(photo courtesy of msnbc)
well, there i was, sitting innocently in class on the first day of grad school. we were softly wading our way through syllabus, text books, expectations, etc. etc. etc.
the rumbling started as a very soft shaking, like we were beside a busy street or on a bridge and a loud truck was passing.
but, the problem with this theory is that we were in the EXACT center of a building. on the second floor, in the INTERIOR of a square hallway type of building.
the rumbling got stronger, dust particles were falling from the ceiling and my Californian classmate's face went from normal to concerned. he suggested we get under our desks, at which point, i was about to do.
people, this desk was TINY. and i was about to get under it!
we then stupidly went into the hallway. and later found out that our professor was about to stand in the doorway. SUPER. save yourself and watch us all go down?!? this makes me smile.
we did eventually go outside. like school children doing a fire drill. as in, we were in the middle of a chemistry exam and were reallllyyyyyyyy hoping to get out of the exam and go home early.
but, alas, it was then confirmed that there was an earthquake nearby and the building was okay. i can't imagine that the building really is okay, actually, since i doubt it was built for earthquakes and it was built SO long ago. i take back all the bad things i said about how shitty the building actually is, given how much money the university must be raking in (i digress...).
it was interesting to later learn that the "epicenter" (as though i have any clue what that means! i'm from OHIO!) was about 30 miles from here. i was even more shocked to hear that this earthquake was felt in 22 states. i mean, don't get me wrong, it was super scary. i had a moment where i thought it was a human-oriented disaster, not something occurring in nature, and i felt very very helpless. upon later reflection, i cannot even imagine what one must think when they are experiencing something really HUGE. not just a little earthquake like the one that i experienced.
it made me thankful and aware.
and...for the record....i'm really over the Californians making fun of the East Coasters. this article sums up how i feel about that.
so, how much money do you think i can make by designing and selling t-shirts about surviving the Great Quake of 2011? ; )
and...for the record....i'm really over the Californians making fun of the East Coasters. this article sums up how i feel about that.
so, how much money do you think i can make by designing and selling t-shirts about surviving the Great Quake of 2011? ; )
5 comments:
Glad you were OK, frined! Who knew you'd move to VA and have to worry about earthquakes?! At least now you know what to do if ever in another.
I am glad you are ok! That would be scary to all of a sudden feel everything around you move.
And you should totally put on your teacher evaluation at the end of the year that he stood in the hall while you all sat in the hallway! HA!
(I couldn't believe how many states felt the earthquake...crazy.)
I am SOOO glad that you are ok.
And that gawker article made me laugh. Why wouldn't Californians be thinking about themselves instead of the Easterners... :)
I was so relieved when I saw on FB that you were okay. I very much enjoyed the play by play of your mind in this post. THank you!!
So glad you're OK!! I can't believe how far-reaching the quake was. And how people went from being concerned about it to making fun of it in seriously 30 seconds. THE EARTH MOVED, PEOPLE. It's a big deal!
Anyway. I'm glad you're OK. And I would buy one of your T-shirts. :)
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