"It's the only place to go!" -Melanie

As we hit the halfway point of the term dubbed by Sheldon as “Kra-May Term,” Melanie reflects back on the land of karmas that will likely continue to color her life experiences for years to come.

After sitting down for a little chat with Melanie about her life now and reflections on her experience in Cambodia, I’ve gathered a few of the highlights of her thoughts as I see them.

On SST

“I think that SSTers are really just student ambassadors, or student observers. We were going as representatives of the West more than anything else, and it became important for me to do that well.”

What would Cambodians say about the West after meeting the GC Cambodia SST group?

“I hope they would say we are friendly and curious. They might say we were strange because I think sometimes they devalue their culture. They think we’re strange for being curious about them when they’re so curious about us.”

If a student told you they were considering Cambodia for SST and asked for your thoughts, what would you say?

“Yes, definitely go, it’s the only place to go.”

What does SST teach?

“To be, you know, global citizens.

“I think that a lot of times Goshen students can become anti-American to a certain extent and I think in our group we found an increased understanding and value of our own culture, our own politicians, and I think that’s especially important for Christian students to realize.”

What was one of the hardest parts of SST?

“Being sick.

“And, at the times during service when it wasn’t as active as I thought it could be; and then I felt like I was wasting more time and money then I could have been at home.”

What do you miss about Cambodia?

“I miss the unfamiliarities in things. In certain ways, I know what to expect here. There, there was a surprise in most days. Learning experiences were much more defined.”

On the effects of SST

“I don’t think there’s one big thing I do dramatically differently as a result of SST.

“I think it’s kind of a myth that people change dramatically.”

Questions people ask most often since your return

“How is the adjustment back here going?

“What was the food like?”

What are some things that get missed in brief discussions with others about your experience?

“When I think of Cambodia, one of the first things that comes to mind is the Khmer Rouge, but that’s awkward and lengthy and no one knows anything about it. So I would have to start at the very beginning [to be able to talk about that].

“I don’t usually discuss the historical and cultural context of Cambodia. Or what it was like to hear survival stories [from the Khmer Rouge period].

“Or, when people ask ‘Are the people there poor?’ I can’t usually explain why. I just have time to answer, ‘Yeah, the people are poor, they eat only rice.’”

Melanie is currently enjoying Kra-May Term by gazing at the stars for her Descriptive Astronomy class which will fulfill the science requirement for her degree (Art Education). She is also taking an upper-level drawing class for one credit hour every afternoon. If she’s not drawing or learning about astronomy, she might be found hanging out with Adelphian.