Alumni Archives - ��Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh

Where are they now?

Nebojsa T — Thu, 28 May 2026 08:15:01 +0000

Alumni Interview: Mugabi Byenkya

Class of 2010 | Years at ��Vlog 2001 – 2005

I am an award-winning writer, editor, performer, rapper and interdisciplinary artist. Currently based in Kampala, Uganda, where I work as a business manager for an apartment complex. I wear many hats and also act as my own manager, publicist and booking agent for my artistic career. My artistic practice exists across nonfiction, fiction, poetry, comics, theatre and music. My writing is used to teach High School English in Uganda, Canada and the UK.

I have received residencies, fellowships, grants and awards from: Writivism; Realwheels Theatre; Unlimited and The British Council; The Goethe-Institut; and MacDowell, among others.

Currently, I’m back in Cambodia for the first time since my family left in 2005. It’s surreal being back and seeing how much has changed. It took me two weeks to settle in and accept Cambodia as it is now, rather than what it was in my memory. It’s changed so much I don’t recognise it anymore, and I have had to learn the new city and country. I’ve been enjoying: spending time with my brother Victor who works at ��Vlog; reconnecting with my friends from ��Vlog who are in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap; exploring Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battambang; performing at my first ever show in Cambodia which was the homecoming and welcome back I didn’t know I needed; eating all the Khmer food I missed; attending an ��Vlog Alumni reunion for the first time ever, meeting ��Vlog Alumni from after my time in ��Vlog, finally being able to participate in something I’d only seen in pictures, and having great conversations with those I shared time with ��Vlog and those I didn’t; finally meeting Neb [��Vlog Alumni Relations Officer] in-person after exchanging emails for the past 7 years; visiting the ��Vlog new campus and facilitating two expansive writing workshops with Grade 6 which was so much fun; being interviewed by The Grapevine (��Vlog’s student podcast and newspaper); participating in The Alumni Café and being blown away by the students insight; touring the school and seeing the spectacular Black Box Theatre in particular, as well as meeting all of Victor’s friends on ��Vlog staff who I’d heard so much about.

I’m off to the US for two artist residencies after five weeks in Cambodia, and this trip has been everything I wanted, needed and more. Cambodia has changed, ��Vlog has changed, my friends have changed, but it will always be home.

My full-length works are:

“Dear Philomena,” published by Discovering Diversity Publishing in 2017. My award-nominated, Ugandan bestselling debut novel-memoir.
“Songs For Wo(Men) 2” released by Hello America Stereo Cassette in 2022. My award-nominated, label-best-selling debut mixtape.
“Songs For Wo(Men)”, published by The Sheffield Chapbooks, an imprint of Gordon Hill Press in 2024. My debut chapbook.

In addition to my full-length works, I have work published in Carte Blanche, Best Canadian Poetry and Skin Deep, along with over 40 other international publications and anthologies. I have been interviewed on Voice of America, NTV Uganda, and Brittle Paper, along with over 100 other international media outlets. I tour extensively, performing across over 50 cities, in six countries, on three continents. I am also a writing and performance workshop facilitator for students ranging in age from 7 – 65 at universities, schools and institutions.

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

The post Where are they now? appeared first on ��Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

Where are they now?

Nebojsa T — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 02:11:07 +0000

Alumni Interview: Clara Kim

Class of 2014 | Years at ��Vlog 2012 – 2014

This is Clara Kim from the Class of 2014! After graduating from ��Vlog, I went to the US to attend a small liberal arts university called . I majored in mathematics and economics (with a minor in business). I worked for a few years as a financial crime analyst at an investment bank before moving to London to earn my master’s in statistics two years ago. I’m currently working as a quants analyst at a consulting firm.

Outside of work, I love to dance. I was part of a Cambodian traditional dance troupe in the US and I’ve been taking salsa and bachata classes for the past two years in London.

I also love to cook and share my love for Cambodian food with people. I’ve been working at different food festivals and pop-ups in London and I hosted my very first supper club to raise funds for a nonprofit in London last week.

My mother also recently released a memoir (which includes 20+ recipes) this year called Slow Noodles, which recounts her life as a Cambodian refugee who loses everything and everyone – home, family and country. So, I’ve been heavily involved with that project as well.

What years and grades did you attend ��Vlog?
I attended ��Vlog between 2012 and 2014 (Grades 11 and 12).

Where do you reside now?
I’m currently living in London! I’ve been here for two years and have loved every second of it.

Name the places you have lived in. Which was your favourite country to live in and why?
Cambodia, USA, Hungary and England. Phnom Penh will always be home but London is probably my favourite city to live in. It is a melting pot of different cultures, ethnicities and identities. I think it is a place where anyone can belong, no matter where you’re from or what you love to do. But if you absolutely hate rainy and gloomy weather, this might not be the place for you.

What did you miss most about living in Cambodia when you moved?
My family. And the food! I learned to cook when I left home because Cambodian food is not very accessible outside of Cambodia (except for maybe in some parts of the US like California and Massachusetts). But I also miss the culture and being able to speak Khmer freely.

What is your favourite ��Vlog memory?
They say that those who suffer together, bond together. I actually miss the late evenings and Saturdays when we’d come into the art studio to complete a project (go Mr Dara!). Those were the times I bonded the most with some of my classmates.

Game day on the last day of school. Every student was put into a different team (aka mascots) and earned points by competing in different challenges. Go Tigers! (We won that day)

What are five things you wish you knew in secondary about life after graduation?
Not knowing what you want to do with your life at eighteen is okay. So, don’t panic. Your career aspirations and what makes you happy will change over time. It’s just a part of getting older.

What university-provided services did you use when in university and how were they helpful?
Take advantage of the career centre as early as possible. Job searching as an international student (if you intend to stay and work abroad) is a painful process. The centre can help you work on finding internships, write cover letters and CVs, prepare for job interviews and connect you with the alumni network.

The second one will be based on personal preference but volunteering is something I am very interested in. I’ve made so many great friends and learned a lot just by being involved with the university’s volunteer centre. I also think volunteering allows you to engage with a community at a much deeper level.

The volunteer centre also has great internships that are often overlooked. I actually got my first internship in London through a volunteer trip at [The London School of Economics and Political Science]!

What skills do you need to be successful in your job?
Besides having the technical skills (if that is what your job will require), I think there are three really important soft skills you need – time/project management, communication (both verbal and written) and the ability to market yourself (you can be the best and fastest at what you do but make sure people know about it). I had to learn this the hard way.

What’s more challenging: analyzing financial crime or mastering the perfect salsa spin?
I’m not sure. One is a mental challenge while the other is a physical one. But I have to say, I have yet to master the perfect salsa spin.

What’s your “secret weapon” dish that always impresses your friends?
If I wanted to introduce someone to traditional Cambodian food for the first time, I make num banhjuk somlor namya, a simple coconut fish curry with rice noodles, the way my grandmothers made it. You can find the recipe on 😉 I think carries a few copies.

If you could invite any fictional character to your supper club, who would it be and what would you serve them?
I’m not sure about fictional characters but Anthony Bourdain has been my inspiration (besides my mother obviously) and even more so since I started working in the kitchen in London. I recommend reading his work, “Kitchen Confidential”. It will change the way you think about food and the restaurant business.
I would probably make him Namya, fried shrimp rolls and grilled pork ribs with green papaya pickles.

Tell us more about Slow Noodles and how you helped with the book.
Written with a co-author, Kim Green, Slow Noodles is my mother’s memoir about her life as a Cambodian refugee who had lost everything and everyone in her life. The book follows her journey as she reclaims the recipes from her mother’s kitchen in Battambang, her provincial hometown before the dictator Pol Pot tore her country apart and exterminated more than a million Cambodians. Recreating the dishes from her childhood becomes an act of resistance, of reclaiming her place in the world, of upholding the values the Khmer Rouge sought to destroy, and of honouring the memory of her beloved mother, whose “slow noodles” approach to healing and to cooking prioritised time and care over expediency.

The memoir also includes more than twenty family recipes for dishes like chicken lime soup, green papaya pickles, and pâté de foie, as well as Khmer curries, stir-fries, and handmade bánh canh noodles.

I wrote the epilogue and also narrated the audiobook. I also helped the co-author read many of the drafts and turned the recipes from my mother’s kitchen into words.

If you could write a new recipe into your mother’s memoir, what would it be?
This is a tough one. Our initial list of recipes includes dozens but we had to cut it down to about 20 for the book. I started collecting recipes from my mom when I was a freshman in college. I have about 100+ now and am considering publishing them sometime in the near future. khor ko, a slow-cooked beef stew served with egg noodles or sliced baguettes will be included.

If you could only eat one Cambodian dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Somlor mju kreung sach ko for the win! Whenever I visit home, I always ask my mom to make this for me.

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine��().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

The post Where are they now? appeared first on ��Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

From Student to Staff

Nebojsa T — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:19:12 +0000

Alumni Interview: Victor Byenkya

Class of 2006 | Years at ��Vlog 2001 – 2005

In this edition of “Where Are They Now?” we had the pleasure of catching up with Victor Byenkya.

Victor is the newest member of ��Vlog’s Admissions, Communication and Marketing team, where he has taken up the role of Admissions Officer. This is a full circle for Victor, who attended ��Vlog from 2001 – 2005 and, along with his siblings, has stayed in touch with happenings at our school since moving away.

Something about yourself

I was born in Kampala Uganda, and spent my childhood attending international schools across Africa and Asia. My father was the Deputy Resident Representative for the United Nations Development Program. We moved a lot, so I spent most of my early life living between Africa and Asia, in very diverse cultures and environments. I left Uganda at the age of 2 and attended eight international schools in six different countries through the ages of 3-18.

My first exposure to the international school environment was in Lagos, Nigeria. From there our family moved to Khartoum, Sudan and subsequently Dhaka, Bangladesh. In 2001, my father was stationed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I had the privilege of attending ��Vlog from 2001 until 2005 – started in Grade 8 and left at the end of Grade 11. I completed the IB program in Grade 12 at the International School Of Uganda. After that, I went to the University of Toronto in Canada and have lived there since graduating.

My father worked here in Phnom Penh from 2001-2005 and these were the years I attended the school.

During my time at ��Vlog, I began tutoring international students from multiple schools in Phnom Penh. Tutoring and mentoring students has always been a passion of mine, and one that I maintained throughout high school/university and my professional career.

I am a singer/songwriter who has released five albums, a series of EPs and mixtapes and performed at over 100 venues over the past two decades. I love music, reading and cooking. I have been collecting comic books since I was ten years old. I have two brothers, two sisters and over 61 first cousins. I come from an incredibly large and beautiful family.

I am the middle child and I have four siblings who all attended ��Vlog with me. It took me a while to learn how to smile in pictures.

Your experience as an IB student

To this day, the IB has arguably been the most beneficial program in setting me up for a successful education and career. My time in the IB not only shaped the way that I see the world but truly helped me understand my place in it.

Memorable moments from ��Vlog

One of my most memorable experiences was being a part of the school rugby team. Coach Robert Jones was our French teacher at the time and he started a team and registered us to compete locally in the national Under-18 Rugby League. We got to travel around the country and won the championship at the Olympic Stadium in 2004. It was an incredible experience.

One of my favourite memories was winning the 2004 Junior Rugby Championship here in Phnom Penh. We played the finals at the Olympic Stadium, and it was a day I will never forget.

This is also when my love for performing music and arts was nurtured. As much as I enjoyed sports and being part of the MRISA basketball and volleyball teams, a defining moment was participating in the Cultural Exchange at ��Vlog. The people I met during the cultural exchange, the ideas and the pieces we made stay with me to this day. Our music teacher at the time, Ms Fields, was incredibly supportive and pushed me to try out for the end-of-year school production. I played the role of Dr Prospero in The Return to the Forbidden Planet, which helped bring me out of my comfort zone. I started my first band, The Detour, with a few other students at ��Vlog, and won the local Rap Battle competition held at the Riverside Lounge in 2005. The first album I was ever involved in was a tribute album called Pathways, recorded live and produced in the music classroom at the old Norodom Campus.

These were my brothers. We all hung out and played together on the basketball, football, volleyball and rugby teams. The school was much smaller back then.

I spent a lot of my time at ��Vlog nurturing and exploring my love for music. I played Dr Prospero in our Secondary theatre performance, The Return To The Forbidden Planet.

What are your favourite memories of Cambodia?

My memories all revolve around the friends and family I made at the school. Our class size was much smaller back then so everyone knew each other. Some of my fondest memories are playing basketball after school and rugby on the weekends. There were not a lot of places to hang around back then, so we spent most of our time at school and the Caltex down the road from the old Norodom campus.

Courtyard pictures from the Norodom campus. I have been fortunate enough to stay in touch and catch up with most of these beautiful people since leaving ��Vlog.

This is one of our classrooms at the old Norodom campus. It was my Grade 8 class, and these were my good friends.

What did you do after?

I returned to my hometown in Kampala, Uganda and completed the IB at the International School of Uganda. I mainly applied to Universities in Canada and chose to attend the University Of Toronto.I graduated with an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in History and International Development Studies.

Where did you work?

After university, I spent about 12 years performing, working on music and pursuing a career in sales and education. I managed an English Summer Camp at St. Michael’s College, which is a part of The University Of Toronto. I helped build a start-up pet supply company that sold naturally shed deer antlers as a dog treat, which took me all across North America. This involved being on the road a lot for work, which I enjoyed, working in and visiting over 300 cities and small towns. Afterwards, I returned to the education industry and worked for a private college and agency helping students find university, high school and summer camp placements across North America.

Have you visited Cambodia since?

I have not had a chance to visit Cambodia since leaving in 2005. Both my older brother and older sister have come back in the last decade to see old friends, but this is my first time returning to Phnom Penh.

How did you hear about the Admissions Officer position at ��Vlog?

I heard about the job from my little brother who saw it through a posting for ��Vlog Alumni. He knew how much I would love to come back to Phnom Penh and encouraged me to apply.

Providing tours to prospective families and getting to showcase the community that has been built is quite enjoyable and fulfilling.

How does it feel to come back?

It feels amazing and quite surreal to be back. There is a warmth here that’s incredibly hard to describe. I only spent four years in Phnom Penh during my childhood, but those were easily my most memorable and formative school years. The city has changed significantly in that time and I don’t recognise a lot of the buildings, but the streets still feel like home.

It’s always fun walking by this picture of my older brother and seeing who recognizes the connection.

