July 2010
2 posts
travel guides: security blanket or godsend?
Fodors, National Geographic, Lonely Planet, Rick Steves, Time Out. All are indispensable travel guides for your journey to X, Y, or Z, depending on your age/budget.
I won’t lie, I’m a huge fan of travel guides. Who isn’t? They plainly outline the most efficient use of your funds to provide you with the best food and accommodations possible. For just 15-30 dollars, you can receive advice on...
book review
I’d like to share a little bit about a book I’ve been reading.
Its called First They Killed My Father, and an autobiographical account of a young girl’s life during the Pol Pot regime in the mid to late Seventies, told from her perspective as a child. [History in a nutshell depending on what your awareness/age is: Pol Pot was a tyrant who ushered in an incredibly oppressive...
June 2010
14 posts
isabelfromtexas asked: Since you don't allow the option to comment on posts, I'm resorting to the "ask" option as my means of telling you that your post on expats and the American Way is on point! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I think a lot of other people will too! well done girl friend :)
in the jungle, the mighty jungle
Last weekend we took a trip with one of Pepy’s junior highs to the River of the 1000 Lingas and an animal conservation center run by a German NGO nearby. Cambodia’s jungles have been mostly cut down in the past fifty years, with about 70 percent less jungle in the country than in years before. While the temple areas are a bit more lush than other areas, this was my first real trip to...
the case of the american expat
expatriate (k-sptr-t): a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person’s upbringing or legal residence
As an ephemeral resident of both the UK and Cambodia for the better part of the year thus far, I fall under the label of expat, or expatriate. And more specifically, an American expat. As I’ve come to learn during my time as such,...
snakes and islands
Last weekend, my fellow new Pepy interns and I headed off to the Cambodia coastline in search of good snorkeling (and diving, for the more adventurous,) and tanning.
After a pleasant night bus to Sihanoukville, Cambodia’s premier (and only) commercial beach city, we went straight to our diving company, where they took us to the harbor and we boarded a giant former fishing boat now used for...
isabelfromtexas asked: how much do you miss isabel chirase?
1 tag
deconstructing the paradigm of voluntourism
Here at PEPY, we are encouraged to regularly and continually scrutinize our efforts to “make a difference.” In this charity-happy culture of a myriad of individuals looking for their way to change the world, the communities and issues at hand are often forgotten, and the volunteer becomes number one. The voluntourism movement has become known for being a move in the right direction,...
1 tag
sunrises and sunsets
So in the hectic shuffle that is my internship and life with PEPY, I almost forgot that I’m still a tourist here in Siem Reap. So my fellow interns and I made plans to do the tourist thing and go to the temples at sunrise.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat was beautiful and serene. This portion of the temples is the oldest of the whole complex, built for the Hindi god Vishnu in the 12th century. It...
1 tag
one for the foodies
this:
is rambutan. very popular here. sort of looks like a cross between a sea urchin and bart simpson’s hair. however, inside you’ll find a yummy fruit that is something akin to lychee or mango. i will admit that i was a little intimidated by its appearance..it is one fierce fruit. but unfortunately due to US customs this one won’t be making it back to the states with me..
still unsure as to what exactly im doing here? →
click the above title to check out this excellent short documentary on voluntourism
1 tag
the early bird catches the worm
Hello from Siem Reap! I arrived two days ago after my long-ish flight from LA and have jumped right into life here at Pepy! As interns are employed on a rolling calendar, another intern left yesterday to return to her home country of Colombia, so my first day was full of goodbye/welcome staff gatherings. Its been quite a whirlwind since arriving but I’m enjoying every bit of it.
That is...
May 2010
2 posts
PEPY →
Here is a link for the NGO I’ll be working with. Click on the above “PEPY” link to visit their website. I’m looking forward to exploring my passion for education, cycling, and service with PEPY!
Leaving on a Jet Plane
Off to the airport later today to depart for Siem Reap! Trying to figure out this blog before I leave but to no avail. Not quite tumblr-savvy yet. Will post much more upon my arrival in Cambodia!