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It's very, _very_ hard for me to hold back an emotional response right now. It destroyed practically everything, I worked in the CBD as I said, at the hospital,
by mrmondo 10y ago
It's very, _very_ hard for me to hold back an emotional response right now. It destroyed practically everything, I worked in the CBD as I said, at the hospital, I know what buildings were brought down because I watched bodies from those buildings enter my building and many of them not leave, I then didn't flee Christchurch straight away, I stayed a year after the second quake to help where I could while I thought I was still valuable. The tilt slab concrete crap that remained was no part of Christchurch they were warehouses and storage facilities turned industrial or commercial sites. The buildings that were destroyed were Christchurch, did some of them rebuild - sure but not many of them and most never can because they wouldn't be up to code. I'm leaving this hear as to be quite honest I think you're only trying to get an emotional backlash that would make me look irrational.
- vosper 10y agoI grew up in Christchurch and lived there until I was in my late 20s. I moved to London like many Kiwis do, but I was back when the Darfield earthquake hit. I moved to SF just before the February quake and came back to the city to visit a few weeks later, due to a death in the family (unrelated to the quake) and because I couldn't stand watching it all on TV and not being there. I've since returned to Christchurch most years to visit family and friends. I completely agree with your feelings out the change to the city. Before I left for London Christchurch was coming into its own, arts and music were blooming (I was involved with RDU), downtown was finally being revitalized - there were cool places in the old brick buildings on Poplar Lane, alternatives to the miserable Strip bars where adults could go out and have fun. I really felt the city had bright prospects as an alternative to Auckland that wasn't sleepy and centered around agriculture. New Zealand's second city. Then the earthquake came and ruined everything. Visiting the wreckage of the central city depressed me every time. Also, whenever I visit the interesting things that remain (there's no replacing the Dux in the old Arts Centre) are scattered now all over the city and require a lot of driving or an expensive taxi to get to. I just can't see myself moving back, at least not for 10-20 years, when we see how this rebuild plays out. It's Auckland or another country, now.
- EdwardDiego 10y agoI dug people out of the rubble too, and I never left. You're defining a city by buildings. I define it by its people. Christchurch is a community and we're still here.