In-Class Online #6 (Term 2)

Write a letter of encouragement to one of the survivors; you may also wish to write to any other survivor whom you read about in the news over the last several weeks. The letter should be minimum 250 words long, and you must follow the format of an informal letter. Post the letter on your LA blog. To: Sandra Barron Survivor of the Japanese Earthquake Dear Sandra, My heart goes out to all those Japanese people that have died, and it lightenens me to know that you and your boyfriend survived. I read the article you wrote on: "The Internet Kept Me Company", and I found it very interesting. It is indeed amazing that what technology has done to Mankind; if all communication in the world went down, all hell would probably break loose! I understand that when a disaster happens, every normal person would definitely think of their loved ones; if they are alright, if they were affected by it, and you can't blame them. Although I felt that you should have left your house and joined the others in the streets, I know that you did what you felt was right, what you felt was more safe. You chose a path of security and information, rather than what scientist or experts might say. I applaud you for that, and that you also tried your best to inform other people of the disaster and what you knew about it. I am also glad that you made the right decision and decided to help your friend restock with 'a bag of Easter Eggs', as you might have just saved a life. I send my heartiest condolences to these Japanese people, their families and friends who lost their lives in tsunami earthquake in Japan. We can't undo what has happened, and cannot stop mothernature from unleashing her wrath. They are not here with us, but very far at the better place. I hope that you and your loved ones would safely go through such hard times, and emerge from this disaster like the rest of Japan will. Thank you for your time. Warmest Regards, Shaun Wong * Step 3 (optional): Imagine that a similar natural disaster has devastated Singapore; put yourself in the shoes of one of the survivors. Write a narrative of 250-350 words that explores the experience of living through such an event, what you thought and felt both during and afterward, the possible loss of family members and friends, the destruction of property and infrastructure, etc. Post your narrative in your LA blog. "Ahhh, nothing better than a good bath after a long day of school." I said as I enjoyed the feeling of each drop of water cascading down my skin. Bathing was one of my favourite activities, it is a form of exfoliating, of cleaning, of keeping your hygiene in optimal condition. "HURRY UP LAH! YOU BATHE SO..." My sister was interrupted, as I felt the whole Earth shaking. The water felt funny, it was splashing all over the place. The heater 'detached itself' from the wall, and crashed right beside me. I screamed in pain as electricity travelled through the water, to my feet, but never reaching my upper torso, as I hopped out of the water just in time. I heard heavy and rushed footsteps, followed by a ear-piercing, 'hyena-screeching' scream. I whispered to myself, "Oh S***." I immediately went for my clothes, but a portion of the wall broke and landed on my arm. I screamed and yelled, and screamed and yelled, as I saw the blood flowing from my right arm. I thought to myself, "Why God? No no no, my ARM!!!". I could not think of anything else but my family. As much as the pain I was experiencing, I wondered how my family members were doing. Then I heard someone struggling to open the toilet door from the outside. Realisation dawned on me, as I knew that I was trapped in the bathroom, with the toilet door still locked. I broke down, and started crying. I took the pain, stretched as far as I could to the toilet door, no it would not work. I had the remove this limb of mine. "This is it I guess. Like those SAW movies." I lamented. As if God had answered my prayer, my father managed to break down the toilet door with a baseball bat. Te moment my mother saw me, she rushed to hug me and with the rest of my family, we stayed in the toilet. After a few minutes, the shaking stopped. My father called for an ambulance. As I awoke in the hospital ward, I turned my head to look at my right arm. It was not there. I closed my eyes, knowing that this disaster had only brought misery and damage to Singapore, to me.