How much has Phnom Penh changed since you attended ��Vlog?

Phnom Penh has changed a lot. When I left in 2005, we only had one mall in the city back then, it was the Sorya Shopping Centre. There is not much left that I recognise. The roads have changed completely and there are many more tuk-tuks. Back then, it was only motos we used to get around.

Which countries have you travelled to?

I have travelled to a few countries in Africa and Asia, as well as all across the USA and Canada. The countries I have travelled to are Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Sudan, Nigeria, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Canada (5/10 Provinces), USA (23/50 States) and Dominican Republic.

It’s hard to pick a favourite place in the world. My top five favourite places to recommend for a visit would be Zanzibar, Dominican Republic, Kampala in Uganda, Cairo in Egypt and Toronto in Canada.

What are your hobbies? What do you end up doing in your spare time?

I love writing. I have been writing lyrics/music for myself and others for almost two decades. I started experimenting with rap and singing when I was in Grade 9 at ��Vlog. I have been a member of quite a few bands since then, as well as released solo music under the pseudonym 3-Card. I also really enjoy cooking, video games, basketball and reading.

What’s the next place on your travel bucket list?

The next place on my travel bucket list is the Philippines and Japan. These are both places I’ve dreamt about going to since I was a kid, and haven’t had the chance to yet.

Name some of your favourite foods

My favourite food is probably a Ugandan dish that isn’t seen outside of East Africa. It is called katogo. My favourite type of katogo is matooke ne binyebwa, otherwise known as plantain and peanut sauce. My other favourite foods are chicken shawarma, rolex (chapati & fried egg), lentil soup, jjajangmyeon, jerk chicken, smoked tilapia, moo dad deaw, chicken tikka masala, roti and peanut butter chickpea curry.

Tell us more about what you’re doing in school now

It’s been a very exciting return to Phnom Penh. It’s hard to believe it’s been 18 years and so much has changed around the city. Phnom Penh has always been home to me. Even though I don’t recognise it, the energy and the feeling remain. The environment at ��Vlog is even more welcoming and vibrant than I remember.

I have returned to ��Vlog in the role of Admissions Officer. I provide information and tours for prospective families and assist with introducing new families to our community. The role of admissions and the international school environment provide me with a sense of accomplishment and community. I love this role because it offers a unique blend of cultural richness and professional fulfilment. Interacting with students, parents, and educators from diverse backgrounds reminds me of my childhood, and allows me to contribute to a global educational community. Building relationships with families and being part of a multicultural environment fosters a strong sense of connection and contributes to a broader mission of providing quality education on a global scale.

I work with an amazing group of people, and I couldn’t be more thankful for how welcoming and helpful everyone has been. It’s a blessing to be on this team.

The values and ideals of this diverse community are on full display during International Day. This was always one of my favourite events to participate in growing up. My mother was usually very involved and went above and beyond sharing aspects of our Ugandan culture with our community. Even though I didn’t grow up in Uganda, it helped establish pride and acceptance by sharing my own culture.

This is my Grade 8 Class dressed in cultural garments from Uganda and other parts of East Africa. My mother taught us a traditional song and dance, and we performed it for the entire school.

International Day 2023. We hosted a booth for Uganda, and I got to share parts of my culture with the rest of the community.

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

The post From Student to Staff appeared first on ��Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

Where Are They Now?

Nebojsa T — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 06:22:01 +0000

Alumni Interview: Joseph Surivong

Class of 2014 | Years at ��Vlog 2002 – 2014

Hello ��Vlog Community!

My full name is Boonchu Joseph Surivong however throughout my time at ��Vlog I just went by Joseph Surivong. My mother is Irish, my father Thai and I was born in Bangkok in 1996. Only a few weeks after my birth, my parents returned to Sisophon in Banteay Meanchey province. My early adventures as a toddler involved chasing after our neighbours’ pigs and reciting poetry in Mandarin at the local Chinese school. In 1999, my family travelled to Swansea, Wales for my mother’s postgraduate studies where I entered nursery as a seasoned hog-rider. Upon my mother completing her studies in 2001, we travelled to Thailand, then back to Cambodia. Arriving in Phnom Penh, I attended a smaller Khmer school until landing in Grade 1 at ��Vlog circa 2002.

My arrival at ��Vlog was a big shift from what I was used to. The environment was slightly intimidating as my English was relatively poor and the lack of farm animals to play with made things a tad lonesome at first. Despite this, it did not take long for me to adjust, make friends and integrate myself into the community. I was truly blessed with amazing teachers who deeply cared for my academic development. I am grateful to my parents for encouraging my curiosity as a child and felt that this curiosity was nurtured during my twelve years at ��Vlog. The subjects that were covered at school were eclectic and diverse. I have vivid memories of coming home to my parents and overwhelming their ears with everything I had learned. The classroom environments encouraged discussion and critical thinking. These aspects were vital in my development and maturation as a person.

Aside from academics, I was routinely involved in extracurricular activities. I had taken part in a few school theatre productions however I was deeply committed to all the MRISA sports. Through Grades 6-12, I attended a total of 15 MRISAs. Sport became a big part of my identity as a teenager and this has continued till this day. The comradery, wide smiles and loud laughs I shared with all my teammates and coaches hold a special place in my heart.

My life since graduating from ��Vlog in 2014 shares many similarities with my time as an ��Vlog student; I am still trying to do everything, everywhere, all at once. After graduating, I decided to follow in my mother’s footsteps and I studied Zoology at . My fondness for animals and nature which began with many a pig in Banteay Meanchey had taken me to the exotic lush hills of Wales. Counting sheep before falling asleep had never been easier. As an undergraduate student, the inquisitive environment at ��Vlog allowed me to acclimatise quite well at university. Upon completing my studies at Swansea in 2017, I took my first job offer to work on a snake research team in North-East Thailand for eight months. My job primarily involved community outreach and mitigating human-wildlife conflict between snakes and local villagers. The job was a seismic learning experience and got me hooked on wildlife research ecology. Proceeding chasing snakes, I decided to pursue postgraduate studies at in Ecology and Environmental Management. My time there further strengthened my research acumen and skills. I completed my masters in December 2019. Fresh after my master’s, I was working as a part-time production assistant for a small Laos film company. As a consequence of Covid, I could not continue this work in Laos and was stuck in Thailand. I was fortunate enough during Covid to find work as a field ecologist for the National Parks Department in Thailand.

The research project I worked on investigated the population genetics of Southeast Asian otters in relation to the regional wildlife trafficking market. The work was rigorous but very rewarding and I spent the majority of 2021/2022 in the jungles of Thailand. In May 2022, I decided to leave the forest and reevaluate my career as sleeping in a hammock and surveying streams was taking a toll on my body. After my forays in the jungle, I found a job as an assistant editor for the academic research journal MDPI. The job allowed me to delve deeper into the meticulous nature of research publishing. My responsibilities included editing and formatting research manuscripts before peer review. While the research was fascinating, the corporate environment and schedule were not for me.

Presently, I am employed part-time again with the Lao film company . I am at a crossroads in my life where I am reevaluating my values and my aspirations. I am quite uncertain about what career I might next jump into. However, my journey in my life so far has made me resilient. I am cautiously optimistic but confident that my next job will align well with the values and morals I first developed at ��Vlog. In Grade 7, my English teacher Mr Krupp introduced the class to “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. The first line is “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both.” I think this is quite apt considering where I am in life now. I am not sure where I am going but I have never been more prepared for what’s ahead.

