Nobiru Primary School 野蒜小学校

Rolling the time back to October of last year, I shall show you my first accommodation, Nobiru Elementary School, in Higashi-matsushima City. Click one of the images below. The slide show with captions will start.

The school building was in a bad condition. When it rained, condensation formed on the interior walls ran down to the floor. Our budget was tight, and heaters were not turned on until mid-December. No one had the time to cook after work, and most of the meals were instant. These physical hardship could have been tolerable with a good leadership. Mrs. Iwamoto’s words came across my mind time and again. “If you want to lead people, volunteer to do the work that no one wants to do.” In my opinion, the director of Plus Neo simply lacked the attitude, and we the sub-leaders started to loose our dedication to him. When Higashi-matsushima City asked all the four organizations in Nobiru Primary School to move out of the building by December 10, I had no sympathy for the director.

There is a complicated network of relief organizations in Japan. We the assessment team belonged to Plus Neo, which offered us lodging. We worked for Team Ohkan and collaborated with many other agencies and nonprofit organizations under a project called “Ishinomaki Health and Living Revitalization Council.” In contrast to my deteriorating amity with the director of Plus Neo, I was able to develop a trustful relationship with the director of Team Ohkan and the project coordinators. They kindly had arranged a new accommodation for us. On Dec. 5, we moved into the support center in Ishinomaki City.

The center reminded me of the comfortable living that I had been used to in America. It has all the basic appliances, such as central heating, running hot water, a bathing room, and semiprivate rooms with beds. In order to provide us with the best working environment, they hired local women to cook and clean for us. I felt like a spoiled queen bee.