Coming with dependants

[pnksweater]

These days it’s pretty easy to find regularly updated information on the levels of radiation in Japan. http://atmc.jp/ This is my go to site for regularly updated levels by prefecture. There was a scare with the Tokyo drinking water, but levels have since returned to normal. http://metropolis.co.jp/quake/quake-201 ... formation/ I haven’t heard about any other problems regarding drinking water safety outside of the immediately affected area.

I’d like to say not to worry. The Western press has had a heyday with all the radiation paranoia. My family and I are not planning on leaving any time soon- but we live way far way from the problem. I wouldn’t make any snap decisions until you get your placement. Most of Japan is still unaffected by the Fukushima reactors. And the ocean is a very big place. I certainly wouldn’t willingly expose my kids to tainted drinking water or unsafe living situations, and I’m sure you wouldn’t do that either. (I mean the program is great, but not *that* great.) But most of Japan is perfectly safe for kids.

HTH

[Vanslacker]

The radiation thing can be a big issue and it is especially concerning for those of us who have small children. In my town there are two JET families and another family whose father is from Canada with kids under 6 and we have all debated and struggled with the question of weather to stay or go. We are in Akita Prefecture and our town is almost exactly 200km Northwest from the Nuclear Plant. All of us have stayed and are confident that our children are safe here but the pressure from back home is really strong!

Something that has helped us here in Akita has been a chart one of the PA's have put on the internet detailing the radiation levels in Akita every two hours since the quake. Here is a link to it

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl= ... 6ZlE&gid=1

I think he has stopped now as the radiation levels have gone back to normal but it was really helpful during the worst of it.

[ms_daikon]

Thanks for the sharing of experiences. Those links that update the level radiation level will be helpful. Certainly can relate to how family members are discouraging us not go to Japan. When the letter in arrives in mid-April, we'll know if we need to make a decision.

[totty137]

I did a travel study in Hiroshima while I was an undergraduate and was required to take classes explaining all things to do with the nuclear bomb that was dropped there. One of the things we researched was radiation. The levels of radiation in an explosion are not nearly enough to contaminate the soil or water to a point that it will kill people with what is going on. They may have more radiation exposure than normal, but that would be no different than having to have a LOT of x-rays in a year. I agree that the Western media is trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill.