3.13.2011

Ugh

In Rikusentakata, a port city of over 20,000 virtually wiped out by the tsunami, Etsuko Koyama escaped the water rushing through the third flood of her home but lost her grip on her daughter's hand and has not found her.

"I haven't given up hope yet," Koyama told public broadcaster NHK, wiping tears from her eyes. "I saved myself, but I couldn't save my daughter."


This is the first thing I've truly felt emotional about since the Tsunami. I can't imagine the broken hearts in Japan - it must feel like their lives are over. They've lose their houses, jobs, family members...

A big part of me wishes I could drop everything here and go there to help. I wish I could do more than just send money, and I'll be doing some research today to find out if I can!

My heart goes out to all of them and those involved.

2 comments:

Kori Michele said...

Please share what you find. If you find a volunteer program or something, I'd be interested in shipping my butt over to help. I have the basic-est of basic Japanese skills, but it better than an otaku.


I can't even begin to understand how you start picking up the pieces of a disaster like this.

Melanie Tingdahl said...

I did not find much in terms of GOING to help. But it's definitely easy to find places to donate to! If you're really interested, I bet calling one or two of the Corps programs would be able to tell you how you could join in on the recovery.