Hi guys,
I'm sure you guys have heard so so much about the earthquake in Japan that happened on the 11th of March, and I will be the first to admit that when it happens in someone else's country, I forget about it in a few days. But this time, I went through the stomach-dropping process of wondering whether my family was injured or even alive, and the love for the people in my country that I never knew was there became evident.
Now this is a cliche excuse, but because I am a student and only have a part-time job, I don't have as much dosh as I would like to donate to the people in the northern parts of Japan. And I know many who follow my blog are in a similar situation, but I just want to do the best I can to help the people in the worst hit areas by making my blogsale into a fundraiser where all proceeds go to GlobalGiving. I know it's always easier to give when you get something back - I'll be the first to admit!
I will be updating my blogsale constantly as I scrummage through my stash, so please keep checking and I will update on Twitter everytime I add something new. I know I don't have much, but with this motive, I'm sure I will be more willing to give up some items that I know would benefit the people of Japan in the long-run.
I don't want to bore you with sympathy-mongering pictures and videos, but I just want to share with you some testimonials by my friends and teachers from Tokyo that have been going up on Facebook. I will slowly add more as I get permission. These are only from Tokyo - I cannot imagine the devastation going on around the nuclear plant and the northern area.
"Just so everybody knows- we're all okay, although we had quite a scare. It began as a normal tremor, which usually lasts less than 30 seconds. Instead of letting up, it just kept getting worse and worse. When it began to feel like I was standing on the bow of a ship in heavy weather, I told the kids to protect their heads under the desks. Then it really got rough; it would have been difficult to remain standing. Parts of the ceiling were coming down and the kids began to lose it a bit. Finally after a few minutes, it slowed down a bit and we got everybody to the football field. The aftershocks were pretty intense; the light posts were swaying like palm trees. It's unsettling to the core when the ground you stand on becomes so unstable. We're still getting tremors. None of the trains are running and the roads are chockablock. We've got two gigs tomorrow, one at Kawasaki Stadium and the other a few hours away at Canyons Alpine Lodge in Minakami. I wonder what's happening. Mobile phone service is still down. It could be much worse."
"hello. Tokyo around fuchu and mushashi is not damaged. during the quake the earth was like waves for 2-3 minutes. all the building just swayed, not breakage. the cars hopped around like they were attached to springs. after a hour on the schools football field we all went home except for the train riders. they would have to wait another 10 hours or so for the trains to start. the Japanese population here is calm. very polite and orderly. with no trains, hundreds of people waited in perfect, quiet lines for buses and taxes, an example of a harmonious society. up north the whole world has seen the power of the tsunami. right now in this neighborhood, food supplies on shelves are a bit low because of a slow down in delivery and maybe a little more active buying by the population. but we here in Tokyo are very very lucky. up north its the opposite story. tomorrow, Monday, school has been concealed for the students and the teachers will meet for a information meeting on the crisis. school will begin on Tuesday and the school is 100% intact. chaiken.
P.S. Watch the news about the reactor. people playing with atoms and mother nature will never turn out good. humanity never learns, we go to places not meant for us. we need to humble ourselves."
"Tokyo is seemingly getting back to whatever 'normal' is. Fuchu Starbucks was packed as usual."
"About 5 o'clock I went to buy some batteries. Inageya, Don Kihote, Wellspoint, 7-11, Lawsons, Sun Drug, a mom and pop electronics store, Siems. Nothing but the very small batteries. I wanted some medium sized ones. I would not say that panic buying is going on in the stores, however it was bordering on that in some ways."
"Just so everybody knows- we're all okay, although we had quite a scare. It began as a normal tremor, which usually lasts less than 30 seconds. Instead of letting up, it just kept getting worse and worse. When it began to feel like I was standing on the bow of a ship in heavy weather, I told the kids to protect their heads under the desks. Then it really got rough; it would have been difficult to remain standing. Parts of the ceiling were coming down and the kids began to lose it a bit. Finally after a few minutes, it slowed down a bit and we got everybody to the football field. The aftershocks were pretty intense; the light posts were swaying like palm trees. It's unsettling to the core when the ground you stand on becomes so unstable. We're still getting tremors. None of the trains are running and the roads are chockablock. We've got two gigs tomorrow, one at Kawasaki Stadium and the other a few hours away at Canyons Alpine Lodge in Minakami. I wonder what's happening. Mobile phone service is still down. It could be much worse."
"hello. Tokyo around fuchu and mushashi is not damaged. during the quake the earth was like waves for 2-3 minutes. all the building just swayed, not breakage. the cars hopped around like they were attached to springs. after a hour on the schools football field we all went home except for the train riders. they would have to wait another 10 hours or so for the trains to start. the Japanese population here is calm. very polite and orderly. with no trains, hundreds of people waited in perfect, quiet lines for buses and taxes, an example of a harmonious society. up north the whole world has seen the power of the tsunami. right now in this neighborhood, food supplies on shelves are a bit low because of a slow down in delivery and maybe a little more active buying by the population. but we here in Tokyo are very very lucky. up north its the opposite story. tomorrow, Monday, school has been concealed for the students and the teachers will meet for a information meeting on the crisis. school will begin on Tuesday and the school is 100% intact. chaiken.
P.S. Watch the news about the reactor. people playing with atoms and mother nature will never turn out good. humanity never learns, we go to places not meant for us. we need to humble ourselves."
"Tokyo is seemingly getting back to whatever 'normal' is. Fuchu Starbucks was packed as usual."
"About 5 o'clock I went to buy some batteries. Inageya, Don Kihote, Wellspoint, 7-11, Lawsons, Sun Drug, a mom and pop electronics store, Siems. Nothing but the very small batteries. I wanted some medium sized ones. I would not say that panic buying is going on in the stores, however it was bordering on that in some ways."
"There has been a creepy blackout of television since the quake. I don't watch but the spousal unit does and, according to her, all commercial broadcasting has been suspended to a degree that has not been seen since the last emperor died and the country descended into full-on "where do we go from here" mode (Jan. '89). All earthquake coverage all the time. Will there be even more disturbing fatality statistics?"
