I remember this day like it was yesterday. I didn't have class until 2 that day so I was in bed. I remember waking up to people running down the hall screaming that the World Trade Center was on fire. I stayed in a friend's room for a while, in shock, just staring at the TV. Classes got cancelled for the day and we just sat in front of the TV all day trying to comprehend and make sense of what just happened. I will always remember that day and the sinking, numb feeling i had.

I had class at 9:30 on that Tuesday and I was up making breakfast in the kitchen, and I had NBC on. Funny thing is, I usually never turn the TV on before I leave for class, it was just one of those coincidences. I was literally reaching for the remote to flick the TV off, when they showed the first pictures. I thought to myself that it looked bad, but i had to get going. When i finally reached the journalism building, the second plane had hit and it was total chaos. In the lobby of the J School, we have like 6 TV's, so we were able to watch every network as well as CNN. It was terrible, I remember sinking to the floor and just feeling ill. I noticed the girl that I was seeing in the corner and I will never forget the way we both teared up before we could even get any words out. She is from NYC and her dad and brother both worked in WTC #1...

She was white as a ghost and I knew there was nothing I could say to make he feel any better, so we just stood there and didnt speak. I was then whisked away to the campus TV station...work was to be done. I arrived just as the pentagon collapse and from there, the rest of the day is a blur. "Covering" the events of 9/11 definitely gave me a different perspective. I am totally enthralled by the whole day and the aftermath. I was at the station until about 9pm that night and was back to the station early the next morning to continue the monitoring that we were constantly doing. I must have watched an average of 20 hours of coverage for the next week, but I am still speechless every time I see it.

<small>[ September 12, 2002, 12:57 AM: Message edited by: DamascusTerp2 ]</small>

When we were celebrating our mid autumn festival, across the ocean, the relatives of the victims of the 9. 11 tragedy were holding each other, crying, blessing for their love and all the survivors. It＇s not only a tragedy for American people, but also for the global community.

The event of September 11th, 2001 continues to change the world in ways we have to experience or comprehend. Every disaster can awaken some spirit, and this time it aroused the deepest echo from people＇s hearts. The calling can be heard from the ruin for the millions who bear witness to their memory.

Never can be another time that heroes are so demanded.Seeing the collapse of the WTC, many people just stood in shock, crying in fears. The black smoke rising against the blue sky covered the sun over the people, and tore up the faith down in their hearts as well. Man is supported by the courage to carry on. It is obvious that the heroes in the calamity, dying just doing what they do, rebuild the dignity on the severely wounded ones.Everyone remembers the firemen dashing up the stairs while there are loads of people running down the stairs in the WTC.Also on Flight 93, 40 people, not even knowing one another＇s name, came together to help protect the country.

The whole nation memorizes all those sacrificed; regard them as the heroes,no matter what they have contributed. As their tiny deeds to gether let the nation see signs to recover, to go through the very hard time. Now everyone＇s life is surrounded by the heroes and new heroes are being born out of the tragedy...
One of the most touching story in the devastating time was that one husband sent a sms, just saying "I love you", to his dear one on the crashing plane. It echoed in everyone＇s emotion senses. Love is the greatest gift that God gave us. It can really help to heal man＇s wound. Couples, friends, all went out, wandering together in the dawn, seeing the sun set for the first time in their ages.

Without their jobs, they came to realize the meaning of peaceful life and learn what they need most was the love from the people around them. We learn to appreciate others＇ love and sending ours in return. Thank God we have some ones to love. Thank God the disaster calls us up for the meaning of love.
Another word most frequently used after that September day is "united". Regardless of races, all were collecting, standing in lines to give their blood, holding hands when making prayers. Strangers no longer were cold. They began to talk and might become friends. The distance between people seems to be shortened. If you call it magic, it does happen! The circle of our life cannot still be fixed in the certain area any more. The community is made up of every person living in it;no one alone should stand for the collectivity. It＇s high time to be united to rebuild their homeland.

Facing the ruin of the WTC, I hear the calling telling me what really matters. Looking up to heaven, I seem to get some kind of answers.