Friday, September 12, 2014

My September 11 Experience

Thirteen is always defined as unlucky to some people. You can see that in the elevator from 12th jumping to the 14th floor. or it just got replaced by 12A. This even occured in housing numbers.

But thirteen marked the 13th year after the tragic event of September 11. And somewhere in downtown New York, people are in remembrance of the event. The event was still fresh in my mind.

On September 11, 2005 morning, a day that began like so many others, I was preparing myself to go to class. It was just about a month since I arrived in the States to further study in Industrial Engineering at Purdue University, Indiana.  (You can read about My Graduation HERE)

It was an ordinary morning, listening to the radio while preparing myself. But that morning, the radio wasnt sound so pleasing. There were sounds of ambulance, screaming people and just chaos!

I heard the deejay was interviewing few people and i couldnt understand what it was all about. I turned off the radio and began walking to the University building. When i reached the PMU building, nearby the lobby area, i saw a crowd of students stood in front of a giant display and most of them looked very surprised.

Then it hit me! Two planes have crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City!!
It was such a tragic event where within two hours, both towers collapsed with debris and the resulting fires affecting the nearby building, more than ten other buildings.
I still remembered how the experts mentioned about the high temperature degree of the airplane's fuel melted the building structured.
In total, almost 3,000 people died in the attacks, including the 227 civilians. It also was the deadliest incident for firefighters and for law enforcement officers in the history of the United States, with 343 and 72 killed respectively.
It was a devastating news where every one in the whole world felt the horrific terror.
Such a scary event!!
Saw the news, where people were screaming, crying and running away from the scene. 

I went inside the class and people were started talking about it. I cant remember what class, i think it was a Chemistry 101. When they started talking, they did mentioned about the Al-Qaedah and the terrorist who hijacked the airplanes for the suicide attacks.

Alhamdulillah, they didnt relate us, being a muslim, as the terrorists involved in the event.

That night, me and my housemates were sitting inside the house, afraid to go out. we were so afraid if the people, especially the americans started to attack us because of this tragedy.

I called my parents back at home. and they were really worried of us. Wearing hijab and got so afraid being attacked. But luckily for us, West Lafayette, Indiana is totally a peacuful place to stay.

Alhamdulillah.

The next few days were all about the tragedy. Such a very sad news. I even cried watching the family and friends of the victims be saddened by the news. It was a heartbreaking moment.

America will never be the same starting from that day.

There goes the tighten procedures in the airport. there goes the scutinized checked on the baggage and among others.

We are terrified of the terrorists act.

Now, what was once a Ground Zero is now the home of the tallest building in New York city. One World Trade Center

The construction started in February 2011 until the skyscraper's completion in 2014. It is the rise of One World Trade Center to the top of New York City's skyline. The tower, which stands at 1,776 feet, is the tallest building in America.

At this moment 13 years ago, millions of people went to bed quietly, with no thoughts that the next morning their world would change forever.

That night hundreds packed their flight bags they would not live to open.

Thousands slept with loved ones for the last time.

One would never knows what a new day has in store.

Let us live each day to the fullest, and never miss a chance to let those dearest to us know of our love for them.

Setiap yang berlaku pasti ada hikmahnya. Setiap kejadian yang berlaku served as reminder to us. Ajal dan maut tidak akan lewat walau sesaat.

In remembrance of victims in September 11.


Notes : Tiba-tiba rindu plak kat Purdue U and during the studies. Tepek gambar satu kat sini :)

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