By Jessica Rowe
A year ago, 64 foreign students died in the CTV building.
Today their friends and families came from around the world to mourn, and to comfort each other.
The students were studying English at the Kings Education centre in the CTV building, which collapsed in the earthquake.
Among the dead were 17 Chinese students and 28 Japanese students.
Chinese student Xi Ling was one of the victims and her mother Luxia Wang was in Christchurch today to mourn her daughter.
She said she was very emotional and wondered “what if”.
“Xi Ling wanted to go to another school, but the staff said she couldn't have a refund so she stayed there forever.”
Japanese student Mayumi Asakawa was one of the lucky ones.
She was at the CTV site just after the earthquake, watching as rescue workers searched for her classmates buried under the rubble.
She wished she could see her friends again and rang the peace bell seven times for them today.
“I want to meet again… but I cannot.”
At a special ceremony this afternoon, a kahikatea sculpture was unveiled for the mourning Japanese families.
Christchurch host parents who lost the students they were hosting joined them at the service.
Stephen Tubb and Linda Burrowes were among the hosts.
“It hasn’t been easy for us, but we always think it’s much tougher for them because they had their children die in a foreign country. I just hope Christchurch will put on something nice for them, to make them feel like their kids will never be forgotten,” Ms Burrowes said.
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