Smiles return to Baan Nam Khem

Children in the small Phang Nga village pulverised by the 2004 tsunami have shaken the fear of the nightmare wave from their minds and are enjoying living again.
Baan Nam Khem is a coastal fishing village that became famous after losing more than 1,400 people – at least a quarter of its population – during the disaster that rocked six provinces on the southern Andaman coast.
It has taken eight years but the sounds of laughter and children full of joy are now more common at the local primary school.
“I am not afraid of tsunamis as I know that it will not come here again,” Saharat Therdthai, a nine-year-old primary student at Baan Nam Khem School, said.
“And if the massive waves come here, to my village, I can just run away to higher ground or climb a building,” he said.

POWERFUL MEMORIES
Saharat claims he can remember the moment when he and his mother ran away from the powerful tsunami wave.
“At that time I was only one year old. My brother and I were in my mother's embrace and we were running away from a big wave. I was so scared but now I know how to escape from the wave,” he said.
Meanwhile, eight-year-old Ratchanon Saekhoy was laughing with his classmates while showing the famous South Korean “Gang Nam Style” dance during a school break in the afternoon.
There was no sadness and fear on his face or eyes as he lived in the moment and enjoyed life.
“A tsunami is a big wave. If it comes I just run and climb a big tree,” said Ratchanon, who lost two older brothers in the tragedy.
But his friend Abhisit Singkara, a nine-year-old primary student, still fears a big wave.
“I had experience with the tsunami. It was a very big wave. I was running away with my mom. If it comes here again, I will run as fast as I can,” he said.
It was this day – December 26, a Sunday morning – when the waves swept through Baan Nam Khem School, killing 26 students and destroying school buildings.

TIME CAN HEAL
Sripranee Na Nakhon, a 54-year-old teacher at the school, said most students had recovered from post traumatic stress disorder and depression.
“They are very naughty, especially when someone visits them. They are happy to have visitors,” she said.
Teachers at Baan Nam Khem School have been teaching students about the massive wave and how to evacuate to higher ground to prevent further loss of life if another tsunami ever strikes.
While Sripranee did not lose anyone in her family, the monstrous wave killed one beloved student.
“He was a nice boy. He always made good things for me. He was only seven years old at that time,” she said.
Every December 26, Sripranee joins a commemorative ceremony at the Tsunami Memorial at Baan Nam Khem to mourn the death of her students.
She always offers food to the monk and writes the name of her student who died on a piece of paper, as she hopes he can get food.
“I have been doing something like this for my students during the past eight years,” she said.
Sripanee said she feared sea waves for a long time after the traumatic event.
She could not even walk on the beach for a few years after the disaster. But now she can return to the beach and enjoy sea waves again.
“We need time. Only time can help get you out of the nightmare,” she said, adding that at present all houses that were destroyed in Baan Nam Khem have been fully repaired.
Some villagers still stay at the same homes but others had had to move to other places because they could not face the dreadful memories of the event, which saw huge fishing boats tossed among homes through the village.
Surappong Chaicheu, 46, also lost his wife in the tsunami. He lives with his 10-year-old daughter. It was very tough for him to stop thinking about the death of his wife and the tragic moment but he realises he has to look forward and continue his life for his daughter. “I have to stop drinking and thinking about what happened. I have to live for my daughter,” he said.