So there have been 3 large
earthquakes in the past three days. I have never really been confronted with
the idea of being in a swaying building, 7 stories up in a 6.5 magnitude
earthquake. During the most recent quake, which lasted about 1 minute, my flat
mates and I had to take shelter in our doorways. Things were rattling around
the dishes were clattering in the kitchen and then eventually we heard the
alarm to evacuate the building. The elevator was broken and we had to proceed
down the stairs. After a thorough check through of the building, we were
cleared to come in and return to our rooms yet several people, mostly witnesses
from the massive Christchurch quake 2 years ago, were crying and refused to
enter the building at night.
It’s a strange feeling being in an
earthquake, especially 7 floors up. At first, there is not a whole lot of noise
things just begin to shake. Then immediately after the small shock, things get
more violent you can hear the pipes begin to creek and the walls moan under the
straining. Then it gets quite strong, plates begin to rattle around and pans
bash into each other. If you could look out the window the ground looks like
it’s vibrating. If you try to walk it feels like trying to walk on jello. Then
it dies down, the building sways and all goes quite like nothing ever happened.
Its surreal almost to the extent of having a violent dream. The only thing to
see is the cracks in the walls that emerge from the shaking and the splits in
the road.
We filled up some emergency water
containers and are prepared for anything. Everything is fine, and the place I
am staying in is absolutely safe up until a magnitude 7.5, so family…. don’t be
concerned, all is well. All I am trying to communicate is, wow….I just was in a
6.5-6.8 earthquake. Here is the link to hear about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWXeysp9t5Y. Secondly, here is a website that we have been following to get the info of the quakes we have felt. http://www.geonet.org.nz/quakes/felt
School is cancelled today for earthquake checks, which is interesting coming from schools cancelled for snow days. It is quite an interesting time right now.
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| The City Bay |
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| Outside my room |
Regardless, things are going well at school. I am being
super challenged in most of my classes. I am learning lots. My favorite thing I
am learning about now is some Maori contemporary artists. Look on the link on
the blog entitled Massey Art, there are photos available of some pretty cool
people we are learning about. …… hold on, another small quake is happening
right now…….reports say 5.4, 15 km deep between the two islands. So far there
have been 64 minor quakes since midnight last night. They are very creepy to be
in. More to come later.
