“Schoolies” is usually associated with coastal holidays and parties, however two Gunnedah youth decided to take a different track and immerse themselves in the culture of Cambodia.
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Former St Mary’s College students Georgia Woodward and Carrie Leader signed up to spend 10 days participating in Catholic Mission Australia’s Immersion Program with teacher Karen Mooney and McCarthy Catholic College students and staff.
The group left Australia on December 8, beginning their journey in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, then headed south to the Takeo Province, then north again to Phnom Penh, Battambang and Siem Reap.
They spent a number of days at St Francis’ Professional High School where the students sat in on classes and helped in English lessons, which was both rewarding and challenging.
“It was very difficult because of the language barrier,” Georgia said.
“You get exhausted trying to communicate with them in a way they understand but it was really fulfilling as well.”
The girls said they bonded with the students and found they shared similarities.
“There was a Year 8 girl I got really close to. She was a lot like me but in Cambodia,” Georgia said.
“It was really weird to see how similar you are to kids basically your own age [in other cultures].
“They all had mobile phones and stuff and they were taking selfies with us as well.
“We were basically communing as equals, as friends the whole time.”
Despite the similarities, Georgia and Carrie said there was a great difference in culture, and the country is still deeply impacted by the trauma of the Khmer Rouge massacre.
When the group visited the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide (formerly S-21 Prison), Georgia said she felt “nauseated” and it was hard to wrap her head around the fact that the atrocities were carried out only 40 years ago.
“[There were] just layers and layers of skulls and bones,” Carrie said.
“The fields, you can still see the ditches where they put in the dead bodies.
“I mainly learnt that I’m very lucky to have the sort of things that we have today. That I haven’t had the trauma that some of those people went through. I’m lucky to be in a really safe country as well.”
Another difficult element of the trip was the reality of the severe poverty in Cambodia, which was particularly highlighted when they visited the Kampong Khlean Village.
Georgia said her first impression was the bad smell and the dilapidated buildings but when they visited the school, it altered her perspective.
“It was so happy even though it looked so bad,” she said.
“All those little kids with nothing to their name, but smiling at you.”
Despite the widespread poverty and lack of material possessions, Karen, Carrie and Georgia said the Cambodians maintained a deep sense of community, generosity, kindness and love.
“We get caught up in politics and what we have and what other people have,” Georgia said.
“The majority [of Cambodians] are poor so they don’t put much stock in that.
“They’d rather get to know you.”
Settled back in Australia, the trio said the journey was “life-changing” and recommended the program to future Year 12 students.
“It is a big challenge but it’s definitely worth the while going,” Carrie said.
“I’d definitely do it again if I could.
Georgia said the experience opened her mind and helped her to view life from different angles.
“[It’s] so much better than schoolies or whatever else you want to do, especially in this world today you’ve got to have a more open mind because you have no idea how other people live and how they feel,” she said.
“You can’t change everything about yourself… but I think mostly I’ve become way more aware.
“Don’t make yourself sad over not having the perfect clothes.
“Be happy with what you’ve got, no matter how little.”
