The Land of Opportunity

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I'm in Japan. Perhaps what you don't know is where I live and how close I was to the earthquake. So, this photo should explain it all.

I live near Okayama city, nestled comfortably a few hours east of Hiroshima and a good ways west of Osaka/Kyoto. As you can see, I live a pretty far distance from Tokyo, and even further away from the Epicenter area. Most importantly, as indicated in big bold grey letters... I live in what i'm now labling, the "Land of Opportunity".


The earthquake, while not immediately and directly affecting life here in Okayama, has devastated a greater part of Japan. Prime Minister Kan has called upon the people of Japan to unite in order to overcome this travesty. So many people have been affected. And while the casualties continue to grow, the rebuilding of Japan will take place one community at a time for the next handful of generations. Surely the news will turn its attention to something new and novel once they've exhausted this interest. But here in Japan, this earthquake will continue to directly and/or indirectly affect the lives of all citizens for countless years to come.


So what is the experience like here as this disaster unfolds? Well, as a foreigner it's a bit different. Knowing that if a natural disaster happened near me and washed away my possessions, community, and job here, I could always return home. The reality is that for all of these people who are not visiting foreigners like myself, this is their home. Therefore, no matter how close I get to ground-zero, I'll never really experience how painful this is. I can't imagine what life would be like if the great lakes swallowed my mitten state...


At the same time, as a foreigner I take my role of life here quite seriously. I realize I am presented with a tremendous opportunity. I came to Japan to be a cultural ambassador, a civil servant, and to facilitate cultural exchange with the hope of making a difference in peoples lives. How often have we heard the old saying, 'in every suffering and difficulty lies an opportunity for growth', or something like that. Well, this situation is certainly no exception.


As a foreigner living in Japan, I have the same potential to make a difference in the lives of those who have suffered as any native citizen. And by doing so I represent and support something extremely meaningful; the idea of what it means to be an international citizen. Isn't that what exchange programs are all about? Isn't that global citizenship in its most meaningful sense? For those of us who came to Japan with the hopes of making a difference in peoples lives, here exists our opportunity. I think the roles we adopt now in this time of crisis, albeit active or apathetic, will impress upon our Japanese neighbors.. This is our opportunity. Better yet, this is my opportunity.

For those of you who would like to join me in this endeavor of making a difference, stay tuned... I've got planning to do.