In Los Angeles, Warissa “Christine” Durongapidya, an Art History senior at University of Southern California (USC) was awakened around 6 am by a phone call. Her friend frantically said, “Christine! The Twin Towers in New York are gone!” Christine turned on the television to see only one tower stood burning, “it didn't really sink in at first, but while I watched the news on CNN it was unreal. No one was sure what had happened- was it an accident that the plane collided in to the first tower? Then, when the second plane hit, it was clear it was no accident.”

As the terror stirred the country into frenzy, down in Georgia, a Thai doctorate student, who would like to be referred to as “Pat”, had no idea what was going on. The Industrial Engineering Ph., D. candidate was already up and busy with her computer programming in the lab at Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech. She had no idea about what was happening in the Big Apple or anywhere else. To her surprise, her class was cancelled. A friend told her that all the classes were because “some planes crashed somewhere.” Pat didn’t think much of it, and went back to the lab. She found out about the morning of terror later on that evening when she got home.

“My mom called me at home right away, but I wasn’t home to pick it up so she left a message,” recalls Pat, “she called me again in the evening when I just got home.” Like all parents whose children are half the world away, Pat’s parents were concerned about their daughter’s safety even though she was no where near New York City. “My dad was thinking about having me come home, but I told him that we could only wait and see,” Pat says. However, she confesses that “if things were to go really badly, I would rather be with my parents than alone out here.”

Christine’s parents would prefer to have her close by, just as all parents would. She says that they are very open-minded and fully aware of what is going on. They originally were quite worried, “they were worried for my safety, especially after they had heard the report that [at the time] two of the three planes were bound for Los Angeles originally.” Christine further explains that, “If I was in any immediate danger, then I would return home as soon as I can. But for now I must finish my studies.”

At ground zero, Tammy’s boyfriend was the first to have gotten through the busy phone lines to check on her wellbeing. Her mom didn’t have such luck. Tammy waited for some time before she could get through to her mother, “she was worried because she couldn’t contact me, but kind of relieved when I called.” Tammy maintains that no one laughs at this, but her father didn’t seem to be too concern. “He said, ‘I knew you were out of trouble because, knowing you, you’d never be up that early in the morning,’ ” Tammy laughs. “Well, he was right.”

That Tuesday at USC, it was supposed to be business as usual, but no one have their minds set in their classes. The Trojans huddled around television sets in dorms and other gathering spots on campus. Dean Geoffrey Cowan of Annenberg School for Communications arranged to have television sets accessible in the lobbies and in classrooms so students, faculty, and staff could keep up with the news. Other school soon followed. Student Affairs office established a phone banks to answer calls from concerned parents. Dorm advisors opened up discussion groups, and counselors, pastors, and health workers were available for support.

USC students gathered for discussion.
(Photo by Irene Fertik, in USC Today website - http://uscnews.usc.edu)

There have been no threats of violence against Arab and Muslim students on campus so far. However, student groups and the Office of Public Safety advise these students to be cautious of their surrounding, to avoid confrontation, and to know that they are offered on-campus housing if they fear their safety.

Wednesday was the day to reflect on the attack. Most of the people didn’t know how or what to feel about the horrible tragedy. USC held a noontime vigil in the center of campus along with group counseling sessions, and an all-day blood drive which Christine participated. She also made donations to some relief funds. “It is comforting to know that people are coming together in these hard times,” admits Christine. Pat in Georgia also donated some money to the Red Cross. Tammy plans to donate blood, but in the meantime she cleaned out most of her closet and took the clothes to a nearby donation center. “They need more clothes and gloves for the rescuers,” she says, “and I don’t have anything left to give. I wish I could be digging up the debris myself.”

Tammy also extended her kindness to her friend in need. Her friend’s apartment was very close to the WTC. She did escape safely, but she is not allowed back. The friend, her brother, his girlfriend, and their dog are now living in Tammy’s apartment until they could go back to their home again.

President Bush told his nation to go back to live the normal life. Nothing is quite back to normal for all Americans and people who are living in America. Pat doesn’t see much of a change in the mood in the southern college town, but she feels it in her heart from time to time. “Sometimes fear creeps up on me. I fear that some bad things would happen again,” she says, “I fear what this war against terrorism would lead to.” Christine has some close friends in New York who are safe, but it’s still unsettling. “It’s very difficult for life to be back to normal. Not only that, but the whole nation is in a grieving period,” she articulates, “It makes us think: What has our world come to?”

Life may be back to the normal schedule for Tammy, but the world surrounded her has changed. “I went to school the other day, and there was no traffic. I could lay down on 14th street! It’s not like New York without cars and people bustling about,” Tammy laments, “I used to see the two towers on my way in and out of the apartment. Now there’s only smoke. It’s very upsetting when I take my walk on the river bank and not seeing the towers.”

The three Thai girls from the all corners of the U.S. wish for very much the same as everyone in America. They pray for the safety of their families and friends, and for peace. Their hearts go out to the families and friends of those lost in the wreckage, and to the firefighters, police, and rescue workers on the front line. Christine concludes that, “I believe that as of today and everyday, we should search for knowledge, spend more time with those you love and care about, eat your favorite foods, visit places you love. Because every day, every hour, every minute is special- and you don't know if it will be your last”.

Carpe Diem. (Seize the Day.) God bless America. And God bless us all.

Gone but never forgotten. New York skyline where the Twin Towers once stood.
(Photo from CNN.com)