New times, a new blog!

Hello Everyone!

My name is Ben! Nice to meet you... I have started a new blog where I would like to share my views and opinions on things in this wonderful world. I named this site "Stand Strong" after my old blog... which was named because I want to write about the wonderful, positive things in this world that make us stand a little taller and little stronger.

So for a first post... I would like to tell you about some recent events.

I returned about 2 months ago from the Tohoku region of Japan, the same place that was devastated by the events of 11 March, 2011. I was living in a place called Fukushima and visiting a place 1.5 hours south called Koriyama. The effects of the earthquake were devastating, the damage was widespread but there are some things that really touched my heart.

After the initial earthquake, we made our way to the local fire station for instructions. We stayed there the night and had a few biscuits for dinner. The next day we started to gather supplies. I was in a group of about 15 people so we gathered for all of us. We waited in lines for water at wells and go on our bikes, going for hours for food. 

During the process of collecting food and water, I noticed something very touching. The Japanese people tend to keep to themselves when it comes to interacting with strangers. But while biking around the surrounding areas, I noticed on many occasions people talking with each other in the lines. I noticed people only taking two items when there was a sign that said "two per person". I noticed people helping helping each other in a time of need. It was a real credit to the people of Japan. When something so bad and horrible happened, they banded together and in a spirit of togetherness and love, they helped each other. I saw examples of this on many, many occasions.

I also had the opportunity to work a little in the clean up efforts. On one such occasion, we worked with the J-TAI or the Japanese Military in cleaning up a place called Shiogama. It was really something to work with these people. They had been helping since day one, and have seen some things that no human needs to see. To hear these wonderful people talk about their experience as the first people in to help was really something. Even though they saw and experiences some of the most horrible things that one can experience, they were cheerful and took interest in us as people too. It was an experience never to be forgotten.

I challenge everyone to stand a little taller in the crowd and give someone a hand today, you never know how far it will go!