American Paul Provost, 67, has been teaching English at Jiangxi Normal University in Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi province, since 1999.

Provost came to know about the earthquake in Sichuan province late on the afternoon of May 13, a day after it struck. Catching news of the disaster on TV, he said he was shocked and saddened by the massive destruction from the quake and the plight of people trapped under debris.

But he felt very encouraged by the quick response of rescue and relief efforts - paratroopers jumping from helicopters, soldiers and medical workers.

"When you have something like that, you always look for the good side. It is surely a calamity for victims, but it also gives others an opportunity to help, to show their goodness, maybe even to revive their goodness, because we get caught up in searching for other things, material things, unfortunately," Provost told China Daily while watching the torch relay in Jinggangshan of Jiangxi province on May 15.

"This gives us a chance to use our material wealth to help those people rebuild in the earthquake area."

Provost said he felt really sorry for those who died from the quake, but from their death, "a greater situation may emerge".

"Maybe we don't have to wait for a disaster to help each other. We can prevent this kind of thing, not that we can prevent natural disasters, but by improving our social lives, caring about each other on a day-to-day basis Then maybe these people won't die in vain."

Gregory Brubaker from San Francisco, the United States, who is currently a teacher from Jiangxi Normal University, said he remembers clearly the earthquake in San Francisco in 1989.

"I would say that San Fransico became a much better city after our earthquake. It was a terrible experience, many people died, many lost their homes, but when it was rebuilt, it was a better city."

(China Daily May 26, 2008)