The one year anniversary of the 09.29.2009 tsunami just past. The 29th fell on a Wednesday and was honored as a local holiday, Tsunami Remembrance Day. Most everything shut down and people flocked to their churches for remembrance services. Ethan and I spent the day at PiCED with a few staff members to repaint our main classroom. In Utulei the government held a big memorial service and a small earthquake shook the ground. One year later, another quake. It wasn’t big, though; we didn’t even feel it on the west side. Other than a few remembrance posters scattered along the main road nothing felt different. We are reminded of the tsunami’s effect everyday as we drive through some hard hit villages. Seetaga is just 2 villages away and still looks like shanty town. People live in make-shift shacks without electricity, and I get the impression that things for them will be that way for along time.
It seems crazy to think that this time last year, I was taking cover on a mountain and rallying support back in the States for my Tsunami Relief Fund. The resilience of the Samoan people, who so quickly move on emotionally, make the effects of the tsunami seem like a thing of the past.
houses just a few minutes drive from ours .... one year later
No comments:
Post a Comment