Cambodia International Trip 2013

As the plane touched down and we saw Cambodia for the first time, I knew we were all leaping inside. We looked out the tiny window of the plane and smiled to ourselves, anticipating unforgettable experiences in this rich land. Waking each other up excitedly so that no one would miss the first sight of Cambodia, I could hear a voice ringing in my ears as I laughed at the sleepy but excited faces: we are finally seeing the beautiful land of Cambodia in person.

It was that moment that made all the fundraising events that took place before the trip worth it. From selling piping hot omelets to fresh pastries every week, our hard work, sacrifices and dedication in making the trip successful suddenly felt so tangible in that moment. The endless planning, the sleepless nights, the determination to succeed even during our lowest times.

In this special issue of the IBDP Newsletter, our team will give you an insight into the colourful memories gained in the land of Cambodia. From learning new cultures to experiencing the hard life in Cambodia, the special issue of our newsletter will make you feel like you were a part of our international trip. Angela Hii, a passionate writer on the beauty of culture has contributed her own article about the Cambodian culture in this issue of our IBDP newsletter. Alastair Lim, our very own IBDP newsletter journalist has decided to contribute on the humanitarian aspect of the trip and how it has changed him since while Hannah Khaw and Hafizudden Khalis did the honour of collecting feedbacks from different people on the trip. Also, the editor of the IBDP newsletter, Hoh Jingyi, has coordinated and created an amazing picture map of the trip that will blow your mind away.

So this is what you have to do. Sit back, relax and enjoy the trip as we take you back in time to experience the journey of a lifetime in the beautiful land of Cambodia.

Humanitarian Work In Cambodia
by Alastair Lim Chen Yuan

As I sit here in my room, reflecting upon my experiences in the past few days which have blown by like a breeze, I’ve come to realize that we, the IBDP July intake 2012, have once again done the unexpected. In the nine months of fundraising and planning, the excitement of traveling grew and the anticipation of the unknown bubbled. After much success promoting our cause and accumulating a considerable amount of money, the time finally came to embark on our long-awaited journey. On the day of departure, we stepped into the plane bound for Siem Reap with the intention of helping the people of Beng Mealea.
During our four-day stay in the camp, we slept in longhouses and handled our basic necessities in compost toilets. Some of us adjusted so naturally, it was as if we had been living here for years. The main objectives on the agenda were to lay the brick foundation for the teachers’ accommodation, tile the roof of the classrooms, dig holes for trees to be planted and teach English to the Cambodian children in the school we were working in.


Before leaving Cambodia on the fifth day, it struck me like a bolt of lightning that our memorable experience in Cambodia has ended with a half completed foundation for the teachers’ accommodation, five new holes for trees to be planted in and a complete roof for the primary school classrooms. To me, accomplishing those goals was trivial. It was not about going there to help them make one-meter holes or lay bricks for a building. It was never just about going through the simple life and feeling fortunate at the end of the event. We were there to inspire hope. To show the beautiful people of that once awe-inspiring land that all is not lost. By being in Cambodia for just a few days, we have enriched their lives and ours in a way that we didn’t conceive or intend to. We had given them hope for the betterment of their future generations and as Martin Luther King once said, ‘We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope’.

The Beautiful Culture of Cambodia
by Angela Hii Hui Chi

This recent trip to Cambodia is certainly one that none of us would forget. This is a land so abundantly rich with history and culture that one just could not fathom its magnificence. True enough, I could describe the country in a millions words or show you hundreds of pictures yet nothing will beat experiencing a Cambodian lifestyle just once. The most prominent thing about Cambodia is the religious influence of Buddhism and Hinduism in their day to day lives. The eminent temples in Siem Reap, quickly became one of the most celebrated and intriguing tourist attractions that hold a lot of the antiquity behind the indigenous beliefs. Their use of the Khmer language was tremendously fascinating and we had tons of fun learning how to converse and amalgamate into their customs naturally. The authentic lifestyle that we got to experience was also undeniably different from the ones we sometimes take for granted here. Everything they do adds value to their life and in essences transpires into a better future for themselves.

After spending four glorious days with our Cambodian hosts, it became clear that one aspect about them that we could all appreciate, was their desire to communicate and learn through foreigners, such as ourselves. It is a wonder that although majority of the population lives in poverty, the natives there are so grateful and welcoming towards us. As a matter of fact, they place our needs before themselves. This is clearly observed as they would serve us our meal before partaking their own. The close knit community that they portrayed was befitting of their culture, constantly assisting one another in different areas that require considerable amount of man power. This definitely spiked our motivation and desire to work harder, contributing all we can within the limited time we were granted.

A Word With Ms. Valerie, IBDP Cambodia Trip Supervisor
by Hafizudden Khalis bin Mohamed Nizam

The organizer of the Cambodia International Trip 2013, Ms. Valerie had one objective in mind when she chose the location of this year’s trip: to ensure that the IBDP students gained first-hand experience of the causes of poverty and the challenges faced by those who have to live through it.
Describing the trip as fantastic, she recounts that the IBDP students were an outstanding group who went to Cambodia with a positive attitude. The students always took care of each other and volunteered to help the camp supervisors and the community. As Miss Val recalls a surprise visit by a Cambodian undergraduate student who praised the IBDP students for their dedication in the humanitarian work done in the Beng Mealea primary school, she smiled and said that his words made the whole Cambodia trip worth it.

Besides the IBDP students, Miss Val expressed her gratitude to the camp hosts in Cambodia. The hosts were not only well trained and dedicated, but also warm and friendly throughout the whole trip. She believes that these little things made ‘goodbye moments’ unforgettable and believes that everyone in the trip: students, supervisors and camp staff have made strong and genuine connections with each other: one that will definitely last a lifetime.

Special thanks to the IBDP newsletter team 
Written by: Quek Siew Yean