Disaster In My Future Homeland

With a busy weekend, I woke up shocked to find Burma (Myanmar) hit by a cyclone and stunned at the reported 350 dead Monday morning. My head could barely wrap itself around that number, the toll seeming so big. I thought that number would hold. I immediately thought of the people there that will soon make up the newest chapter in my life - the staff, future students and their families, and new friends. My first thoughts were of all of them and if they were all okay. I sent people that I had been in touch with e-mails, wishing, hoping that they and their loved ones had made it through.

It was only later on that night when out sharing in spirits with Guy that he told me that the death toll was 15,000. My head reeled at the enormity of the number, staggered at the thought, and then left me numb.

And now the number is at 22,000 and will sadly keep rising. The television speaking out into my background as I type, Charles Gibson stating that the numbers could reach 100,000. He says it is staggering and I can barely comprehend it all. How does one even think of such a number of people whose lives have suddenly been taken?

I look at pictures of the capitol that in only two and a half months I will be calling home and I find myself in the most befuddled of ways.



photos: Jay Saxon

One person asked me last night how I felt about it, if I was panicked. Others have asked if I would still go or if there would be a job there for me in Yangon. My immediate thoughts were of the students and staff and how they would need a teacher possibly more than before. I thought of the volunteer opportunities, of more children being orphaned, of wanting to help in anyway that I can once I get there regardless of starting a new teaching position and adjusting to yet another new life.

I was settled and left in quiet awe when I received this e-mail just this morning from the man that asked me to join the YIEC team. (FYI - I will be living at Inya Lake Hotel, Yangon.)


Dear New YIEC Faculty,

Thank you all for your emails and offers to help etc. Our faculty is
fine. There is much damage to Yangon and areas outside of Yangon.
Many deaths, mostly outside of Yangon we hear. But there are workers
out in force repairing the damage. Our school building is intact. We
went back to school today but may be closing early due to fuel
shortages and other issues....there is a board meeting today to decide
this. There was considerable damage to the grounds at Inya Lake Hotel
with many trees blown over.....so sad as it has become our home and
the trees were beautiful. But the building did not receive significant
damage fortunately and once everything is cleaned up the grounds will
still be attractive. But by the time you guys arrive all will be
cleaned up and we will be ready to start a new school year.

I have to say that with all of the situations that we have had here
this year our faculty has been amazingly resilient and positive. We
just had a faculty meeting and their biggest question was what we
could do to help our assistants and support staff who lost homes etc.
I think you will find that this group of teachers you will be joining
are very special as I think you all will be.

There is no change as far as next year and the start dates. Internet
is back!!! And things will get back to normal little by little.
Already in a few days all of the main streets have been cleared so
that cars can pass and vendors are out selling etc.

Anyway I thought I should let everyone know that we were lucky in that
we had no teacher or student injuries and that the schools really came
through it all with very minor damage.


This e-mail created for me an instant bond with complete strangers of the like that I have never felt before. More than anything else in months, that note from across the world made me realize that I am destined for Burma. I don't know what life will hold for me there or how long it will keep me, but I do know that I'll be able to give till I can't and make the type of difference that I have only been able to dream of.

If you want to help, donate, the links included below are two organizations that are there and doing everything they can.

World Food Programme - https://secure.my-websites.org/supporter/donatenow.do?n=gbss&dfdbid=1060435

Unicef - http://www.supportunicef.org/site/pp.asp?c=9fLEJSOALpE&b=1023561