I have family in Tokyo. So I’ve been glued to the news for the last few days. The short version of the story is that my family is safe, thank goodness.
I got an email from my brother first thing Friday morning (the night of their quake day). He was on a skiing vacation north of Tokyo, though on the west coast AWAY from the tsunami side. My 86-year-old mother was home alone in Tokyo, but he had spoken to her by phone and confirmed she was OK. They are now all safely back in Tokyo.
My mother was at the local grocery store when the quake hit. Things literally started flying off the shelves. After the store owner corralled everyone out to the street, a very kind young stranger walked my mother all the way home to her apartment – about a 15 minute walk away. My mom was very grateful.
And it’s little stories like this that seem to be popping up everywhere. People are hanging together, taking care of each other. There seems to be little panic, no looting or shoving, little of the kind of selfish behavior that makes things worse for everyone. Right now, I’m feeling proud to be Japanese. All the best sides of the Japanese culture are shining through in this crisis.
I got this video this morning that illustrates some of what I mean. It’s a collection of Twitter messages from ordinary people in the midst of it all. It shows beautifully the strong but gentle spirit of the Japanese people as they work together through this crisis. The music is sappy, but I think the message is real.
Hi Sunada
Oh, I’m very pleased to hear this – that your family is safe. I had been wondering. It must be very heartening for them to see so much evidence of people rallying together.
All best wishes
Mandy
Dear Sunada,
I am very pleased to hear your family are all well and safe despite all the unimaginable catastrophes happening in Japan. At the school where I work we have a lot of Japanese families. The whole school community has been affected by the devastating news and we have all pulled together and have organised bake sales and other fundraising events in order to donate money to Japan. Again the discipline and determination of all the Japanese people can only be admired by the rest of the world.
My thoughts and best wishes are with you, your family, friends and the rest of Japan.
Love,
Susann
Thank you Mandy and Susann. It seems things are still on edge over there, but maybe the worst is over. I sure hope so.
I have been thinking of you so much over the past couple of weeks Sunada, and I am so glad to hear your family are all safe. It has been such a devastating time and I am awestruck at the bravery and courage of the Japanese people.
All love to you, best wishes for your family, and for all the people of Japan in this most difficult time.
Marion
Thank you Marion! It’s good to hear from you and I appreciate your kind thoughts.