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Japanese Exchange Students Worried About Family At Home

NOVI (WWJ) - A Novi family is helping two Japanese girls deal with the earthquake and tsunami far from home. Karen Johnson has one high school Japanese foreign exchange student, while another one who used to live with them is visiting from Japan.

News of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has been difficult for one Novi family. WWJ's Beth Fisher explains in this report.
"We were very worried at first, because I got the girls up early when I saw it on T.V. and we tried to get a hold of their parents, and we couldn't, the lines were busy," says host mom Karen Johnson.

Seventeen-year-old Atsuko Yuda is from a town near Tokyo: "I'm so upset, my family and friends are fine, but my friend's friend may be dead," Yuda said through tears.

"I'm worried still, but before (I spoke with my parents in Japan) I was so upset," says Ami Katsuhada who will be returning to Japan in a few weeks.

"I am worried about going home, because they will be hard days, and here I am safe , but if I go back to Japan I won't be safe, so, but I want to be with my family," adds Katsuhada.

"We are trying very hard to keep things as normal as possible." says Karen Johnson.

Click on here for the lastest developments in Japan.

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