EvCC student had difficult choice whether to return from Indonesia

EVERETT – Sharon Simanjuntak was torn between remaining in tsunami-ravaged Indonesia or returning to Everett Community College.

Ultimately, he knew he needed to return to the school, where he is working toward an accounting degree.

“It was very hard, especially because we are suffering from our biggest disaster, but I had to go” back, he said.

Simanjuntak, 23, is a native of Java, an Indonesian island that was not damaged when the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunamis killed more than 152,000 people in south Asia.But his ancestors are from Aceh province on Sumatra Island, the hardest-hit area, and he feels an obligation to them.

Sitting on a panel this week alongside EvCC and Edmonds Community College instructors, he was able to see international concern face to face as dozens of students and faculty came to learn more.

“I do really appreciate the help you have been providing,” he told them.

The panel included geology, geography and international business instructors, along with a public health expert and a counselor.

Steve Grupp, an EvCC geology and oceanography instructor, provided a technical explanation of how the earthquake and tsunami caused so much damage and pointed to lessons that can be learned.

Thousands of lives could have been spared with better communication, he said..

“The major problem with this event is nobody knew who to call,” Grupp said.

Roberto Dumadag, an officer with EvCC’s Asian-Pacific Islander Student Union, said he can’t help thinking of the thousands of orphaned children, and he hopes international support will continue years to come.

“Roads and buildings can be rebuilt in a couple of years, but the social devastation faced by the people ravaged by the tsunami will take decades to heal,” he said.

“When this is no longer making headlines in the newspaper and on the television, don’t forget the devastation still continues,” he said.

Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.