1-07 First-Year Boy
I experienced a lot of things as a result of the Great East Japan Earthquake. First of all, there was the earthquake itself. Sitting in the classroom on the third floor of the school, the earthquake felt unbelievably strong. It was very scary to see things falling off desks. When we evacuated to the school yard, I was surprised to see a crack in the ground.
Second, there was the tsunami. The tsunami swept away the school where we had sought shelter and the people and town of Takata. I ran frantically into the mountains. I was scared and lonely.
Third, there was the time spent as a refugee. At first, we evacuated to a house in the mountains. I was scared, but it was kind of fun because I was with everyone. When I was deciding to go to the evacuation center at Gassan Shrine, my dad and mom arrived. I was so happy. At Gassan Shrine, each person was given a single zabuton [1] to sit on and a single onigiri [2] to eat. I was so scared because there were many aftershocks.
The following day, we walked to my cousin's house. My feet hurt so much because I was still wearing my slippers. I was happy about the fact that a stranger gave us a lift part of the way.
Although we didn't have electricity or water at my cousin's house, I was happy that there was gas and a wood-burning kamado [3] for cooking. It was very tough fetching firewood and water, but I was happy about being able to walk to many places. Some days later, my older sister joined us there, which made me very happy. I was also happy that we received aid from so many people.
Months after that, we had our elementary school graduation and entrance ceremony for junior high school, where I am now. I have been able to survive thanks to the aid and encouragement of so many people. I'd like to thank everyone who sent aid and encouragement as well as everyone who has treated us so kindly.
1. A cushion used for sitting on the floor
2. Cooked rice formed into a triangle or oval shape with a filling such as fish or pickled plum, often homemade
3. A traditional wood or charcoal fired earthen pot used as a stove or oven
1-07 中１男子
ぼくは、この東日本大震災で、たくさんのことを体験しました。
一つ目は、地震です。学校の三階での地震は、ものすごく大きく感じられました。机の上のものは、たくさんおちてきて、すごくこわかったです。校庭に避難したときは、地面がわれていておどろきました。
二つ目は、津波です。津波は、避難していた学校や高田の町や人を流して行きました。ぼくは、山の中まで必死で走りました。すごくこわくて、さみしかったです。
三つ目は、避難先での生活です。最初は、山の中の民家に避難していました。すごくこわかったけど、みんなといっしょにいたら、少し楽しかったです。
次の避難所の月山神社に行こうとしたらお父さんとお母さんが来てくれました。すっごくすっごくうれしかったです。月山神社では、一人一枚ざぶとんとおにぎり一個がもらえました。たくさん余震があってすごくこわかったです。
次の日は、いとこの家まで歩いて行きました。ずっと上靴だったので足がとてもいたかったです。でも、知らない人に車に少しのせてもらえたのは、うれしかったです。いとこの家では、電気も水も、なかったけど、かまどやガスがあったので、うれしかったです。
それからの生活は、まきあつめと、水くみがすっごくたいへんでした。でも、いろんな所へ歩いて行ったりして楽しかったです。何日かたったらお姉ちゃんも帰ってきたのでとてもうれしかったです。そのほかにも、たくさんの支援をもらってとてもうれしかったです。
それから何ヶ月かたって小学校の卒業式、中学校の入学式そして今。
ぼくは、たくさんの人からの支援や声援に支えられて、今を生きていられると思います。支援や声援をくださったみなさん、やさしくしてくれたみなさん、ありがとうございました。
