2007/1/22

Mie Prefecture is well known for the many women divers (amasan) who, historically, have caught seafood and famous marine products.

At the end of World War II, Mie Prefecture was reputed to have more than 6000 amasan in the Toba and Shima regions. However, due to the reduction in fishing resources, an unstable and sluggish market, and the harsh working conditions, there have been fewer and fewer women read to do the job. Today there are only about 1300 aging, yet still active, amasan.

The amasan's main targets are awabi (abalone), sazae (turban shells), and namako (sea cucumbers). A few skilled and experienced amasan are able to capture iseebi (lobsters) without a scratch. The fishing methods these amasan use are invaluable to the ecology of the sea as they dovery different worldview from the receiver.

It would not explain why she hasn't contacted her parents for two months or how she's been able to survive this whole time with no money, poor English skills, and very little familiarity with Toronto.

ETA: Also, if she wanted her independence, all she had to do was wait another month and she would have turned 18. She would have then been legally emancipated and free to take off without all this drama. QUOTE antiquegirl

Who needs English when you have Russian speakers and they probably have more money than the average person?
As for the question of why be so dramatic, we had a teenager creating deadly drama over an X-Box. Young people are dramatic. She wouldn't be thinking of legalities.