An unforgettable experience in Cambodia

Project

When on the project we had to get the ferry to Silk Island, which was where the school was. This was an exhilarating experience, despite how early it was in the morning, as we got to see Phnom Penh from a distance when we crossed the Mekong River. The ferry was full of motorbikes and other vehicles.

Once at the school, we began teaching at 9am. We were required to teach two different subjects, such as sports and body parts, to classes of up to around 50 students in pairs. Our lessons included board slap, songs and call and repeat. On the whole, we all found this to be an enjoyable experience as we could bond with the children using a teaching style that they were unaccustomed to. Some of the students even gave us gifts of bracelets! It was so nice to realise what a significant impact we had made upon the children in such a small space of time.

In the afternoon, after lunch at a restaurant nearby, we were tasked with construction work. Firstly, we dug out and weeded a section of path leading to a toilet block for the students. This was followed by us sorting through the rubble and breaking it up, to then put it along the path and bash it into the mud using a log attached to two bamboo poles. The students watched and seemed amazed at our strength. Following this, at a later stage, we had to carry many huge buckets of sand and stones, as well as bags of cement. This was very hard work, especially in temperatures climbing towards 35˚c, but it was very rewarding (especially as we knew we would be benefiting the school significantly). This was also quite time-consuming, as we had to carry the materials and mix the concrete by hand using a hose and shovels.

Towards the end of constructing the concrete path, some of us began scraping down the walls of a classroom in preparation for painting. The people who did this and those who were concreting swapped around regularly. Then, we painted the classroom with yellow paint, using rollers on the ends of bamboo poles. On one particular afternoon, some of the students came in to help. There was a nice atmosphere, including singing.

Our time on the project provided an opportunity to aid the students socially, by playing games with them. On one afternoon in particular, we went over to a football pitch, where we played a match of us versus the Cambodian girls. Despite losing, we all had a lot of fun and were grateful when it began to rain as it cooled us off. We taught the students some British games, such as Bulldog, too.

Temples

As part of this amazing experience, we immersed ourselves in the Buddhist culture of the Khmer people. This provided an opportunity to see temples, in which we were required to remove our shoes as a sign of respect. I found this part of the trip fascinating as I could clearly see the huge impact that Buddhism has upon the peoples’ way of life daily. I found it interesting to see how respected the Monks are, as you must not point your feet at or be too close to them.

One of the main temples we visited was Angkor Wat, and we arrived early so that we could experience the spectacular architecture at sunrise. The colours that illuminated the sky created what appeared to be a mirage, due to the idealistic nature of the scene. We learnt about the past of this historic site through our tour guide which was extremely intriguing. Angkor Wat is one of the main tourist attractions for visitors to Cambodia, so I am glad we got to experience it first-hand.

Later in the morning, we ascended a small building so that many of us could make our Senior Section promise, which proved to be a very special experience. I will never forget it, especially due to the shiny new promise badge that is now pinned to my badge tab.

Pub Street & Tuk Tuks

When in Siem Reap during the third and final week in Cambodia, every evening meal was spent in Pub Street, another tourist attraction for those visiting. We were given our $7 budget to go off in groups and do as we pleased. We got to pick a restaurant for dinner (Red Piano was a personal favourite) and then go shopping in Siem Reap Night Market. We also treated ourselves to Nutella and Oreo ice cream rolls from one of the street vendors.

After this, and once we had met up as a group, we got tuk tuks back to our hotel. This was very thrilling as it provided a rush, due to us sitting in a small cart attached to the back of a motorbike through the bustling streets. These evenings proved to be some of the most exciting as we were gifted lots of freedom to eat where we wanted, and then we were allowed to explore the local area to buy souvenirs and gifts.

Market Shopping

We visited many different markets, including Phnom Penh Central Market, to buy souvenirs and gifts for loved ones back home. This provided an opportunity to develop business skills as we could barter with the stall owners to get the best price possible. This was quite difficult at times, as some stall owners spoke poor English. However, we could always find a way to get our point across using body language and hand signals.

Phnom Tamao Wildlife Centre

We visited this on the last full day, and it was located just out of the city. It helps to rehabilitate and house animals with injuries or disabilities, such as an elephant with a cast on its foot. The conditions that the animals were kept in were very plausible, as they all had lots of space to move.

We visited this on the last full day, and it was located just out of the city. It helps to rehabilitate and house animals with injuries or disabilities, such as an elephant with a cast on its foot. The conditions that the animals were kept in were very plausible, as they all had lots of space to move

Girlguiding Meetings

We met Guides from Cambodia, Australia and America in a big group gathering that took place in a village. It was very interesting to hear everyone’s aims in life (particularly through Girlguiding). We also got to hear the different promises from all of these countries which I found very fascinating. We participated in a scavenger hunt in the village and had to look for many items including the oldest individual in the village. It was a great chance to bond and understand how difficult Girlguiding is for them due to a lack of resources and wealth. As a result, many of us purchased souvenirs from them. We also managed to persuade Mazong, one of our tour guides, to become a leader.

On another occasion, we went to Vannath Chea’s house to listen to a talk about her experience in the Khmer Rouge and her work in guiding. She was also nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize! This also presented the opportunity to meet Princess Kanthireth, as she is involved in guiding also (I am still in contact with her). When we went out for dinner with Girlguiding members and leaders, we each said how long we had been in Guiding and what our hopes with Girlguiding are. This was done with the help of Amy and Chenda, as they could translate the English and Khmer.