I made it home. A bit of a roundabout route back here via Tokyo and then Osaka (the flight re-routed a 2nd stop to Osaka because the Singapore Airlines crews were not getting any sleep in Tokyo from all the aftershocks.)
I didn’t see much in Tokyo as they restricted our access to just the transit area. Also, because of damage, the lounges were closed as well.
There did seem to be a bit of a somber tone in the air. I bought a bunch of mochi and sweets at the Duty Free as I’d promised to do some shopping to do my tiny part to keep commerce flowing.
I really don’t want to go back to work tomorrow. I get sick of everyone asking me the exact same questions when they roll by my office.
I really don’t want to go back to work tomorrow. I get sick of everyone asking me the exact same questions when they roll by my office.
you should just type up the answers to all of the questions they are gonna ask that way when they pop by you could just hand them a xerox of all the answers.
Late,
grmpysmrf
The world is a madhouse, man. I’m callin’ it: 2012 isn’t gonna be the apocalypse. God is just gonna get pissed and press the reset button. You and I folks? Pixels in God’s Nintendo.
The world is a madhouse, man. I’m callin’ it: 2012 isn’t gonna be the apocalypse. God is just gonna get pissed and press the reset button. You and I folks? Pixels in God’s Nintendo.
I made it home. A bit of a roundabout route back here via Tokyo and then Osaka (the flight re-routed a 2nd stop to Osaka because the Singapore Airlines crews were not getting any sleep in Tokyo from all the aftershocks.)
I didn’t see much in Tokyo as they restricted our access to just the transit area. Also, because of damage, the lounges were closed as well.
There did seem to be a bit of a somber tone in the air. I bought a bunch of mochi and sweets at the Duty Free as I’d promised to do some shopping to do my tiny part to keep commerce flowing.
I really don’t want to go back to work tomorrow. I get sick of everyone asking me the exact same questions when they roll by my office.
Do your mental health a favour and take a week off.
Regardless of whether your in a position to do that.
You’ve basically come from all this devastation, and then you’re expected to just get straight back into the swing of things? Fuck 'em. Fake radiation sickness or whatever. I honestly do think you’d be in with a chance if you said something like that…
^
Thanks for your concern, Bro! I’m fine, though. While I hate that people are suffering and am bothered by the situation, I like the stress and danger that comes with my job. It keeps me young.
And, though we were certainly worried for all our friends and family (and still are because Japan will continue to be jacked up for some time), I never really had any major hardship or trouble. A few reroutings and delays, some lost sleep, but really nothing significant.
I always seem to be just one step ahead of death . . . .
My hotel in Jakarta was bombed, specifically targeting Americans. Fortunately, I was back in the US at the time as many were killed. I would have probably been eating breakfast with the rest of the dead.
I flew into and out of NY the same day that a plane was taken down by a flock of birds.
I cancelled Cairo off of my stops list on my last Middle East trip just because I had too many other stops - - - things got really out of control during the time I WOULD have been there.
After leaving Bahrain on the same trip, protests and clashes sprung up and the military has been shooting demonstrators and passers-by for over a month now.
I was scheduled to fly through Japan the same day as the earthquake/ tsunami – I missed being stuck in the chaos by about 12 hours.
When I was in London a couple years ago, I stayed at Picadilly and used the Tube station about 5 times a day. It was bombed the same day I left (about about an hour after leaving the country).
The US Embassy in UAE had a bomb threat last year one day after my meeting AT the Embassy.
In May I went to Monterrey, Mexico. From my hotel room I could hear the shootouts between the police and the drug lords in the city below (I can’t tell how close it was to my hotel, though).
In Doha in January my passport fell apart and I was told that I would not be able to leave until I got a new one issued (waiting time 3 weeks). Fortunately I called in a favor with the Embassy and got it replaced the day before I was scheduled to leave.
So . . . yeah, it’s all pretty standard procedure for me. Sometimes I wonder how I’m even still here.
wow man…crazy stories! indeed you’re a step ahead of death, that’s amazing. would make for a great movie/book and I don’t mean that in a mean/sarcastic way.
glad to hear all is well with the friends and family, or as best as could be. I donated and once I get more money, will continue to donate. hell, I’d love to fly over there to voulenteer and I would had I had a good source of income. I’m gathering clothes that I hope to send out over there as well.
I know I can search some sites and all, but I just thought I’d ask you guys: anyone know of any places where I can donate clothes to Japan? gunnar you said your wife’s family was ok, but if they or their friends need it, I’d gladly send what I have over to them if you’d like. (will get female clothes from my sis/mother)
I hope to make it there no later than the end of 2012 to help out. I went to New Orleans 3 years after the Hurricane and it looked like it happened the day before in some areas. I hope the recovery effort is better there…but it’s going to take time…
Hey man any word on your wife’s family? how are they recovering?
How’s Japan doing in general? it’s been off the news for months now… although, it was in the news for being home to some new Super Gonorrhea strain Resistant to antibiotics. that’s sux.
Late,
grmpysmrf
Thanks, Brother! They’re doing good. They were here last month for a week as my wife was graduating from her Masters’ program. I took the crew up to Yosemite for a few days.
Japan is still (gonna be a long road) rebuilding and recovering. If you type in Japan News or something in your browser you’ll find mostly a bunch of doom and gloom. My in-laws, thankfully, live away from the really devastated northern areas.
Thanks, Brother! They’re doing good. They were here last month for a week as my wife was graduating from her Masters’ program. I took the crew up to Yosemite for a few days.
Good to hear, ma’ man. Good to hear!
Also, congratulations are in order for your wife, that’s great she was able to grab that degree.
Late,
grmpysmrf