My colleague had started to speak at our meeting in Japan on March 11 when suddenly the room started shaking. It was 2.45 p.m.

The Japanese assured us with their smiles that this was normal seismic activity, but after about 30 seconds the room and the whole building started to shake in a truly incredible way. Then they became really concerned.

The first thing I noticed was that the venetian blinds were shaking fiercely, then conference equipment fell, chairs moved. I looked out of the building and saw skyscrapers across the street literally swaying.

I looked up at the roof, waiting for it to collapse. One’s first thoughts immediately go to one’s loved ones. As we gripped the desks we started to get up to leave the room but our colleagues told us to stay in as it was saver inside than outside.

The terrible noise generated by the earthquake suddenly stopped but the building continued to sway for at least another 15 minutes as it found its equilibrium again. Many in the room were seasick. It felt like being on a roller coaster.

The Japanese did not panic, at least not in the sense one sees elsewhere. There was no screaming but, yes, there was fear in the eyes of everyone. One of them told me there would be aftershocks, and in a few seconds they started.

None of the aftershocks were as strong as the first tremor but they went on throughout the night. All phone lines were down. Internet, however, was operational. I sent an e-mail to my loved ones and then to Foreign Minister Tonio Borg.

I saw that timesofmalta.com had the news up within minutes and sent a message there too.

My colleagues and I wanted to go to our hotel but we were asked to stay put. Meanwhile, the streets were suddenly packed with people trying to get home.

The usual five million early evening commuters found that the trains had all stopped, as had all lifts and escalators. Police cars started roaming the streets giving instructions.

Hard hats appeared out of nowhere. One of the Japanese, fearing the worst, went out to buy some food and told us the shops were running out of stocks fast.

Throughout, the Japanese remained calm. There was no looting in the shops. People helped each other in the street. Strangers even later asked me if I needed assistance.

People started politely asking if they could rest in the lobbies, and in no time at all the lobbies of office blocks were full of people ready to spend the night out, a really cold night, on the floor.

By the time we headed to the hotel later all the lobbies were full of people. Everyone was stuck in the city.

I had to make a choice: either spend the night in the conference room as most of the Japanese would do, or climb 28 floors to my hotel room (a hotel that started at the 27th floor).

Since I had a flight to catch the next morning and was determined to get out, I decided to go for the marathon high climb with my three colleagues.

In the meantime, the aftershocks continued. In the room the drawers were out and some items toppled over.

A 4 a.m. aftershock gave me a good idea of how bad it could be if you are higher up in a skyscraper. There was no way I could sleep.

At 6.30 a.m. the ministry officials called us to the lobby. They told us the airport would start to function around 9 a.m. but most flights had been cancelled.

Around three hours later I was told the Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt had landed and I should go. Four hours later I managed to get there.

The airport was full of foreigners trying to get out, many crying.

There I could see the great difference between the Japanese and Westerners. The Japanese calmly tried to find solutions. Westerners were screaming at airline staff and calling them incompetent.

In the end the Lufthansa flight was over eight hours late because even the crew could not get to the airport. When they eventually appeared everyone started clapping. We were all so eager to get home.

As I sat down in my seat my first thought was: what a lucky country we are.

Japan is one of the richest countries in the world but has to live in very difficult circumstances, dealing with earthquakes, bitter cold and other natural phenomena.

This is a country that truly deserves to be looked up to. Their respect for the past, for nature, but also the way they go about their daily life is exceptional.