In the middle.

It's raining today in Tokyo.

Sakura is already in full bloom. Spring has arrived, regardless of the endless sad news about the earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

*Both were taken near Shimokitazawa station in Tokyo.

I ponder a lot these days over my situation. It's been more than 3 months since I came back to my home country from Canada, and since then quite a few things have happened.

The earthquake occurred just two days after I came back from backpack traveling around Europe. I was just about to start looking back the amazing experiences I had in Europe. But I could not afford that.

So much information was flowing like crazy since the earthquake, and I kept watching TV to see the updates almost everyday when I didn't have anything else to do. I am not sure what I was really thinking at that time, but this was clear - I truly realized that I was away from my home country for very long time.

I really wanted to help the victims every time I watch them suffering through TV. But I was missing the essential mean for that - people. I really have to admit this, and this was a very tough lesson I learned.

When I was in Halifax, I was very fortunately surrounded by people who had similar philosophy in life. I was really happy there because I could feel like I was part of them. I felt like I was actively participating in the community, and the collective action seemed to make the community richer and wider.

But when the earthquake happened, I did not really have that sense of community in my hometown. I have friends here and I acquaint my neighbours, but most of them are busy working during daytime or I just have not talked to them for years.

In that situation, I felt really powerless and empty. I wanted to do something, but it was very difficult to do what I really wanted to do, which was not just donating money - get together with people for the same cause.

It will take some time to establish this sense of community back in my country. I wonder if many of neighbours are also thinking the same.

Regardless, spring has arrived here in Tokyo! My full-time job has finally started, and I already finished the 9 days-long job training.

I am VERY VERY thankful for all the kindhearted messages from overseas, worrying about my family and friends in Japan. We sometimes take this "global community" for granted, but this time I really felt its essence - we are all connected.

Peace...