Korean Job Discussion Forums

[beercanman]

Has anyone read or seen this book? It's about my hometown and other places, where planes were diverted on that day in Sept 2001. Was just reading stuff online yesterday and didn't realize what a big event it was for those small towns in Newfoundland and the passengers who were stranded there for a few days. Odd not even a brother of mine told me about it. Reviews say it's a heartwarming story about good that came despite tragedy.

Also heard of a TV movie shown in Canada about it called "Diverted" but haven't seen that either.

here is quite a tale about events from a pilot or flight attendant who landed in Gander, Newfoundland, crossing from Europe to the US:

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/gander.asp

word is that the events will be researched and documented by NBC for the Vancouver Olympics next year. more details here in case anyone is interested:

http://www.ganderbeacon.ca/index.cfm?sid=275517&sc=305

[beercanman]

For me it is a big deal. There is also the consideration, how do people react in a crisis? And why are we nice when we really need to be?

OK. I did not know. This hit me hard. Even if it was 8 years ago. I did not know, just read stuff online. This was my hometown and I did not know, that 10000 people supported 6000 others or so in one of the most emotional times any of us north americans will ever see. It was a big deal.

[peppermint]

I was in NL at the time, and remember it well. I did a little volunteer work at Mile One that weekend, helping organize the folks stranded in St. John's.

I believe some of the people stranded in Gander have since donated new computers for the school and maybe a new playground or something.
I saw the movie, and I thought they laid on the downhome folksiness a little thick, but then, maybe people really are like that out there (I'm a townie brat )

you might get a kick out of checking this out though:
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/ID=1279614538

[beercanman]

Darn, can't get video to play. I'm in China, so there ya go.

Nah, I lived in St John's for 5 or 6 years or so. Same Newfs all over the damn province. Plus a lot of "townies" are not really from there, especially at the uni.

Only difference might be more people locking up in the "big" city. More strangers, less trust I guess. I did get a friend's bike stolen there once outside the Avalon Mall. Silly me with the small town idea that no one would do that. Actually they might in the small town too, given the chance. But then soon enough you might be apt to see the thief riding it around and punch him in the face..

A big fuss was made because of the circumstances in the US at that time. But I don't think people acted especially great, just normally. What else would they do for a bunch of guests, expected or not? I read pretty much all I could find online. Yeah big donations were made to several spots. One guy who was housed in a school in Lewisport was a bigshot businessman, a millionaire with the Rockefeller something or other, so he sent checks worth over 60 grand for computers and other things. A doctor from Virginia on the flight back to the US got on the PA and asked for donations, and they got over 14 grand on the spot, so people were definitely touched. Gander received a lot too. Someone has been trying to raise a million dollars worth of scholarships for high school kids in the region. Maybe they have attained that already. Tourism has seen a boost. Some people have returned, especially in Septembers following. What a historic time it was.

Like I said, a big deal for many folks at least.