Ok sorry about yesty but more people needed to interview me so I had to run.
As you may have heard by now I was in a pretty serious fire.

about 9am I awoke (I was working at 1pm till 9pm so I was sleeping in), to the sound of my housemate screaming and a very short firealarm.
I got up, grabbed my phone (my alarm/phone was next to my bed) and padded over to my door to see what was the matter.
when I opened my door my temp housemate Claire raced past and outside and Alanna`s entire room and bedding, which she had been sleeping in was on fire. As I watched in seconds my living room was on fire.
She too ran out, screaming "Fire Get Out Get Out Get Out".
I grabbed my wallet, watch and keys which were next to my door, turned tailed and fled as the living room plastic floor caught fire and the house filled with black smoke, The caretaker was stepping out of the elevator as I bolted out the door, the caretaker`s wife got a nearby residents to call the firebrigade and evacuated upstairs apartments, the caretaker grabbed some extinguishers and ran in, I grabbed the front door and propped it open so he didn`t get caught and helped manhandle the emergency firehose into the apartment. we started flooding the apartment and another man went in trying to extinguish the blaze. By this time the entire house was billowing with thick black smoke which was falling like rain (on my beautiful winnie the pooh pj top and tigger bottoms, trust me to pick an unmatching pair!!!), everything was starting to flood (including downstairs) but 2 rooms were already ablaze, we were merely keeping the fire contained in the main area of the house.

(Side note, my house has two parts, a balcony and large square area divided into 2 bedrooms on the left and the living room and kitchen on the right, and the second section which has a seperating concrete wall and door for my room on the right - behind the kitchen- and the toilet and bathroom on the left - behind the other bedrooms.)

About that moment being about 3 mins later someone else grabbed the door and I bolted upstairs to find Paul. There was no central fire alarm so the warning was being done by foot.
I ran into his house, screamed "my apartments on fire, NOW, my apartments on fire" and ran back to find my housemates.
Paul checked we were out safe and ran downstairs to 207 - the other boys NOVA apartment to tell them, then went to direct the fire dudes up stairs. By this time I`m back at my apartment but the smoke is so thick I can only direct the caretaker - with poor Japanese- to where the fire is. The fire dudes turn up and I escourt Alanna who is near blind without her glasses to 207. She was pretty hysterical but Claire was completely silent - more worrying.
Got them to sit down, drink water. The police and fire investigation unit turned up. 3 hours later with Miyo`s ( a Japanese NOVA staff member) help we successfully made a statement. Accidental fire in Japan is a crime.

"Anything you say may be used against you and may be recorded. You do not have to answer if you do not wish. I am not a translator, you may ask for a translator." Now that I hope never to hear again in my life.
Mostly it was directed at Alanna, as Claire and I were nowhere near the fire we could only say that there was a fire in Alanna`s room.
I counselled Alanna and suggested that if she felt ok to tell the investigation crew what happened in as short a manner as possible. If she was unsure that she should contact her embassy and request assistance directly from them.
several hours later after questioning and inspection we were left to the apartment. Lucky us and I began the task of finding stuff.
Claire returned to her home branch in FUKUOKA immediately in a very stressed manner. She had brought new clothing, money and a camera not to mention personal items for the help shift/holiday in OITA city. She lost everything.
Alanna returned to apartment 207 and spent the day there.
I raided the apartment.
Being the only one to have a significant number of items to save I had a vested interist in remaining.
I located tigger, my passport and what is mostly my degree portfolio.
I tried to wash some clothes in 207 but most are smoke ruined. Anything above head height melted - such as coat hangers, anything low was wet - flooded, such as books and bedding and everything in between layered in smoke. Anything completely sealed in plastic at a low to medium height was ok - such as my summer clothes - which I am wearing now. shorts and a t-shirt are not very appropriate for midwinter in Japan but I`m managing.
NOVA put me up in a hotel where I will remain for a week.
Am working late today and I am going to the apartment for more hopeful salvaging.
Que Sera Sera
XX

posted by Schmoo at 5:53 PM

Boston
Yay snow and fun and festivities.
Yosh had less fun having seriously sprained her ankle on new years eve.
I was pampered to death by her family who insisted on overfeeding me - and who am i to complain?
I visited all of the major tourist sites in Boston including the JFK and Harvard museums the aquarium and the NUTCRACKER ballet by the Boston Ballet.
It was amazing.

FIRE
not so yay
my house caught fire while i was sleeping today.
I am ok and have salvaged Tigger and a few items.
My housemates have nothing but the clothes they were standing in.literally
more later
posted by Schmoo at 4:31 AM