ジャパン

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Japan. After waking up to a text from Sarah about the earthquake and tsunami, I started reading and watching the news, initially thinking that this would be bad, but not nearly as disastrous as it turned out to be. Japan has earthquakes all the time...the last time I was there, I was there for only a few weeks, and in that short time experienced a couple small earthquakes. Just part of everyday life.

This, as we've all heard by now, was the worst earthquake in the Japan's history. I knew my family lived far enough away that they were not in danger of the tsunami that inundated Sendai, but I didn't know how bad the earthquake near Tokyo was, or if they were being evacuated. Naturally, I tried calling them and could not get through...for hours. Several hours later I got a call from my biological mother in Japan. Because all of the trains and buses were no longer functioning, she - like thousands of others - had to walk home from wherever they were that day. She started walking at 7:30pm, and got home at 4:30am. Luckily my family (grandparents, half-siblings, aunts, uncles, biological mom, etc) are all safe, and no major damage was done to their home. I am very thankful that they, along with a couple friends that happen to be living in Japan, are all safe. Unfortunately, there are still thousands of others who were not as lucky, and I only hope that they find the aid, peace, and hope that they so desperately need.