Some struggles, a lot of hope, for tsunami orphans

[unhappycamper]

Some struggles, a lot of hope, for tsunami orphans
By BEN STOCKING
Associated Press Writer
Dec 25, 12:00 AM EST

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) -- The 2004 tsunami obliterated Pipit's village, wiped out her family and swept her through churning waters, cascading debris and hurtling bodies.

On her first night as an orphan, at the age of 13, she slept next to a row of corpses.

Five years later, she still has moments of sadness, especially during holidays. But like many of Indonesia's more than 5,200 known tsunami orphans, she is making a life for herself. She has enrolled in university, plays the violin and plans to tackle German.

"Most of the time, I don't think about the tsunami," said Pipit, who lives in a comfortable orphanage in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province and close to the epicenter of the earthquake that unleashed one of the worst natural disasters in history.

"I'm trying to be strong," said Pipit, who like many Indonesians uses one name.


Rest of Stripes article at: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_INDONESIA_TSUNAMI_ORPHANS?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-12-25-00-00-53