We're All in This Together

Sadly as a mother of a child who was obsessed with everything High School Musical, I can't help but think of one of the movie's theme songs lately when I look at the school my kids attend.

It has been amazing to watch the relief efforts that have been put forth by our school, Canadian Academy. I have always been very happy with the school on an educational level, but what has really wowed me the past month is how the whole school -- students, staff, administration, parents, and even alum-- has come together to help with the crisis. Everyone is on the same page with the same goal in mind and the students especially, have come up with some creative ways to help raise money and get supplies.

The students have been busy collecting rice, which as we all know is a staple in the Japanese diet. They also have been busy preparing Tasuki Bags, which are gifts bags put together on a more personal level. These bags include clothes for someone the same age and size, toiletries, a personal note, and some goodies. Something small that one can keep by their "bedside". 

The students have also been creative in how they are raising financial donations. Sport clinics where the registration fee all goes to the earthquake fund, 3-on-3 basketball tournaments with teachers versus students, walk-a-thons, bake sales, selling of wristbands, t-shirts, and crafts. Kids giving their allowance money or offering to sell their own items just to send money up North. The most recent idea is an auction, where students and teachers are offering services or goods. A teacher offering to shave his head, students donating their senior privileges or being errand boy for a week, teachers delivering smoothies and lunch daily, are just a few of the items up for auction. 

This past Saturday the school held their annual International Food Day, where the PTA sponsored a relief booth, which was manned by high school students. At this booth free water was passed out, people were given the opportunity to write messages to the victims, wristbands, t-shirts and crafts were for sale, and straight donations were accepted. In three hours, ¥215,000 was raised. (Over $2500 USD) The PTA then matched this amount, sending almost ¥500,000 to the earthquake fund (Over $5000 USD).

Alumni have also stepped up with some ideas of their own. Music being sold on itunes, jewelry being made in Arizona, and classrooms folding paper cranes, are just a few of the things being done. Teachers are collecting and repairing bikes to be taken up North. Everyone wants to help in some way.

At the end of our assignment and we pack our bags to leave Japan, it isn't the educational things, like trigonometry or the ability to create podcasts, that will have made the most impact on my children. It will be my kids learning that no matter where you are from, how smart you are, or what your background may be, everyone can come together and make a difference. That things don't have to have huge "wow factors", rather every little thing counts. People matter and they can make a difference, whether they think so or not.

My Experience Up North

Almost 2 weeks ago, I was a part of a 5-person team that went up into the Sendai area to help with relief efforts.  Our main role during this trip was to help distribute food and supplies. I am finally ready to put to paper (okay computer) some of the stories from my trip.

For most of the time up there, I felt like I was walking on a movie set. Living most of my life in the Midwest, I found it hard to wrap my head around the reality of the situation.  What I was seeing was a far cry from cornfields and soybeans.  Houses inside stores, buildings on top of buildings, cars inside houses, cars wrapped around poles, a ship in the road. Stuff was everywhere it shouldn't be.  The smell of stagnant seawater and fish was overwhelming.  It was all so surreal.  

So instead of thinking about the total devastation around me, I concentrated on the people we were there to help. Our main focus was to work with those who are not in evacuation centers. Those who have remained living in their homes, local areas or abandoned buildings.  These are the people who seem to have slipped through the cracks as far as receiving aid.  In the morning we went to the warehouse and loaded up the vehicles with food and supplies. Then we worked with other teams and went to the Ishinomaki area to set up several drop stations. 

At these drop stations we set up blue tarps and placed food and supplies on them for people to choose from. We then spoke with people in the area and asked them to help spread word that we were there with supplies and food.  You could tell during these drop offs which areas had not been visited in a long time as those people seemed more desperate for supplies and food items.  

The people were just completely amazing. You still saw people joking and laughing through their tears and their fears. We took candy in our pockets and passed them out to the children and it was wonderful watching their faces light up with the sight of a small piece of candy.  Then you saw the parents smile because their children were smiling. I was playing with a little boy, who happened to be the same age as my youngest daughter. We were playing keep away with a small piece of playdough while I tried to tell him in my limited Japanese that I have a beautiful 7-year-old daughter who he may find cute.  

One woman had a hurt knee and asked if I could help her back to her living area. Along the way she was telling me how she thought she was going to die in the tsunami and how she knew God sent us here to help. When we arrived at her place she asked me to "chotto matte" (please wait). She came back a few minutes later and handed me a bag with some bread and sweets that she was saving and told me to tabette (eat) and share with my tomodachis (friends). Here was this woman with nothing and she was giving me something to say thank you. I was overwhelmed with emotion. So I hugged her. And for those who know me I am not a hugger.

 

At another location a woman told me it was a special day because we were there to help her. She then told me how she fears every night going to sleep that she will die.  She told me how frightened she was.  This past Thursday there was a 7.4 magnitude aftershock and her face and story haunts me. I can't imagine the fear she much have had at 11:30 pm when this large quake started and the tsunami alarms went off again.  

 

The other people helping were pretty amazing as well. At one location we ran out of bottled water and one elderly woman needed water to mix with the chicken rice packet we gave her. One of the other relief workers with us, a boy of only 18, went into the car and got out his backpack and handed her his own personal bottles of water from his bag. We ourselves, gave the one group of people our food for the remainder of the trip. They needed it much more than we did. 

 

On that Friday the US Military was working with the Japanese Special Defense Forces on a 3 day intensive search. It brought tears to my eyes (like I didn't have enough already) to see my country there helping the country I have grown to love. From what I have read, the US Forces will be there until the end of April.  

When disasters such as this one occur, it is common for people to question or ask where is God in all of this.  How can God allow so much destruction and suffering? While we were driving to where we were staying the night after our first day of helping, it was starting to rain. I looked out of the van and over to the left, and right over the seaside was a huge, beautiful rainbow. I am sure the other two people in the car thought I was a bit weird for being so excited about this rainbow. But I am one who wants to see signs.  So for me, this rainbow was a sign and a promise that God IS there. God WAS there. And God WILL CONTINUE to be there.    

I have uploaded additional pictures to my family's shutterfly account. Please know these photos are both of the devastation and of our relief efforts. You can find the photos here.  I also took several videos. One of my friends made a compilation video of some of our footage while up North. Here is the compilation video.

 

It will be a long time before things are rebuilt. The train lines are gone. Debris needs cleared. Water needs pumped. Cars need removed from rice fields. But I have faith that Japan will come back and be better than ever.