Beautiful Christchurch, my heart goes out to you...

Images from my second visit to Christchurch...

Christchurch, located on New Zealand's South Island, is one of my favourite cities in the world. It is pretty. It is picturesque and some of the loveliest people I have ever met, live in that city. I have travelled there twice. It is one place that I would travel to over, and over again. It is a city with a big heart. How difficult it is to watch the ongoing footage and read the many tweets coming from that city. The earthquake has all but flattened many significant buildings in Christchurch. One such building to incur damage is the cathedral. I have visited that very cathedral on a number of occasions each time I visited Christchurch. I loved visiting it each morning, to see the beautiful rays of sunshine beam through the doors and windows. The voices of the choir radiated through the cathedral. The last time that I visited, last October, there was a very moving art exhibition from young artists living in Gaza. Displacement.

Something that saddens me is that one of the places I stayed at, the Hotel Grand Chancellor on Cashel St, at this moment is in fear of collapse. I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful a hotel it is. I loved it so much that my husband and I were planning to return later this year to Queenstown and Christchurch. We wanted to stay there again. The staff were most accommodating and hospitable. We marvelled at the magnificent views from our room which was located very high up. When we stayed there, there were a number of aftershocks. I remember the room felt like it swayed when we stayed there. I really hope that the building doesn't fall. I hope it can be salvaged. It is a symbol of the engineering and architectural grandeur in Christchurch.

I am also saddened because Christchurch is not just 'another city experiencing devastation.' For me, there are many faces, many wonderful teachers I met whilst at the ULearn 2010 Conference. I hope and pray that they are okay, that their students and school communities are okay. I also think of the Egyptian taxi driver who migrated to New Zealand two decades ago to create a better life for his family. He spoke with such pride for his city. Christchurch is his home.

I think about all of these people as, transfixed, I see the tragedy and carnage unfold on my television screen. I know that I can turn off the television at any time and walk away... though I don't because I know that my friends across the Tasman are confronted with that devastating reality.

I plan on donating some money to the Red Cross who has set up an appeal. If you are able to donate something, then please do.