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CAMBODIA & LAOS 2006/2007

Mr. Topping, Ms. Giles and Mr. Laudadio eagerly boarded the plane to Cambodia and Laos with eighteen senior high students over their spring break. Emotions were running high - what would they discover on their exploration of this country which has such a troubled and tumultuous history? Yes, certainly our ITS group were affected by the unspeakable atrocities that Cambodia has endured. However, and more important, the undeniable charm of Cambodia and Laos has left an indelible mark on their memories.

"The most significant part of the trip for me was seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat. It was a great honor for me to see Anghor Wat - a once in a lifetime opportunity. Most people cannot afford to do a trip like this. It is just amazing that I had the chance to go to South East Asia, let alone to see this amazing and astonishing temple that was built long ago and is still in good condition. I will never forget my time in Cambodia and Laos and feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to go. While seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the World was very significant to me, the effect that this trip has left on me was one of surprise. I witnessed the poverty that is happening in Asia but to my surprise the people are not upset with their living conditions. Rather, they are happy and proud people even though they have little more than their own garden and basic shelter. They did not have a lot of money, but it was enough for them. In our country we are so driven by money and the collection of wealth - seeing these cultures opened my eyes and helped me realize how others live".

"This spring break I was fortunate to travel to Cambodia and Laos. I spent many months prior to my trip, attending meetings and learning about the culture that I was going to experience, but pictures on the Internet, handouts and power points did not even come close to actually experiencing the culture first hand. I have been lucky to have traveled in my life and have experienced many amazing things, but this trip was a truly life-changing experience. The Asian culture is so unique and different from ours - it was refreshing to experience different customs and religions, and gain a new perspective and outlook on life. Our trip was jam packed with events, none of which I will ever forget. But the experience that sticks out the most in my mind is the days spent working at the orphanage. We were given the opportunity to paint a playground that Calgary Academy had donated, build a fence, and put in a drainage system. The children lived in rooms with up to four people in them, but they were so happy and thankful for everything that it amazed me. They showed me just how fortunate I am and how thankful I should be for everything in my life. Our society is so consumed with wealth, power and success we often forget to sit down and reflect upon the things we are grateful for. These children were a great inspiration to me and the positive impact they left with me will stay for a lifetime".