Tsunami Warning

 As many of you I am still keeping Japan in my prayers. They had like a double whammy earthquake and tsunami destroying and killing so much. During that time there where still many more countries that were scared as to what the after effects was going to be. For Saipan we were worried that the shock would cause a Tsunami to come headed our direction wiping this tiny island out and most like the surrounding islands as well. I found out on Friday while I was waiting for my last student to go home. Joey came in and was like "So we have a tsunami warning." and then walked out the room. I can honestly say I wasn't even slightly scared. I just kept talking and doing whatever. At least on the outside. On the inside I wasn't as calm I wasn't wreck but I wasn't as lackadaisical as I was ten min earlier. I mean I was kind of sad that I could die millions of miles away from home with out those that I am closest to.

A few minutes later my last students parents arrived I shot off a few emails and Joey and I headed home. The streets were unusually packed I dared to wonder why, Police were up and down the street flashing lights, and if any one had the guts to J-walk that day I'm sure they would have become a pancake because no one besides Joey and I were driving under 60 miles per hour. When we got home everyone was in the same sort of state I was quite but still moving about packing things. I put a change of clothes my laptop and passport in bag and sat and just waited with the guys for what to do next.

Then we got news from the police that we needed to evacuate to higher ground my compound came out and said a prayer together and we all (each group) went our separate ways. My group went to Mount Tapachow. There was a family from the church who lived up there and a few other family's were going to have haystacks there as per usual Friday night dinners. On our way no gas station was empty people were lined out of them and the gas station attendants were closing. Driving up the mountain you saw people just sitting on the ground waiting with a six pack of beer and their radios. Soon we got to the family's house which was really nice and started our own little camp out. So there we were with a panoramic view of the ocean high up in the mountain waiting for a potential Tsunami while eating Haystacks and singing worship songs. By nine it was told we could go back to our house and the threat would be over so that what we did. We went home, called our family's and went to bed. (I actually slept in my house alone cause my room mate got scared and slept in the other peoples house.)

It wasn't the most fun experience but still something I could learn from. Today is promised to no man. What happened to Japan could have happened to Saipan lucky for us we had warning I was able to say what could have been last words to my loved ones. Were as those in Japan could not. So take this away if anything leave nothing that needs to be said unspoken. You might not have a second chance.