Alex in Cambodia
Bucket List (Cambodia Style)
I am sure many people have heard that tik tok noise "If I had a nickel for every time this happened, I would have 2 nickels, but it is weird it would happen twice". Well I think about that tik tok noise with some of the things that I have randomely experienced in Cambodia. Think of it like a Cambodia bucket list. I have loved every moment, but for sure if I had a nickel for every unusual experience I have had, I would be a rich woman! These are in no particular order and some are just good memories.
01
Fully Participated in a Khmer Wedding
February 2024: was only at my house for two months and then went to another province because a relative was getting married. Wedding included sleeping on the ground with 50 random peoplem waking up at 3:30am to get my makeup done, and music blasting until well into the night.
02
Ran a Half Marathon
December 2024: ran a half marathon with my Peace Corps bestie Kyle. Didn't train at all before the race. My legs were dead at the end. Took my taxi home and met a lady in my taxi who wanted me to see her house. Taxi driver took us all to her house and I met her mother, husband, and son and they gave me food before leaving. All while I felt dead from running. Cambodian hospitality is unmatched.
03
Met Famous Cambodian Rappers
May 2025: Went to a concert with friends I met in my town. I was already fans of these artists so it was a super fun concert. My friend was determined to meet the rappers after the concert. Went backstage after everyone left and met Vannda, Norith, Yuuhai, Norith, and Dj Kdep (all the Cambodian rappers).
04
Ended up at a farm... during school
June 2024: My school director asked if I wanted to join some students going on a field trip to another school to see their garden. We did in fact go to the school, but ended up continuing to go deeper into the rural area looking for a farm "with fruit". We ended up at this farm for the students to know about farm production. All was great except I was supposed to meet a Peace Corps staff member at a coffee shop and so I had to call him from the middle of a field in a farm in the rural area saying that I could not come. We were gone for 2 hours.
05
Fell off a swing set
June 2024: About 2 weeks before the farm field trip, I was on the swings at the primary school near my house with my little host sister. My host sister said "look Alex no hands!" and I said "look me too!" I didn't realize how much higher I was than she. Fell face down on dirt and pebbles. badly scraping my face. Woke up the next day with half my face swollen and my eye shut. I tried to go to school to teach with band-aids on my face and my school director sent me home and made me rest for a week.
06
Went on stage during Khmer New Year
April 2025: Khmer New Year is one big country party. We had a meet-up in the provincial town to spray water. We also went to the local concert where we made it up on stage dancing to the Khmer music. I came back to school on Monday hearing from students at my house and at school that they saw me. Not embarassed by my dance moves but this shows you: you never know who is there!
07
Learned how to gut fish
May 2024: My host family sometimes sells smoked fish (there is a high demand because it is a long process to make yourself). They taught me how to cut the small fish, gut them, and skewer them to smoke. Was a hard thing to do at first because I had been a vegetarian for 6 years before coming to Cambodia. There is a first time for everything!
08
Joined the Small Grants Committee (and was appointed chairwoman)
July 2024 to now: Joined the grants committee, work with the most awesome people. Got to help lead Project Design and Management workshop for the new volunteers. We work hard but the work pays off!
09
Biked 12km in jean overalls and 108 degree weather
May 2024: I know it was a mistake. It was the hottest day yet (however in 2024 the hottest day I experienced was 117) and we had a cookout at school because it was a holiday and then I biked to meet my host family in the hometown house. Honestly a 6/10 experience. It was hot but I survived. I also have been called crazy because I still do wear jeans when it is 100 degrees outside.
10
Went on the Ultimate Khmer Family Trip
November 2024: 30 people (all neighbors of my niece) packed into a small bus. I was just along for the ride. Literally never knew where we were going or what we were doing. I just knew the bare minimum so I could report Whereabouts. Went to the beach and swam in my clothes Khmer style. Had many picnics on the side of the road.
11
School Birthday Party
November 2024: Something so small but at the same time one of the days that I will cherish forever. All the teachers met at the school on our day off and surprised me with a cake for my birthday. I was just so happy.
12
Helped Build a Basketball Court
April 2025: Completed my grant of building a basketball court at my school. Was a very long application process plus fundraising plus building but we did it! Now I play sports with the students and teachers at my school.
13
Finished a Full Year of Teaching
November 2024: Before starting the new school year, we celebrated the end of the previous school year. I completed one year of teaching!
14
Christmas in Cambodia
December 2024: Was missing Christmas a lot with my family in the US, so we did Christmas in Cambodia. We watched some Christmas movies, had hot chocolate, and the kids got some gifts! As per usual with kids and gifts, I had to make sure everyone had the same amount of gifts because they all counted how many each person got.
15
Went to See Angkor Wat (1st time)
August 2024: I have been to Angkor Wat and the Siem Reap temples a couple of times now, but you never forget your first visit. Angkor Wat is incredible (and it was a special visit for Alia coming back to visit Cambodia). This was also the only time I have seen the sunrise over Angkor Wat because we had to wake up at 4:45.
16
Traditional Dress with Family
November 2024: With my host family we went back to Siem Reap for a holiday day and while there we dressed in the traditional/ancient clothes to take pictures at the temples. A lot of Cambodians do this and so it was a nice memory to have with my family.
17
Participated in a Field Day
May 2024: There is a Japanese NGO that sometimes comes to my school because they paid for a new building (which I taught in in the new school year). They also come to do field/sports days with the students and I get to join. Another day that seems so small but I was just so happy.
18
Laughed with my students
All the time: Teaching can sometimes be tiring because of the hours and the energy of being at a primary school (imagine being followed by 10-20 little 6 year olds always). But also I love being at the primary school and the energy the students give. Wouldn't trade it for the world.
19
Learned Khmer
In the Process: I can speak it at an intermediate middle level and I am currently learning to read Khmer (still at grade level 1 because I took a break from learning to read for a little bit). Starting to study hard again, I am DETERMINED!
20
Found My Second Family
Always: It was actually hard to find a picture with most of us in it, but you know what they say: the people you love the most you have the least amount of pictures with. My Khmer family is my family and they will be my family forever.
21
I am home
Now: This is actually the longest I have stayed in one place in a long time. High school we moved, college I moved every year and every summer. I finally feel at home.
22
On a hunt for durian
May 2025: Went on a very long drive to Samlot, Battambang to find some durian to pick for ourselves to eat. I went with some friends I made in my town. Did we find durian to pick? No. Did it rain? yes. There were durian sellers but none of the durian was ripe. It was not a wasted trip though because I love being in the car and watching the countryside and spending time with friends.