What are your hobbies? What do you end up doing in your spare time?

Sport is essential to my life. During my time in Phnom Penh, there was not a great variety of activities to get stuck into. I have warm memories of my time at ��Vlog Elementary playing both football and basketball with the after-school programs. Once I arrived in Secondary, I immediately started to try out for all the sports teams. Sports at ��Vlog allowed me to travel Southeast Asia with MRISA and build lifelong friendships with students at other schools. The international environment on each of the teams prepared me well for university.

What would you tell recent high school graduates? Advice for students in the Diploma Programme (IB DP)? / If you could give ��Vlog’s current Grade 12 class some advice at their graduation, what would it be?

At 16 and upon entering my first year in IB, I remember many relatives telling me to quickly find a “passion”. Finding something that I was truly passionate about and pursuing it would help me find purpose. This was horrible advice.

I had numerous passions, a variety of interests and endless hobbies. It was difficult for me to translate my passions into a clear career path. I had always loved the outdoors and enjoyed conservation, however, my choice to study biology/zoology was quite a last-minute decision.

I have two bits of advice. The crucial, most important bit of advice would be to always stay curious. There is still an unimaginable wealth of knowledge and infinite avenues of exploration open to each new generation of high school graduates. Being curious will help in expanding your worldview. My last piece of advice would be to go at your own pace. I know many people who dive into a career path, discover they don’t align well with it and change careers. Your interests and aspirations over time may change and there is no correct blueprint for how you should live your life. Taking time to correctly assess your priorities and discover new passions is important. There is no need to rush.

Do you think it’s okay to not have clear plans for your future?

Absolutely. However, I think it is important to have a general framework of what you want to achieve and how to go about it. I found it incredibly daunting at 16 having to choose my IB courses as I was told this would directly impact my career opportunities in the future. It is always better to have a plan but feeling uncertain or unclear about your goals is a feeling everyone encounters. At the same time, it is important to recognise the privilege of choice. Not everyone can be uncertain about their future plans. Receiving a good education, stability and support provide numerous opportunities that are inaccessible to many and come with responsibility.

Find more photos .

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

The post Where Are They Now? appeared first on ��Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

Where Are They Now?

Nebojsa T — Thu, 11 May 2023 08:04:07 +0000

Alumni Interview: Visakha Som

Class of 1997 | Years at ��Vlog 1991 – 1996

My name is Visakha Som and I am happy to share a bit about myself and how ��Vlog has impacted my life.

I was born in 1979 and spent the first 11 years of my life in the U.S., oblivious to the war or even why my family fled Cambodia in 1975. When I arrived in Cambodia in 1991 to live with my mom, I was not prepared for the mosquitos, the heat, and the civil unrest and was suddenly plunged into a world I knew nothing about.

��Vlog changed that for me. At the time, ��Vlog was just a tiny school with about 30 students located near Wat Phnom. Another student and I were the first 7th graders and honestly, I have no idea how the amazing teachers and administrators managed to create and find curricula for us, which they continued to do for the next five years (I was part of the first 7th-grade class, 8th-grade class, etc. until 11th grade). Each year, I somehow managed to get a rich education. One major thing that ��Vlog taught me is to be aware of my privilege and how to use that to help others. The hours spent hanging out and playing with orphans and street children and recognizing my privileges truly have led me to my current path.

��Vlog Field trip to Angkor temples (1992)

Fast forward to 1996, I moved back to the United States and finished high school. I began school at UC Santa Cruz in 1997 and by 2000, I had dropped out, lacking direction and motivation. I spent the next nine months, working four jobs to earn enough money to visit Cambodia for the first time since I left, on my own terms and as an adult. Long story short, I came back to the US, feeling inspired and finished up a degree in Women’s Studies.

Shortly after, I began my career in nonprofit administration, spending seven years with a social and behavioural health agency that primarily served foster youth, providing administrative and quality assurance support. I later was offered a position with another nonprofit as a program manager for the Senior Nutrition program aka Meals on Wheels, which provided nutritious meals to food-insecure seniors in their homes and community settings. Over the next three years, I began to adopt more programs and became the Director of Operations for the Aging Services Division, serving close to 2000 individuals annually with a small budget, while accomplishing large improvements in service delivery and outcomes. This experience remains the most rewarding and challenging experience in my career. Unfortunately, my largest program, Meals on Wheels, lost public funding in 2014 and I found myself wondering what to do. Most of my skills and experiences were learned on the job — I had good instincts but I didn’t quite understand the science and art of managing quality efforts and running social service programs.

In 2015, I decided to embrace my nerdy self and at the age of 36, with two young kids at home, I began the Masters of Public Administration program at San Francisco State University. By 2017, I was named graduate hood (similar to summa cum laude) and published my first peer-reviewed scientific research, while working part-time as a consultant.

After six months of trying to find a full-time job in the competitive San Francisco market, I landed a job working in the state government. I spent five years there, advocating for clients to be free from harm and to be able to have self-determination in a society that has historically treated people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as less than human. My team and I disrupted the status quo in an effort to bring out true quality improvements. I learned that cultural acceptance of inaction and the status quo can only happen through the complicity of individuals and I chose not to be one of those people. I made the hard decision to resign in 2022 to pursue other opportunities that were better aligned with my values. Today, I work remotely for a nonprofit organization that actually demonstrates boldness, well-being, equity and community-centeredness. While I don’t know exactly where my next career step is, I am glad to be able to help others and have renewed hope for the future.

��Vlog student body (1991-1992)

Tidbits you might find interesting:

From 1991 to 1992, Ms Forrester taught our class of 5th, 6th and 7th graders. In total, there were eight of us and after (finally) learning about contemporary and ancient Khmer History, we went on a field trip to visit the Angkor temples at the end of the year. Imagine flying in a small plane — somehow, three of us shared two seats and one of us ended up in the luggage storage area on a chair. Once at the Angkor temples, we were stunned by the beauty and grace. We had the run of Angkor Wat — no joke, we barely saw other people and ran around amok, following the little kids who showed us the hidden secrets of Angkor Wat.
For PE, we used to take this bus to the Olympic Stadium that didn’t have a door and Mr French would stand in the doorway, making sure that no one tumbled out. I remember watching out for rats as we stretched on the ground and cheered at basketball games for UNTAC soldiers.
I was part of the first student body council.
My father helped craft the first Cambodian constitution back in the early 1960s. He was one of the last surviving elders who was a keeper of Cambodian history. He passed away in 2017, having published multiple books in English, Khmer, Pali, and Sanskrit.
My mom ran small inns and several teachers stayed with us. I think I have “lived” with at least three teachers.
I have two kids, ages 12 and 16. As of yesterday, I am officially the shortest person in my family with my 12-year-old now being 5 foot 6. For years, I towered over people in Cambodia.
My husband is mixed-race Mexican and Swedish and I am half-Khmer and half-Chinese. We chose to honour our cultural heritage with our kids’ names which makes for interesting conversations about implicit biases.
I have to give thanks to some teachers: Thank you, Mrs Fawcett, for your steady guidance during difficult times and for welcoming me to your home decades later. Mrs McLaurin, thanks for letting me pretty much live at your house and birthing Jac McLaurin, my love-bucket/bestie. Mrs Copple, thank you for your sweet voice and for teaching us songs that I now sing to my kids. Ms Greve, thank you for caring and doing all you could do to support and protect the students. To Mr and Mrs French, thank you for helping me find joy in learning and not minding too much when the bear chased your kids around. 🙂

Visakha Som, MPA

SFSU graduate hoods representing 5,500 graduates (2017)

What years and grades did you attend ��Vlog and when did you graduate?
I attended ��Vlog from 1991 to 1996 for my 7th to 11th grade. I graduated in the US in 1997.

