Confessions of a Korean-American Man in New York City

I remember 9/11 vividly and all New Yorkers cannot forget that surreal and tragic day. I was living on the Upper East Side and took the 5th Ave bus to work that morning. It was a picture perfect day, nothing out of the ordinary until I arrived at the bus stop in front of the NYC library. Right before I exited the bus, I noticed everyone outside staring southward on 5th Ave. My assumption was that a movie was being filmed down the street, but it was bizarre that people stood motionless like mannequins. When I finally looked down 5th Ave, I saw smoke coming out of the first WTC, and I was in utter shock assuming it was on fire. People were standing along the sidewalks yelling into their cell phones. I ran into work to watch TV. Right when I stepped away, I heard a gasp from the conference room and the second plane had torpedoed into the 2nd WTC. We were all quickly dismissed from work and I headed southward to my friend’s apt. Masses of people exited work and walked on 5th Ave. When I passed by the Empire State Building, I looked up thinking that this could be the last time I’d see it standing. The rest of the day was spent at my friend’s apt, and we watched TV all day while looking out the window to see if anything happened to the Empire State Building. My story is mild compared to friends who were in the building or had escaped the area as the buildings came crashing down. Unfortunately, an ex-coworker who worked at the top of the WTC did not survive.

It’s been 5 years and there’s still a hole in downtown Manhattan. Hopefully the politicians will get their asses in gear and begin to rebuild.