TODAY we start a regular column from Bolton lass Danielle Hayes who lives in Japan. She was born in Bromley Cross and attended Turton High School - Class of 2008. She now lives in the beautiful city of Kyoto, and spends her days teaching English, writing, and exploring!

RECENT events surrounding the devastating Kyushuu earthquake in Japan have made me remember just how dangerous a country this can be. 
Earthquakes are a standard part of everyday life here, but usually a little wiggle and they’re done. 

Luckily, I am living in Kyoto, far away from most of the worst earthquakes that happen here. But, about 20 years ago, there was a 6.9 magnitude earthquake just a train ride from my apartment. 

Because of how prevalent these disasters are, everyone in Japan is well-versed in earthquake safety. During my time teaching English, one of my adult classes had to create and perform a presentation about any subject: my class chose earthquakes. I learnt so much that I didn’t know, and my students were so surprised: ‘But everyone knows this stuff!’

It is recommended that while living in Japan, you should keep an emergency bag ready in case you experience such an event. Inside the bag should be money, important documents, food, a torch, batteries etc. Coming from Bromley Cross, I find it hard to believe that such an event could happen to me, and so had never prepared such a bag. But, in the wake of the latest earthquake, my mind has been turned. 

One of my friends lives closer to the earthquake site, and even felt the aftershocks that followed. 

Here in Kyoto, we didn’t have to experience these, but we have had a few smaller quakes recently in the build-up. Luckily for us, the scariest part for most people is the sound your smartphone makes as it gives you the emergency warning! 

One thing that makes it scarier here is the height of most of the buildings. Japan has very little land on which to build houses, with most of the landscape taken over by steep mountains. Therefore, many buildings are built very high, and the higher up you are, the more you feel the earthquakes. 

My apartment is only on the second floor, but one of my colleagues lives on the seventh floor of her building, and she told me it felt much stronger than I had originally thought. 

It’s a scary thing to consider that at any moment, our lives could be changed forever. 

For many in Japan, this is a fear they have lived with all their lives; but for me, it’s a strange and humbling experience. How lucky am I that should the worst happen, I can fly out of here to another home back in Bolton? 

For most, if they are hit by these earthquakes, everything they have is lost forever. So please, take a moment this week and think about the lives lost, the memories stolen, and the traumas endured by the people of this brave country. 

Read Danielle’s blogs at kinkigeek.wordpress.com