It's a Small World, After All

This is not my typical kind of post, but I'm feeling rather compelled to share the sinking I felt in my stomach Friday morning when I heard the news of the destruction of the quake and tsunami in Japan.

You may, or may not know my history with Japan, dating back to hosting a Japanese exchange student in high school in 1994-1995. I studied Japanese in college, joined the "Japan Club," made many Japanese friends, studied in Japan for a year myself in 97-98, lived with a host family for a year, travelled and made friends all over, returned to the US and lived with several more Japanese roommates until graduation. In college, most certainly my best friends were Japanese.

I have been back to Japan 3 times since graduation. I have been visited by many Japanese friends in my "adult life." I have been to weddings of two of my very good friends. I have even given birth to a child on the exact same day as one of my close Japanese friends. We exchange pictures, emails, Christmas gifts....regularly. They are family to me.

So, when I saw the video clips, it wasn't just shock and disbelief but utter fear for my friends. When I saw the faces of the victims, I saw the faces of friends. I fired off a string of emails, but the infrastructure being what it is right now, replies have been slow, and in one case I'm still waiting. I have friends across the country, and also along the eastern coast. And they have family and friends everywhere.

One of my friends in Tokyo replied:

"...the earthquake was terrible. I was on the thirteen floor and
could not stand on the floor at the time. The big wave was lasted long time and
happen again and again.
We hid under the desk and wait till the earthquake calmed down. I was so scared."

You can truly sense her terror in her words. She is still often without power and waiting to hear from friends of her own in Sendi and elsewhere.

My mom said the whole point of exchange students is to "humanize" people in other countries. In other words, we're not just saying "oh, the poor Japanese people!" We're saying "Is my family ok?!"

We financially support a fine relief organization in all of the major natural disasters over the recent years. I hope you will do the same. And pray. Please Pray.