6-4-1989. 9-11-2001. 5-12-2008.
Unforgettable numbers. These numbers have changed the way how many people have lived. How they look at life. And what they hope in life.
A wave of injustice overwhelmed me today. It is days like today, that reminded me...while I'm sitting indoors with air conditioner, sipping my coffee and typing away at the office...that people have died. That people have actually lost their homes, their families, friends and their lives...within seconds.
It is a scary reminder...regardless of how much time and effort I've spent building my "ideal" reality or my "so-called career"...EVERYTHING and anything, can diminish within seconds. The mystery of life, is the unexpected...for better, or worst.
What pains me, is the thought of the after quake survivors, the children who’ve lost their parents and education, one year ago today. I cannot imagine, a kid, looking for his mom, seeing the blood, hearing the screams, anticipating another quake…that haunts him still, today. The nightmare and endless traumas, these children will have to face, day by day, and how it will affect them, as they step into tomorrow, overcoming the loss, and bearing with pain to rebuilding their future.
The wound may be healed, but the pain remains.
A friend of mine, Andy, is the Senior Research Officer at the University of Hong Kong Center on Behavioral Health. What he does in his line of work is inspiring and our conversations have always been very liberating. Aside from researching on behavioral health, he is also an Honorary Lecturer who teaches university students. To talk to someone who’s a researcher of human behavior, of life and death, is far more intriguing than an ordinary Shanghai conversation of how-much-she-makes or what-has-happened-to-whom. Through the past year, Andy’s always supplied me with thought-provoking conversations and moments of support when I really needed someone to listen.
Through his line of work, he visited Sichuan numerous times last year. Andy and his team visited the most devastated sites and conducted assessments on the wellbeing of the survivors. The Chinese government had a lot of financial support and put in great efforts in rebuilding the hardware -temporary housing and schools- but unfortunately there was a shortage of professionals who knew how to take care of the psychosocial aspects of the survivors. Despite the temporary housing provided, the conditions weren’t ideal. The safety and privacy of the survivors, supplying food and water, and social justice were all concerns. Those who have lost family members during the quake, those who needed the support the most, were not provided with any.
The research Andy and his team conducted was to organize the population groups that needs the most attention.
The first group is the cadres, the local village officers, who received the responsibility and pressure from the government to provide support to the villagers. At the same time, these people were also earthquake survivors.
The second group is the school teachers, facing the same stresses from the government and local village officers, and the additional pressure from childless parents; yet these teachers are also facing the pain and losses themselves.
And the third group is the children. Facing the family loss, they had no one to talk to, nor anyone who knew how to talk to them.
In remembrance of this day, I’ve asked Andy to share some of his experiences and photos he’s taken in the past year. He will be returning Sichuan later this week and will keep posting to share his experiences.
I believe there are things in life that happen for a reason, and some things should not be forgotten. I pray for all the survivors to have the strength and peace to face today, but also in paving their future with happiness and hope. I pray for the pain to subside, and the wounds to be healed.
*Photo courtesy of Andy
Guangzhou Hospital Directory 
