Planning for the rest of the summer

Oh I've missed Japanese food so much! I found that many stores and grocery stores are promoting produce from Fukushima and it's safety. Many farmers are struggling now as people are afraid of the food from the area even thought the radiation count has proved to be under the dangerous levels. The same goes with fish and other products from the area. This problem known as "Fuhyou-higai" (people not willing to purchase products out of fear) is posing to be a very large issue in Japan right now.

Went to the local store to buy masks and rubber boots to prepare for the volunteer trip up to Tohoku on June 4th.

Irony of saving energy

Signs promoting energy saving is everywhere!

Escalators are even shut down to save power

Almost every store I went today had some sort of cooling product intended to reduce the use of AC this summer

in this picture you can see the monitor showing you how to use the product!

These little neck towels are all the rage

I donated some money today and got a nice little key chain!

Student continues Japan relief effort (24 Hours Vancouver, 19 May 2011, Page 3)

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Student continues Japan relief effort
STEPHANIE IP
24 Hours Vancouver
19 May 2011

It’s been more than two months since a magnitude 9.0 earthquake devastated Japan and while many relief workers have already left, June Fukumura, 19, is in it for the long haul. “Short term ( help) is great but in order to connect with the people...read more...

Tech Tags: 24 Hours Vancouver newspaper � NEWS VANCOUVER

Arrival!

Finally arrived in Japan!!
Slight flight delay but no big deal! I made a really nice friend Alejandro from the Philippines who was traveling from Saskatchewan back to his home town for his brother's wedding. We had great conversations about farming and traveling and other really random stuff! We ended up talking for 2 or 3 hours total which made the time go right by! Thanks Alejandro!


This is me and Alejandro on the plane

We must have been so loud talking so much!! I hope we didn't disturb anyone!

D75

@ Gate 75 (YVR)!! Already made a nice Japanese friend sitting with me waiting for this delayed plane. Air ports are always so bittersweet. My dad and I had our last lunch at Tim Horton's a couple of hours ago... I don't know which I will miss more... Tim Horton's or my dad...? ahah Jokes!! Of course I will miss my dad!

Dad, I hope you have an awesome summer! Make sure you eat healthy! I will talk to you when I get there! Make sure you hold the fort down in Vancouver until I come home!!!

pssst... you might be able to find me in tomorrow's issue of 24 Hour!!

1 day until departure!

I'm sitting here with my giant backpack stuffed full of my next two and a half months. It's a pretty surreal feeling to be departing tomorrow. This trip started off as just a goal or almost like a dream and now its become something real! Life is really what you make it!! I just can't believe how everything just worked out perfectly and it seems like it keeps getting better! I've been talking to many friends in Japan and they are all so excited about my trip! So many people keep offering me places to stay and any other help that I might need. This is such a great feeling! I'm sad that I will be missing my friends and my dad in Vancouver but I know that this will be such an amazing trip. I think this really will change me forever! I'm looking forward to updating videos to show you what I'm up to!

Media Update

Today was the release of two newspaper articles that have been in the works for the last few weeks. One was for SFU News (today in print) and Vancouver Shinpo. A big thanks to Stuart Colcleugh and Marianne Meadahl from SFU and Louise Akuzawa from Vancouver Shinpo who wrote the articles!! My aim for these two articles are to create more awareness for the ongoing problems in Japan after the 9.0 earthquake and to show appreciation for those who have made this trip possible for me. I am so thrilled to go to Japan and can't wait to get started. My general plan as of now is as follows:

May 19 Arrive in Tokyo
May 19 - June 4 visit family and friends, go to the volunteer seminars, buy supplies, prepare for volunteering
June 4 - June 12 Volunteer for the Tokyo Disaster Centre via Youth For 3.11 in Tohoku

The Tokyo Disaster Centre is the biggest organization that Youth For 3.11 is currently working with. I am part of 10 people who are heading up for a week to help on the ground there. I am not 100% sure of the tasks but the coordinator told me that there will be things like cleaning up homes, looking for pictures/albums from people's homes and talking to the people who are still living in shelters. I am so nervous and excited about going right now, I can't believe that it's all happening so soon!! In the meanwhile I will be busy preparing for flight on Wednesday!

 Today's article in Vancouver Shimpo

Today's article in SFU News