Chub Primary School

June 23-July 3

Shahi gets a ride in the school courtyard from one of our favorite new friends, Terri. (Photo by Tanya Stevens)

Every morning, we load into a tour bus and travel for an hour over bumpy dirt roads to the remote village of Chub, where we are building a new classroom for the primary school. Our Global Education Network crew consists of twenty college students and faculty members from schools in four different countries--USA, Australia, Canada, and Singapore.

The 2019 GEN crew.

About three hundred children attend the school where we are working. The primitive cement classrooms surround a dirt courtyard where the children play at recess. Half the students attend in the morning and half in the afternoon, six days a week.

A wheel rim serves as the "bell" to signal the start of classes.

Our first task was to tear down the old classroom--a flimsy structure with dirt floors and a roof made of banana leaves.

The old classroom.

Over the next two weeks we constructed the new classroom, built of short brick walls covered in plaster and topped with wooden lattice. The sun was often brutal, and we had only the simplest tools to aid our labor. However, with many sets of willing hands, the classroom slowly became a reality.

Photo by Sokphea Te

Photo by Sokphea Te

Kayla laying bricks.

There was no stopping our little helpers.
 (Photo by Tanya Stevens)

Madi with an audience.

During the lunch break, or when not everyone was needed for the construction, we had the chance to get to know the students and teachers. Although we spoke only a few words of Khmer and they spoke only a few words of English, we both spoke the language of smiles and playground games.

Children compare the pencils we handed out.

Photo by Kayla Acosta

A crowd gathers to watch Madi draw.

Some of the GEN group relaxing in the hotel pool. (Photo by Kayla Acosta)

First day in Siem Reap

By Kayla Acosta
Saturday June 22, 2019

The "tuk tuk" is the taxi of Cambodia.

This morning we ate breakfast at the Angkor Miracle Hotel. After breakfast, we completed team building activities with the students and faculty members from Singapore, Australia, and Canada. We were able to learn each other’s names, find commonalities between one another, and had a bit of fun! We traveled to a local restaurant for lunch where we were treated with traditional Khmer food. After lunch, we piled on the bus for a day of learning about the Khmer culture through 4 site visits.

We arrived! Outside the Angkor Miracle hotel.

First, we visited the Angkor Silk Farm which was a bit of a drive from our hotel. At the silk farm, we were able to the process of how silk is made from the beginning of the process to the final product.

Silk worms on mulberry leaves. (Photo by David Chang Chiew Mun.)

Artisans working with silk thread.

Second, we went to Artisan’s D’Angkor which was a workshop where individuals work to create intricate wood carvings, stone carvings, and jewelry. Watching these individuals work with such diligence to create detailed pieces of art was eye-opening. The amount of patience and technique that goes into their craftsmanship was unbelievable.

Artisan carving stone.

Visitors could try carving stone themselves. Not as easy as the artisans make it look!

Third, the most compelling and thought-provoking visit was to that of the Killing Fields of Wat Thmey. This area was a somber reminder of the atrocities the Cambodians faced in the 70’s and standing on the grounds where thousands lost their lives for senseless reasons was an experience which will stay with me the rest of my life. We were told more by our tour guide about how his family survived during the war and more about the history.

The stupa at Wat Thmey into which remains of the killings were gathered to show respect. (Photo by John Blake.)

Last, we headed to Theam’s House which was filled with artwork and traditional Khmer artifacts.

Painting by Lim Muy Theam in his distinctive style.

The day was filled with new knowledge and insights into the struggles the Kingdom of Cambodia has faced. I am grateful to have been able to see these sights.

The Changi Oasis

We left the Cedar Rapids airport on Wednesday morning before 5 a.m. and didn't touch ground in Siem Reap until noon on Friday--a grueling 40+ hour trip. But in the midst of all the security lines, information kiosks, and cramped airplane seats, we landed for a few hours in the oasis of Changi Airport in Singapore.

Changi is a destination in itself. Our time there felt like a mini vacation to a spectacular resort rather than a layover--in part because we stayed at the luxurious Crowne Plaza Hotel connected to the airport. Bleary eyed as we were, we did our best to take in some of the airport's attractions--a lush indoor rain forest called Jewel, a spectacular light display at the world's largest indoor waterfall, elaborate sculptures made entirely of plants and flowers, a butterfly garden, free foot massage machines, and even an adorable self-propelled floor waxer.

We would have enjoyed staying longer and seeing more of Singapore--but we're exhausted, and Cambodia awaits.

From Kirkwood to Detroit to Tokyo to Singapore and finally to Cambodia!

I'm heading back to Cambodia with the Global Education Network, this time as Kirkwood's faculty leader. Two Kirkwood students are traveling with me, and they'll be helping write our blog.

Once again we will be building a classroom for a village school while experiencing the culture of Cambodia.

But first we have to get there! Our travel to Cambodia will take more than two days, including an overnight layover in Singapore. Luckily the Detroit airport has Zingerman's baked goods to give us energy for the journey.