With the city of Boston in total lockdown for the first time in the city’s history, citizens of Boston and Massachusetts found themselves in the most tense, confusing and saddening of circumstances. The news of the Boston Marathon bombing was anything but expected, as the event is historically one of optimism, positivity and unity for people worldwide.
People in and around Boston and the marathon were filled with panic and fear, worried about personal safety and that of family and friends. Due to its timing, the marathon coincided with April school vacation for Massachusetts public schools and as a result many people, both from Scituate High School and all of Massachusetts were absent from their home city during the tragedy. A participant in this year’s Spanish exchange program, I was one of the many people away during the torment of this scary attack.
Being so far away from an event this impactful to the people and city I know best created a strange sense of disconnectedness. Of course the problem’s magnitude was not any less scary or disturbing abroad, but my distance from the marathon bombing made it seem especially surreal and unbelievable. The six hour time difference combined with the language barrier caused a confusing and disjointed relay of events as I watched the Spanish CNN on my exchange family’s television.
Although the Spanish people were very comforting and offered their condolences for the tragedy in our home city, there was an altogether level of disconnect with my level of concern. This more mild concern, however, made sense at the time because the Spaniards were overall, unaffected. This mild reaction is common of human nature in the face of faraway tragedy; if it does not affect the life of an individual directly, despite the gravity, there is often a lesser degree of worry.
In the moment, it seemed as though their more “nonchalant” attitudes following news of the Boston Marathon were astonishingly relaxed, but upon more reflection, I began to relate and understand why the disconnect existed. Although hearing about worldwide tragedies and terrors is saddening, there is no doubt that these events seem less grave when there is no direct connection for the individual.
Nonetheless, the events of Marathon Monday were shocking and immediately fear-inducing. The unknown details about the whereabouts of my family, friends and classmates at home were excruciatingly worrying. It seemed odd and unreal to be in the small, calm city of Bilbao while hearing about the turmoil and fear occurring around the people I love. Learning about the tragedy via Twitter updates and news clips and communicating about an event with such impact with merely text messages and emails seemed superficial and gave me a sense of urgency to be around those in my home city.
Being abroad during a catastrophe at home is something I had never experienced before, yet was the reality of many people outside of the state on this saddening Monday. Although each person’s own experience and reaction with this event while away from Boston was unique, there was definitely a conclusive feeling of concern, love and support for our common Bostonians in and around the marathon.