Two danger zones in two weeks!

I'm now in Egypt - this year is turning into quite a journey of 'where not to be in 2011'.

After leaving Japan earlier then expected, I returned to London and spent a couple of weeks getting over the shock of what I had experienced Whilst tentatively seeking out my next job. I had told my agencies that I was looking for something gentle - I would even consider a single baby. Something in London and maximum of 5 days a week.

So... 12 days after returning home, an email came through from an agency. A family urgently needed someone to start with them on Saturday - in Cairo!

All the things I was not looking for, but I could not resist the challenge.

When talking on the phone to the mother, she asked me how I felt about being in Egypt after the recent revolution. My reply was something along the lines of 'well, at least in Egypt I will see or hear the danger before it gets to me, unlike Japan where I have no idea if I am breathing clean air or radiation polluted air...'

Two weeks and one day after arriving home from Japan, and I headed off to Egypt.

Radiation

After the earthquake, it became apparent there was a problem with nuclear power plants that were in the tsunami and earthquake struck region.

There was an explosion at the Fukushima plant and hence began a fight to contain what could be the worst nuclear disaster in the world so far.

Radiation was the word on everyones lips. How far was it reaching and what was the real danger. No one really knew. One 'expert' said it was imminent - the plant would reach meltdown and the radiation would spread fast. Another said there was no reason to panic. It was hard to know who to believe and what action to take myself.

We were based just south of Tokyo - about 210miles south of Fukushima. So in theory any radiation that reached us would be diluted by wind and air etc.

After a lot of thought and consideration, I decided I needed to leave in order to keep myself safe. I offered to go with the babies somewhere if the family wanted to get them out. They decided against this.

So my flight was booked and I left Japan on the 18th March, just one week after the earthquake. and a month after arriving in the country. I cut short my contract by 6 weeks and left the babies with their parents and grandparents.

It was such a relief to get out, although I feel huge guilt about leaving the babies. I have avoided watching the news for a week and I guess now it is time to get back into the real world.

Time to look for a contract to replace the one I left...