And then we drove to a nearby refuge without any traffic signals which went off because of the power outage. At the refuge, we could not get any food distribution, because priority was with the old and children. It was cold most of all, so we returned home to pick up blankets and stayed over with my friend in the car parked at the refuge.

　I found at the second night that the lifeline of my dormitory was not be repaired, so I drove alone to my friend’s house in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, which was located about a hundred and ninety kilometers southwest of Sendai City.

　After I arrived at my friend’s house in Aizuwakamatsu, I learned about the major nuclear accident. I discussed about this with ten international students living in Aizuwakamatsu on the next day and we decided to move to a safer place, We drove to our friends’ house in Tokyo by four cars.

　I parted from my friends in Tokyo and headed alone for my relative’s house in Osaka. I stayed there until April 4th, when I returned to Sendai City.

How did your family at home country react?

　I was able to get hold of my family in China right after the quake. As they had seriously worried about me, I told I moved to refuge and it relieved them.

　The news reported in China was almost the same contents in Japan. However, the rumor on the Internet overheated people and it seemed to fuel people’s uneasiness.

　The staff at Chinese Embassy called and told me to go back to China, but I decided to stay in Osaka as I judged it must be safe to be a hundred kilometers away from the nuclear plant.

　Though I temporally returned to China at the middle of April to take a medical treatment, I could not make myself understood about my returning to Japan to my parents who had been worrying about the effect of the leaking radiation. So I explained many times that everything was safe and of no problem, and they allowed me to return to Japan on the condition that I should not overwork.

How has your current life been since you came back to Sendai City?

　After I returned to Sendai City, I moved to a new apartment from the dormitory where I used to live. The lifeline at the new apartment, which I signed the contract before the earthquake, had restored and I was able to live my life as usual with a large quantity of foods that I had bought in Osaka.

　Later, on April 8, we had a strong aftershock, when I was at an izakaya, the tavern, with the members of our laboratory. We were surprised at the power outage there in the restaurant, but we were all safe without any injury.

　Up to the present, lifelines, such as water, electricity and gas, have already restored and the shops, such as supermarkets and convenience stores and gas stations, are open for business with enough goods in stock as before the quake. And the town has been returning to a lively one as it used to be.

What kinds of volunteers did you do?

　During my stay in Osaka, I did the fund-raising activity at the downtown area with the international students at Osaka University and twenty Japanese student members of the circle. I had been concerned if people would donate for the faraway disaster, but when we started, my worry was blown away by many cooperative funds. I was very impressed.

Please describe what you think about the recovery and reconstruction from this natural disaster.

　 I had decided to study in Japan, dreaming of working in Japan for a long time and playing an active part.

　And now I do hope that I can be an aid to the revival of the city of Sendai from which I have got a lot.

　Although some of my friends have not come back to Japan yet, probably because of their parents concern. As I am living my life as usual, Sendai is reviving from disaster so far. So I would like them to come back to Sendai without anxiety, if possible. I also hope many people to come and visit this wonderful city.