Tsunami Relief Volunteering: Round 2!

A few weekends ago, I went on a volunteer mission to Iwaki with Team Heal Japan. Due to the fact that I'm still spliting my time between the states and Japan, I haven't made it up to Northern Japan to volunteer as often as I would have liked, but I'm still glad to go whenever I can. The last time I was up there was about 1 month after the Earthquake/Tsunami, so it was interesting to go up there again now to see how much progress was made. Contrasting this trip with the last one six months ago, the area has improved by leaps and bounds. While there was still work to be done, (and all the empty building frames exemplify the fact that reconstruction hasn't begun yet), things definately seem on the up and up. To see what I mean, just compare the first video I took while I was there with the second:






In terms of the workload itself, much like last time, it was light enough that anyone could do it, and other volunteers consisted of people of all ages, satures and nationalities.


In the morning, we were moving dirt and debris after from a nearby elementary school, and in the afternoon, we went to a kids Halloween party. For whatever reason, I was one of a few of us who got chosen to be dressed up, and before I knew it I was in a clownsuit with make-up all over my face. (The irony of this being that I generally don't like clowns).


The kids thought it was hysterical though, so I didn't really mind in the least. In general, I've always found Volunteering to be one of the best and most rewarding things you can do with your time, but when you are doing it for kids, that feeling is exponentiated. It's funny because I've met so many people who are bored with what they are doing or unsure of what to do with themselves. I really think that if any of them tried this kind of work, they could easily have a focus and a mission for the rest of their lives. Lets hope this movement keeps going without losing any steam. With the media having moved onto to other things, Tsunami relief work may not command the attention that it used to, but the fact of the matter is, what needs to be done, still needs to be done. Hats off to my fellow volunteers and hope to see you again soon!