#loop abroad

In this picture from Elephant Nature Park (though taken by the volunteers from Loop Abroad), we see two packys enjoying themselves a nice snack.

A really spectacular way to contribute locally is by acting globally. Experiencing, understanding and developing an appreciation for other cultures benefits you, your community, and the culture you’re exploring.

Let me start by saying, I know that often there are serious obstacles when it comes to traveling or studying abroad while you’re in high school or even college and this chapter, admittedly, may not be something that everyone can just go out and do. I considered this when deciding whether to include this chapter in the book, but my experiences in Thailand and Cambodia are just too important to leave out. Also, I want to encourage you to be proactive about seeking funding for a trip if it’s something important to you. Lots of travel organizations offer scholarships if you ask, and I know many people who fundraised for their travels. If it’s something you want, you can find a way to make it happen.

At my school students are required to submit a junior project. This is usually a two-week internship project and a school presentation. For my internship, I chose to volunteer in Cambodia for two weeks with an organization call Loop Abroad. Loop Abroad takes very small groups of high school students from all over the country to Thailand and Cambodia to volunteer and experience different cultures.

There were three other students in my group and, along with two teachers; we spent about a week volunteering at the new Elephant Nature Park near Siem Reap and about a week volunteering at the SCAO orphanage in Phnom Penh (shamelessly: click here to donate to SCAO). My experiences in Cambodia were incredibly eye opening and became a sort of call to action in my decision to write this book.

At the Elephant Nature Park we lived in a village among the workers, who were helping to build the park, and their families. During most days we planted Acacia seeds in the nursery. Acacia seeds grow fast, elephants eat the leaves, and they provide shade, but they are terrible for building so the loggers don’t bother to cut them down. In other words, the perfect sustainable food for elephants!

The days were long and hot and after spending the day planting trees in the nursery, we’d have dinner with the villagers. On the first night we learned that after dinner we were expected to teach English to the children in the village. I know this seems doable, but let me tell you, at this point in the trip we’d been in Cambodia for maybe a full day and we were all horribly jet-lagged and the last thing we wanted to do was spend even another minute anywhere but in bed under our mosquito nets.

There was a collective groan. No one said it, but I could tell we all felt like we had nothing left in the tank. The heat, even after sundown, was stifling and inescapable and the bugs were just relentless. I decided to leave our hut to see if there was any way to put the English lesson off, just for tonight, but on my way out I noticed that a few of the village elders had already brought lanterns and homemade bug candles to the table and that all of the children were on their way over with notebooks and pens.

I realized then that we were basically all they had, and possibly their only real connection to the Western world. And that, no matter how jet-lagged we were, we would be what they thought of when someone mentioned America. There was a lot riding on those English lessons and even more on what we did for that week in the village. I needed to make sure we were at our best.

I went back to the hut and started a water fight to try and wake everyone up. They were annoyed at first, but finally made it out of the hut to get me back. One they were up and about again, the English lesson sort of flew by. We never talked about it but I know everyone else realized the importance of showing up that first night.

Five Months

Today marks exactly five months since I left the comforts of home. It was then that I gathered my (big hunk of) belongings and got in the car to drive far away from Fresno, California. The next day I climbed up the metal stairs to the airplane that would take me across the Pacific Ocean to the hemisphere that I now call home. The east is where I plan to stay - for at least a while.

Five months ago I left the United States to forge my post-grad life in a different direction and Australia was the first stop. Hardly unfamiliar, Perth quickly became home. It opened its wide arms and welcomed me into the world of sunshine, Sunday sessions and, unfortunately, $10 beers. Two and a half months and a much lighter wallet later, it was time to move on. Finally, I would return to Thailand - the place where I vowed I would return to for years. It was hard at first, but things got easier as such things do.

That's where I last left off. After only the first two weeks in Bangkok - which is now two months in the past. Looking at the date, I'm beyond awestruck that it is already August and, in fact, over a year since I graduated from UCLA. It seems as if my entire life is a messy web of geographic connections and expanses of time - I visualize it as maps layered in calendars with days ticked off, either awaiting my next trip or checking the one at hand.

So, what's happened in the last two months? I've...

Taught English to some amazing 3 to 18-year olds in a very small village outside of Phnom Penh (including a handful of monks)

Explored Cambodia's capital city and the many bars and clubs that it has to offer

Visited the spectacular Temples of Ankor in Siem Reap

Chilled out on the beach in Sihanouk Ville

Purchased more pairs of "hippie pants" than I care to admit

Crossed from Cambodia to Thailand via an overland border crossing

Hung out for a couple more weeks in Bangkok

Worked as a teacher/counselor at an amazing camp in northern Thailand geared toward American teenagers (check out Loop Abroad's blog!)

Made a lot of extra-large friends after a week at Chiang Mai's Elephant Nature Park

Got situated into life as an expat in Chiang Mai