Had breakfast at a cool Macrobiotic restaurant and I don’t really know what it was but it was amazing. Some soy-based sandwich with yogurt and kiwi. Mmmmm. Next, walked about an hour through a beautiful, clean city to the first thing I wanted to see, their Disaster Prevention Park! It was amazing! You start the tour off on the “10th floor” and have to navigate your way through an 8.0 earthquake! You start in the elevator and the earthquake hits, the whole thing shakes and the lights go out. You make it to the first floor and then are trained how to survive the first 72 hours, how to find the evacuation points, hazards, how to help others, and even how all the park benches in Tokyo turn into grills for cooking if needed! Even got to see Tokyo’s Emergency Operations Center which they use during disasters. Had a 300” screen in the center and every table had a printer, computer hookups and fax machines. It was so big I couldn’t photograph it all, so many conference tables in the back and at least 100 dry erase boards. Apparently, it was used in the new Godzilla movie ha. Was such a cool place and they really prepare people! There was an eye-opening video where they showed videos from a simulated earthquake in various buildings and all the furniture falling on people and breaking their bones, then they showed the same earthquakes in rooms where the furniture is fixed to the walls and it was really eye-opening as to how much better it was. As I walked around the city, I saw all the preparation work they have done including building the bridges so that they can sway on the pillars! Just such a cool experience. Made some new friends and am now going to get lost in the city to find the fun stuff. Follow the crowds! I’m also amazed at how clean, organized, and safe the city is. I’m eating a burger in a crowded mall and everyone leaves their bags and phones on the tables when they go to get their food or to the bathroom. Very young kids no more than 3rd grade are navigating the city on their own with no adults and it just feels safe! Let’s see what else I can find, it’s only the first day and I’m loving it!
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2023 Funds For Teachers Fellow!
This trip was made possible through the generosity of the Funds For Teachers Program! ArchivesCategories |
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