4 :00 AM
There was a strong earthquake a few minutes ago.
I was awakened from sleep because it felt like somebody was rocking my bed. The initial feeling was not fear or terror but confusion. After a few seconds it sank on me. That was a strong earthquake. I sat on my bed trying to make sense of the situation and was thinking if I will just dismiss it and go back to sleep. Then Baris, my host father, knocked on my door and asked if I was ok. That was the confirmation. It really was an earthquake.
I heard movements from the tenants of the other apartments. Baris and Dilber, my host family, then called and told me that we will go outside. I got a little panicky and was heading straight out the door with no coat or protection from the cold when Baris told me I should get dressed. All I have on were my pyjamas. I composed myself and grabbed my jacket, some identification card just in case I will need it, my phones, and then I was outside. We were not the first one to think of the idea, though. Many apartment tenants were already outside. Some are on their phones, others are getting in their cars to get some warmth probably since it is freezing.
Dilber doesn't look good. She looks shaken. It seems like she is scared and has been crying. Baris told me that in 1998, there was a strong earthquake in Izmit which killed 20,000 people.
We went for a short drive just to appease my host mother a little. She is 6 months pregnant and must really be feeling terrible about the situation.
I don't know how to make of the experience. Before coming to Turkey, I googled Izmit and found a lot of hits on the strong earthquake a few years ago. I was scared then, to say the least, knowing the place I will be living for 8 months for this exchange program experienced such a terrible calamity.
Now I have been living here for more than 3 months and it is only now that I feel a little scared for my life. It is double worrisome because I am far from my family. I can only think of the possible scenarios but would not want to detail it here lest I give it life.
Now, we are inside the apartment again. Other people are still in their cars, maybe until their fear subsides. I am not sure if I can go back to sleep though or go to work today. My host family is in the living room talking.
But I feel interesting. After the initial fear, I am calm. It's good because I don't need to deal with a whole lot of emotions now. It is not helpful in this situation.
I hope and pray that this will be the last earthquake I will experience here up until I go back home this June. Or better yet, I hope no strong earthquake happens in Izmit ever again.
Bless us God.
