7.4

Yesterday, about 10 minutes after school let out, we had the largest earthquake since the 21 years since I've been living here. The floor of the Q module was clearly swaying, with everything not securly fastened in motion. Wow! What an experience.

This natural occurance gives us another opportunity to look at our social studies standards in real life. The first standard is about the interactions of aspects that make up our natural environment. Indonesia is on the ring of fire, so of course it would come as no surprise we have earthquakes or volcanic activity. Maybe the amazing part is I've actually felt so few. Immediately there was a tsunami warning for the south coast. Again, another piece of the environment. We have tsunami potential, Afghanistan does not. Landslides? Sure, earthquakes can cause them, but not in Jakarta. Our environment is flat, so even if the ground is loosened, it does not have the potential to slide down the sides of steep mountains. A most interesting occurance in the natural environment was the appearance of a snake at lunch time. There is no doubt in my mind the snake felt the tremors deep in the earth and decided to come to the surface. When he encountered 650 middle school students on lunch break, it did not take him long to decide to take his chances underground. Down he went! I regarded the snake as an isolated event. I'm convinced now it was all part of the same event.

Standard #2 concerns the interaction of people in the environment. When the land shakes, people are often injured, even killed, by falling debris. Mostly this is put above us through building projects for businesses or accomodation. I have heard of no deaths or injuries in Jakarta, but certainly there was much damage to homes and businesses. Earthquakes must certainly be a test of construction quality! I have heard stories there were people injured or killed by landslides in central Java, but I cannot confirm this through news stories yet.

We will look again and again at these standards as our environment gives us opportunity. In time, students will really get these points. I'm convinced of it.