When Nature Strikes!

Once again it's vacation time and the trip goes to Nicaragua!

Volcano Concepcion, Ometepe.

Now that I'm in Mexico it's just natural for me to spend my vacation with old friends, and host family in Leon. 4 years have past since I was here last, still it feels like I never left. The weeks just flew by, catching up.

Now I'm sitting around the kitchen table with my host mother and two of her new tenants, both from Germany, on my last day. As we are engaged in a conversation, we all feel a movement, the table is shaking. I can hear the sound of china trembling in the cupboard. Confused I look at the others around the table, what's happening? My host mother stands up, yelling "earthquake, earthquake.." while she rushes towards the patio. "Quick quick, get over here" she yells! The rest of us do as instructed and rush to the patio. After a few seconds it's calm again. I have still not been able to comprehend what happened, it all occurred so quick!

Now that the calm has set in, I can feel the hair on my neck and arms are sticking out and my legs feel like jelly. This is my first meeting with the forces of nature! After sending out countless amounts of alert to different part of the world, informing our customers about earthquakes, I can now relate to the situation. After all, as long as you are sitting comfortable in your chair, behind a screen, you can't actually be able to relate to the situation out there, far away! But being there, and actually feeling it on your body and soul, gives you a different understanding of what really is happening. That's why it is so important to actually be out in the world and do this work form a destination where you can feel the forces effect, and not just read about them in the news. I have now gained a new respect for the importance of the work we do everyday!

Cerro Negro, Leon.