Ten Years Ago...

     Это письмо было написано и отправлено моим американским друзьям спустя год после трагедии. Сегодня я решила опубликовать отрывок из моего письма в память о тех людях, которые погибли от рук террористов.

        September 11, 2001. I remember that day very well. The first report in the news early in the morning – it seemed to be someone's evil joke. The first messages about "the extraordinary news from America" from my British friends who were even more shocked then myself. Everyone was watching news with “mounting horror and amazement…" People have never seen anything like the collapse of the towers of the World Trade Centre. Nobody could believe it. Neither could I.

        I remember first TV reports, and that great shock I experienced. I talked to my pupils and watched the expression of their eyes changing – from curiosity (Can such things happen in the world?) to understanding and sorrow. Great Sorrow for everybody who suffered in that tragedy. And we all got to know that it wasn’t only American tragedy, but the tragedy that shook the world.

       It was really a very sincere and serious talk in every class. We told each other that only psychos or crazy creatures could plan such acts and kill so many people. No human being is able to be so cruel. We spoke both English and Russian, and then my pupils expressed their feelings in their drawings. There were many drawings and small posters on the wall in my classroom. The kids wrote under their drawings, "We sympathize with you, our American friends!" "We share your sorrow - we are with you!" "NO to terrorist acts!", ” NO MORE terrorist or war acts in the XXI century!"

       I e-mailed messages to my friends, and sent my pupils’ letters of sorrow to some schools and offices in the USA. Why did those tragic events become so personal? Perhaps because we shared sorrow with our friends. All my students have pen-friends in the USA, and everybody at our school knows the name of the teacher from California, who has been our friend for so many years. This is what she wrote those days: "Yesterday my sorrow and feeling of helplessness and vulnerability ran so deep, I could hardly breathe. My chest hurt and I felt I would die. When will it end? When will humans treat each other with loving kindness, respect, and tolerance, rather than as animals? I am so utterly devastated.… Did you know that President Putin was the first foreign leader to call President Bush and offer his countries support? That is one hopeful thing that has come out of this tragedy today. I would like to think there will be many more in the days and weeks to come. At the moment, though, all I can see is more tragedy and loss of more lives.”

       I wrote back to my U.S. friend: "It is very painful to read your letter. When I heard the news yesterday morning I didn't believe it. Horror, fear and amazement are the feelings I have experienced, but still there was a small hope that it was somebody's stupid and very cruel joke. That couldn't be true. How was it possible to do what has been done? I also have the feeling of helplessness and that nobody and nothing in this world is protected and safe. I do understand what you are feeling - here we experienced similar feelings - when ‘Kursk’ sank, and when buildings in Moscow were exploded, and planes crashed. One can never get used to tragedies. This American tragedy shook the world. Yes, you are right saying, and I heard it several times yesterday and today - the world will never be the same again. …I share your sorrow, and my country shares your nation's grief, it has become the grief of all people of good will…”

       In December a yellow envelope arrived at our school. There was an enclosed photo. In the photo, the staff and student body of a US school  spelled out THANK YOU in their school's drive way.

     I treasure this letter and this photo. The first question, which my students and most of my friends asked me when we met after my trip to the USA was, “Have you visited that place?” Yes, I have. And I will never forget it.


What to read and watch:

Terrorism 911 - in a ESL Teacher's Blog

Summary Video from TV Channels

Conversation Questions on Terrorism

Photo Album about Twin Towers (From NY Times)

CNN о 9 сентября