Surviving Earthquakes in Albania Erdbeben in Albanien überleben Sobrevivir a los terremotos en Albania Survivre aux tremblements de terre en Albanie Sopravvivere ai terremoti in Albania アルバニアで地震に耐える 알바니아에서 살아남은 지진 Išgyventi po žemės drebėjimų Albanijoje Aardbevingen overleven in Albanië Przetrwać trzęsienia ziemi w Albanii Sobreviver aos terramotos na Albânia Переживание землетрясений в Албании Arnavutluk'ta Depremden Sağ Çıkmak Пережити землетруси в Албанії 在阿尔巴尼亚的地震中幸存下来 阿尔巴尼亚地震幸存者

It was just an ordinary night in Albania. We were all asleep soundly. We were all asleep soundly. All of a sudden, we were awakened to our whole building shaking. All of a sudden, we were awakened to our whole building shaking. It was probably only seconds but it felt like an eternity. It was probably only seconds but it felt like an eternity. It was enough time for me to run into the next room and put my arms around my children, thinking that by somehow doing that, I could protect them. It was enough time for me to run into the next room and put my arms around my children, thinking that by somehow doing that, I could protect them. Calvin was running around the apartment, frazzled, uncertain about what to do. Calvin was running around the apartment, frazzled, uncertain about what to do. It wasn't our first earthquake, as we had experienced them in Hawaii and Taiwan as well, but it was the first one with kids, and it felt so strong. It wasn't our first earthquake, as we had experienced them in Hawaii and Taiwan as well, but it was the first one with kids, and it felt so strong. It turned out to be a magnitude 6.4 on the Richter Scale. We later found out it was the first earthquake in 30 years in Albania that had been that strong. We later found out it was the first earthquake in 30 years in Albania that had been that strong. The Albanians were afraid. Many of them were leaving Tirana to go to the countryside, others were sleeping in their cars or gathering in the ginormous city park far from buildings. There were hundreds of aftershocks! There were hundreds of aftershocks! For months afterwards, when lying in bed, I would think there was an earthquake, but there really wasn't. It was the strangest sensation. Just when we thought things were calming down another magnitude 6 earthquake hit! We couldn't believe it. Let's just say, natural disasters make you appreciate your loved ones just a little bit more, and hug them a little bit tighter. We are thankful there was no injuries amongst our family and friends.

**Keywords**

**Frazzled** showing the state of exhaustion or confusion.

**Ginormous** very large.

**Aftershocks** smaller earthquakes after a big earthquake.