Learning to Fly

“Don’t make ads simple because you think people are low in intelligence. Some are smart and some are not smart. The point is that people are thinking about other things when they see your ad. Your ad does not get their full attention or intelligence. Your ad gets only a fraction of their intelligence … . People won’t study your ad carefully. They can’t be bothered. And so you have to make your ads simple.” copywriter John Caples 1932.

I could not agree more. The same concept should be applied to blogging. Write as much as you need to in order to get your point across and not a single word more.

So now there is a mass exodus of people from NAF Atsugi. Apparently they took the military up on the voluntary evacuation suggestion.

I can understand why, they are all worried about the nuclear plant, especially because of the information from the media. I, myself was concerned about the situation. However, Atsugi is far enough south that a radiation threat should not be a huge problem, if a problem at all. The fear in the north, especially closer to the the Fukushima plant is more than understandable.  Atsugi, though, is very far south and there are no unusually high levels of radiation to speak of.

My biggest concern now is the complete opposite of everyone else. They want desperately off the island and I am trying to get back on the island. (Wow, that last sentence sounded like something from LOST) 

My husband (currently on the USS Mustin doing relief work in Northern Japan) as well as other sources (including military) have reassured me that the radiation threat is low, if at all. But, with all of my fellow dependents at Atsugi jumping ship and the media blowing things exponentially out of proportion I don’t know if I will be able to fly home as planned, and if I do I am almost certain everyone, if not most of everyone will be in the States.

Again, I understand everyone’s concern, it just seems like a bit much. The entire world seems to have invested in Iodine pills over the fear of an enormous cancer causing radioactive cloud settling over their heads. This is leaving the people in Japan who really need it, the ones near the plant, with little or at least not enough. So much for staying calm.

I have been following Atsugi’s facebook fan page to keep up with the voluntary evacuation.

The page is giving off some serious vibes. You can feel the tension and anxiousness through the screen. People are trying to fly with infants, pets, and young children, all while trying to fit their things neatly in approx 50 or less pounds per person. The planes will take them to the west coast but they have no idea where to go from there. Rumor has it they are own their own once they get state side. Just the idea of dealing with that mess makes me want to curl up in a ball, and they are doing this voluntarily.

All I want is to be back in my house in Japan. More importantly, to see my husband. This horrible disaster is scary, but I will not be scared away so easily. Especially if the threat is not life threatening. I have made a home in Japan, I love the people, and that is where my husband is. As soon as I can fly back I’m packing up and heading home to my comfy yellow house.

I really hope people calm down soon. That kind of stress level can not be good. The sooner those nuclear plants get stabilized the quicker people will calm down.

In the mean time I am keeping busy.

34 more days till my departure to Japan.