Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya,
 
Around the same time I left Australia three and a half years ago another guy from my home town was packing and getting himself ready for the life I was already flying towards. Though our parents have known each other for a long time we had no idea that we were both planning to live and teach in China for the many years that followed.
 
It wasn't until our fathers met up for a beer and a chin wag that we found out.
 
In a movie they would have been trying to 'cool' each other out.
Yeah, my son's gone to Chnia to live for many years!
Yeah well, so has mine!
Really?
Really!
Oh?
Oh!
 
Then maybe one would have said 'Hey Dude, where's my car?'
 
Scott flew straight to Sichuan to a city named Deyang where he fell in love with the town and the people and has remained since day one. Being the excellent teacher he is he has won several Foreign Teaching Awards and has won the respect of his entire community. If anyone has been following the Sichuan Earthquake news then you will know that Deyang was one of the cities that was hit with somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 people losing their lives.
 
Below is an email he sent today with an update of life in the earthquake area.
For sometime he along with the rest of the city has made home on one of the local football fields.
 
**********************************
 
Hi Family and Friends,
 
I am still here in Deyang and we are still experiencing tremors nearly everyday. 
There is still big risks of floods and diseases. 
 
The soldiers are still out at the quake lakes trying to blow the rocks and rubble away so that the pressure can be released. The river here in Deyang is at its lowest I have ever seen, it is now no more than a trickle. So somewhere along the river is a blockage. In Mianyang a town about 45mins away from us they have just evacuated about 1 million people and there are fears that the water will rise to the 3 floor. With our river though there are many small rivers running off this one so if it does flood in Deyang it may not be as bad as other places.
 
But from floods we get diseases and other things. 
My bags are all packed and I am ready to go when they kick me out.
 
We have classes starting on June 16th and end July 27th if everything is ok. But nearly all schools in the area are closed for the summer. My plan is to stay until the end and help with what I can. Today I have asked the school to be a volunteer and help in the disaster areas. But at this stage it is in the talking process. They are not sure about a foreigner being there. So hopefully it will all work out and I can go help. I have though donated money and clothes to help the quake victims.
 
In Deyang we have had many famous people come and give their support to the aid work that is going on and visit hospitals and families. Some people that have come have been include Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Hu Jin Tao (President of China) and Wen Jia Bao.
 
There is still a strange feeling when I am walking around Deyang. 
 
It is like a ghostly feeling with people walking around in a daze, and when talking to people they seem very detached and distant. Most of Deyang is living in tent cities all over the town. Some are living under not much more than a sheet. We have had some heavy rain and strong winds recently and this has not helped out the tent city people. It is very heartbreaking to see, but they all seem to be making do.
 
I am surprised that the sanitary conditions are up to a high standard. 
They have teams that are keeping this up to scratch. 
 
My students are constantly contacting me and making sure I am ok and some are wanting counselling, most are asking "why are all these bad things happening to China", how can you answer that question? 
 
I think that many may not come back to school when it starts again. 
 
I am trying my best to help out and keep a positive outlook on the situation. I think the Chinese people need to see this and hopefully it will give them some hope that life will go on and that they can enjoy things again. But this will take time.
 
You can't just put a band aid over it.
 
I thank you for all your prayers and concerns,
Scott.
 
Taken from the SCETC Net Site 
Foreign Teacher in SETC Donating Money for Quake-hit Area
 
Mitchell Scott Peter, who won The 2006 Excellent Foreign Guest Teacher Prize and The 2007 Excellent Foreign Guest Teacher Prize by the Education Department of Sichuan Province, donated money for May 12 quake-hit area at Deyang Sports Stadium. Mitchell Scott Peter says that Deyang city is his second hometown and he will stay in Deyang together with SETC and the students for the final victory.
 
**********************************************
 
PS: A friend's mother who was a volunteer for the first two weeks after the earthquake offered some amazing details as to unknown facts about the earthquake, one being the 'real' expected death toll. There are still many cities that no one has been able to get to. They have been 'locked down' by the government until they can be disinfected. Time, man power, terrain and loss of roads etc has simply not given the chance of anyone reaching these areas.
 
So the word is that the 'real' total loss of life is somewhere between 200,000 and 250,000 or more!
 
PSS: Last night when I was chatting to Luo Wei (Amigo) on the phone she told me that the government had issued a warning that sometime on either the 3rd or 4th of June there will be another severe earthquake measuring somewhere between 6.8 and 8 and this time hitting somewhere in Shaanxi Province which pretty much leaves me living in fear as that is where Luo Wei lives along with my 2nd family who live in Xi'an.
 
There have been many large earthquakes since the first one tore peoples lives apart.
 
Imagine trying to live in this area. Everyone around you including yourself has lost loved ones and belongings and still new warnings are given that anytime soon the earth around you will tear your life apart again. Sadly they can't predict where it will happen so they can not move people.
 
Each night Luo Wei's buidling shakes from tremors felt far away. Last night she was in Xi'an City and around her people were already beginning to sleep in the streets and public squares. You won't believe how big my smile is each time I receive either a reply to my sent text message or when I hear her voice on the other end of the phone.
Now that it is supposed to hit closer to her that smile will become bigger each time!

PSSS: I may re-send this as Scott will be sending me some photos sometime soon.
 
Beers Noodles toya.....shane
______________________________________________
 
The soundtrack to this entry was by The Dandy Warhols
The album was 'The Dandy Warhols'
Ride!
______________________________________________