Two Indonesians spared tragedy

By Ramdani Sirait

NEW YORK (Antara): Even though Nelson Sihombing and Anton Harianto, two Indonesian immigrants working at the World Trade Center (WTC), were spared from Tuesday's tragedy, they grieved for the death of their close friends when two hijacked planes hit the WTC twin towers.

Nelson and Anton's workplaces were located in one of the 110- story towers and the two had yet to arrive at their workplace when the calamity took place.

"I was just about to leave for work when the first tower was hit by the hijacked plane, so I stayed to watch the television and saw the second tower collapse. At that time, I didn't know what to do," 23-year-old Anton told Antara from his house in New Jersey.

Anton is a Jakarta resident, who worked at a stock trading company on the 103rd floor of the WTC's north tower, while 42- year-old Nelson worked as a waiter at the "Windows of the World" restaurant on the 106th floor. Nelson was supposed to work the afternoon shift.

"When I found out what happened, I was in complete shock and couldn't believe that this was actually happening," said Nelson, who hails from the North Sumatran town of Kisaran.

Even though he was spared, Nelson who had served in the restaurant for 20 years could not help grieving over the death of his two closest friends, a Bangladeshi and Colombian, who were on duty on the morning shift.

"I cried all night ... the thought of two of my dearest friends under the rubble of the building is inconceivable until this moment. Their faces still linger in my mind," he said.

Nelson said he could no longer stand watching the television broadcasts that aired the ruins of the buildings constantly after the incidents.

"I have spent 20 years at that place. It was like a second home to me ... but now it is ruined," he said, his voice trembling.

Successful

Nelson is one of the many Indonesians in the city who has been able to make it in the city.

A father of three, Nelson, who now holds American citizenship, entered the restaurant with his experience of working on an international cruise ship.

From his earnings, he was able to enroll his children in top schools in New Jersey and frequently went on vacation to Indonesia and visited relatives.

"We lead a good life here and we are happy. I'm glad to see that my children are able to attend quality schools," he said.

Anton, who still holds Indonesian nationality, managed to secure a position in one of the international companies at the world's business center.

He is quite content to be able to support himself in a city where the cost of living is much higher than other cosmopolitan cities.

"I'm happy to be able to gain some working experience at the World Trade Center," Anton remarked.

From the many Indonesians residing in New York, Anton and Nelson are among those who are able to lead a comfortable life.

According to data at the Indonesian Consulate in New York, there are 5,000 Indonesians living in many areas ranging from Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, States Island to Queens, which is known as an Asian area.

However, Daulat Pasaribu, spokesman at the consulate, said the number could possibly be larger as there were many others who had not registered with the consulate.

Most of them work as waiters, construction workers, newspaper delivery persons and baby-sitters.

The dream city

To many people, New York is a place to turn dreams into reality as they perceive the city as a land that glitters with job prospects and other opportunities.

The 780-square-kilometer city, which is currently inhabited by more than nine million people, is known as the world's financial center.

The Dutch called it New Amsterdam when they first arrived there in 1621. At that time the land was occupied by American natives who spoke Algonquin.

When the British took over the city in 1664, they changed the name to New York.

Along with the establishment of a number of large ports in the area, New York became a trade center as many merchants from all over the world came there to trade.

Today, Now York is not only a center of commerce, but also of culture and the entertainment business.

The WTC building was built in 1966 and was completed in 1977. The building houses 450 business institutions from across the world and was the workplace of 50,000 people.

To reach the top floor, where a person could enjoy a panoramic view of the city, one could use the express elevator which took only 58 seconds.

But being buried under the rubble of the 110-story building is certainly not anyone's dream.

It is feared, that those who could not escape the buildings at the time of the tragedy have all perished.