Where do you reside now? (City, Country)
I am currently living in Olympia, Washington state, in the US.

What are your hobbies? What do you end up doing in your spare time?
I am currently obsessed with succulents and spend a lot of time tending to my indoor garden.

What do you miss most about Phnom Penh?
Food! I really miss eating fresh fruit and yummy food!

How do you feel your time at ��Vlog contributed to where you are now?
So much! I mentioned already how ��Vlog and living in Cambodia have made me who I am today. I am so grateful for the rich experiences and for ��Vlog cultivating my curiosity and my passion to help others.

How did you figure out what you wanted to do with your life?
Honestly, I am still trying to figure it out — one thing about working with older adults is that it helped me recognize that life is long (my oldest client was 117 when he passed away) and just because you know what you want to do in five years, doesn’t mean that you can’t change your mind and evolve. When I have wondered what my next steps are, I remember that growing is sometimes uncomfortable and it requires moving from wondering to acting; acting can be scary but it’s a great way to figure out what you are capable of. Consider this for a minute — if you are reading this, then you are likely a young person who has had to adapt to so much already. If that resonates with you, then you already have the valuable skill of adaptation; that skill will take you far in life.

What are some tips for finding one’s passion if they don’t know what one wants to do in the future?
Centre and ground yourself. Ask yourself “What makes me tick?” Challenge yourself to stretch beyond what you think you are capable of. Give yourself time and grace to decide what you want to do in the future and remember that life throws things at you that can derail you completely or you can adapt and find your own path.

My kids and me in Cambodia (2015)

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

The post Where Are They Now? appeared first on ��Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

Where Are They Now?

Nebojsa T — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 08:56:30 +0000

Alumni Interview: Yoobin Kim

Class of 2015 | Years at ��Vlog 2012 – 2015

Hello everyone! I’m Yoobin and I attended ��Vlog from 2012-2015.

I grew up in South Korea until Grade 9 and joined ��Vlog when my father moved to Cambodia for work. ��Vlog was my first international school, and I had to adapt to an absolutely different culture, language and people. Since everything was new to me, I struggled a lot at first, but I think I was able to go through all kinds of challenges, thanks to ��Vlog teachers and students.

When I think of my life in Cambodia, it was definitely a turning point for me. I’m still thinking if I haven’t been to Cambodia and ��Vlog, I might still have been short-sighted. ��Vlog taught me how to broaden my views, build logical thinking, and express it professionally through writing, speech and visuals.

Academics were not the only ones. I participated in all kinds of activities, such as cultural events, volunteering, musicals, and sports. Among those, my favourite was music-related events, especially playing the piano. Believe it or not, during my school life, I think I played the piano on every occasion, such as graduation ceremonies, talent shows, and assemblies! My piano-playing skills really brought me lots of chances to interact with people and to experience different activities. One of them was the “Animal Farm” musical, which is now hung in the Black Box theatre.

I really want to say that if you have your own hobby, keep up with it without giving up. It will certainly become your own strength that you will never lose.

After graduating from ��Vlog, I double majored in Economics and Finance at the University of Hong Kong. My experience at ��Vlog and my interest in Economics from the IB curriculum triggered me to keep pursuing studies abroad, and to challenge myself in the finance field. During my university life, I prepared my career path by doing internships in Korea and Singapore, where the job was related to global treasury and proprietary trading. Those were incredible experiences to realize how interesting the financial market is and to learn new financial knowledge.

Fast forward to now, I am currently a treasury dealer at Citibank, based in South Korea. As the financial market is moving in real-time, it often makes the job so busy and tiring, but I feel really great whenever I achieve something. Other than working, I also recently started learning Futsal to keep me energized. No one knows what will happen in future, but I can tell you that I will never stop learning.

To dearest ��Vlog students, please feel free to reach me if you have questions about anything. I’m more than happy to talk and share my stories!

How has your perspective changed after living in many countries?
I mainly spent my life in two countries, Korea and Cambodia. Although I spent most of my time in Korea until Grade 9, a relatively short time in Cambodia helped me to break my fixed ideas, and to reflect on myself. I believe the change in education and the environment were the two main drivers. After going through a whole different way of learning and real-life challenges that I need to resolve while living, I realized becoming aware of myself at an early age is very important. I was just a frog in the well when I was in Korea, but as I start living in Cambodia, where culture, environment and people are totally new, I could awake to new perspectives and started to gradually change myself into a better person.

What are your hobbies? What do you end up doing in your spare time?
I have been playing the classical piano since I was very little. I kept learning it in both Korea and Cambodia when I was a student, which brought me good opportunities like performing at assemblies, graduation, and musicals, and even getting invited as a guest player in the pianist’s recital. Even though I could not make use of it as a profession, I am still practising in my free time after work and challenging myself to participate in competitions. Other than that, I am still exploring new hobbies these days, like soccer, playing the guitar, and swimming.

What are your favourite memories of Cambodia?
I cannot choose one among all my memories, but I remember the times when my family went to Siem Reap all together to see Angkor Wat, ride on elephants, eat local foods, and see dolphins. These memories are so priceless since it would be practically difficult to make the same one while I am working in Korea. It was a very special right to enjoy those moments in Cambodia where I got to reside.

How do you feel your time at ��Vlog contributed to where you are now?
Time at ��Vlog contributed to where and how I am now almost 100%. It was a great opportunity for me to grow as an international person with an international mindset. Since I spent my learning and experiences at ��Vlog with the best teachers and activities, I was able to be independent enough to go to Hong Kong for further studies. ��Vlog was also the place where I could get self-confidence and become a mature person.

How did you find job opportunities/connections to companies?
When I was in year 2 at the university, I started to join mentor/mentee clubs where I could get advice from seniors on how to find internships and prepare resumes and interviews. Since I liked to meet people with experiences and hear their stories, I proactively created new connections in the school first. Other than school clubs, I actively attended job fair events even if I wasn’t qualified to apply. Going to any career-related events and just watching helped me get fresh information. By doing this, I could find job opportunities naturally from the websites, recommendations from seniors and the business card that I received from the jobs fair. If you are trying to find job opportunities, get good information from people around you, be aggressive both offline and online, and lastly be patient.

From all experiences you got from your work, what are you looking to develop in yourself?
To make myself more professional in my task and responsibility at work, I aim to read more professional books, articles, and columns to learn and evaluate experts’ views. I realized knowledge is power as I start working and as people become independent, there would be no one teaching them if they don’t do anything. The more you want to be successful, the more you need to be hungry for knowledge. To become an expert in the finance field where I am right now, I intend to get myself motivated by always being curious and find for answers without procrastination.

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

The post Where Are They Now? appeared first on ��Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

Where Are They Now?

