(This photo is not my Apartment building)
I was just hangout out last night late night when I heard some noises above. Like very loud noises…like someone was throwing furniture out the window top noises. Then I could hear people yelling in Chinese very loud. This was 1:00AM and my area is pretty quiet. I looked out the window and saw a cloud of black smoke. I grabbed my computer, wallet, and cell phone and threw them in a bag. Then I dress in my pants, put on my shoes and grabbed a t-shirt. I ran out the door.
Adrenalin was pumped through my body very quickly, as you can imagine. I hit the stairs and kept going. When I got to the 16 floor (I’m on the 20th) I could smell smoke. I kept going and made it out. I was a little freaked out. When I got out I could see the flames raising from the window of one of the apartments. People were outside in there pajamas. I went to the convince store to buy a beer. I haven’t drank anything in over a year but I really needed something to take the edge off. I grabbed a Budweiser and walked back out into the night. I noticed there was never any fire alarm. The fire men arrived finally.
The said there was no water in the buildings water tanks to put out the fire. I met another American guy that lives in the building. We chatted over beers. Time went on. He bought more beers. We talked about China and living in Asia. I told hime a little about living in Japan and my time there. We traded stories about living in Asia. Despite the fire I actually had fun chatting with him. I hope to hang with the him and his girlfriend again soon. Sometimes you meet people during the oddest times!