story604.xml

story604.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-05-15

MY EXPERIENCES OF 911


It was about 9:00 am and I was getting dressed for my 10 am sociology class,
when I received a phone call from a friend saying that a plane had crashed in
to the world trade center. She told me to watch the news on CNN so I did, however
I was in such a rush to get to school to print my assignment so I did not pay
much attention to it. Anyway she called back and told me that a second plane
had hit the second tower, I was really surprised but I kept doing my thing to get
to school. Being a new student to the USA and the school I didn't know that my
school was so close to the W.T.C. I went on with my journey to school. However
when the train arrived at Wall Street the operators informed that the
passengers that because of the incident we have to evacuate the train at this
point.

As the operators opened the doors of the train I was so surprised to see
ash blowing everywhere in the subway, I had was to put the end of my shirt
over my nose and headed towards the street. I was very surprised when I
arrived on the street the was debris every in the air, objects was all blowing
all over the place, the sounds of sirens and seeing smashed windows of
vehicles. Not even the police know where to direct us, this was very scary, I
saw people moving in all different directions. Not knowing where to go I just
followed the largest crowd, as I run/walked I recalled this woman screaming
and shouting "where is the United Nations buildings". It was like in the movies; I
actually thought that I was going to die. Realizing the depth of the situation and
the geographic location of my school to the W.T.C. I started worrying for my
sister who had left for a class half an hour earlier in the fiterman building. I
was also worried about my girlfriend who works in the one Penn plaza. I tried
calling both of them but to no avail, my cell phone could not work or no phone
box on the street where I was. Things get a little calm as we head away from the
ashes and debris in the air. There were people on the street handing out water
and paper towels.

The next major hurdle was to walk over the bridge to get into Brooklyn, I can
recall that a police officer telling the crowd that they should avoid bridges
and large buildings. Because there are other planes are in the air with the
hijackers. It was so frightening to imagine. So I sat in a nearby park for a few
terrified and worried about my sister. As soon as things clam down
that is when US fighter planes were in the air we was told that it was safe for
us to walk across the bridge into Brooklyn. As I walked with a group of ladies
from Staten Island I tried to disguise my fears to help build their confidence.
finally we manage to get across the bridge and into downtown Brooklyn, we
the hitch a ride with some strangers to Nevins street. On arriving there
were places, which provided bathroom services and phone calls. I made full use
of this and call my sister to my greatest surprised she was home safe. My
spirited had lifted greatly. As I went outside the facility I saw people on the
street handing out food, drinks and other forms of refreshments. I then headed
to the train station to get home, however only the L.I.R.R. was in service so I took
it to the closet point and took a cab home.

On arriving home I remembered that I was glued to the television and on the
phone calling my family all over.