Putting Things into Perspective: Lessons from
the Far East
Charles Beers (Huntington High School)
It has been approximately four weeks since Hurricane Sandy struck Long Island and plunged our
region into an unforgettable period of darkness and misery. While many have attempted to put those dark
days behind them, it is impossible to truly forget the effects the storm had on everyday life. Almost all of
Long Island went without heat and electricity for about two weeks, during which temperatures reached
seasonal lows and tempers rose to new heights. I remember how each night I desperately hoped for the
power to return, and how I was disappointed for more than a week. It was a miserable experience without
electricity and heat and most days saw me and my family trying to stay warm and waiting for night to
come. That feeling of helplessness and anger at the LIPA officials will always resonate throughout my life
and I initially thought that all of Long Island had faced the true epitome of pain, especially the residents of
Long Beach, who experienced the worst of the storm. Most of its residents had to relocate in order to have
a roof over their heads and a place to sleep, as some of their houses and schools were completely
demolished by the powerful storms. 1 Because of all the tragedies across the island, kids were eager to
return to their schools and try to return to normalcy, using their education as a cloak to all the grief
occurring around them. I remember waiting eagerly for the daily message from our superintendent, hoping
that each report would contain the message that the high school would reopen. For me, going back to
school was the only way to move on from the crisis. Thankfully for me and my friends, the high school was
waiting for us after the storm, and I could finally reunite with friends who I’d lost contact with over the
course of those dreadful two weeks. However, as I was later reminded, kids around the world aren’t always
that fortunate. Even when I thought I’d been through the worst two weeks of my life, it only took a
reminder of the 2011 Japanese tsunami to bring me back down to earth and make me grateful for all the
things that I hadn’t lost in the hurricane.

Last year, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Japanese nation. As seen by previous disasters, this
underwater seismic activity results in tsunamis that cause massive destruction to coastal cities and towns
through colossal waves. These waves are virtually unstoppable forces of nature, capable of demolishing
anything in their path. While the Japanese citizens have taken a multitude of safety precautions to counter
these waves, nothing could have prepared them for what they saw in 2011. Over 10,000 Japanese citizens
were killed from the disasters that ensued and millions lost their homes and even their cities from the
damages. However, unlike Hurricane Sandy in our neck of the woods, children and parents across Japan
had nowhere to turn after the tsunami has finally subsided. According to interviews, many Japanese
schools, such as Togura Elementary School, had children in them when the waves appeared on the horizon,
some of them even exceeding the heights that the officials were originally anticipating. When the tsunami
hit, children and teachers had to run for their lives in order to reach an area high enough to avoid the deadly
waves. The aftermath, though, was even more heart-wrenching to imagine. The same township where the
Togura Elementary School resided was completely leveled, some reporters even stating that the town “now
barely has any marks of human existence.” 2 In short, nothing was saved from destruction, and the helpless
children who suffered through this ordeal had nowhere to go and nothing to come back to. Trying to
imagine these horrific events unfold was difficult for me to do and evoked newfound levels of grief inside
me, as well as an equal amount of guilt. While I was worrying about when electricity would return to my
house, children across the seas were worrying where they would live and go to school. Reflecting on their
catastrophe should serve as a lesson for all Hurricane Sandy victims. Be grateful for the luxuries you have,
such as friends and a school where you can be safe from harm, and when you feel like you have gone
through the worst of times, always remember the Japanese tsunami survivors, the men and woman who
continue to persevere in spite of having the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Notes 1. Rifilato, Anthony. “It Takes More Than a Hurricane.” LI Herald.com (2012): 4. Web. 25 Nov 2012.

.

2. Laje, Diego. “Stopped time: Japan tsunami hits school.” CNN World (2011): n.pag. CNN. Com. Web. 25 Nov
2012. .

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The Tea Ceremony
Lewin Kim (Horace Mann School)
Steam rises in the air as the tea flows from the pot into my ceramic bowl. The smell is faint, yet
familiar. I’m conscious of the green and red flowers painted on the white surface of the bowl. As my fingers
wrap around it, I kneel on a cushioned mat, balanced and calm. Sensei, in her emerald kimono that seems
to change shape with each graceful movement, watches me. I take a sip, feeling the green tea’s warmth
travel through my body, down my arms, and to my fingers. Sensei offers me a bowl of sugar candy,
explaining that it serves as a spiritual balance to the bitterness of the tea. We both stand and bow as a sign
of appreciation and respect.

While this scene could have taken place in any teahouse in Kyoto, the ceremony transpired at the
Horace Mann School in the Bronx on Japan Day. Although I was born in the U.S. and have no ancestral ties
to the Japanese, this tea ceremony reminds me of what I value about their culture. My upbringing was
shaped by years of watching Japanese films such as Princess Mononoke and picking up groceries from the
Mitsuwa Marketplace. In school, I chose to study Japanese as my foreign language.

My parents took my family on a trip to Japan so I could see with my own eyes the beauty of the
country. I was stunned by the bright and colorful lights of Tokyo at night. Exploring the Japanese
countryside was equally impressive and was where I tasted the unrivaled softness of Kobe beef for the first
time. It was also the first time I bathed in an onsen, a Japanese hot spring, which rejuvenated me both
physically and mentally. What struck me was the level of inventiveness in Japan. While most people think
of Tokyo Tower or other typical tourist attractions when they think of Japan, I was inspired by the newer,
creative buildings such as Joypolis, a huge indoor amusement park that was built to look inconspicuous in
the heart of Tokyo’s offices and towers.

After my memorable trip, I wanted to continue my cultural ties to Japan while living in the states. As a
high school freshman, I joined East Wind West Wind, a school club that promotes a better understanding
and awareness between Eastern and Western cultures so I could share my knowledge and experience with
others. I realized that Japan, despite being one of the smaller countries of the world, is a leader in creativity,
ingenuity and hope.

Even as Americans, we can benefit from embracing Japanese culture because it is a culture of learning
and teaching. Japan’s traditional folk tales and stories emphasize the strength of family and dreams. Today,
its movies carry valuable lessons: Hayao Miyazaki’s imaginative films Ponyo and My Neighbor Totoro
touch upon the importance of friendship and reciprocation to others, and appreciation for nature. It is
important to the Japanese to pass on their ancient traditions.

The tea ceremony gives me the opportunity to share my knowledge of Japanese culture with others
who are unfamiliar with it. After the ceremony ended, one of my friends passed by and asked me what was
happening. I explained the spiritual significance of the ceremony and encouraged him to try it. I led him
to my sensei, and as my friend kneeled on the cushion, I introduced them. As I started walking to my next
class, I caught a glimpse of my friend carefully raising his bowl of tea, while a harp softly played Gagaku,
the traditional music of Japan, the sound bouncing off of every string with a light pluck.

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