![]() ![]() It can be frustrating and anxiety-inducing to try to desperately grasp for the lyrics of a song you thought you knew, all the while knowing that your struggle and any blunders you make are on display for all to witness. I know that some people find karaoke to be quite intimidating. Group picture of SFS and CTU students at the barbecue These are the kind of moments I will value the most from my time spent on this program: the kinds of experiences that are totally unpredictable, might be a little uncomfortable, but most importantly, involve a genuine connection. Daddy Yankee (which no one could actually sing along to because it turns out it’s surprisingly difficult to keep up with the pace of the Spanish rap verses), One Thing by One Direction, and Hit Me Baby One More Time by Britney Spears, to passionate Vietnamese ballads. Song choices ranged from modern pop classics that everyone could sing along to, such as Shape of You by Ed Sheeran, Despacito by Luis Fonsi ft. Even after the barbecue officially ended, several CTU and SFS students stayed around and started singing karaoke. are like, and of course taking selfies with us. The students from Can Tho University are lively, friendly, and outgoing, interested in learning more about us and what our experiences in the U.S. ![]() ![]() ![]() One of the highlight experiences for all of us was a barbecue that we had with students from Can Tho University, where we stayed for several days in the international students’ dorms. I believe all personal growth necessitates the courage to take risks and step outside our comfort zone in this case, the destabilization that comes with our transition to Vietnam provides us with the opportunity to achieve this particular kind of growth by practicing the real work of engaging wholeheartedly with difference. I like to imagine that the act of empathizing with other individuals and engaging with other cultures is a way of accumulating lenses in a mental toolbox that enhances our understanding by allowing us to view the world from a multitude of perspectives. Crossing into Vietnam gives us a new vantage point and sheds light on aspects of Cambodian culture we may not have noticed before through illuminating contrasts. Yet, it is exactly this disorientation and confusion that lends this portion of our program so much value. By the point in the semester when Cambodia has truly started to feel comfortable and like a new home, suddenly you’re in a new country with a new language you don’t understand and new cultural norms to adjust to. Travelling to Vietnam is exciting, but it can also be challenging. Despite the close proximity of these two neighboring Southeast Asian nations, they are quite distinct culturally. The transition from Cambodia to Vietnam is abrupt. Looking for birds in the melaleuca forest at Tra Su Nature Reserve in Vietnam We just returned from our second trip, in which we traveled to the southern coast of Cambodia, and then crossed the border into Vietnam for about a week before flying back from Ho Chi Minh City. One of the most exciting aspects of the SFS Cambodia semester program is when we pack our bags (hopefully waterproofed) and travel via plane, bus, and boat for our two long trips away from our Center in Siem Reap. ![]()
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