Pieces

Things have been rather depressing lately. I couldn't help following the developments in Japan. It's very mind boggling, reading through the accounts of how people lost their homes, saw their families or neighbors or whole houses swept away by the tsunami.

I have a soft spot for Japan. I did, after all, grew up watching anime, and watching travel shows about Japan. I wanted to apply for an exchange spot in Japan, before I learned that they had rather strict language requirements.

Anyway. Those pictures of devastation look the same after awhile. All debris and broken pieces. There was one picture that caught my eye though - one that showed a middle-aged man walking through his old home, which was in pieces, with this laminated photo of his wife stuck to his back. When I saw that I couldn't help thinking about how how hard it must be to find the one to grow old with, and to have the courage to love and marry and live a life together - yet now this. Walking through debris and probably never seeing her again. No home, no job, nothing.

Then there is the nuclear crisis, and reports seem to get worse by the day. In the longer term there is the economic aftermath.

Gosh. Other than donating money to Red Cross, I wish I there are more things that I could do.

I don't want to use this as an excuse to say that's why I'm in no mood to study for my midterm on Monday. But really, it doesn't seem to matter much in the scheme of things.

Stay strong, Japan. Gambatte.