My neon & concrete jungle wonderland
Anyway, I suddenly felt like writing again. I was moved to tears after I read about the tragic incidents involving both the innocent kids who died in Olso, Norway as well as the sudden death of Amy Winehouse. It seems like tragedies seem to be getting increasingly common. I suppose I'm feeling extra sensitive because I was fortunate enough to survive the March 11 earthquake to witness the horror of entire impact of the earthquake, the following tsunami, the on-going nuclear crisis and the incompetency of TEPCO and the Japanese government to fully handle this emergency effectively. On top of the immediate destruction, deaths, evacuations, rescue operations, it's been 4 months now and we're still getting hit by an onslaught of food scandals. The safety standards have already been elevated in light of the current situation, but we still get news reports of contaminated tea and beef; contaminated breast milk; irradiated children in Fukushima and so on. Nevertheless, the government continues to insist that it's okay to eat small amounts of contaminated food. Yet they have ignored the glaring signs that the radiation has already seeped into all parts of the food chain in Japan. The Japanese people are largely unconcerned with such reports, but I think that they're either resigned to these facts or they prefer to feign ignorance in order to live a normal life. I'm sure that the ordinary Japanese think that the radiation is the least of their worries now, given the state of the economy (which got worse after March 11) and the lack of air-conditioning in the sweltering summer heat.
Samia sent me a concerned email to ask about me and how the situation is like in Tokyo. To be honest, everything is so normal. Until I read the forum on JapanToday a couple of days ago and it seems like the expats and other foreigners are extremely concerned about the irradiated environment they are living in right now. I'm thinking more about the risk I'm putting myself at, simply by living here. What these people are saying might be true, but I suppose I'm going to feign ignorance as well in order to have a decent quality of life here. I don't see the need to move away since I'm not pregnant nor am I a vulnerable child. I'm more upset at the failings of the government who seems more interested to cover their ass than to protect the health of their citizens.
One of my students have gone up north to volunteer in Tohoku and he said that he was very inspired by the experience. He met the survivors who are gritting their teeth through this whole trauma, with the determination to make a living once again in their hometown. That's really admirable and comparing himself with them, he feels extremely fortunate. I can't argue with that there. I'm content with life here. Everyday is exciting for me. Days with work are less so, but overall it's been great. People are generally very kind and thoughtful. I can't wait to explore different areas on Japan and go through all four seasons again, including the skin-chilling wintry conditions. A new country is just so much fun. To be part of the unique culture and to witness the people's pride of their own culture is genuinely rewarding. Given the choice, I'd still want to relive the whole experience again.
So back to the tragedies we've been reading too often in the newspapers. I really hope that things will become better in the world today. For everyone. Make love not war. Peace. x
