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East Moline native experienced earthquake while hiking in Nepal

A Quad City native is happy to be back in the U.S., after a two-week trip to Nepal turned into much more than she imagined.

A Quad City native is happy to be back in the U.S., after a two-week trip to Nepal turned into much more than she imagined.

Just two days before a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the region, East Moline native Caitlin Bull arrived at Everest Base Camp.

"We saw the tents, we talked to people down at base camp, we took pictures. I had tears of joy just being there," said Bull.

On the hike back, though, Bull experienced her first earthquake.

"My friend looked at me, and she's like, 'Caitlin, am I dizzy?' And I said, 'No, the earth is moving,'" said Bull. "Branches were falling all around us, we heard landslides across the valley, and it lasted so long. I just felt my eyes getting wider, and I was like, this isn't funny, this isn't interesting anymore. This is getting scary."

Bull says she couldn't have been luckier. Once her group made it to the village, they learned just how serious this earthquake was.

"We were running a lot on adrenaline. I didn't sleep for more than two or three hours for about a week," said Bull.

As an ER nurse, Bull's instinct was to help. She volunteered at Bir Hospital in Kathmandu, where she saw many people with broken bones.

"I saw shock. I saw mourning and sadness. But the people were very strong to continue to want to just help each other," said Bull.

Now safely back home in Washington, Bull says her experience abroad still doesn't feel real. She believes the people of Nepal are strong and kind, but says they still need help to rebuild.

"I made it to base camp, I celebrated with my friends, and then two days later, I'm mourning with these friends that their homes are destroyed, family members are dead. It's very surreal," said Bull.

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