One Year Later, 3/11/2012

Exactly one year ago today, the March 11th earthquake and tsunami followed by the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant meltdown occurred.  Many lives were lost, and many others changed forever.  My life hasn't taken a dramatic turn since March 11th, other than the fact that I have a new perspective of the power of nature, and how helpless we are in case of a natural disaster.  No one I knew personally was living close enough to have lost everything in the tsunami, but I do know that the effects of radiation and additional earthquakes haunts us all.  How are the people living in the effected areas?  Is there anything I can do to help from a distance?  When will the next big earthquake hit?  How big will it be?  Where will I be and what can I do to best prepare for it?

Despite all of these questions, I know that Japan and it's people will pull through.  Last year they showed their absolute and unwavering strength.  I have an everlasting respect for the Japanese people, many able to endure and push through anything in order to accomplish what's necessary.

Fight.  Don't give up.  We'll make it through.

がんばろう日本

I feel sad and selfish to say that I'm happy to be moving back to a non-earthquake zone in August, but even when I move back I'll do all that I can in order to help Japan and other nations effected by major earthquakes.

Three of my blog entries from 2011 regarding the earthquake:
Friday, March 11th 2011
Saturday, March 12th 2011
Sunday, March 13th 2011


Some news stories from March 11th, 2012
One Year Later : MSNBC
Discovery News : Aerial before and after.
National Geographic : This series of photos (during and after the tsunami to now) shows just how amazing the Japanese people are.

How March 11th personally effected one of many families forever.

Happy Halloween 2012

http://dailycontributor.com/happy-halloween/8236/

Happy Halloween!

Halloween isn't a very well celebrated holiday in Japan.  Some people decide to have parties, but in general it's not a big to-do.  Tomorrow my three English club students will be making some Halloween sweets with me after school, but I don't have a costume or any fun party gifts.  They may be a bit disappointed, but it's hard to decorate for such a thing with no budget and no materials available within a reasonable distance of my house.

Last year, teachers asked me to do special Halloween lesson plans during the month of October, but this year there were too many events happening at our school and no one had time to deviate from the textbook curriculum.  Let's hope they don't suddenly ask me to have something ready in class tomorrow, since I don't have anything to bring and not enough time to make something on the spot.

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As tomorrow is the last day of October, NaNoWriMo will be starting the day after on November 1st!  Here is a short video from the creators of NaNoWriMo.

I was told the following: "Warn your friends, family, neighbors, and pets about the upcoming challenge. The more people who know what you're working on, the more accountable you'll feel and the likelier you are to hit the 50,000-word goal."

I agree that having friends and family know about my projects, as well as supporters cheering me on for whatever goal, helps keep me focused as well as holds me accountable for my actions.

So wish me luck!  I haven't quite decided on a storyline yet, so maybe I'll be day-dreaming all throughout tomorrow about a possible story plot.  Any inspirational ideas?  It is supposed to be easy and fun to write, to the goal is to stick to fiction.

Stay warm, and have a very wonderful and happy Halloween!  It finally feels like fall.  My favorite season.

This man's photography is very interesting.  Maybe some day I can be in one of his photos.
www.christiantagliavini.com

I definitely like the photo on the cover page the most.

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Cute video!!

OSAKA bang

I was "Osaka Bang"ed in class today.  It was pretty funny, because I had forgotten all about this!  Give the video a look, and you'll know what I'm talking about.