Back in Singapore

I am back in Singapore....in fact since Tuesday 15 March.

It was an experience trying to get home. I wasn't planning on returning so soon. My family kept asking me to return home before the situation in Japan worsens. I went to office on Monday and called the travel agent to make arrangements. I was able to get on the flight home at 6.25am on Tuesday.

I returned to the hotel to pack in the evening after dinner. Upon arrival in the hotel, I asked the receptionist to book a taxi for me for 4.30am. She said she would not be able to help me do so. She advised that I should make my way to the airport as soon as possible since no one is sure of the situation and how it was going to go.

I was very reluctantly convinced by a Chinese colleague travelling with me to heed the advice of the receptionist after I made a call to a local colleague. The Japanese said no one knows what the next announcement would bring and the safest bet was to take whatever transportation was available at the earliest.

I started packing and was done in about an hour and a half. By the time I got into the taxi, it was 10pm. It was barely a 5min wait for the taxi. Much to my surprise, it took a whole 15 minutes to reach the airport by highway. It typically takes 20 minutes. I was way too early. 6 hours too early.

I went to the SQ counter to check if they could let me go on the earlier flight which was leaving at 12.30am. I was informed that the flight was full. They wouldn't let me check in earlier either. I was stuck with 2 luggage bags, one mine and the other my boss'. She left hers while getting out on Friday, the day of the tsunami. I went to the baggage storage counter but they refused to take my bags because of the possibility of earthquake. I was not happy. I asked the information counter if there was an airport hotel and they said there wasn't one. I asked for the whereabouts of the 24hour restaurants. The one I selected was closed.

Since I wasn't really in the mood for food, I decided to take a rest on one of the benches outside the restaurants. It proved to be a wise move. Within 15 minutes, all the benches in that area were taken. I slept at about midnight. Some children from the bench opposite mine woke me and I woke myself up thinking that it was already 3.30am. Again, I was early. It was only 2.30am. I didn't want to run the risk of oversleeping so I decided to take a stroll. I walked around the airport and found people everywhere. It wasn't packed but there were people occupying every seat available. Some were sleeping on the floor.

After more walking, some stretching and a drink from a vending machine, I managed to find a coffee shop that was opened. I had a coffee and a bowl of edamame beans. That took me to close to 4.25am when the check in counter was scheduled to open. I made my way to the counter. I was not surprised to find that there was already a queue. Despite the queue, the staff could not accept any check in until the system was opened. Still they didn't forget their manners and in true Japanese tradition, all the counter staff gave us a polite bow before they started to let us check in. I found it a little ironic.

It was all very civilised. No rush, no panic crowds. Uneventful. Which made me regret my rush to get out.

After clearing immigration, I went to the DFS to buy some items for my colleague and family. Then it was straight to the lounge. I tried to make sense of the news delivered in Japanese. Uncannily, I felt a slight quake just as the news broadcast another after shock. The news reader was shaking on tv while I was shaking in the lounge. Creepy.

The plane arrived without accident and we boarded. Surprisingly, I was able to sleep for another couple of hours on the plane after breakfast and a movie. The King's Speech. It was interesting but too deep for me at that moment.

Once I arrived, I was surprised at my own lack of feeling. No feeling of relief, no stress, no excitement. My hubby told me that another reactor had a blast in the morning. Again, no feeling. I was just too tired. I spent the next half day sleeping.

It was school holidays and the kids were at home. I went back to office on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday. I couldn't get myself back into the right mode. I wasn't stressed but was a little depressed. I felt a bit guilty about leaving my China colleague behind but fortunately he got out on Tuesday night.

As news of developments were delivered, I felt that it was a good thing that I got out earlier as the airports seemed more congested by the day. The nuclear situation in Fukushima was looking more bleak. The Singapore government issued a warning yesterday and urged Singaporeans in affected areas to leave Japan or the affected areas as soon as possible.

I read an article about 50 people who were remaining at the Fukushima reactor plants, trying to keep the situation within control. They are responsible for ensuring that the reactors are not overheated. All the while they are being exposed to radiation. They know they have a job to do and they are not leaving. They are the brave ones.

Still no feeling for myself. Sadness for the Japanese......and a lot of respect for the Fukushima 50.