I arrived to Tokyo on Monday, a bit scared, but very excited. I was going to the city and country so famously portrayed in "Lost in Translation" and I was going to live and work there for 6 months as a trainee in Elkem Japan. This would be my third period as a trainee in Elkem and I had been looking forward to it for a long time. A bit sleep derived, but with japanese helpfulness I managed to get from the airport to the office and my new home without too much trouble.
I managed to be in Tokyo for one day before my work schedule kicked in and I was going to Ishinomaki. This area was badly hit by the tsunami following the big earthquake which hit Japan on the 11. of March 2011. Elkem has with help from Japanese companies, support from the Norwegian embassy and Innovation Norway in Japan made and donated solar panels to the school in Ishinomaki. The solar panels are standing on the roof of the school where it will provide clean energy in an area where there is now a lack of energy due to the Fukushima accident after the earth quake and tsunami. Following the opening of the solar panels, my first day at work in Elkem Japan was therefore very special. The whole school participated and many humble speeches where held from among others the director of Elkem Solar; Trond Sæterstad. The opening was very successful and hopefully the solar panels can give some help to the community and also be a part of the education for the kids at the school.
I managed to be in Tokyo for one day before my work schedule kicked in and I was going to Ishinomaki. This area was badly hit by the tsunami following the big earthquake which hit Japan on the 11. of March 2011. Elkem has with help from Japanese companies, support from the Norwegian embassy and Innovation Norway in Japan made and donated solar panels to the school in Ishinomaki. The solar panels are standing on the roof of the school where it will provide clean energy in an area where there is now a lack of energy due to the Fukushima accident after the earth quake and tsunami. Following the opening of the solar panels, my first day at work in Elkem Japan was therefore very special. The whole school participated and many humble speeches where held from among others the director of Elkem Solar; Trond Sæterstad. The opening was very successful and hopefully the solar panels can give some help to the community and also be a part of the education for the kids at the school.
After the ceremony my new boss took us to one of the areas which were worst hit by the tsunami. As many others I followed the natural disaster hitting Japan closely at tv and internet, but from a safe distance in Norway. Arriving there at the spot was different. Whole areas where there used to be buildings where now flat, only excavators and construction people could be seen. A children school that was smashed and burned out was one of the few remaining buildings standing in the area. It’s hard to describe without using too big words.
Back in Tokyo one thing is for sure: My first day in my new trainee position was not at all boring. 10/11/11
