Japan, one year on

Today, exactly one year ago, a terrible 9.0 Magnitude earthquake struck North-East Japan. The earthquake was so powerful, it caused a tsunami that swept away whole costal towns and triggered a nuclear crisis when several nuclear power stations broke down. This was not merely a tragedy, but in fact a trio of tragedies, which gripped many people all over the world in the weeks that followed.

I still remember clearly the moment when I first heard the news of the disasters. I was doing my exchange studies in Leeds at that time, and that day, I visited the blog of a Japanese lady who lives in Perth. Her latest post was about a major earthquake in Japan and in her writing, she seemed shaken. However, I did not realize just how serious the earthquake was until I visited the BBC website and saw terrifying reports and pictures of the destruction. Shocked, I immediately logged on to Facebook and visited the Facebook profiles of every single Japanese friend I had. It seemed I was not the only one to turn to Facebook, many other people had flooded my friends' Facebook walls with questions like 'Are you ok?' and 'Where are you?'. All my Japanese friends had replied to say that they and their families were fine. I then checked the Youtube channel of a Japanese cook I had been following closely for about a year (in case you want to know, it's 'Cooking with Dog'). The cook, the narrator and their dog were fine as well. I was so relieved to learn that every one I know was alive and well that I cried.

In the weeks that followed the disasters, there was a outpouring of grief and support from all over the world. I was touched to see so many people of so many nationalities stand by the Japanese people in the aftermath of the tragedies. There were all sorts of innovative donation drives, from the selling of bento equipment on eBay by food bloggers to the publishing of a cookbook to raise funds to the folding of paper cranes. For my part, I was one of the many people who donated to the disaster relief.  What happened in Japan made me particularly upset, not only because I have friends there, but also because I had visited the country three times (and am more than willing to do so again) and am quite fond of Japanese culture. I also took part in a fund-raising activity organized by the International Student Office in my university, which involved the folding of a thousand paper cranes (supposed to make wishes come true, according to Japanese belief). Many people turned up to help, and we exceeded the target. All donations and the paper cranes were then sent to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

One year on, there has been recovery in many respects but some say that the pace of recovery is too slow. There is one thing that I am sure almost everyone will agree with, however: the strength, will to survive and cohesion displayed by the Japanese people, even in the face of disasters of catastrophic proportions. I believe this strong kizuna (meaning 'bond') demonstrated by the Japanese nation as a whole was what moved so many around the world to contribute so generously to recovery efforts. Today, I dedicate the beautiful and uplifting song 'Fields of Hope', sung by Lacus Clyne (Rie Tanaka) in the Gundam Seed Destiny anime, to the Japanese people.

The world is still with you, Japan.

Gambatte.

Third year, second semester

This semester is the second semester of my third year. It is also the final semester of my undergraduate degree.

I am astounded at how time seems to have flown by in a flash. It really did not seem so long ago, only in 2009 in fact, when I first entered university in Australia. Two years were spent here in Brisbane, one semester in Leeds and now I am embarking on the last phase of my undergraduate journey. A friend recently asked if I looked forward to graduating. I admitted that I felt more sad than excited because graduation would mark the end of my undergraduate life, a life that I only began to settle comfortably into not too long ago. It has been a life of joy and discovery, save the occasional setback and difficulty, and I am sad to think university life might come to an end. There is also the prospect that, having graduated, I might have to leave Australia to go back to Singapore.

I probably won't be returning so soon, however. After my undergraduate studies, I firmly intend to embark upon my Honours year. It is both my parents' and my wish. I want to do my Honours badly, because it would give my degree that extra edge and it means that I can study in Brisbane one year longer. After my Honours, I'll look for a job in Australia or the Asia-Pacific region.

You may wonder why I seem so reluctant to go back to Singapore. It's not that I dislike Singapore; Singapore is deeply sentimental to me as the country where I was born and raised most of my life, where friends and family are and where good and cheap Singaporean food can be found. Yet, having travelled quite a bit and having lived in two countries already, I realize that the world out there is vast and many opportunities beckon. Singapore is small, not just in the geographical sense, but also in the sense that the local politics and social culture can be quite stiffling and constrained. Fellow Singaporeans would know exactly what I mean and I think many would concur. Singapore, I have come to realize, is too small for my dreams.


No, I won't be returning so soon. The greater world beckons and I am drawn to it. I will work hard towards my dreams and be the best that I could ever be. Second semester of my third year, watch me now.