Job Discussion Forums

[FGT]

Recently Izmir seems to be getting more than its fair share of earthquakes. I don't particularly like them but I tend to react less than my Turkish friends.

Typical Izmir reaction : run out of whatever building you're in, seek refuge in narrow street in built up area immediately adjacent to said building. After sufficient time has elapsed (during which you try to telephone all the people you care about, most of whom are probably doing the same, therefore the lines are busy and you can't get through) you decide not to go home because tonight's the night - the big one's coming, it wouldn't be safe to be at home. So you spend the night in a car in a park/car park/area which you consider safe.

Some say 'We've never had so many before - it must be bad.'
Others say 'That's released the pressure, thank God.'

I think 'I live in an earthquake zone. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe a decade away, maybe not in my lifetime.'
I'd rather have a good night's sleep in my bed than freeze with panicking people.

Tonight we had a (rumoured) 5.9. Not huge. Not insignificant either. (During the last week we've had 4 bigger than 5; Izmir doesn't usually have more than one a year, if that). I'm home, about to go to sleep. Am I wrong?

[saloma]

Back in 1999, Taiwan had it's fair share of earthquakes. The earthquake dubbed "9/21" killed thousands of people in the centre of the island, (in and around Taichung where our friend Ghost is). There were aftershocks daily for weeks afterwards, then they petered out to weeks, and then months. I felt one rattler in all of last year in Taipei.

In the three weeks following 9/21, most of the foreign teachers in the area packed up and left. Very few decided to stick it out, the ones that did were married with families.

People choose to live in the areas they do, I think if I felt unsafe sleeping in my home at night, perhaps I shouldn't be living in that area. Maybe it would prompt me to move. On the other hand, home is home, and I agree with you FGT, who knows when and if the big one will hit - tonight or tomorrow night or never. You can't spend your life living in fear, that's not living!

Sweet dreams!

[justme]

There might be an earthquake and you could die. There might be a bomb and you could die. You might get bird flu and die.

You could get hit by a bus. A piano could drop on your head.

All the fears live at the back of my head and bother me when I can't sleep, along with other pressing questions like 'Why am I here? What shall I do in class tomorrow? How much did James Earl Jones get paid for This Is CNN and does he make royalties? Whatever happened to Scott Baio'

If you die, you die. If the big earthquake hits, you may or may not die. Let the others freeze in their cars, I have blue bellybutton fuzz to worry about.

[yaramaz]

http://www.geocities.com/whereforebaio/baio.html

At least I can answer one of your questions.

Now must return to wrestling my young ruffians.

[justme]

One less thing to worry about...

[saloma]

I love that someone out there knows who Scott Baio is! I'm so tired of people making me feel old by saying, "Huh? Who? Oh he was before our time...."

[justme]

Oh my god, not only do I now know all about Scott Baio, I've also solved another pressing mystery, Did Willie Aames Disappear When Scott Baio Did?

http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/9629/willie.html


(he's gone Christian, apparently...)

[Otterman Ollie]

The quakes this week were of a 5.9 magnitude and for most people in the city it was enough to evacuate the houses and close the schools . Last night there was another ,consequently the schools are closed again and people are generally anxious .
We are not that used to them so perhaps we don't see what the locals see having not lost family in the big one in Istanbul, so they tend to ( in our eyes at least ) overreact . Perhaps they have the right idea,survival is everything to them ,pity they don't think that way when they drive .
What I do find of greater concern is that many places filled with young people don't feel the need to run drills in the event of a fire or earthquake,sooner or later the day will come I see little or no preperation for that eventuallity .

[saloma]

In Taiwan, despite all the aftershocks, we never once had a drill. Teachers were confused about what would happen in an actual emergency, and what would their role be.

Official word from head office went something like this,

"In the event that a large earthquake happens while class is in session, under no circumstances is the teacher to be the first one out the door".

[yaramaz]

What İzmir needs now is Willie Aames as.. Bibleman!

[tekirdag]

I felt that 5.9 last night-well,one bump of it- so did the Mom-in-law. Asked the in-laws about it and they called it an earthquake "storm". Both in-laws come from the izmir area and recalled earthquake "storms" when they were children-lots of shakes and bumps. They said it is not uncommon and lasts about a month.

Everyone spending the nights in their cars? Well, I am not surprised. 1- From my experience here in Turkey, I have found Turkish people to be, generally, more emotional than people I know from other countires. 2-The way some buildings are constructed in Turkey, who can blame them for running out at the slightest quiver.

So everyone's outdoors, sleeping in the park, after a small shake but you're inside...what do they know but you don't? At risk of being accused of being negative, lots of buildings came down in the izmit area that shouldn't have. It's common knowledge. They are probably afraid, and rightly so, that a 6 could bring the roof in.

[molly farquharson]

anyone else here for the 1999 quake? I went back into my apt afterwards as I refused to spend the night(s) in the park. I heard on the radio that the only fatalities in Izimir were from heart attacks and people jumping off the balcony. Go figure. I agree that it is not worth living in fear-- life is too full of variables and for each of us the final day will come when it comes. Earthquakes are scary, though.

[tekirdag]

[TeachEnglish]

I think some posters are being to hard on the Turks from Izmir. I do not think Turkish people, especially the older ones, are educated about such things and their general attitudes are to think the worst. I am sure seeing all the graphic images of the last major earthquake, and what those people are living with, contributes to their horror. I have never experienced an earthquake, and hope I don't. But I will say, listening to the predictions about the strong possibility of Istanbul having an earthquake has changed my attitude about some things. I now unlock my security door on the balcony of my bedroom and I don't sleep in the nude anymore. I sleep fully dressed with my boots on, just in case I have to run.

[saloma]

Me too! After being jolted from my bed by far too many tremblers, only to scrounge around for something "decent " to wear in case I have to make a run for it, I now MUST sleep fully clothed.