Everything Can Change In A Minute

Everything can change in a minute. I learned this when my Grandfather died in 2009. It seems I forgot that memo and  mother nature's action gave me a wake up. 2 weeks ago I had my whole life (well the  next year anyway) map out and now I don't even know what will happen next year let alone in April. As you all probably know I an suppose to go to Japan this August for a year on an exchange. I got a e-mail telling me that it is now uncertain if that will happen do the nuclear/radiation problem in Japan. The program I am going with will wait a couple of weeks and sees how the nuclear/radiation problems turns out. If bad then I will not go to Japan, if good then I will go to Japan.

So you must be wondering? If you do not go to Japan then do you go nowhere? No, I will go somewhere. I just don't know where and will probably have little (maybe none at all) choice. I am praying somewhere in Europe or Asia. Right now my program is looking for alternates just in case.

When I first heard this news I was devastated. I was angry  as well. And today it struck me. Other programs just return the peoples money back if something like this happens. In my case I am lucky because at least I get to go somewhere. I am lucky and fortunate and I should not take that for granted. Yes, I will not lie, sometimes I feel a tad bit angry at the fact that I might not get to accomplish my dreams of going to high school in Japan or seeing my host sister next year. Or even learning Japanese fluently. But I am fortunate that I get to go somewhere. I am fortunate that I do not have to spend next year in my city doing the same old boring things. Instead I get to try out a new lifestyle.

Today my host sister contacted me. She told me she has return home, finally, from boarding school. She lives in Shizouka but went to school in Sendai. She told me that by car, instead of the usual six hour drive, it took twelve hours. She is happy to be alive and with her family. Her Grandparents are fine as well. I am so happy for her. I am happy that I have contact with her again. But I am very worried with the nuclear thing. I do not know what her family will do in this situation. I wish she could come back to Canada for a while until Japan sorts this all out. But, alas, that is a impossible dream.

I got my report card :) Best REPORT CARD EVER!!! Ok here is my marks:

Psychology:93%
Drama: 78%
History: 55%
English: 80%

Ok you must be thinking, what is going on with your history mark. Well my history teacher told the class that we would all have low grades due to the fact that he has barely given us any assignments yet this term. So he told us that this is not a bad things and to tell our parents that he said that. So my grade really isn't a 55, it just that we have no marks yet to put into the computer system to actually have a good grade.

Anyways I am off to bed :) Btw love Allstar Weekend new song It's not your birthday.

The Devasting Earthquake in Japan

I decided to write this entry on my personal blog (here) instead of my Japanese Exchange Blog (here). One this feel more like a personal entry then an adventure or joyful one like my exchange blog. I mean, in the end, it does not matter where I place this. Why? Because I do not think their is a single person who does not know about the 8.9 earthquake/tsunami that shook and destroyed northern Japan. You can not miss the numerous newspaper articles and television broadcasts. It is absolutely devastating. I can not begin to imagine the fear, terror and absolute heartbreak the Japanese feel. I mean this whole winter I've been complaining about Canadian winter and this is like a wake up call to me.

Nobody, ever, deserve this much pain. I do not know if anybody reads this blog or my exchange one but I am going to Japan, in August, for a year. For a High School Exchange. My exchange to Japan, so far, has not been canceled (and I hope it isn't). I do not know if it will. My friends who are going on a exchange, in March, to Japan with a different organization are still leaving Monday. And for those of you who are wondering I do not know where in Japan I will be staying or who my host family is and ect;

But this Earthquake has left a hole in my heart. I visited Tokyo 2 years ago and it is hard to imagine the chaos it is in now. Back then I thought it was the safest place. This whole situation has left me heartbroken and feel like time is going very slow. Every second I look for the latest news hoping not for the worst but a more brighter future.

Another thing you probably do not know is that I hosted a exchange student, from Japan, in 2010 for a year. From January 2010 to December 2010. She stayed in my host, went to school and learned Canadian cultures (the up's and down's). I never told her this but when she first came I was very sad. I was going through a hard time in my life (a change in my life). I was not sad about her arrival but of events (that had nothing to do with her) that had happened months before she came. That person (without any knowledge) took all my sadness and made me very happy. We became not only best friends but sisters. Now all the events of the past are the past. I so wanted to tell her this before she left but I didn't. I was to embarrassed and now I regret that.

I think when a tragedy like this strikes you think of all the things you could of done that you didn't. My mom has spent this weekend saying (repeating): If she was still in Canada she would be safe. She would not have to face the scary situation. And you think; ok that's one solution. But the reality is that Canada could of easily gotten a natural disaster, while she was here as well. So in the end I believe that you need to live in the moment. Enjoy every minute. Do not regret the past or dwell on what you could have done.

