A full weekend: even an earthquake among other things.
By marguicha
@marguicha (223777)
Chile
March 26, 2012 12:02pm CST
Dear lotters,
I haven´t been able to post much these days as I have my friend from mylot with her 2 children. Leo is disabled and Amber is two years old. Each of them have their own needs. Sometimes I get stressed as I don´t understand her English too well and Maxine does not speak any Spanish. So yesterday I told Maxine I would lay down for a while while she put the kids to bed. There had been a rather big earthquake last Friday, but it was at dawn and Maxine did not wake up. My house is safe so I let her sleep. But yesterday we had another earthquake. This time it was at around 7:00 PM and it was BIG. So I yelled her to come down as I´m afraid of earthquakes.
I´m worried for them, more than for myself. There are some cities in the south of the country with no electricity and, if they don´t repair that quickly, ill persons will have to be brought to the hospitals in the city I live. I would not want to have hospitals full while they are here. I have told her that and she is changing her plans of what see. The south of Chile is out of the question now. The earthquake was 7.2 Richter some 4 hours by car from where I live.
What would you do and say I you were me? Help!
2 people like this
11 responses
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
1 Apr 12
There is nothing more that you can do or say my friend. You can't help what has happened. I am sure she understands the implications of her staying there after the two earthquakes. You could mention the fact that there might be more and sightseeing at this point might not be the best idea. If that is what you think, of course. I hope that the rest of her visit is pleasant. I can't imagine how stressed you must be with guests and earthquakes at the same time!
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223777)
• Chile
16 Apr 12
I told Maxine everything and she went back through Argentina. She was planning to go to the Iguazú Falls if she could. I hope she does as it´s very beautiful. She will tell us about it when she arrives to her home again.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
26 Mar 12
I hadn't heard of this earthquake, either, but it's scary. If I were you, I'd probably encourage her to go to the north for things to see and might even stress that it wasn't all that safe where you are. Bringing in a lot of sick people will fill the hospitals so that if her children need help they may not get it.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223777)
• Chile
27 Mar 12
That´s what worries me the most. When there are disasters like this one, no health insurance will let you have a bed at a hospital if there isn´t one.
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
26 Mar 12
I am so sorry to hear about another earthquake in Chili. I'll continue to pray for the people of Chili.
As for your guest, I would talk to her and explain my feelings and also that I think it would be better if they changed their plans to either leave staying with you or relocate to somewhere safer, preferably north. I would explain my concerns not just for her and her children, but for the people who would be brought in from the earthquake area. It wouldn't bother me to tell her how it effects me and how I feel about it. Since she is a friend, she should understand the stress that all this is causing you and she sounds like she is making plans to do something different. However, I would ask what she intends to do and if it means she continues to stay with you, it would be better if she didn't. It is always difficult when these things happen and someone is visiting as a tourist so to speak. I would not want to feel like I had any responsibility in something happening to them, and please, go somewhere else away from this area and my home. Blessings on you and may God help all those in the area.
1 person likes this
@albto_568 (1268)
• Costa Rica
27 Mar 12
I know what you mean, it happened to me one time, with some friends I received from Canada, we were confortably chating in my living room, when suddenly, a 7 degrees heartquake began. You know, Chile and Costa Rica, are two of the countries in the world with more earthquakes and tectonic activity, so, we are more attentive and tend to be more prepared for such things, but foreigners, usually receive the shock of their lives, but, it is also a experience to share, when they are back home. What I would do in your situation, is ask the local autorities for the safest sites for tourists, and the sites they should avoid, pay attention to the news, for the same reason, and, try to make your friends feel safe even in this situation.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223777)
• Chile
27 Mar 12
I will try to do that. But I think it is specially problematic in this case as Maxine´s older child has special health needs. My house is very safe. but tourist like to go to other places and not all of them are build with an engineering knowledge of construction in earthquake countries.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
26 Mar 12
I have lived in earthquake country all my life and I have great respect for them.
Once they start up I try to make sure we all have a safe place to go as soon as possible. Of course if it's really a big one, no one will be safe but then we never really are all that safe. You did right. Blessings
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223777)
• Chile
26 Mar 12
My houase is safe, friend, but I guess Maxine did not come all the way to South America to be seated in my living room. Before the earthquakes, she was asking about the south of Chile (very beautiful). Now it out of the question.
@joni1215 (394)
• United States
26 Mar 12
Wow, I wish I knew what to tell you to
be of some real help.
I would see if there is any possible way for
her to find another place to live though, because
you have been ill and you don't need any additional
stress.
Those earthquakes are scary for sure. I did not see
this on the news. Did it do a lot of damage? I fear there
may be more of this with all the solar flares expected
this year. You might want to be thinking more about some plans
for yourself in case they come closer to you. where would u go
and so forth. It never hurts to have a backup plan.
Good luck and I wish you well in your situation.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223777)
• Chile
27 Mar 12
I don´t need to go elsewhere as my house is very safe. But I cannot vouch for other places and my friend wants to see places as any tourist would want to. I´m quite contents here, at home. On the last big earthquake, on February 27, 2010, we had no electricty for 3 days. I had to throw away some of the food I had at the freezer but that was all.
