Ariel – G10
During this trip I really enjoyed the hotels that we stayed in. I also really enjoyed how organised the trip was. Waking up, then Tefillah, then breakfast and so on – although some parts were not as easy and as fun as others, such as waking up with teachers banging on our doors.
If I could have done one thing differently it would be to take more pictures of the environment and the sights when I had the chance. Looking back I realise how lucky I am to be able to visit countries like this with my school. Visiting Cambodia was a once in a lifetime trip, so I wish that I had taken more pictures to be able to look back on this experience in years to come.
Through this visit I have grown in my socialization and reflection skills. I was able to socialise more with people with who I do not usually interact. However, I learned more than just how to talk to new people. I also learned to reflect on activities we did and on my own actions. I learned to be more grateful for what I have, as well as knowing when to say yes or no to myself based on my reflection and analysis of the scenario.
This trip made me want to get even closer to my religion. Seeing different Jews from Cambodia and the Madrichim from Israel showed me another side of Judaism which I did not know about. It showed me how diverse we really are, through traditions and cultures. The feeling was overwhelming.
I’ve learned a lot, from absorbing the Cambodian Culture to practicing everyday skills. Overall it really made me realise who I am as a person, my identity. Visiting the local school, the Chabad Synagogue and the APOPO organisation made me realise how grateful I should be. One of my Summer Camp friends texted me “Where are you?” and then asked “What is Cambodia?” This really proved to me how lucky I am to be able to grow up in a country in Asia while also being able to visit countries which many other people do not even know about.
Rachelle – G10
I really loved all of the games I played with my friends and trying new things together. I still remember, I tried a lot of new things – like touching a rat, going on a zipline and exploring a Cambodian Night Market – which all made me feel different and helped me to improve my friendships with my classmates.
I feel that I developed my organisation and time management skills because I needed to do everything myself and talk to people in order to make my trip enjoyable. One thing I would change about this EV is my mindset on how I see myself and how I make friends because I have noticed that it’s easier than I think to reach out to others.
During this EV I learnt a lot of things – such as the history of Cambodia, how they live there and I really enjoyed learning about the culture. I learnt how rice is grown and produced and now I really see rice differently as I didn’t know it was that hard to produce the rice we see every day.
Ariel – G10
My time in Cambodia was very interesting and there were many things I enjoyed about the experience. The ziplining was what I personally found the most fun, despite my fear of heights. The twin zipline was the most fun of all, with my friend and I holding hands as we zipped across at the same time. I also found the market really enjoyable as I got to explore a new side of Cambodia alongside my friends.
I grew on this trip, becoming more empathetic and independent. I improved my relationships with members of my class and bonded with my friends over our shared experiences. This trip allowed me to face many things, most notably my phobia of heights. The zipline forced me to confront my apprehensions and I found that the fear was well worth the thrill of gliding over the treetops, admiring the Cambodian scenery from above. I now wish to fully conquer my fear and hope to go skydiving or bungee jumping sometime in the future.
I also learnt how truly lucky I am and how blessed my life in Hong Kong is. The conditions in Cambodia seemed almost unthinkable and uninhabitable to us – however, the people living there seemed content and happy with their lifestyle. This inspired me not to take things so much for granted and to live every moment as fully as possible.
Ayla – G9
There were many enjoyable highlights and experiences during this trip. Some of my favourite include the nature hike and the bike ride. There is a sense of exploration that tied into both activities and I found that valuable, especially when discovering places I had not been to.
One thing about the trip I wish to have done differently was to approach it with more gratitude. It was an eye-opening experience to see just how many people live with much fewer advantages than we do. It gives you a sense of purpose – an obligation to do something greater with your given privileges.
I learned how to develop deeper thoughtfulness, interpersonal connections and an understanding of international mindedness. New experiences like this push you to adapt to difficulties – for example, having our phones taken away was challenging but we ended up having meaningful conversations we wouldn’t have had if we had our phones.