My biggest regret in life is not saying Good bye to my Opa (Grandfather) before he died. It took me a long time to accept the reality and realize that even though I did not say 'Goodbye' I do have a lot of memories of him  that will never disappear.

My host sister, was in, Sendai when the Tsunami/Earthquake hit. As you all know that is the biggest, affected area. I currently have no information what happen to her. I have tried contacting her, through e-mail, numerous times but have gotten reply. I know people there have been evacuated and that they don't have power/internet. So I am praying, deeply, that she is ok. But I will not lie and say that I am totally calm and have total optimism of the situation. I feel very worried, scared and a bit of wreck. I do not think I will be able to calm down until I hear from her.

Secondly I would like to ask, everyone, to help Japan by donating. Here is a video telling you ways of how you can help. Here is where you can purchase & donate (through Lady Gaga) money of the arm bands above in the picture.

Please, people, do not let your prejudice stand in the way of donating. Nobody in the world deserves this. We need to unite and help. What if this happened to us?? Wouldn't you want help? I can not help but to think when I am donating that I am not only helping the Japanese people but also my sister. I also many more friends in Japan.

Everyone please pray for Japan!!

On a lighter note I bought Avril's CD. It's pretty awesome CD. At first I did not like it but it grew on me. Now I can not stop listening to it.

BTW I did not go to school on Friday. My stomach pain got worse, like majorly, so we went to see the doctor. I redid the blood testing. Will find out the results this week sometime. My doctor gave me this stomach, antibiotic, thing. And guess what?? IT GOT RID OF MOST THE PAIN. YAY!!! Meaning we figure out, by the works of the medicine, what was wrong with me.

Now I am off to bed!!! I will leave you with a song that I think has a beautiful message. Yes Justin Bieber's -Pray. Do not mock please!!!

A Whole Freakin Weak Of The Flu :(

hahaha there's a Finn Cupcake out there (I gobbled it up), isn't that gleektastic?? Yes I love Glee!! My mom got me a cupcake set that has six cupcakes with character rings in all of them. I also just realize that Finn & Quinn rhythm.

So where have I been?? Sick. It's been the worse week ever. I spent it pretty much bed ridden except for the time when I went for blood testing and to the doctor's. So what is wrong with me. Their is  two things:

1. I have the Flu (Thanks Mom!!) 

2. I have a stomach infection

Because of these two things I had to miss 4 whole freakin days of school :( My perfect attendance went down the train. And this might sound weird to a lot of you but even though I was so sick that I could barely move, I still wanted to force myself to school. But my mother said no to this and I probably should thank her for this. But still I felt so guilty, even though I shouldn't, I even thought I was going to fail the semester. Which my mom told me was stupid because there still three months left and a lot of work and mark to be gain in those three months. 

And for those wondering the stomach infection started about a week and half ago. It's basically sharp pains in my abdomen (hence the reason I went for blood testing) which  a week and a half ago started but was not really hard to live with. Then Monday came around and it was unbearable. Basically my drinking diet is Cranberry Juice, which is actually helping. We still have not gotten the result of the blood test back but will find out soon though we know it's stomach related. 

Tomorrow I will go to school and pray I have not fallen to far behind. My history teacher scares me and on Monday I miss a in-class essay and I pray that he will forgive me for that and let me redo it (or find some other assignment that will make up for it). 

So while lying in bed I have seen some interesting shows pop up on the t.v. One being Gargoyles. Does anyone remember that show?? I use to watch it all the time when I was a kid (I'm such a dork, I know). But when I was little it was the coolest thing. And you know, a lot of times, when you watch shows that you thought were cool as a kid you realize they are not so cool when you are a adult. But with Gargoyles they are still cool, awesome and action pack as they were for you as a kid now as a teen. Literally it appeals to a wide set audience. I also will now say my favorite character is Elisa Maza and I'm routing for Goliath X Elisa pairing ,lol. 

The second thing I have been watching is a Jdrama.. It's called: Taisetsu na Koto Wa Subete Kimi Ga Oshiete Kureta. It's about 2 young teachers who are engage to be married but when the husband cheats (with really no previous memory of doing it except waking up in a bed with the girl) with one of his students it becomes a drama. I love the student, Hikari. She has so many sides to her. It is a interesting drama and I really recommend it. 

Also Afterlife by Claudia Grey, the final in the Evernight series came out. Mom pick it up for me after my blood testing on Wednesday. I haven't had any motivation or strength to read but I am hoping to start it when I do feel better. 

Anyways that all I have been doing. Till next time :)