@1corner (744)
• Canada
27 Mar 12
I thought you were in Mexico at first. There's been an earthquake there recently. I'm surprised I hadn't heard anything about yours in the news - strange.
Good to hear your home is safe, but it's always best to be ready for the worst. Do you have a kit that has food & water, other supplies (flashlight, battery-operated radio, blankets, etc.) ready? What is your government doing about it? Are there charities nearby you can get help from? All I can do from here is give you these reminders, and pray. (You could do the same).
@marguicha (223777)
• Chile
27 Mar 12
Ity seems that earthquakes get more news coverage if they do lots of damage. We had a big earthquake in the same place 2 years ago and many of the old houses fell down then, so this earthquake did not damage the new ones. My house is perfectly safe, even if there is a cataclism. what I´m worried about is about my guests. They are nor from Chile and my friend does not know what extra problems she might have as she came with a disabled young boy and a 2 year old baby.
@1corner (744)
• Canada
27 Mar 12
Yes, I caught that from your original post. How long will they be staying with you? Would it be more prudent for them to cut their vacation short & head back home right away? Otherwise, you both just have to make the best of the situation and set up strategies in place, eg. where to go/meet if the house starts crumbling, which child to take, etc. Or just pray the quake stops.
@marguicha (223777)
• Chile
27 Mar 12
My house will not crumble. But I have told her that it is not so safe to be a tourist here now with a child with special needs. He might need to go to the hospital all of a sudden and find out that hospitals are full. This is not happening right now, but I cannot vouch that there isn´t going to be another big earthquake soon.
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
26 Mar 12
OH, Marguicha...I am so happy you took a moment to stop by...I saw/heard of the Earthquake on Friday...so worried about you, but also knowing you had company, and that one of the children was compromised...a huge extra worry for you!
My first instincts (living in an area of constants) would be that "your guests move on, to safer climes!" It is far too much of a responsibility, for you, and her to be near the epicentre. You will rest easier if you know, Maxine and her family are safe...and you can then care for just you! I pray that they stop soon...and YOU remain safe. LUV & HUGS
@marguicha (223777)
• Chile
26 Mar 12
I took a minute to stop by, dear, but not enough to reach the minimum $10 at mylot. It seems that I am having a media of 1 cent a day now
.
The earthquake on Friday was small as compared to the one on Sunday. I am worried about the responsibility if Leo should have any problem. I tiold Maxine and she says that Leo looks fine and that she has health insurance. But the problem is that if ill chileans are brought to hospitals in Santiago, noone will give Leo a place with or without insurance. Things change when there are big problems.
My house is safe but I cannot vouch for others. My was built by my late husband and I know exactly how he made it.
.
The earthquake on Friday was small as compared to the one on Sunday. I am worried about the responsibility if Leo should have any problem. I tiold Maxine and she says that Leo looks fine and that she has health insurance. But the problem is that if ill chileans are brought to hospitals in Santiago, noone will give Leo a place with or without insurance. Things change when there are big problems.
My house is safe but I cannot vouch for others. My was built by my late husband and I know exactly how he made it.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
27 Mar 12
Depends, does she like thrill rides? The kind that shake?
Just kidding. I guess I'd find things for her to go see in the other direction!
@marguicha (223777)
• Chile
27 Mar 12
I think she´s going back to Argentina. I can´t help her much as what to see there because I don´t know what kind of things she likes to see. I have been several times in Buenos Aires for a week, but I love to go to plays, I love argentinian meat (she´s a vegan) and I love argentinian folk music.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
19 Apr 12
Sister some where you said your home is safe so far as earthquake is considered but the sound that comes as if several noisy planes are passing on the sky is enough to scare..
my place is almost free from this, but i was scared from this sound while i was in Davao of Philippines.
Have a nice day ahead.
Professor ‘@Bhuwan@’. .
some where you said your home is safe so far as earthquake is considered but the sound that comes as if several noisy planes are passing on the sky is enough to scare..
my place is almost free from this, but i was scared from this sound while i was in Davao of Philippines.
Have a nice day ahead.
Professor ‘@Bhuwan@’. .
@god_is_good (683)
• Philippines
27 Mar 12
With all honesty, I don't really know what to do if I'm the one in your situation. It's difficult to predict something that I'm not too familiar with. I know that earthquakes are real and it really shakes from the bones. We had 7.6 before so I know when it hits, that it's not a laughing matter. I admire your courage and all the things you are able to do. I may not really have the ability to do what you are doing. What I can say is that may your place settle down and that God will keep you safe as the earthquake passes by. I hope that this response would not be late and I am praying to hear any update from you. Have a safe stay in your place.
@marguicha (223777)
• Chile
28 Mar 12
Earthquakes are not predictable. I was worried for the responsibility of having a person that does not know about earthquakes with me and with the added problem that Leo cannot walk and must be taken down to the first floor. Maxine left this morning and she is on her way to see the beautiful Iguazy falls. I admire her courage: travelling with 2 small children and backpacks.
