Cambodia - May 2024

Boat ride on Mekong with Jodi and Ali

Kicking off our four month overseas trip, our first stop was eight days in Phnom Penh to finally see the EYC schools.  Shawna recently joined the board so we went to see the schools along with Jodi, Ali and Nancy, a friend of Ali's.  We flew from Dallas to Cambodia via Seoul, arriving late on the Monday evening so the next day we were able to relax and ease into things.

Accommodation

iRoha Garden Hotel - We had a really nice bedroom that was nicely appointed and had lots of room.  The hotel is really cute with lush gardens and a pool.  They also had a gym that was recently added so we were able to work out.  Breakfast was included so we ate here each morning as well.  Highly recommend this place.  

Pool at iRoha

Room at iRoha

Activity

We spent the majority of our time doing EYC activities.  We visited each of the three schools with the New School being the largest and is where the main office is.  Lakeside is smaller and broken up into a couple of small buildings and Aziza is in between the two in size.  We visited the classes - English, Computer and Leadership - and at the Leadership class, we had the students ask us questions that they had to prepare in advance. Shawna also spent time meeting with each of Raphael's direct reports while Keith spent time with Ali interviewing students and staff for additional stories to add to the communications.  We also spent time with staff at lunch, with alumni at lunch and dinner and with staff and student team leads on a boat ride that we took on the Mekong river.  

We attended the leadership class

It was so moving to finally see it all in action and in person.  The energy, passion and commitment that the staff and the students exhibit is infectious.  And of course, it so amazing to hear all of the success stories of former students who have gone on to do amazing things!  We both left feeling energized and in awe of what has been accomplished thus far!

Boat ride on Mekong with student team leaders

We had one day to do touristy things so we did a Genocide tour to visit the Killing Fields and the Toul Sleng Genocide museum.  It was very sobering to see this, especially after the uplifting week we just had but it's also an important piece of Cambodian history that is not to be missed.  We first visited the Killing Fields, located about 10 miles south of the city and walked around the mass graves - we were surprised to see that there are still many bone fragments and clothing that is still being exposed by erosion. We then went to the prison and got to meet a couple of the survivors.  The stories of the torture tactics and how so many were killed were brutal!

One of the mass graves at the Killing Fields

One of the buildings at the prison (Genocide Museum)

Restaurants

iRoha Garden Hotel - We had breakfast here each morning - they offered a nice variety of Western, Japanese and Khmer options.  We also had lunch and dinner here a couple of times - we tried several of the local dishes with the green curry and the cashew chicken being our favorites - food was yummy.

Kinin - We had dinner here with Raphael and his partner, Mariana.  Seating is outside and the food was tasty.

Malis Norodom - Nice restaurant. We had dinner here - sat outside. We shared several dishes for the table.  Food was very good.

Marugame Udon Tuol Kouk - We had lunch here with the staff - cool udon place near the office. 

Raffles Hotel Elephant Bar - We met Mona, one of the board members who is local, at the bar for a drink.  Had a great G&T.

Eleven One Kitchen - We had dinner here with several EYC alumni.  Sat outside again.  We ordered a bunch of dishes for the table - all tasty.

Khmer Surin - We had lunch here with a few more EYC alumni. Sat outside again and food was also tasty. 

Le Langka - The two of us had dinner here our last night.  It was nice to take a break from Cambodian food.  We had a yummy risotto and fish dish.  Cute restaurant and food was very good. 

Dinner at Le Langka