Niles Japanese Families Frantic To Contact Relatives

Parents and small children had a nervous day Friday at as they tried to reach relatives in Japan after the massive earthquake there.

The preschool, at St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 9204 Milwaukee Avenue, teaches many children of parents

"Parents were very, very  nervous about it," said Minori Yamaki, a director of the preschool. "They had family back in Japan and couldn't get word from them."

Most families arrived late to school, which starts at 9 a.m., because they were frantically trying to contact parents and other relatives in Japan. Some of the preschool families learned their parents had had to evacuate their homes or cities.

"It seems like with our families, everybody's safe. People were reporting back their relatives were safe," Yamaki said, adding the reports came in as the day went on.

"So far we don't have any casualties, but they're still worried."

The preschoolers picked up on the fear, Yamaki said, and many said they were worried about their grandparents. 

"The kids know because they're seen their parents call Japan," she explained, adding the students were coping. 

Yamaki's own family, who live in southern Japan, were far from the tsunami, which occurred in northern Japan, and she learned they were fine.

"But because they live on an island, they have to evacuate just in case," she said.