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4- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday January 6, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Tsunami's presence still eerily present Continued from page 3 International. She first got involved with it three years ago when she saw a segment about the organization on The Today Show on NBC. "Right after seeing the segment on TV, I immediately went to their website. One month later, I was handing out humanitarian aid in poor villages in El Salvador," said Ricotti. Most of Ricotti's humanitarian trips have been with Airline Ambassadors. "I love the fact that they are a non-profit organization. All my trips with them have been incredibly rewarding as well as life-transforming for me," said Ricotti. In March 2003, Ricotti was in El Salvador. She travelled to Nicaragua in February 2004 and again in November 2004. Ricotti also made a trip to Guatemala in March 2006 in which she led a volunteer tour with GAP Adventures called Project Guatemala. GAP Adventures specializes in adventure travel packages with various travel styles, one of them being "volunteer style" trips to various parts of the world. New Central Public School CAMP FAIR 133 Balsam Drive (Lakeshore and Balsam) Oakville Ontario "I have been participating in many humanitarian trips over the years because I love adventure, meeting new people, learning about new cultures, visiting new places, and more importantly, I love to make a difference," said Ricotti. Ricotti visited the area of Thailand hardest hit by the tsunami and was in a group that included herself as well as three Americans and one Thai. "Even almost two years later, the devastation and hardship still continues. It was an experience I can't even explain," said Ricotti, noting she still can't escape the feeling of being surrounded by the spirits of the many thousands of lost lives as she stood on the beach imagining what it would have been like when the tsunami Want better Don't miss out on the summer camp of your choice: Day Camps · Residential Camps · Summer Programs Meet representatives from these camps and choose the right camp for your child! resultsfrom your Get a personalized program developed by your trainer based upon unique needs and goals. workout? Bring the kids... get the information you need... before the camps/programs are full! Admission is Free ? washed ashore. "`Eerie' is the only word I can use to describe what I was feeling. Each time I looked out to the sea, I couldn't help but imagine the water receding ...then the big wave rolling in ferociously five to six metres high towards shore ready to pummel everything in its path. I felt a pit in my stomach, nauseous, and a little dizzy just thinking about it...I visualized in my mind what it must have been like to have been there. I also began to think "what are the chances of it happening again - now?" A feeling I would hold with me for the rest of the trip," said Ricotti. Her group visited Phuket, Thailand and on the way to the hotel saw an elephant who put his trunk right inside their van through the window. Driving around Khao Lak, Ricotti said they stopped at an abandoned hotel where Ricotti said it looked like time had stood still. "I looked in one of the rooms and I could tell it had been an office. Everything was destroyed. Papers and furniture strewn everywhere. Although it was almost two years later, it looked like it had just happened yesterday. Nothing had been touched," she said. They also stopped at another hotel, once a five-star hotel. "The devastation was horrible. Everything was left as it was. Many staff and tourists died there. It was eerie. As I walked through the grass to get to the beach, I noticed something very eerie. I noticed a blue flip-flop. I knew it had See Ricotti page 5 · Tracked progress - review your stats anytime. · Better results than with a traditional gym membership. · Safe, brand-new, state-of-the-art equipment. Personal Training Programs · Modern, clean facility. · No waiting for the equipment you need. You choose the hours of your workout! Call us.... your COACH to Good Health! Safe, brand-new, state of the art equipment Modern, clean facilty. www.GetFitFast.ca 905.257.2990 2520 6th Line - Unit 19, Oakville What's going on in January TM