In level 4A of my school, I had to write about a strange experience that happened to me… real or made up. This is partly true, but not completely.

ふみきりで止まらないで下さい

私の大学はナコドチェス市にあります。その町は小さくて静(しず)かで、人々は三万人ぐらいです。私は2001～2005年までに大学に通っていました。

ある日、食堂(しょくどう)で晩御飯を食べている時、珍しい伝説を聞きました。友達は「ね、聞いた？真夜中、警察署の近くの鉄道で車が止まったら、車がひとりでに動く。」と言っていました。「うそ！」と思いました。

ナコドチェスで生まれた学生に聞きました。返事は同じですけど、もっと説明してくれました。もし、鉄道のふみきりで止まったら、10分後、車がスーッと動きます。しかも、動いている時、子供のしくしく泣く声が聞こえます。さらに、車の後ろに手のあとがのこります。

伝説によると、昔、そこで、家族（お父さんとお母さんと子供3人）の車が止まってしまいました。列車は車にぶつかって、皆が亡くなりました。すごく悲劇的でした。

その時から、そこでは見えない幽霊が出ます。今、他人を守るためにいつも車を押します。でも、その鉄道のふみきれの近くには警察署がありますから、ふみきりで車を止めることは難しいです。

ナコドチェスは色々な伝説があります。例えば、大学の寮(りょう)で幽霊もいます。昔、あの寮は私立病院(しりつびょういん)でしたから。別の時、もっと教えてあげます。

School is an interesting thing. I get to see classmates and some friends, learn some things, and have an opportunity to get out of my home. Of course, there is always homework to do if I attend class, as well as taking one or two tests every week. All in all though, it’s a good time.

After my first quarter (the year is split into quarters), I thought I would have become accustomed to the workload, which would leave me with a bit more free time right about now. Haha, silly me! If anything, class and homework is more intense. At least I don’t have to worry about having nothing to do and becoming absurdly bored like I was during winter break. Continue reading Two months, huh? Seems like a good time to post →

Friday morning I was awoken around 5:30 to a slight shaking of my bed. This is nothing new, as I’ve felt small earthquakes in the middle of the night before. I went back to sleep.

During the second half of class we learned about procedures and what to do during an earthquake. Cover your head, immediately open a door so that the frame doesn’t become warped leaving the door stuck closed, where our school’s evacuation center is, etc.

Then around 5:30 p.m. after class, there was a real earthquake, and definitely the strongest I’ve felt since being here. I was on the third floor having dinner with someone from my class, and I immediately felt it. A second later everyone else there did, looked around, became quiet, and immediately began checking their phones. What was a bit worrisome about this one was the strength of it and the duration. It honestly felt like 45 seconds to a minute of swaying.

Turns out it was near Miyagi-ken. Last I heard, there were some injuries in that area. Here in Tokyo and Yokohama, everyone is fine, the last time I checked.

Just a quick update to let everyone know I’m OK.

Also, finals this week! Listening, reading, writing, speaking, pronunciation and I hear an essay will be required. Oh, and a speech. Sooo, probably won’t post for a week or so!