Natural Disasters
I remember I was a senior in high school and it was the first hurricane that I could remember experiencing. Hurricane Rita hit Texas but it hit Louisiana worse. People were forced to leave their homes and even the state in order to stay safe. When I returned to school we were all shocked at the amount of students who had to be transferred to our school because they lost every thing in the storm. When I spoke with one of my friends at the time she explained that it was one of the worst experiences of her life. When she left home she had to leave behind everything that she couldn't carry in her hands or fit into her car. When she finally was able to go back home everything that she ever knew was gone. Her house and all of her belongings. She explained that the only thing that helped her get past the heart breaking experience was that she had her entire family safe and alive and unlike the material things things that she lost her irreplaceable family was with her.
Over the years I have wanted to study and learn more about Haiti. I know that it would be a nice thought that we could do something to prevent disasters from happening around the world. The truth is somethings are out of our hands and we can't prevent certain things from happening no matter how hard we try. Haiti has experienced many natural disasters. Just like the adults in this region of the world the children are also majorly affected. Children to do understand why that are living in tents and having to share dirty water. Children do not understand why they have lost so many family members right before their eyes. It is hard to for children to understand the disaster of the world.
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI did not know anyone directly affected by Hurricane Rita but I do remember the damage it caused. The Lake Charles area in Louisiana was hit very bad. I have experienced quite a few hurricanes in my area of S. Louisiana. Fortunately I have not experienced total loss as some people have. Consider the damage natural disasters cause to our very developed country and the helplessness people feel after it is over. Now consider people in Haiti who do not have the benefits that we have. Yes I think it is horrible for children to grow up like that and there is no way they can experience the same kind of development that our children experience.
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your thoughts on this topic. I have never been through a natural disaster. It is hard to watch the pain on television and feel so helpless. These innocent children probably suffer the most. It would have to effect them in every way. They don't understand the situation. They don't know why they have lost everything. They have lost their stability and routine. Thankfully, we as a country come together to help in all ways possible. Thank you for sharing!
Cindy
Yes, I agree that natural disasters not only pick up physical things and destroy them but peoples lives as well. It most have been helpful to be able to go back to school and have friends to talk to about what happened and see you were not the only one affected by the storm. The example of the parents and other adults in a childs life modeling how to handle such a situation is critical to the childs perspective and feelings about the event. For instance your classmate most likely got the concept that she could make it through it because all her family was together and alive from an adult in her life. It is an important lesson for us as teachers that children are always watching us, especially when they are stressed, and we have the ability to model them coping skills that will last them a lifetime.
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