Yesterday we went to a charity program to collect fund to help the refugee who forced to leave their home due to the fight between Pakistan army and the Taliban in the Swat valley region.
1.8 million children, women and men are forced to flee. They walked and walked, hundred of kilometers left all of their life back, searching for safety in several refugee champs. It is the biggest movement in Pakistan history after the country was formed in 1947. The number of refugee is so overwhelming that the current aid provided from multiple sources are far from enough. See more here.

Prior to the speeches, we were walking around the room looking at pictures of those innocent children faces affected by the conflict. For sure, I can see Raisa deep stared to the posters resulted in deep compassion.
After the long speeches, it was time to collect the money from some hundred audiences seated in the Foreign Correspondence Club room where the program was held. When the lady behind the microphone ask for anybody who like to contribute, Raisa was the first person walked to front of the room, drained what ever money she had in her Sanrio’s Cinnamon purse. It was 1003 yen, a sum of money she collected in months from multiple token from me or hubby when she did something good.

Dozens of adult audience followed her afterward with bigger yen.
If you want to follow, see the fact about the situation and how you can help in UNHCR pagehere, or google for many other alternative pocket which collect the donation.

They Are Here

Two weeks ago, just before Golden Week, the company I worked for distributed to each and every employee 50 pieces of surgical face mask with BFE (Bacterial Filtration Efficiency) over 99%. We the employee have to have the mask handy and in case the company instruct us to do so, we should wear the mask in anticipation of the swine flu pandemic.
It is now confirmed in Japan that the virus is having their party in Osaka, Hyogo and Kobe area. So far 96 cases confirmed, up to 1000 is predicted. Many schools closed for at least a week, and government advise all school in those prefectures to do the same.
Many company instruct their employee to wear the mask at work, specially the public facing job.

Here we are in some hundreds kilometers away, waiting for our time.

Wash your hand routinely, avoid touching your nose/mouth area, wear mask, avoid public space as much as you can, eat healthy.