your country?
M: No I haven’t. Scotland is very safe country for earthquakes, but I’ve lived in Japan for 15 years, so I have experience of some earthquake in Japan.
S: Where were you when it was March 11th ?
M: March 11th I was in a coffee shop in Machida, working on my computer.
S: What did you do at that time?
M: Just before the earthquake happens, I was drinking coffee and typing essay on my computer.
S: How did you feel while the earthquake happened?
M: Well, when the earthquake begun, I didn’t think it was a big problem, big deal, so I didn’t feel anything, as usual, (couldn’t hear clearly) normally earthquakes happens you become use to them in Japan, but after about 1minute, the earthquake got little stronger and one man said that if the windows break in the coffee shop, (couldn’t hear clearly) dangerous because it’s big grass windows, so everybody moved same time to wall the door, and just as we are moving, the earthquake became a lot stronger.
S: This is the last question, when a big earthquake happens again, what will you do first?
M: I (couldn’t hear clearly) do the same thing, which is wait and see (couldn’t hear clearly), and wait and see what thing start break or not, and then I’ll move to walls open ground as fast as I can, and I will look up!
S: Thank you very much, Perer!
M: Thank you.
[Interview from Rika]
Rika: what your name?
Doya: My name is Doya.
Rika: Ok, Doya. I’ll ask you five questions about on March 11th. Have you ever suffered an earthquake in your country?
Doya: No, I’ve never suffered the earthquake in my country.
Rika: Where were you, when it was March 11th?
Doya: I was in Sendai when it was March 11th. I suffered the earthquake as soon as I got off a train.
Rika: What did you do at that time?
Doya: I looked for a safe place and stayed there with my friends until an earth tremor became slight. And we wanted to come back by train but trains stopped running then. So we had to walk to my friend’s house for three hours.
Rika: How did you feel while the earthquake happened?
Doya: I felt a little fearful when I suffered. And I didn’t expect to suffer so heavy damage. But, when I walked to friend’s house, some fires and tsunami occurred. I felt the most fearful when I stayed in the place of refuge. And I was in a panic because I couldn’t contact with my parents.
Rika: when a big earthquake happens again, what will you do first?
Doya: First of all, I’ll prepare an identification card, cash and foods. And I’ll bring them to a place of refuge.
Rika: Thank you.
Thank you very much Peter and Doya. Both of them have never suffered an earthquake in their country, so this is the first time for them. We often suffer earthquakes in Japan, but even we were nervous at that time, it’s natural thing that people from abroad were worried and more nervous than us. We hope that this experience may help them to live in Japan safely.