GCP 2015
CAMBODIA
High School Trip to Cambodia By Derek O’Malley Day 1 Arrival in Siem Reap
Day 5 Beng Mealea Temple / Campfire
Day 2 Angkor Temple / Cambodian Dance
Day 6 Depart from Camp / Cambodian Circus
Day 3 Service Learning / Discussion
Day 7 Floating Village / Departure
Day 4 Service Learning / Bracelet Making
GCP Cambodia was a six-day, service-learning and cultural exchange program in the city of Siem Reap and in Beng Mealea village. Students participated in activities ranging from teaching English lessons to digging compost pits, from visiting thousand-year-old temples to watching acrobatic performances. Students included nine boys and three girls from 10th, 11th and 12th grades, chaperoned by four APIS teachers. During the group’s first full day, we visited the main Angkor site, including Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm, and Angkor Wat. These UNESCO World Heritage sites were built during the 12th and 13th centuries and help to show students the might and beauty of the Khmai Empire, as well as the frailty of civilization and worldly achievement. Through our tour, students learned about Cambodian history, art, and culture. Later in the week, we visited the temple of Beng Mealea, which is located about an hour-anda-half from Siem Reap, and just down the road from the village where we performed our service-learning. Beng Melea village is next to the sacred Phnom Kulen mountain. The people are warm, welcoming, and ready to engage with students in English lessons and cultural exchanges. Students took turns teaching lessons to village children, while the rest of the group began construction of a sidewalk at the local school. This sidewalk is needed because during the rainy season students have to walk through mud to get from one class to another, dirtying their uniforms and ruining the school yard. We also helped construct compost pits, which aid in reducing environmental degradation and promotes permaculture in the community. Additionally, we played with children and learned about some of the issues facing our hosts. To finish the week, we returned to Siem Reap to attend a fantastic circus. Cambodian performers undergo years of exercise, acting preparation, and interpretive dance training before stunning audiences with their theatrics. We also visited a floating village near the Tonle Sap Lake and went to a silk farm. Finally, students were able to go to a night market to buy souvenirs or to relax with a foot massage. Throughout the week, students enjoyed the delicious Cambodian food, which was offered in abundance. Many students also drank their fill of sugar cane juice and fresh lime sodas. They had the opportunity to relax by the hotel pool in Siem Reap, or play sports in Beng Mealea.
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