My heart hurts.
The destruction of the earthquake and tsunami leave me speechless.
My mom's family in Okinawa, and my friend and her family in Chiba prefecture are okay, but there are so many who can't say the same. Heatbreaking.
I pretty much lost it when I saw footage on NHK of little children eating rice balls (onigiri) in an emergency shelter. Onigiri is the most basic comfort food, something your mom would make you for lunch or a snack. Volunteers were making them, pressing them into the familiar triangle shape with their hands.I just wanted to go to Japan and make everyone an onigiri. You just feel helpless seeing it all happen from afar.
Thanks to JustBento's Maki for translating major new sources in Japan on her twitter feed. She tweeted for 12 hours straight after the earthquake and she informed me more than CNN. For footage that concentrates on Japan, you may want to catch Japan's public broadcasting NHK World News streaming video (in English). Many cable companies are offering free access to TV Japan for the week for the live NHK feed (in Japanese).
I hope you keep Japan in your thoughts, and open your wallet to give to a relief organization. In the USA, you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to the relief fund for Japan.
Devastating situation. It really puts things in perspective. Thank you for asking people to open their hearts and their pocketbooks. I hope you feel better.
ReplyDeleteYes it's a heartbreaking situation in Japan. I am glad to hear your family is ok. My father used to build houses in Japan. Nova Scotia (where we're from) would send lumber and craftsmen over to build earthquake proof housing. Dad loved Tokeyo and the fishing village just 45 min south of there where he built the 2nd time he went over... the name escapes me now. Japan had a profound effect on my Dad.. mostly the kindness of its people. They were very welcoming to him. I will pray for the people of Japan today.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the footage was surreal, I couldn't believe the disaster happened. I feel so sad for the people, and the death toll is just devastating. I contacted my friends in Japan to find out if they're okay, and one replied back that she is safe but I haven't heard from my other friend yet...My thoughts are with Japan.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your family is ok. I'm still worried about a friend who lives in Shiogama. I guess no news is good news.
ReplyDeletePrayers for all of them.
Please be careful about donations to help Japan earthquake. Right now money sent to the red cross does not go directly to Japan. American red cross can't officially help Japan until they asked. Per the Japanese red cross website, they will announce when they begin accepting donations and how you can donate directly to the relief effort.
ReplyDeleteRedcross Text Donations:
Does the full $10 go to the Red Cross?
Your text donation will support will support our disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific. On those rare occasions when donations exceed American Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters.
--> This means that right now donations ARE NOT GOING TO DIRECTLY TO JAPAN FOR RELIEF.
It's quite scary what is going on around me here in Japan, words can't fathom my fear, our Tsunami alarms were going off all day yesterday, my house shook and chandeliers swayed out of control... I've been through many quakes, living here for 11 years but nothing prepared me for this.
ReplyDeleteglad your family is ok.
ReplyDeleteit is very heartbreaking.
the nuclear plant scares me most though.
I saw the onigiri footage and I also followed Maki's tweet. I share your feelings, its beyond sad. Today I was at the gym, on a treadmill, and I broke down and cried because the TV only showed footage of the Tsunami. I felt so lucky that my family in Hawaii is safe.
ReplyDeleteIm glad your family is OK. Dear Im with Japan (Im from Chile) and Im know perfectly like a earthquake is and always think japaness are amazing for these, but this was really strong! and the Tsunami we have one last year and was terrible,.send you huggs and prayers!! gloria
ReplyDeleteIt has been a very sad time and I have been keeping Japan in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post Mary. The American Red cross has already contributed an initial 10 million for the disaster relief in Japan. Also there is now a page on their website specifically for Japan, so I decided to trust them, and I think we shouldn't try and find fault with them. I'm sure the money will be put to good use. If they receive loads of donations, they will dispatch more money and resources to Japan, let's be sure of that!
ReplyDelete