11 March 2011.Friday.A normal day?

11 March 2011, a perfectly normal friday. I don't have lessons on that day and was just siting in the staffroom reading a book by Haruki Murakami "Underground". It is a book about the terrorist sarin gas attack of the Tokyo subway lines. It's a very interesting book where the author (same author as "Norwegian Woods") interviewed the victims of the attacks and get insights of how they are affected by the attacks. As I was reading, the VP on the TV which is normally off. There were reports of major earcthquake in Japan. My first thought was "shouldn't be a serious earthquake, there are so many eathquakes in Japan, it's nothing...", but I was wrong. As I was watching the news, I realised that this time round, it's really serious, with a scale of 8.8 and tsunamis. The news showed cars and things being swept away, buildings on fire...... It's a terrible sight. Soon, the school got calls from the authority of tsunami alerts in our coast area. An emergency meeting was held immediately. The teachers gathered the students and those who live near the coast were to stay in school till it's safe. The teacher called all students to ensure that they have reached home safely. Everyone sprang into action except for me. I have no idea how to help. I asked the teacher sitting beside me, but she said i don't have to do anything, she said she don't have anything to do either. I truly wanted to help, but I can't. While they gathered the students in the gym, I guarded the staffroom. (In a way, I am doing my part...)

Here I am in Japan, Kyushuu... It has to be the safest place in Japan now, cos it's far from the epicentre. We get our information of the earthquake and tsunamis from the tv and life is normal. I can still go cycling around, buy my groceries, bake my cakes, just as usual, while the other side of Japan is in a chaos. At times, I feel that I am in another country, watching a catastrophe happening in Japan. Through Facebook and sms, I managed to get into contacts with my friends in Japan. All of them are safe, but some of them and their families are victims of the disaster. Well... at least they are safe and alive. 

Tomorrow will be a normal day again, still not sure how I can help, but I will ask the teachers tomorrow. It will be good to start some fundraising projects or blood donation drives. I am suppose to ask for donations for the charity bike ride next week (which i donno if it will be cancelled) , but I don't think it's such a good idea now.