#249 | Monday, November 12th 2001
I had just finished a sumptuous dinner on board a luxurious cruise ship when I returned to my cabin, turned on the TV, and saw CNN broadcasting the news.. it took me a while to register what was happening, but when it finally sank in, (no pun intended) I ran out of my room to tell my dad, who was in the casino, and on my way there I passed the bar and everyone had their eyes glued onto the tv set and the once celebratory mood had suddenly turned very very somber.

I felt so helpless, I wanted to return home as soon as possible to be with the rest of my family, but it was still two days before we reached port.

Made me ponder - One moment, I'm celebrating, the next, I'm mourning the lives of thousands lost.

Cheryl | 24 | Singapore

#248 | Monday, November 12th 2001
i was watching some sports on tv. i could hardly believe my eyes when there was a newsflash across the screen about the news. turned to cnn and bbc and watched all the rest of the night. it changed the world forever, our perspectives and our general complacency about life. the bright spot to emerge has been the increased spotlight and publicity on the suffering citizens of the country which harboured and supported the terrorism act, especially women who have not been allowed to live normally, to work, to be educated and even to doll themselves up.
terence | 24 | Singapore

#236 | Sunday, November 4th 2001
When my supervisor called me over to talk, I thought I was about to get in trouble. It was my second day on the job as a student teacher, and I had been sitting at a table coloring little rectangles while talking to the children. I thought I was about to be told not to color with them, not to get involved in their conversations too much, not to take up room at the table. Instead, she pulled out a pad and scribbled, "Two planes have crashed into the World Trade Center. The nation is under attack." I looked at her, and she looked at me. Our school is on the upper west side of NYC, nowhere near downtown. I envisioned planes flying overhead, coming to attack the rest of the city. We didn't know they had been commercial flights. At that point, we didn't know anything. Then I said, "My dad was supposed to go there for a meeting this morning." I had to wait almost two hours before I could call home, since we didn't tell the kids right away. Parents showed up at the usual time to gather their children, and we started getting calls that the afternoon session was going to be very small. I called my house and got my mother, tearful, explaining that my dad had been in the shower getting ready for his appointment and heard the news on the shower radio. They had then looked out our bedroom window (we live across the river) and saw the second plane hit. We made plans for me to stay with family in the city, since it was obvious I wasn't getting back across the river that day. Meanwhile, a few children trickled in, talking about it, so we spent two very solemn hours until their parents arrived to claim them, too. It was from the children that we learned about the plane that had crashed in Pennsylvania. We had no news, so we had no idea what was happening... When I got to my cousin's house at 4 pm that afternoon, I saw what downtown had looked like for the first time.
Lisa | 24 | New Jersey

#176 | Saturday, September 29th 2001
8:30 am I got to work on 22nd st. and 5th ave. It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny. It seemed like everyone was in a good mood. I put on my headphones and listened to Howard Stern. 15 minutes later a co-worker taps me on the shoulder I turn around. There it was! Right outside my window! The first tower was hit. We all thought it was an accident, an unbelievable one at that. Other co-workers had heard the plane fly overhead. I was actually thinking of going down there to see it up close. Then it happened, the second plane hit. We all grew silent. We all knew it was not an accident.
Fear, was all I could feel, not knowing what else was yet to come. We all watched as the towers burned. It was only 9:30 and I had an awful feeling that it was not over. The pentagon next. Helicopters were now flying over us. No one knew if there were more planes coming. I just sat at my desk shaking. Others cried. All I wanted was to get home to Brooklyn. Next I tried to get in contact with my mother and sister. My mother was ok but my sister, who works downtown, was not accounted for. She would have been on the train when it all happened. Even though I wanted to get out I had to make sure my sister was okay. It was not until 1:30 that my sister finally was able to call. She was stuck on the train but would be able to go home soon. I was now able to leave.
The walk to escape Manhatten led only one way, towards the towers, which as this point, were completely gone from the skyline. All there was was smoke. People were helping each other handing out water and wet paper towels to cool off.
In chinatown unfortunately, the price of water suddenly rose as well as slippers for walking. I was disgusted with the behavior of the people in that neighborhood.
Eventually I got to the bridge and walked with thousands of others. Looking over the smoke and the dust, hoping to see those towers return. Every few minutes a helicopter could be heard. I was still shaking in fear of another attack, this time on the bridge.
I eventually did get to Brooklyn to see cops everywhere. People donating blood and so many other great things! I am really proud to be a New Yorker.
I am now ready to return to a normal life. All I wish for is the unstoppable force of America destroying Bin Ladden and the Taliban!

Viktorya | 24 | New York

#175 | Saturday, September 29th 2001
At 9:00 AM I was headed to do my grocery shopping. With my son in the car he asked to listen to music. So I turn to our usual station, and all I hear is gasping and then the radio announcer states that a plane has the WTC. Well after a few minutes, they state another plane has hit the other tower. I was like Oh, my God, how can they joke about such a thing!!! At about 9:10 I arrive at the grocery store and they have already set up a TV in the lobby and there they were the Towers in smoke!! I hurry through my shopping and as I'm coming out I hear on the same TV that a plane hit the pentagon. I immediately rush home. I don't even get the groceries out of the car. My son jumps out and we run in the house. I immediately switched from cartoons to the News. At that point the first Tower had collapsed and we saw the second collapse.. I was terrified! What I thought was a joke, actually happened and no words can express the feelings I have about this. A lot of mixed emotions..

Sarah | 24 | New York

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