I had been in the US for about 10 months. I had just started my first job as a speech pathologist. I worked at a small private school and the director pulled a T.V. into her office. There were rumours about a plane crash, then about a bombing at the Pentagon. These were the days before smart phones, so we really had no access to news while working. As the day wore on, parents came to pick up their children early, saying they just wanted to have them at home. More rumours, this time having to do with President Bush's hometown being a target...that was where we lived. Austin.
When I went home at the end of the day, Dave had the TV on. He had turned it on before leaving for work. He stayed home all day. We watched the planes crash into the towers, the buildings falling, the people running. It was on an endless loop that I know everyone watched for days along with us.
Over the course of the following week my students drew pictures of the images they had seen on TV, trying to sort it out in their minds. I wonder what they think now, as young adults, looking back on that day. Do they remember those moments of confusion when they went home early? What conversations did they have with their parents? I have lost touch with them all, but I wonder if they remember the stories more than the event, or if that day is etched in their memory. It is for me.
I remember.
It is amazing it was 11 years ago. I can't imagine your students and what they remember now. And it's so strange to me that Julia will never know what the world was like before 9/11. Amazing
ReplyDeleteI was in grade 6. Teacher mentioned that something had happened in the States and class resumed as usual.
ReplyDeleteHad to watch the news later to get additional details.
I was in 8th grade, and our teacher refused to talk about it until the day after.
ReplyDeleteI remember what i was doing to. hard to forget. can't believe it is that long ago actually.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing and yes, I think the students remember. They may not know all the details or specifics but they will remember. It is hard to not remember a change in a normal day, especially one that impacted families and life so deeply. I remember the day we were called into the gym and informed of the Challenger explosion. Life seemed to keep going on but things were different. For this, life seemed to come to a standstill for a moment and hugs lasted longer. No one can forget that.
ReplyDeleteErika: I know. It really was at the start of my life here, and from time to time I just wonder how it would be now had that not happened.
ReplyDeleteDWei: Yeah, you have to wonder how they would have presented it to your class in a way that made sense.
Adam: My guess is they wanted to keep things as normal as possible? But not knowing what was happening was definitely worse.
Robyn: I agree. It feels like time has passed quickly.
{lifeasa}RunningMom: I truly wonder. I also relate it back to the Challenger explosion-I was in school but really too young to grasp what had happened. I remember my older sister being upset, and I remember the TV footage.
Wow, I always feel really old when people say they were in elementary/middle school. Anyways, I wonder about the day my daughter learns about 9/11 in school and comes home asking about it. I'm not sure I'll know what to say to her. Things never felt quite right for at least the rest of the year after that.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you offered this post. Like most people, I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard about the Twin Towers. I hope we all remember that day -- we can't afford to forget.
ReplyDeleteAllie
runningonwords: I agree. They were strange days. And I feel old reading those comments too.
ReplyDeleteAllie: You're absolutely right.
I have yet to see any video footage of this day.
ReplyDeleteSome of the pictures I saw were more than enough.
VV: You know, Dawn, I would agree with you. The pictures are pretty horrifying on their own.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of those things that everyone remembers where they were when ... downunder in OZ we woke to the news on our clock radio and immediately realised something major had happened. We switched on the TV and saw those unforgettable images. No one spoke of anything else much for days.
ReplyDeleteWe remember too.
Red: It's always interesting to hear how events reach media around the world, especially in the days before instant media. It was such a foreign concept for this country, though attacks happen in other countries on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward for more informative posts like this one.
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