Nebojsa T — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 03:12:54 +0000

Alumni Interview: Gaurav Raul

Class of 2007 | Years at ��Vlog 2005 – 2007

Greetings and salutations to all alumni (that includes students, teachers and admin), current students, teachers and admin and anyone that chances across my story.

My name is Gaurav Raul. I am 34 years old and I live in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I am Indian by birth but I have grown up in Cambodia. I have been here for over 20 years but thanks to the support of my family, I am well travelled. I attended ��Vlog for the years of 2005 to 2007 while I was finishing Grades 11 and 12 in the IB system. I was raised by my beloved late single mother and her side of the family including all my beloved aunts and uncles. I was brought up in a modernized version of a joint family which used to be common in India.

My story is not so much a celebration of the academic success of the IB system as much as it is an illustration of how lives can change because of the subject Theory of Knowledge (TOK) that I was introduced to at ��Vlog. Critical thinking has been a definitive influence in my life and has defined almost everything including life, health, career, love and family.

My favorite subjects at school were English, Economics and TOK. Since I speak, read and write five languages by now with a few others I’m gaining more fluency in, I always had an affinity for languages. My mother tongue is Odia (spoken in the state of Odisha, India) but I also speak the Indian national language of Hindi. In addition, I have an intermediate level of fluency in French and Khmer which I picked up and improved upon at ��Vlog and of course English. Now, English is widely spoken in India with a strong proficiency as it is a Commonwealth nation but I have been obsessed with this language since I was a child. Having a strong grasp over it has translated to many career saving moments over the years including a fledgling career in poetry and music. My eternal gratitude goes to all my English teachers starting with my maternal grandpa when I was just an infant.

Even before I attended ��Vlog, I was friends with at least four generations of students at ��Vlog. Back then I was still attending B��Vlog, another international school where my mother worked although she would go on to become the dean of Mathematics, Sciences and Engineering at the Pannasastra University of Cambodia when I did attend ��Vlog. My family was/is very Christian, academically focused on STEM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Ed.) and strict in my upbringing and in the upbringing of my cousins whom I consider closer than siblings. Moreover, I didn’t really have any allowances or pocket money as most of my mother’s income went straight into my pricey education. In comparison to the people I was hanging out with, I didn’t have many resources to make many opportunities happen for myself in those days. Luckily, I was privileged enough to meet and hang out with some of the best individuals to ever attend ��Vlog and they were kind enough to take me in and expand my horizons. My love of hip-hop music, racing motor vehicles, performance arts and dancing can all be attributed to different ��Vlog students who introduced me to them. I was truly lucky to have met them and it didn’t hurt that I was blessed with a strong presence of mind and street smarts that helped me contribute something of value to my friend group at the time. The freedom and independence that these former ��Vlog students displayed really brought me out of my shell and hindsight proves that it was for the best. These people were my inspiration and I am proud to say that I am still in touch with most of them.

My time at ��Vlog was humbling but fun. I will be the first to admit that I immersed myself more into the ��Vlog student lifestyle than in my actual classes. They were some of the greatest years of my life and would shape my future in ways I didn’t yet know at the moment. My fondest memories from my time are being one of the handful of students from all over the world to finagle my way into speaking at the General Assembly at the Model United Nations in MUNSingapore and being the lead character of Sky Masterson in the musical Guys & Dolls and of course, the two legendary TOK retreats that I got to attend. We were a really cool school back then with us dominating the MRISA sports exchanges, having a radio show on 97.5 Love FM and all the concerts and battles of the bands. We used to go out on the weekends and act as equals with teachers and admin we would run into without any judgement. We used to get into trouble and learn how to get out of it. We used to do student-only trips to Sihanoukville and Kampot and used to have brutal rugby and football matches. We used to play basketball during recess and lunch, leave campus to eat outside and hang out for hours after school either in the courtyard or in the auditorium. We used to make music and funny videos in the common room and the computer lab and freestyle rap in our spare time. In short, I truly enjoyed and made the most of my time there.

After I left school, I studied accounting and held a variety of jobs over the years. My first job was as an accounting executive. I’ve been in business development which I still work in. I was a financial auditor and in Internal risk management at KPMG, a big four audit firm. I sold and was a finance manager for heavy equipment selling company. I was a land, plantation and agricultural consultant for a bit. I helped launch bids for software solutions to telecom companies, fill equipment procurement bids for EDC, and audited big banks to little NGOs. I helped with joint ventures between international and local companies. I even helped launch a crypto coin company and trading platform. I’ve worked with embassies and G2G events. It’s been a privilege to dip my fingers into all these different pies.

After a while though, I started craving the old ��Vlog glory days and found myself hanging out and doing poetry and music at a little bar called Showbox. Fast forward to 2016 and onwards and I am very much transitioning myself out of the corporate world into the music industry as the relatively well-known and well-received Emcee Initial G. I have founded, led and managed successful bands such as Hypnotic Fist Technique, Funan Beat Empire and Initial Dynamo, most of which went defunct during the covid lockdowns. Currently, I am a solo recording artist for the label CIC Music and have a performance collective with Dj Niko Yu and producer CIC Man called Koalition Supreme and working on multiple yet-to-be-released and unveiled musical projects. I have done stand-up comedy, spoken word poetry and headlined festivals and concerts, had editorials written about me and my projects, and even performed at prestigious events on Cambodian TV. I humorously call it my early onset mid-life crisis. The money is not always consistent but I can’t imagine doing anything else in the future seeing as I actually keep getting better and better the more I actively hone my skills. My three albums are all on Spotify with a smattering of singles here and there. I really enjoy it and want to keep at it as long as it makes sense and I can support myself and my family.

My long-winded point is this – academic excellence is great and is the goal of school and if you’re on that path, great, keep doing what you’re doing! I would also recommend making some lifelong friends and having some adventures and making some great memories. There are a bunch of ways to get to the finish line in real life and no shame in most of those ways. Be blessed and prosper!

Are you still in contact with your ��Vlog friends?

Happy to report that I am, for the most part. There will always be people who will fall off the radar but it’s always a delight to see them pop back up. If you do manage to stay in touch especially collectively, it is important to remember what your common bonding element during your time in school was. Ours was comedic roasting, in my humble opinion. Or I may be completely wrong and they have all been silently tolerating my jabs.

How was your transition from the finance industry to the music industry?

It was abrupt. When I first started out, I kept my involvement in the project and the shows a secret. I perceived that I couldn’t let the two worlds collide and didn’t promote myself at all in the beginning. I was worried about a negative impression of myself in the eyes of both sides, should it become about culture vs. counterculture. Turns out I needn’t have worried at all, much to my relief. Corporate people all have artistic aspirations and ambitions just like creative people do. Sadly, a lot of them don’t get the luxury of being able to garner enough momentum to get their creative projects off the ground. So there’s a bit of wish fulfilment when one of their own dares to venture out into the creative world and the gig economy. I see it as a symbiosis. For example, a lot of the target demographic of bands in Phnom Penh tend to be teachers. A lot of band members and musicians in Phnom Penh tend to be teachers. They tend to be a faithful, cultured and rewarding audience. I wager that the discomfort I initially felt in the beginning before I went public was mostly because of my own fear of jumping into such a risky industry. The transition became immediately smoother when I dispelled that fear. Making something of yourself and reinventing yourself are big moments in a person’s life. They both require outstanding courage which I believe everyone is capable of.

