Notre Dame University students spend weekend in Phnom Penh

COUNTRY: Cambodia
PROGRAM: UniBreak Groups
PROJECT: Exercise Physiology
WRITTEN BY: Brent Luckman, Notre Dame University

The start of our third week in Cambodia saw us making the most of our weekends off with the decision made to go to the capital, Phnom Penh for 2 nights (except Matthias, he stayed in Siem Reap for a “French club” gathering).

Phnom Penh is a completely different city to Siem Reap. It is a massive city with high-rise buildings and apartment blocks stretching in every direction. It is also the site of the most well known “Killing Fields” and S21 prison in Cambodia. We spent Saturday morning visiting both of these sites and I know I can speak for everyone in the group when I say both of these places really opened our eyes. We might have thought we knew a bit about Cambodia’s recent history with the Khmer Rouge but none of us were prepared for what we were exposed to at the Killing Fields and S21. It’s hard to describe to someone who hasn’t been there, but it’s definitely a place that people should put on their bucket list, because it was like nothing I've ever done.

On the bus ride back home every person was silent after what we had just experienced. We eventually perked back up, and went to have sunset drinks on a rooftop bar overlooking the Tonle Sap River, before heading out to a couple of Phnom Penh’s nightclubs. The bus ride back the next day was a nightmare. Hangovers, gravel roads, traffic jams and 7 hours trapped on a bus is not a fun mix, especially when the guy next to you (Jacob) drools on you every time he falls asleep.

The start of the working week was no different to the others, as we continued at our second placement in the rotation. On Wednesday we returned to the school to exercise the morning group of students. While the kids might have been different from the week before, the result was the same. Absolute mayhem, but fun from the first minute until the last. The highlight was probably the accidental formation of 2 soccer gangs that was produced from the kids being split into either team Moi (1) or Be (2), and the continuous chanting that followed.

Friday turned out to be a public holiday in Cambodia, so we made the most of a rare opportunity to sleep in, before once again hitting up Pub Street at night.

Another week has flown by in our trip, with our departure next Friday after our final week of work. Its hard to believe that we have been here for 3 weeks already!