Hula for Japan

It's been awhile since I've posted anything about that big earthquake here in Japan earlier this year, but despite my silence, the catastrophe has never been far from my mind. There are still so many people homeless, broken, and mourning their loved ones. The people of the region still need help, so relief efforts are far from over. 

So, when a friend and fellow JET teacher from Hawaii came up with the idea of a hula performance to benefit the victims of the Tohoku Earthquake, I knew it would be great! 

For the past seven weeks, I and some fellow JETs and friends have been meeting to learn hula! 

In the beginning, the beautiful and generous Alana offered her spacious apartment for our rehearsals, but we needed a little more space and thought mirrors would be helpful.  I called up a friend and we've been able to have some of our rehearsals in Naha at one of my favorite salsa venues: Bomba Latina. 

 The owner, Teddy, is such a nice guy, and let us practice for free! And we were more than happy to order our fill of delicious food during the breaks. 

 Yesterday was our last practice, and it was so exciting to see how all of the dances are coming together! There will are five different dances including a solo by Sammy (above), the adult ladies group, a couples dance, a student dance, and a grand finale.

We've been practicing about two hours every week, and are so excited for our performance this weekend!! It's Sunday night from 6:30 to about 7:30 at Moon Terrace Cafe in Agariahama. Come watch and eat delicious Hawaiian food, if you 're able to, and read more about it here! All of the dancers have donated money to the cause, there will be donation boxes,  and a percentage of the proceeds from the cafe will go toward relief, as well. 

 Of course, none of this could ever have happened without the lovely (seriously just look at her!!) and incredibly talented Kate. She's been the best hula dance instructor. She is SO patient (and she needs to be with some of us... especially me!), and so graceful and inspiring. I want to dance JUST like her, but I know I look a lot more awkward and uncoordinated. :) She not only taught us all the dances, but taught them to herself first! For the couples dance, she learned both the men and women's parts so that she could teach everyone. And she does it so perfectly! 

On top of all that, she's been working like a maniac to organize everything with the cafe, advertise the event, and she even sewed ALL the skirts!!! Amazing! 

Kate, thank you for everything you are doing for our dancers, for this event, and for the people of Japan. 

You are seriously inspiring, and I am so lucky to know you and dance with you! 

Hope

I have been addicted to the news these last few days. Every time I sit in front of the computer, I start clicking and reading and, before I know it, hours have passed. The majority of the news is still devastating: rolling blackouts, nuclear meltdown, morality rates rising, huge aftershocks... but, every now and then, there is something positive, something hopeful.

That is what today's blog is about--the good news.

1.  This article about rescuers who found a four month old baby and a seventy year old woman alive after surviving for days. The baby was found under a pile of debris after being swept away from her family, but was joyfully reunited again.

2. This photo of a man who stayed afloat on the roof of his house and was rescued after two days afloat, waiving his red flag in vain. Can you imagine how cold it was, how lonely, and how terrifying? Yet, this sixty-year-old man stayed alive and clung to hope. So, so inspiring. Here's the article.

3. This website, shared by the always pet-conscious Professor Pope. It's easy to forget that there are other creatures affected by this disaster: the animals, but some people are working hard to save as many of those little guys as possible.

4. This video of a California student who found video of her family in a tsunami-wrecked village, still alive, and holding up signs that everyone in their house is okay. Modern technology can be such a blessing.

5. The report from a fellow JET teacher that the Okinawa blood bank is at 100% capacity. That means a TON of people have gotten out and donated. Wonderful! :D

6. A facebook event,  MAN up for Japan. A "man" (pronounced mon) is the yen equivalent of about $100 and this event is put on by a volunteer JET organization and is for people in Japan to easily donate using the machines in family mart. The idea is that everyone who RSVPs will donate 1man on Friday (payday for many of us). Since over 2,500 people RSVP'd "Yes," that's more than $250,000. Not so shabby, ne? Go, JET!

Despite alllll the bad, good things are happening. People are stepping up. Another article that brought some perspective is this one about how much Japan helped American during the Katrina catastrophe. America now has the opportunity to prove that we are a good neighbor, too.

Pray for Japan

On Thursday night, March 10th, around 11:30 p.m. pacific time, I was chatting happily with the then-future-bride Lisa in her family's home in Bremerton, Washington. We were giddy after a day of church decorating and were just about to call it a night, when Lisa's dad rushed into the room. 

"There's been a huge earthquake in Japan."

For the next two hours I was frozen in my seat--watching endless footage of the most horrible devastation I could imagine, desperately emailing everyone I knew on mainland Japan, and praying, fervently, for those in the affected areas. It was a nightmare.

New York Times

It also caused nightmares. When I finally was able to close my eyes, my dreams were riddled with those horrible images. Lisa said I even cried out in my sleep. 

For the next two days I did everything in my power to focus on where I was instead of on the disaster, and I was able to enjoy myself and the wedding preparations. But every break I had from making flower arrangements or decorating the church found me online, seeking an update, holding back tears, and praying even harder than before. 

God, help those people.

I am back in Japan now. Okinawa is far, far from the epicenter and experienced only a miniscule rise in water levels due to the tsunami. Everything is just as I left it, but there is a heaviness in my heart and a hint of sadness in the faces of those around me. During a moment of silence this morning, tears filled the eyes of many of my coworkers. We may be far away, but our hearts are right there with those suffering. 

(Here's a map of the damage. If you go way down southwest, you will find Okinawa and see that there was no damage in this area. )

I need to help. I need to do something, to go somewhere, to give. Especially, to pray. National AJET, a volunteer organization that works in connection with the JET Program, sent an email to all JETs with information about volunteering and donating. I found it incredibly helpful and encouraging. It seems that numerous JETs feel the way I do. That we have to do something. There may even be an opportunity to volunteer. I am hoping to be able to donate my time as well as my money and help in that way, but if nothing else I can give money to Red Cross, donate blood (I hope... last time I tried to donate they turned me away for anemia), and pray. Pray, pray, pray. 

New York Times

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, please find a way to help. Japan may seem a million miles away, and the people affected may be nameless and faceless to you, but this disaster is real, and everything, anything you do can help those who truly, desperately need it at this time. Don't let your heart be numbed, but let compassion direct your actions.

Please