Volunteer Abroad in Vietnam and Cambodia

My Favorite Memory:
In Vietnam I lived in a big house with a bunch of other volunteers and staff, and I LOVED it! There was always someone around to talk to or spend time with, and everybody was so nice to one another. Also, there were always Vietnamese volunteers around to help with translations, and I ended up getting to know them really well.

In Cambodia, my favourite memory is working with the kids at the orphanage. They were some of the most wonderful children I’ve ever met, and always happy to see new people.

I was surprised that….
people in Vietnam were so welcoming and so willing to help me with anything I needed. the kids at the orphanage in Cambodia had so much energy and were so happy all the time.

The most difficult thing I experienced was….
finding clothes that fit in Vietnam! (I’m pretty tall.) I wasn’t allowed to try on clothes in some shops because the shopkeepers were afraid I’d stretch them out. One storekeeper actually kicked me out of the store because she said I was “too big” for everything! the lonliness I felt during my first couple of weeks in Cambodia. I had come from a big house full of volunteers in Vietnam and was now living with a host family who didn’t speak much English. They were wonderful, but it took me some time to adjust to the change.

My best received lesson…
I learned that there are so many ways to communicate other than just through language! My host mother and I had some great (and hilarious) conversations using gestures and drawing pictures! And the children at all my placements didn’t care whether you spoke their language or not, they just wanted to play with you!

Tip for future volunteers… (Clothing, travel, personal items, donations, sightseeing etc)
I think the best advice I can give is to pack light! I thought I WAS packing light, and I ended up giving away clothes in each country. You’ll want to have room for any souvenirs you pick up, and you don’t want to be lugging around too much if you plan to travel afterwards.

Also, as tempting as it may be, it’s not a good idea to give money to anybody who begs for it (including children) on the street. Doing so encourages them to keep doing it as a way to make money.

Personal Paragraph (Testimonial)
I ended up having an amazing time in Vietnam and Cambodia, and am still in touch with the people I met while there. I felt like I was well taken care of by the staff on site, and really appreciated that Sarah checked in with me during my time in each country to see if I was all right and if there was anything I needed. Both countries ended up feeling like home by the end of my time there, and it was really difficult to leave! I’m already planning another volunteer trip for next year!

Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?
Absolutely!