#kobeshi

Three years ago, I studied abroad in Venice, Italy.  I knew my life would never be the same again.  I also knew that I fell in love with traveling.  Every time I travel, I learn something new.  And my trip to Kobe was no exception.

On January 17th, 1995, the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake hit Kobe at 5:46am.  It took approximately over 6,400 lives.  It caused ten trillion yen in damage.  The entire city fell apart.  On Saturday, June 21st, 2014, I visited the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution, also known as “The Earthquake Museum”.  I saw footages of the earthquake.  It was like a scene out of a movie.  It was so surreal.  Then I visited the Port of Kobe where the city left the aftermath for generations to see.  It was so sad.  I think of how I am standing there, and all of this could happen in a flash.  It makes me appreciate my life and my present so much more.

There are many things I admire Japan for and one of them is the unity of this country.  Looking at the city now, there is no sign that this horrible earthquake happened.  Everyone helped to rebuild the city.  Japanese people don't think of what they want, they think of what they need.  Instead of thinking that someone else can do it, they think that they have to do it.  They don't think about their rights instead they think about their responsibilities. 

Since then, they trained and prepared people if similar situations were to arise. They educate people of what needs to be done and how to handle the chaos. I realized why Japan is so advanced and that's because they learn from the negatives and then improve to make the positives.  That is something that I will always be impressed with.  The people themselves are their own symbol of success.  From watching the footages and seeing their city, I am inspired by their hard work and their will to never give up. 

When you fall down in life, then get back up and keep on going, that is when you can call yourself truly successful. 

  The following are more pictures of Kobe that I took.