Crystal Loung
News Editor
The huge waves enter into the resort.
Out at sea, as a natural catastrophe hit southern Asia, sophomore Robert Azurin feared the worst for his mother and younger sister back at their beachfront resort.
He and his father had left the La Meridian Hotel in Khao Lak, Thailand, the morning of Dec. 26 for a snorkeling expedition.
Their boat received notice to turn around upon news that an earthquake had triggered tsunamis by the coast. Azurin and his father could not imagine what would be in store during the next 24 hours.
The Thai Coast Guard transferred Azurin and fellow tourists to another vessel in which they awaited new developments.
“I made friends with a guy from Finland, who said he heard everyone on the beach was killed,” Azurin said. “That’s when I first started getting worried about my mom and sister.”
More than nine hours later, the Coast Guard boat landed in Phuket, and Azurin’s search for his family began.
“I couldn’t grasp how much was destroyed,” he said. “All the buildings were collapsed, power lines were knocked down and dead bodies floated in the water.”
Only one main road in the region remained accessible for Azurin and his father to make their trek to Khao Lak, more than 100 km away from Phuket. Passersby discouraged them from heading to the resort because they said the situation seemed hopeless.
Azurin could not stand to wait in the dark without knowing the fate of his mother and sister.
“I took the initiative and stood out in the road and tried to flag down trucks,” he said.
They finally hitchhiked on the flatbed of a truck, the first of three such rides before reaching their destination.
At the badly damaged La Meridian, Azurin and his father found they were on a list of guests missing and presumed dead. They later learned that 15 people from the hotel had died in flooding subsequent to the tsunamis.
Azurin’s hope and faith finally were restored when he and his family members reunited at a Buddhist temple in the mountains where hotel guests had been relocated.
“It was like a movie,” he said. “My mom was sobbing, and everyone around us was clapping.”
Facing life and death in the aftermath of the tsunamis has prompted revelations within Azurin.
“I have a stronger appreciation for life and of course, a respect for nature,” he said. “I’ve seen God a lot more, and the camaraderie that comes with common ground.”
Assessing the aftermath
The Azurin family was among the lucky who survived to share their tsunami stories.
The tidal waves, triggered by a 9.0 Richter-scale earthquake in the Indian Ocean on Dec. 26, have claimed more than 150,000 lives and displaced at least 1 million people in south Asia, according to a U.N. report.
In its flash appeal, the United Nations estimated $977 million would be needed to provide critical aid to the countries affected by the natural disaster.
Student action
Pepperdine leaders on all levels have launched a university-wide campaign to contribute financially and emotionally to relief efforts in the countries devastated by the tsunami. In the coming months, Pepperdine will coordinate the “A Moment of Silence” campaign, which includes fund-raisers that range from letter writing and benefit concerts to donation tables and wristbands.
“We want to generate awareness for that region, and give those individuals hope in times of need,” said junior Seth Allingham, a Pepperdine Volunteer Center intern and co-coordinator of student response for relief programs. “We really can’t claim to be aware or knowledgeable without responding to what we see.”
The kickoff will be a university-wide moment of silence tentatively scheduled for mid-next week, one second for every thousand individuals who died or about 2.5 minutes.
“It will be a huge symbol to the rest of our efforts,” said SGA President Carl Kasalek, who is working alongside Allingham.
The primary fund-raising effort will be a letter writing campaign, scheduled for Feb. 1. All participants are asked to come with a contact list to hand sign pre-written letters that will be mailed out to request donations. Donors have the option of contributing to three organizations that represent different foci in the tsunami relief effort: the American Red Cross (general relief), World Vision (Christian-based aid) and International Justice Mission (youth/orphan aid and prevention of child prostitution).
In coordination with letter writing, 20,000 “Hope” bracelets have been ordered from an overseas company. The light blue wristbands will bear the word “hope” in the world’s most common eight languages and will be offered for a $3 to $5 suggested donation.
Allingham said he hopes the bracelets will serve as visual and substantive reminders of the victims of the tsunami tragedy.
Several universities, including Azusa Pacific, Concordia, Loyola Marymount, University of Southern California and Westmont have committed to selling and promoting the bracelets, according to Kasalek.
Those who cannot contribute financially also have options.
Students can sign up to volunteer time in the upcoming fund-raising programs, and the university is considering arrangements for students to visit and offer hands-on aid to the region in the summer, Kasalek said.
Plans also are in the works for Campus Ministry to hold a worship night and for athletics and Housing and Community Living to help promote many aspects of the entire campaign.
A fund-raising goal has not been officially announced, but students, faculty and staff will continue their efforts for the duration of the semester.
“We want to see our community come together, present a united front in a world effort to respond to this tragedy,” Allingham said.
01-13-2005