We didn't feel last week's tremors that radiated from Iran. Some people in the outer parts of Dubai did, but not much. So I wasn't looking for anything exciting. Today had been a busy day. I was sitting reading my email, listening to the high school girls next door chatting away and my friend drag her class through their tasks. Suddenly, the door next to me leading to the next classroom began to shake. At first I thought it was the high school girls being cheeky. And then I heard their confused yips as the room began to shake.
I've never felt anything like it. The door rattled like a poltergeist was shaking it. The walls shook. The floor rumbled as if a huge truck were driving through our classroom. My chair trembled as if someone were shaking it roughly to wake me up. I was awake alright! The lights flickered, and the students looked around wildly.
After about 8 seconds, it stopped. We all just kind of looked at each other "Did that just happen?!"
"Was that an earthquake?"
You read about it in the news. Friends tell you about their experiences. And then it happens to you. Nope, there's no preparing for that. Honest to God, I am still shaking a bit inside. I checked the news; within minutes it was all over the UAE news sites saying that the quake had originated on the Iran/ Pakistan border with every number from 7.5 to 8.0. Iran already has a death toll and it's climbing. Friends of friends are reporting all over that their buildings were evacuated. Someone swears she saw the Burj Khalifa sway back and forth. Not sure about that, but I'm still swaying a bit that's for sure!
https://www.facebook.com/elena.holmes.33/posts/10200866232315628?comment_id=6191980&offset=0&total_comments=7¬if_t=feed_comment
Now that I've had this experience, and I'll admit that I've been curious about earthquakes, I can freely say under no circumstances do I need this experience repeated. I'm good, thanks!
That's just the continent's way of trying to shake you off. Get back to the US in one piece, K?
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