One thing that truly set this trip apart from the others were the people we were with. The team from Justifi were all incredible people and we all formed bonds with them.
One thing I didn’t particularly enjoy was the visit to the Killing Fields. This isn’t to say that it wasn’t meaningful – because it was a truly crucial experience for all of us. To see how much suffering has occurred and how these people have built a new country after all of their hardships was very difficult. The Killing Fields were flourishing with plants despite having a dark history.
Sacha – G9
I enjoyed the fact that even in the worst moments and the darkest places there was always full transparency about what happened e.g. the Killing Fields and the Camp. I didn't expect to see photos or the bones of the people that died there. I also enjoyed the positivity of the Madrichim, even during the darkest times. I enjoyed all of the fun activities we did – including the zipline, the boat ride, the water buffalo cart and the bike riding.
One thing I would have changed was connecting more with where I was and what I did and focus more on it in the moment. I have grown mentally as I focused more on how privileged I am and how much I take things for granted – for example clean bathrooms, drinking water, a functioning roof and electricity. I would like to thank my parents a lot more for the life they have given me and how privileged I am.
We learnt about the atrocities committed during the Cambodian Civil War – talking about situations like the Killing Fields and concentration camps, which have occurred around the world and often go unnoticed and aren’t spoken about nearly enough.
Aline – G8B
I have come back from this educational visit with numerous good memories about all of the experiences. I enjoyed the Tonle Sap nature hike as it allowed me to explore Cambodia’s natural environment and Siem Reap’s “core”. I also noticed how each path has a similar view as Hong Kong. I also enjoyed the service project with a local school. I noticed that there were not "groups" in the school, they were a family – young and old were seen as equals.
Through this trip I have developed my social skills and, ironically, my responsibility skills. The first few days in Siem Reap, I was placed in a room with two girls – one of whom I wasn’t as close to before the trip. However, after bonding all day every day on the trip I have discovered a new and hopefully long-lasting friendship. I have improved my responsibility skills – learning that I need to stand up for myself and not be submissive and naive. I often find that I am better at taking responsibility in my academic life but I haven’t practiced this enough in social situations. One thing I want to change after the educational visit is my desire to make new friends by being authentic.
During this trip I learned about Cambodia’s culture and its horrible history of genocide. The genocide put into perspective just how much the Cambodian people have suffered and how they still find joy and happiness – they’re so welcoming even after very recently suffering so much at the hands of their own people.
Ofek – G8A
This year’s educational visit to Cambodia was a very impactful and meaningful experience. To list a couple of highlights – the bus rides, the trip to the orphanage, our zipline adventure and the biking. These experiences helped me develop new skills, including social skills as well as other new attributes. This trip allowed me to connect and interact with new people with whom I have never really interacted with before. I believe I should have taken more photos and captured more memories to look back on. One important skill which I have grown in is the time-management ATL. I exercised this by waking up on time and attending every activity on time. After seeing the conditions which the Cambodians live in, I want to raise money to help them. We learned about the Khmer Rouge and their terrible ways of government. This impacted me deeply – making me very grateful for where I live. Although it was difficult to comprehend, I believe it was an impactful experience.
Ayala – G8B
I really enjoyed this educational visit because of all of the new things I experienced. I loved working with, teaching and taking care of the kids in the orphanage. I loved learning about how giant rats can save lives. On the other hand, learning about the genocide in Cambodia was a heartbreaking experience – one that taught me how horrific human beings can be just to gain power. But we ended the trip on a high by going on a bike ride which was a fun, crazy and exciting experience. I am so grateful that during this time I was able to connect and grow with my friends and develop friendships with new people. Our Madrichim counselors made the trip for me.
This EV showed me how difficult life can be which makes me want to learn more. Even if I can’t change everyones’ lives, I can at least help someone out there and make a difference. During this trip I have learnt to be grateful for what I have.