Chinese Firedrill

You know that game you play as a kid, Chinese fire drill where the car is at a stop light and you get out and run around the car? I always thought it was a bit derogatory, only until I experienced a China fire drill. I was in the middle of class and all of a sudden sirens start blaring. The noise was so loud I wasn't quite sure if our school was under nuclear attack or something. Before I could make a decision 75% of my class bolted, and it wasn't like "oh I got to go" but a "I have to run for dear life NOW." One kid was going back and forth (physically) debating whether or not to tell me what was going on, but in the end made a run for it. When I got outside kids were running down the stairs, and through the hallways to line up in their class lines. Once they got there they were greeted by a loud speaker, and a speech that sounded reminiscent of a motivational speech, but of course I can only guess.