story2999.xml
Title
story2999.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-11
911DA Story: Story
Shizuoka, Japan
September 12, 2001
7:36 am
After two very exciting and tiring days of my very first overseas business trip, I woke up thinking about work and decided to call into the office at 5:30 am and asked for Arlan. Deb said he wasn?t there, but Mike and Dave were. Deb said she was thinking of me today and left it at that. I thought that was thoughtful, but I failed to read into her words. I just said thanks and was transferred to Mike.
I will never forget the odd feeling of disbelief as Mike calmly and professionally told me that the United States was in the highest state of alert. I had been expecting to discuss my business in Japan and sat with pen in hand, scribbling down some of his words:
?New York Trade Center- both towers gone?Pentagon attacked?No flights to or from the U.S.?
I think it hit me at that moment as I realized my country was under attack and I might not be able to get home to my family.
Mike continued in an even tone that our corporation would continue to do business, but schools may be closed and employees would be free to stay at home with their children if needed. He firmly instructed me to be careful and be prepared to stay in Japan as long as necessary. I asked him if I should continue with my appointments. I think he said simply go on with business and be safe.
I hung up, now shaking as the impact of the situation became real. Without even thinking of what I would say, I knocked on the door of my associate, Shawn. To my surprise, he was already up. He said, ?Can you believe it?? I then learned that he had been up most of the night watching the news. He thought it best to let me sleep and tell me in the morning.
I then went back to call Alan. He assured me that all our extended family members in the New York area were okay. He had been in Detroit on business and had attempted to conduct a meeting, but he and his associate, Julie were both pretty shaken up by the events and left early. Alan said that a lot of people were praying for me. He also advised me to go on with my business and show those around me what a strong, brave American woman I am. It would be something that they would always remember.
Alan?s words of confidence inspired me to go on and prepare for the day. As it turned out, it truly was my time to be brave. Shawn was running on just a few hours of sleep and needed some prompting to get him moving. He is a sensitive and caring guy, not only concerned for his wife and kids back home, but truly feeling the pain of those affected by the attacks.
Being in a foreign country is odd. Being in a foreign country and knowing that your homeland is under siege is such an oddness beyond words?like a bad dream. The weirdest thing is that I have not been uncomfortable in Japan, considering the heat and humidity and torrential downpours of the typhoon. Even now, the discomfort I feel in every inch of my body has nothing to do with my environment.
I was really looking forward to telling everyone of my wonderful experiences in Japan, but my stories will pale next to the tragedy in the U.S. Watching the collapsing towers on CNN was at first unreal, like watching a movie, then real and horrible as a terrible and bitter sadness engulfed me.
How very strange that on my first trip to Japan I should be thrust into such a situation.
Archbold, Ohio, USA
August 22, 2002
11:21 pm
How very strange that after all that, I am no longer employed by the company that sent me to Japan. My life has changed very much in the year that followed 9/11. I have been unsuccessful in finding a corporate position for the last six months. Jobs are few and far between. I rarely receive responses from my resume. My former associates no longer associate with me. On the positive side, I am enjoying time with my daughter, Brigitta and my husband, Alan. I have been a regular Betty Crocker, cooking and baking like never before, cleaning, organizing and gardening as well. I am returning to my musical roots and have several students in piano and voice. I know God has a special plan for my life and I will continue to look to Him as it unfolds.
God bless America.
Candy Hutchins
September 12, 2001
7:36 am
After two very exciting and tiring days of my very first overseas business trip, I woke up thinking about work and decided to call into the office at 5:30 am and asked for Arlan. Deb said he wasn?t there, but Mike and Dave were. Deb said she was thinking of me today and left it at that. I thought that was thoughtful, but I failed to read into her words. I just said thanks and was transferred to Mike.
I will never forget the odd feeling of disbelief as Mike calmly and professionally told me that the United States was in the highest state of alert. I had been expecting to discuss my business in Japan and sat with pen in hand, scribbling down some of his words:
?New York Trade Center- both towers gone?Pentagon attacked?No flights to or from the U.S.?
I think it hit me at that moment as I realized my country was under attack and I might not be able to get home to my family.
Mike continued in an even tone that our corporation would continue to do business, but schools may be closed and employees would be free to stay at home with their children if needed. He firmly instructed me to be careful and be prepared to stay in Japan as long as necessary. I asked him if I should continue with my appointments. I think he said simply go on with business and be safe.
I hung up, now shaking as the impact of the situation became real. Without even thinking of what I would say, I knocked on the door of my associate, Shawn. To my surprise, he was already up. He said, ?Can you believe it?? I then learned that he had been up most of the night watching the news. He thought it best to let me sleep and tell me in the morning.
I then went back to call Alan. He assured me that all our extended family members in the New York area were okay. He had been in Detroit on business and had attempted to conduct a meeting, but he and his associate, Julie were both pretty shaken up by the events and left early. Alan said that a lot of people were praying for me. He also advised me to go on with my business and show those around me what a strong, brave American woman I am. It would be something that they would always remember.
Alan?s words of confidence inspired me to go on and prepare for the day. As it turned out, it truly was my time to be brave. Shawn was running on just a few hours of sleep and needed some prompting to get him moving. He is a sensitive and caring guy, not only concerned for his wife and kids back home, but truly feeling the pain of those affected by the attacks.
Being in a foreign country is odd. Being in a foreign country and knowing that your homeland is under siege is such an oddness beyond words?like a bad dream. The weirdest thing is that I have not been uncomfortable in Japan, considering the heat and humidity and torrential downpours of the typhoon. Even now, the discomfort I feel in every inch of my body has nothing to do with my environment.
I was really looking forward to telling everyone of my wonderful experiences in Japan, but my stories will pale next to the tragedy in the U.S. Watching the collapsing towers on CNN was at first unreal, like watching a movie, then real and horrible as a terrible and bitter sadness engulfed me.
How very strange that on my first trip to Japan I should be thrust into such a situation.
Archbold, Ohio, USA
August 22, 2002
11:21 pm
How very strange that after all that, I am no longer employed by the company that sent me to Japan. My life has changed very much in the year that followed 9/11. I have been unsuccessful in finding a corporate position for the last six months. Jobs are few and far between. I rarely receive responses from my resume. My former associates no longer associate with me. On the positive side, I am enjoying time with my daughter, Brigitta and my husband, Alan. I have been a regular Betty Crocker, cooking and baking like never before, cleaning, organizing and gardening as well. I am returning to my musical roots and have several students in piano and voice. I know God has a special plan for my life and I will continue to look to Him as it unfolds.
God bless America.
Candy Hutchins
Collection
Citation
“story2999.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 16, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/17884.