What was the most memorable thing you remember from your ��Vlog days?

Easy. After school hours. The courtyard at the old Secondary campus on Norodom. Nothing spectacular. Just surreal to me who had never seen teenagers behave en masse the way the ��Vlog kids did. A few groups on the benches. Some on the stairs of the auditorium. Some on the stairs to the nurses’ office downstairs from the IT lab. Studious book clutching kids leaving the biology labs and shop class and art class. Basketballs bouncing loudly in the background. Trash talk vaguely floating over into the courtyard. The sixth graders chased each other around the lockers. Then as I observed, all the different groups I just mentioned started interacting with each other. Fluidly. All positive stuff. I even saw some kids getting reassured on their way to detention by random kids. Didn’t really see that many kids leaving or in a hurry to leave and dusk was approaching. Maybe it was a low bar to jump, but to me, that was just wow.

How influential were your parents on your career path and career decisions made?

My family were significantly influential on my career path and career decisions made. The great thing about coming from a large joint family is that you have a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw from for multiple people. The advice and guidance were invaluable and I am so grateful for them. Sometimes you’re going to find your own way but work off a platform of advice from your parents.

What advice do you have for ��Vlog students who are aspiring musicians/want to break into the music industry?

Don’t just perform or make music for your friends. To make it, you have to be able to win the admiration of total strangers. It’s fun to have a musical journey with your friends but you don’t want an audience full of friends. You will stagnate or plateau at some point. Just because music is in the creative field doesn’t mean that you can skate by on cursory talent and charisma. You have to nerd out and explore all the avenues and keep learning. Learn about the business side of music. Learn about the complexities of the production, recording process and from more experienced musicians. There is plenty of content online.

What skill(s) from school helped you the most in making the transition from business/management to the music industry?

Definitely freestyling and any kind of performative skill but most importantly people skills. One can’t really be a shy performer so use school to get the shyness out of your system and gain some confidence instead.

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

The post Where Are They Now? appeared first on ��Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

Where Are They Now?

Nebojsa T — Thu, 05 May 2022 07:58:08 +0000

Alumni Interview: Enya Pangilinan

Class of 2012 | Years at ��Vlog 2009 – 2012

Hey everyone! I’m Enya and was a student at ��Vlog from Grade 10 to 12 (class of 2012). I grew up in the Philippines and my family moved about five times, which meant going to different schools and making new friends again. ��Vlog was my fifth school but the first international school I’ve been to. Cambodia was also a country I’d never visited prior to our family moving. Although moving and making new friends was not something new – I was excited, intimidated and vulnerable all at the same time at the thought of starting afresh in a foreign city and a new school. I remember my first day and immediately, ��Vlog welcomed me with open arms. It didn’t take long to feel like a part of the whole picture.

��Vlog and Cambodia hold a special place in my heart as cheesy as that may sound. Although IB was a total !@#$, after going through that I realised that it’s still by far the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve done up to this day. IB was worth it. I meet fellow IB “survivors” in the cities I’ve lived in and there’s already that instant connection.

Growing up, I figured I’d take up nursing and go abroad as most Filipino kids do, which is in line with what my parents wanted but I found my love for the arts and creativity while in ��Vlog. I was torn between going with what my parents wanted, which was a more secure career path or pursuing the Arts not knowing whether it’ll take me anywhere. Inspired by my dearest friends who pursued what they wanted to do, I spent almost two years persuading my parents to let me choose a creative path. The struggle was real.

I did my Bachelor’s in Design Communications specialising in Advertising at LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore. It was a very blurry line between graduation and getting my first job. The unemployment period was a struggle – from needing a work visa to retain in Singapore, to the doubts of choosing the wrong path, to the unspoken pressure from the parents, to the pressure I felt being the eldest sister as I wanted to be a good role model, and the pressure when you see your friends are getting jobs and internships.

Fast forward to now – I’m currently based in Hong Kong and it’ll be my fifth year this May. For my first two and a half years, I worked as an in-house graphic designer but I didn’t feel like it was something I wanted to do long-term. Then I transitioned into UI & UX Design. I’ve been in this field for almost three years now and I can finally say I’ve found something I see myself doing and enjoying for at least the next five years.

I’m currently a UX Designer at a Blockchain firm for over a year now. Before diving into the world of crypto, I was working as a UI & UX Designer at a BioTech firm for 18 months. The products I got to work with were really cool ranging from DNA to COVID-19. I don’t want to dive into what I do too much as I can really go on and on about it. I’m more than happy to discuss UI & UX Design with anyone who is interested!

On the side, I spend some time behind the lens @snapsbyenya – I shoot intimate weddings, engagements and lifestyle portraits.

To ��Vlog students, my email address and the door always remain open. You can reach me at enya.pangilinan@hotmail.com.

Which countries have you travelled to?

I’ve been to Cambodia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, the United States, Hungary, Austria, Spain, Indonesia and the Philippines.

What are your tips for those moving to new countries?

Be curious and explore. Make the most of your time in that city – eat local food, try new activities, learn a few phrases in the local language, do touristy things, explore areas other than your own neighbourhood, take photos and videos to look back on, and make new friends. Moving to a new city/country can be intimidating especially if you start from scratch with no friends and family there. It helps to be open-minded and allow yourself the time to adjust to a new place. It’s only normal to feel a lot of excitement and uncertainty at the same time.

Has your international school experience shaped your worldview – How? How do you feel your time at ��Vlog contributed to where you are now?

Most definitely! Before going to an international school, I was only thinking of living/working back in the Philippines or the US. I wasn’t thinking about cultural experiences so I had quite a tunnel vision about my future. During my time at ��Vlog, it made me realise that I wanted to live in different cities/countries and not just visit them as a tourist. I became more open-minded. I was a shy kid when I went to ��Vlog but after the experience and exposure, I was able to build confidence in self-expression, embrace my individuality and appreciate multicultural friendships. My time in ��Vlog has really helped shape who I am today.

What are your hobbies? What do you end up doing in your spare time?

I don’t have a hobby that I do on a regular basis but during my spare time, I do enjoy trying new things or doing something different than the previous week. I’ve tried dragon boat rowing for a few months with a team and participated in a race, went for some private dance classes for a few months to improve, art jamming with friends, baking classes, etc. Unfortunately, things changed because of Covid and it led me to do more outdoorsy activities despite the fact that I’m not really that outdoorsy. I’ve done a lot of hiking and outdoor climbing – spent almost every weekend of last year doing these two. A hobby that stuck with me since high school, which I’ve now turned into a side hustle, would be photography.

What is your favourite ��Vlog memory?

The time I went for my first Week Without Walls trip! My friends and I chose to go to Ratanakiri. I remember the long hours of trekking in the jungle and camping by the river. I remember our hammocks falling off the tree while we were in it. The highlight would be when Juliana and I got stung by a scorpion in our tent in the middle of the night! We panicked a little bit but I remember we were laughing it off. I think the whole trip was mostly Type 2 kind of fun but it’s one of the fondest memories I have of ��Vlog. My friends and I really bonded over that trip that we decided to do Ratanakiri again for our last Week Without Walls.

What was your favourite subject or who was your favourite teacher?

