‘Absolutely frightening.’ Bronx-born music teacher in Dubai returns home amid Middle East conflict
Maritza Franck spoke with News 12 exclusively on Sunday about her return home after living in Dubai for seven years.
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A music teacher and DJ born and raised in Co-op City who has lived in Dubai since 2018 is back in New York amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Maritza Franck spoke with News 12 exclusively on Sunday about her return home after living in Dubai for seven years.
“For me, it's like, maybe I need to get out of this situation for now and protect myself the best way that I can,” said Franck.
The war between the U.S. and Iran started on Feb. 28. Dubai has been caught in the cross-fire. Franck said she’s seen debris fall from the sky and lived though the experience of a missile hitting an interceptor.
“I heard, boom, boom. And then the apartment shook and you could see the windows…it's almost like there was an impact on the windows. And so that was absolutely frightening,” she said.
Franck traveled three days to get back to the United States. The travel included a 21-hour drive and a flight into Dallas, Texas before another flight to New York City where she was reunited with her mother.
The school Franck teaches music at in Dubai is currently on spring break after being remote since the start of the war. With the break ending next Monday, Franck is unsure if she is ready to return.
“I feel good knowing that if I hear a loud sound here, it's probably a garbage truck backing up. Or maybe it's a plane just flying by,” she said.
