Hopes and prayers...

It's completely irrational but I'm so aggravated...  Aggravated about everything that's happening in Japan.  The earthquake, tsunami and now the chance that there could be a nuclear disaster...  Completely frustrating.  I want so badly to help Japan, not just to donate money to the red cross or something like that, I want to be there, I want to help them recover, and as a photographer, to document everything that has happened.  I had before decided against going to Japan because of financial matters but now if I'm able to then I will for sure, I'm trying to find ways that might aid me in achieving this goal.  I spoke with both my friends Hossan and Haseyan yesterday.  Hossan is living in Nagano with his wife Chie, far from the danger of the earthquakes and tsunami, although Chie's family lives in Sendai, one of the hardest hit regions of Japan.  I was quite relieved to hear from Hossan that Chie's family is ok!  Hossan mentioned to me that he would like to contact Haseyan if at all possible because Haseyan is now in San Diego and difficult to contact from Japan.  Hossan is trying to figure out what he should do to help with recovery in the most effected regions of Northern Japan which is why Haseyan could be of great aid to him.  Haseyan has traveled to Sri Lanka to help them recover from their deadly tsunami in 2004 and he also has quite a bit of experience building and volunteering elsewhere.  I spoke to Haseyan later that night, he seemed very calm and collected about it all, much more relaxed than I feel.  I'm not sure if he was or is now aware of how many died or of the great damage caused yet.  I hope with so much of my heart that Japan can recover from this and that people in Japan find some sort of relief from the hopes and prayers from the international community and the unaffected areas of Japan.