Here in Boston, it was more of an adventure than anything. No one in my house had to go to work, so we:
- stayed in all day
- watched movies
- didn't lose power
- and listened to the wind howling outside.
We were incredibly fortunate compared to New York. Most of my NYU friends have been without power all week, and some had to evacuate their apartments. Those whose families live in the city or on Long Island are coping with a lot of hurricane damage at home, as well.
I understand (as well as I can, given that I wasn't actually there) the gravity of their situation, and also that there is no harm in adding a little humor when life seems bleak. I am uncomfortable, though, with all the references to "refugee camps" where those who were evacuated are living. Yes, conditions are much worse than usual - no showers, either no beds or way too many beds in one room, no cell service or Internet or ways to charge one's electronics.
A refugee, though, is "a person who is outside his/her country of origin or habitual residence because he/she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because he/she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'." It implies real danger and pain and risk. So when people jokingly call the apartment in Brooklyn where they're piled in with 8 of their friends a "refugee camp," I can't help but think that we are yet again minimizing the very real and life-threatening problems that a large percent of the world actually faces.
Being a refugee is a real and terrifying thing and one that should be taken seriously. I suppose I'm being overly PC here, but I think it's callous to refer to any NYU student as a refugee and that it shows a blatant disrespect for the real-world problems that many people, who are not as sheltered or fortunate as we, have to face.
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