By Nidhi (11F)

This summer, some of us had the opportunity to go to Cambodia with World Challenge.

Cambodia is in Southeast Asia, and during the two weeks we spent there, we learned about the country’s rich culture and everyday life. World Challenge takes students to destinations they might not usually visit on holiday, where they volunteer, explore cities and trek through diverse landscapes. We visited local markets and learned how to haggle, explored temples and experienced everyday Cambodian life. One highlight was visiting a banana plantation, where we saw elephants in their natural habitat. We also visited a sun and moon bear sanctuary and learned about the work being done to protect these animals. The trip gave us opportunities to become more independent as we planned our days, booked activities and managed the budget. This involved making decisions as a group and learning to work together.

During the trip, we also made new friends, formed closer connections and tried activities we might never previously have considered, and pushed us out of our comfort zone as we tried new foods, met new people and experienced a completely different way of life.

It was one of the most memorable two weeks of our lives and an amazing opportunity that we will never forget.