Korean Job Discussion Forums

lastat06513

Today, is a sad day of recollection for me...

Last year, I decided to continue my Beijing trip in December where it left off in October (I got terribly sick for the last 3 days of that first trip). Since I was going to spend Christmas with my ex-gf at that time, I decided to go the day after Christmas (December 26th, 2004). In November, I booked my tickets and applied for my visa.
I told my best friend my plans and he said that was the stupidest idea he's ever heard and recommended that I try sun-baked beaches of seductive Thailand instead.
For a brief country moment, I thought about it. But since I promised some friends in China I would hang out with them, I decided to continue on my plans....
No sooner did I touch down on the snow buried runway of Beijing International Airport and got to my semi-warm hotel room in the heart of Beijing, I turned on the news and saw the first footage of the mighty Tsunami that struck South Asia.
The first thing I thought was, "It could've been me there in all that..."
But I had a selifsh sense of safety knowing I didn't go.
But today, I feel kinda' guilty that I am here and some of the people I knew teaching in Korea are not here. Maybe it is a cruel sense of fate that keeps me here.

Sometimes when I talk to my friend about a major choice in my life and I ask for advice, he said he is reluctant because he remembers how he recommended me to go to Thailand and he is afraid of giving me bad advice again.
I am usually one that makes bad choices in my life, but going to China at this time last year was really a good decision.

But I want to say my condolences to all those that lost family and friends in last year's Tsunami.
God bless us all...

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

One time, I drove home puking drunk.

I did a donut on my neighbour's lawn and crushed his garden gnome.

That could have been you!

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Nice post lastat..I feel fortunate too- I remember seeing footage of the wave coming ashore at Penang, filmed at the very spot (within yards) i used to go.

I'll be in Thailand in Feb, be interesting to see how the southern tourist resorts have recovered this time.

and..once again..condolences to the victims.

VanIslander · Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 3:53 am Post subject:

Don't feel guilty. Feel lucky.

I too was in almost the same situation!!! I was supposed to be there.

I had a plane booked to go to a Thai island last Christmas, would've awoken in one of those flimsy beach huts on the beach (because that's the way to go! i think).

But then I heard back last minute that there was a space in the CELTA course I wanted in Auckland, and I changed my plans ONE WEEK before the trip.

I dunno if the tsunami would've hit that particular beach, but if so, I would've been a goner.

Ironically, while I re-scheduled to do it this christmas, throwing caution and fate to the wind (after hours of concerned family protests at the "inherent danger" they say), I ended up injuring my foot in my own bathroom, enough to have to cancel the trip.

Fate.

Sliver · Joined: 04 May 2003 Location: The third dimension

huck · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

Do you guys ever wonder about what you would do in a situation such as the one created by the tsunami? Let's say you were there (and survived)....do you think you would be one of those people who ran around helping as many people as they could, or would you be running and trying to get out of the country ASAP.....I know I believe that I would be staying and helping, but you never really know until you're faced with it.

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

That's like this time one september I got off an airplane after an international flight, and heard what had just happened in NYC.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Except a hundred times larger, in several different countries and completely different.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

justagirl · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Cheonan/Portland

I feel the exact same as the OP. We were in Thailand most of December 2004. We had reservations for a bungalow and our flights to Koh Phi Phi, but decided we wanted to go home early to be in the States for Christmas. We left exactly 1 week before the Tsunami hit.

A lot of the people we were on tour with were headed to Phuket and other places on the West coast. We have no clue if they're still alive.

The Man known as The Man · Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 1:56 pm Post subject:

The Man known as The Man · Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 1:58 pm Post subject:

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

I thought Joe turned extremist Mormon because of the latest Dr. Hwang scandal.

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

What is Joe Thanks?
I know what "Joe Who?" refers to... believe me I get it all the time from Canadians. But Joe Thanks? Thats a new one.