US gov., offered US tsunami survivor: toothbrush, phone call, book

[donsu]

no money, no hotel room, no nothing


http://www.buzzflash.com/mailbag/04/12/mai04361.html

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This is Pearl. I am currently in Bangkok waiting for a flight I have cajoled my way onto. I am one of the survivors. With only scratches, bruises and infections I am fine.

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My house was wiped out, as were 3000 hotel rooms, around 600 other resident/vacation homes and almost all the business in the area.

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The wave deposited me, a small swedish girl and a 60 foot police cruiser (medium sized steel patrol boat - around 20 tons) 1 kilometer from the beach - in the jungle.

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My town is gone. There are probably 2% of the original buildings in a recognizable form. I am very lucky to even be making my way home. The U.S. government offered me a phone call, a toothbrush, a paperback book and a temporary passport. No hotel, no food, no flight home. I was told that I could take out a loan if I could list three people who would vouch for me at home.

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sigh