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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 8, 2005 The Dec. 26 tsunami that destroyed the homes and lives continues to make daily life a struggle in Southeast Asia. This woman lost her only child to the tsunami, which destroyed her entire village near Pondicherry, India. Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman Shared grief Rogue Valley trio returns from tsunami-ravaged India, where they helped residents deal with their sorrow and loss By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune By the time Kimberly Ulrich got to India, the immediate effects of December’s tsunami disaster were fading. Survivors near the coastal city of Chennai had access to food, water and medical care. Relief agencies were passing out new nets to fishermen. Private donors were rebuilding boats and houses. Instead of tending to physical ailments as she’d expected, the Ashland Community Hospital emergency nurse found herself offering healing of a different sort. "Mostly what we did was we listened to people’s stories," recalled Ulrich, 52, who has just returned from a three-week humanitarian mission. Advertisement Along with her daughter, Holly Anderson, 27, and Holly’s boyfriend, Andrew Mariman, 26, Ulrich spent long days witnessing the personal devastation of tsunami survivors. "We went around and talked to as many people as we could," Ulrich said. "We let them talk about their children who were gone and their brothers who were gone." Despite a language barrier, members of the Southern Oregon trio were able to communicate with residents through translators — and a common language of grief. "We did a lot of crying with them," said Ulrich. "You touch their heart and then you touch your heart to show them how much you care about their loss. It’s universal. I feel like it was helpful." Ulrich traveled to India with about $9,000 in donations from Southern Oregon residents. She had expected to spend the cash on immediate supplies, but Ulrich quickly learned other needs were higher priorities. "I ended up hooking up with the local governor of the local Lions Club," Ulrich said. Parimala Raju, who is listed on the Lions Web site as the district governor for the 62,000-member region, explained that the money could best be used for housing in the hard-hit village of Cuddalore. "With $9,000, we’ll be able to build three houses," Ulrich said. "The houses will have a plaque on them that says something like ‘We the people of Southern Oregon, USA, donated money for these houses.’" A local Key Bank Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund will remain open until the end of March, Ulrich said. Any future contributions will be used to build more housing. Ulrich is hoping they will benefit survivors like a young father she saw on the beach with his daughter. "He was just lying on the beach on the spot where his house used to be with his 2-year-old on his chest," she said. "They’re it. They’re all that’s left." Hearing the wrenching stories of loss was difficult, Ulrich said. "You look at these people and they’re incredibly sweet people. They’re so giving and so loving and they have so little," she said. "To lose what’s most important to them ... ." The journey left Ulrich, a frequent traveler to India, richer for the experience. "We live half a world away, but we’re just the same," she said. "To understand that we’re all connected is one of the most important life lessons. ... We just need to take care of one another." Ulrich plans to contact local Lions Club groups to talk about her experience. She and Mariman, a Mail Tribune freelance photographer, brought back many images of their trip. For more information, call Ulrich at 951-7262. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Discount Hotel Reservations Online Pharmacy Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s