As if there isn’t enough rumbling in that part of town with the upcoming Games and current political unrest, Mother Nature decided to make a devastating visit earlier this week to the Sichuan area and neighboring provinces of China, in the form of an earthquake – measured at 7.9 on the Richter – current toll to have claimed 50,000 innocent lives – leaving survivors both those parent-less and child-less.

While I refuse to include aftermath photos simply because it is just too sad to share images of despair, I will, however take a moment to encourage DONATIONS TO THE CHINA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND as well as ease the minds of those concerned with my soon-come adventures by way of a little Geography lesson:

  • China is massive.
  • The Sichuan Province and areas directly impacted by the earthquake = Southwestern China
  • Shanghai = Eastern China

My American comrades (currently in Shanghai) reported all is still standing in the ‘Hai. Simultaneously, my Dean contacted me to assure the contract is still on and the regions impacted are ways from my school site. So, it is safe to say that the recent rumbles will serve me no roadblock. So, forward, I march… (but thank you to those who have had me in thought!)

. . don’t burn the day . .