Feedback from Cambodia Volunteers

Here are some of the emails we have received from volunteers about their experiences in Cambodia.

"The conversational English format makes the classes a lot of fun, and I love my students. I spend a lot of my teaching time laughing and so do my students.

I really enjoy the volunteers at the house, all very cool people. The management staff are completely dedicated to the success of the school and the happiness of the volunteers. The staff and the teachers are like one big family and anytime I have needed help with anything they have always assisted me quickly and effectively."

Jacob

"A typical day involves up to 5 hours teaching. There is a housekeeper who brings breakfast and then cooks delicious lunches and dinners. It was a very sociable house. In my free time I would either go to the markets, use the internet or relax at home and prepare for my classes.

I went out to see some of the villages and the work that CRDT has been doing which was an amazing experience and further proved what a good cause I was working for. We were able to see a lot of the projects such as fish ponds, pig pens, biodigesters etc that they had worked on and meet the people that had benefited and I really felt like I had made a direct and extremely valuable contribution to Cambodia."

Kate

Things are going really well here in Phnom Penh . I'm teaching four classes a day: two level 5's, one level Advanced Discussion (9), and one level Advanced Communication (10). For the most part, the teaching is pretty interesting and the students are very enthusiastic. There are always a few speed bumps, but by now I've definitely gotten a routine down for each level, so it comes much easier.

The city is very fascinating. I've already been to the National Museum , the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum , the Killing Fields, and Wat Phnom. All of which were definitely worth the visits. A few of us volunteers also went down to Sihanoukville a couple of weekends ago. It was very beautiful and relaxing, except for our bus breaking down on the way back! We also went to a wonderful traditional Khmer dance and music performance last weekend, which included large shadow puppets. We're going to a traditional drum performance this weekend at the same theater.

I've still to see the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, and we're planning on going to Siem Reap in a few weeks, so there are just a few major things left to do. I suppose this is a good thing, seeing as I'm winding my time down here. I've really enjoyed my stay here in Cambodia ; what an experience! CWF is a great organization; the staff are very friendly and helpful, and I think what they're doing with CRDT is very worthwhile. It has definitely been worth the time and energy to get here.

Christina