This may sound horrible, but sometimes I feel detached from the devastating earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan. It seems surreal to me. Because it's not happening to me - school goes on and life goes on.

I don't know how much this incident will change my study abroad experience in Japan this coming fall. The spring semester has already been cancelled. Many of my friends currently in Japan are at a loss for what to do.

I picked up two newspapers yesterday. I kept it in my bag the entire day, but never found the time to fish them out and read them. I only read The New York Times this morning and to my surprise, teared up when I read the line, "Assistance teams also were due from China and South Korea, two of Japan's traditional and bitter rivals."

It was enough that the countries put aside a bitter history to focus on the present and help, but unlike the 1995 Kobe earthquake where 6,000 people died, Japan actually accepted foreign aid this time.

It is not enough to simply 'pray.' I know I want to help.
Spring break is in a week. I have so much to do then.