Jen Rudolph is part of a special Peace Corps program for the tsunami. It's a six-month commitment that meant quitting her public relations job in Boulder, Colorado. Asked why she decided to put her life on hold, Rudolph says: "I don't look at it as putting my life on hold, because my life is here now."
Rebuilding Hope One Boat At A Time
Peace Corps. Program Gives Helping Hand To Tsunami Victims
CBS News
June 21, 2005
KHAO LAK, Thailand - Under the watchful eye of Scott Carter, who gave up his job as a mechanical engineer in South Carolina to come to Thailand, they are doing nothing less than rebuilding lives. As CBS News Correspondent Barry Petersen reports, they're doing it one fishing boat at a time.
"Maybe we can't solve all their problems," says Carter. "We're never going to take away the trauma but maybe giving them a boat or helping them rebuild their house will give them a sense of direction - a sense of purpose that life goes on."
Jen Rudolph is part of a special Peace Corps program for the tsunami. It's a six-month commitment that meant quitting her public relations job in Boulder, Colorado.
Asked why she decided to put her life on hold, Rudolph says: "I don't look at it as putting my life on hold, because my life is here now."
Khao Lak, a once-thriving resort area well north of Phuket took the brunt of the tsunami's wrath.
Roger Parent, 66, wanted to work with a hammer when he came here, but they handed him a mouse and asked him to use the skills he learned during his two terms as mayor of South Bend, Indiana in the '80s to help organize.
At his age, most American men are out hitting golfballs or enjoying retirement.
He's here, because, "I've always felt like one creates one's own life, and you do it through good works," says Parent.
The reality is that no amount of American helping hands is going to make a dramatic difference until tourism comes back, until the rubble of these five star hotels is rebuilt back into rooms and the people of Khao Lak can go back to work.
The hotels are being rebuilt ever so slowly. This area once boasted 6,000 hotel rooms. After the tsunami, about 600 were left. It will be years before they all come back.
Which brings us back to those boats and Carter, who is making a difference now.
"My payday is everyday we send a boat down the ramps and a fisherman goes back out," he says. "You know that feels good.
"From a purely selfish standpoint, yeah, that makes me swell with pride."
That's the Oyster Catcher ready for sea. It's not just a boat. Think of it as a fisherman who can work and feed his family. Think of it as what they need here most of all: a new beginning.
American volunteers making a difference in Thailand
By Barry Petersen
CBS Evening News transcript
June 17, 2005
JOHN ROBERTS, anchor:
Americans have donated millions of dollars to help victims of the massive tsunami that destroyed so many lives and livelihoods in Asia. In Thailand, some Americans are donating more than money to restore popular vacation spots that were washed away. We sent Barry Petersen back to the ruined resorts to find out what's going on there now.
BARRY PETERSEN reporting:
They are doing nothing less than rebuilding lives one fishing boat at a time...
Mr. SCOTT CARTER (Volunteer): Just make sure they keep the 6-meter and the 5 1/2-meter separate.
PETERSEN: ...under the watchful eye of Scott Carter, who gave up his job as a mechanical engineer in South Carolina to come to Thailand.
Mr. CARTER: Maybe we can't solve all of their problems, but giving them maybe a boat gives them a sense of direction, a sense of purpose that life goes on.
PETERSEN: Jen Rudolph is part of a special Peace Corps program for the tsunami, a six-month commitment that meant quitting her public relations job in Boulder, Colorado.
You put your life on hold. That's a lot. Why did you do that?
Ms. JEN RUDOLPH (Peace Corps Volunteer): It's not--I don't look at it as exactly putting my life on hold because my life is here now.
PETERSEN: Here is Khao Lak, a once thriving resort area well north of Phuket, that took the brunt of the tsunami's wrath. Sixty-six-year-old Roger Parent wanted to work with a hammer when he came here, but they handed him a mouse and asked him to help organize, skills he learned during his two terms as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, back in the '80s.
At your age, most American men certainly are out hitting golf balls or enjoying retirement. Why are in the world are you here?
Mr. ROGER PARENT (Peace Corps Volunteer): I've always felt that one creates one's own life and you do it through good works.
PETERSEN: The reality is that no amount of American helping hands is going to make a dramatic difference until tourism comes back, until the rubble of these five-star hotels is rebuilt back into rooms and the people of Khao Lak can go back to work.
The hotels are being rebuilt ever so slowly. This area once boasted 6,000 hotel rooms. After the tsunami about 600 were left. It will be years before they all come back. Which brings us back to those boats and Scott Carter, who is making a difference now.
Mr. CARTER: My pay day is every day we send a boat down the ramps and a fisherman goes back out. You know, that feels good. You know, that--from a purely selfish standpoint, yeah, that makes me swell with pride.
PETERSEN: It's not just a boat. Think of it as what they need here most of all: a new beginning. Barry Petersen, CBS News, Khao Lak, Thailand.