I have two favourite teachers: Ms Nicola Scales (Biology) and Ms Robyn Zellar (Visual Arts). Ms Scales was like a friend to my friends and me. We would hang out sometimes in her classroom during lunch. She trained and biked with us for the Angkor Wat 30km race in Siem Reap as part of CAS [Creativity, activity, service]. She’s also an amazing baker. Ms Zellar was someone I could go to and is one of my inspirations as to why I pursued a creative path.

What would you tell your high school self?

Trust the process because things will work out in the end. To let her know that it’s not about the grades and the university that will determine her future, it does not determine how successful or unsuccessful she will be. I would tell her that by putting a lot of effort into something she cares about, grit, resilience and patience come a long way. To tell her not to worry so much about what the future holds because there’s always going to be a lot of uncertainty. Let her know that it’s best to make the most of the present – enjoy the company of her friends and family, have fun while she’s still young with little to no responsibilities.

What subject did you learn in IB and how did it affect your career?

I took Economics, Biology and Visual Arts for my higher levels and then Maths Studies, Spanish ab initio and English Literature for my standard levels! It wasn’t a particular subject that affected my career but more so the way of teaching and learning in an IB curriculum. IB really challenged me in every way possible: problem-solving, time management, creativity, and critical thinking (add-on: presentations!). These all contributed and helped me jumpstart and develop the needed skills in order to do well in my career.

What was the coolest art project you did? In Grade 10, my personal project was designing t-shirts for the Cambodian National Volleyball League (Disabled) who were affected by landmines. It was very inspiring to hear their stories and how they bounced back through the means of a loved sport. I sold the t-shirts on campus and donated the money to CNVLD.

What are your career goals?

For the short term, I’m working towards a Senior UX Designer role in my current company. Over the past few jobs I’ve had, I’ve come to learn that a great boss and a great mentor all wrapped up in one comes rarely. So I intend to stay in my current company to learn as much as I can from my boss. In the next five years, I would like to be a Lead UX Designer and have a little team of my own – to be able to share what I’ve learned, to help them grow. When I’m able to achieve that then I think I’ll probably want to do something else like open my own photography studio or be one of those photographers that do destination weddings worldwide.

Advice for students in the Diploma Programme (IB DP)?

First of all, good luck! IB is extremely difficult and when you make it through it – you’ll feel very empowered (I definitely did haha). I’m 28 now and I’ve never felt the same amount of stress and anxiety as I had when I was going through IB. Choose your subjects wisely and try your best not to procrastinate. Know that you’re not alone and that you have friends who are going through the same thing as you. If you need help, ask for it – there is no shame in asking a teacher or a friend when you’re in need. Some may hide the stress better than others but I can assure you everyone in the world going through IB feels the same struggle. When it is all over, you’ll look back and feel grateful that you went through this whole experience. 🙂

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

The post Where Are They Now? appeared first on ��Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

Where Are They Now?

Nebojsa T — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 07:45:25 +0000

Alumni Interview: Vimuolea Hang

Years at ��Vlog 2006 – 2013 | Class of 2013

Hello, everyone! I’m Vim.

I was born and raised in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Before ��Vlog, I lived in Canberra, Australia for two years when I was around 6 or 7 years old (2000-2002), while my mum was doing her Master’s program. I then shuffled through different schools when I came back to Cambodia and studied at ��Vlog from Grade 6 until I graduated from high school.

While I was studying at ��Vlog, I was extremely interested in literature, art, and economics. So, I decided to major in economics and minored in studio art and French at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. I adjusted quite well in college, despite the extremely cold winters (there was even a polar vortex during my first year).

To this day, I am extremely grateful for the knowledge as well as the mentorship and wisdom I have received from teachers and professors at ��Vlog and Macalester. My experience at ��Vlog provided me with a global perspective, exposed me to different cultures, beliefs, and shaped me into a well-rounded individual. Macalester broadened my worldview and further developed my analytical skills and critical thinking. In addition to my major/minor-related subjects, I was educated on a myriad of topics spanning from race, gender, and sexuality to class, religion, mental health and its intersections through coursework, discussions with academic advisors, mentors, and my peers.

This period was one of the most formative years of my life as it instilled within me invaluable insights and significantly influenced my values; it made me question what I wanted to do in life and what I can do to serve my community, as opposed to following a path that (I felt) was paved for me. Yet, this elevated sense of awareness concurrently made me rather anxious about my future, which led me to place substantial emphasis on my studies (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, had it been conducted in a more balanced manner), instead of fully embracing the college experience.

I subsequently moved back to Cambodia post-graduation and worked at the General Department of Policy at the Ministry of Economy and Finance for roughly a year (2017-2018). Not only was I able to put my economics knowledge into practice in the policy realm, but I also had the opportunity to attend capacity building courses and workshops at the department; it was such an engaging and intellectually-stimulating experience, that motivated me to apply to graduate school.

Fast forward to 2021, I have now graduated from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), with a Master’s in Public Administration, wherein I concentrated in Economic and Political Development and specialized in Management. Thankfully, this time around, I was able to strike a balance between my studies, professional experience (via interning at UNDP Cambodia), and socializing with my colleagues in the program. As for now, I have resumed work at the Ministry of Economy and Finance – still on my journey to learn, grow, and ever so eager to know what life has in store for me.

Which countries have you travelled to?

Besides Australia and the United States – countries in which I have resided – I have travelled to Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos (some of those visits were for MRISA volleyball, soccer, and basketball), Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, France, Italy, Switzerland, and the UK. I do want to explore more places, but we will see post-Covid-19.

How did you adjust to the new culture when studying in the USA?

��Vlog broadened my worldview – which eased my transition. Even so, I found that the location and academic institutions I was in were even more progressive relative to what I had been used to back in Cambodia. I initially had a bit of a culture shock, especially since I had formerly been rather reserved and super shy. However, immersing myself in this new culture helped me step out of my comfort zone; in addition to being educated on topics pertaining to daily realities regarding intersections of race, class, and gender politics, I developed my own sets of opinions and became more vocal. In retrospect, living in a new country also helped me become more independent and learn how to figure things out on my own and I believe these experiences heavily influenced who I am today.

What are your recommendations to those moving to new countries?

My initial response when moving to new countries has usually been a mixture of excitement and apprehension of the uncertainty. Yet, thanks to the international demographic in the institutions I was in, I was able to form meaningful friendships with people of shared values, similar and dissimilar backgrounds that provided me with an invaluable support system. Aside from creating bonds, I would also recommend getting to know the country via engaging in cultural exchanges through dialogue, food, and taking advantage of the local festivities.

Has your international school experience shaped your worldview? How?

While I highly value and respect my Cambodian roots and culture, I also grew up with relatively rigid social and gender norms when I was in the public school system (2002-2005). This spanned from upholding certain beauty standards rooted in colourism and one that favoured certain body types, to general social expectations and inhibitions placed on me because of my gender. This includes not being to play “rigorous sports”, being “obedient”, especially relative to male-identifying individuals; we even used to have to study the code of conduct for women which had only been abolished from the education system in 2007. As such, being in an international school setting, and ��Vlog in particular, allowed me to surround myself with individuals of different cultures, experiences, and social conditions, which provided me with a global perspective and enabled me to become more open-minded. I also felt more empowered; I was introduced to new concepts and I was in an environment that was relatively more conducive to self-expression, self-discovery, individuality and to be frank, I became more aware of certain issues and thus became less judgemental and had less of a parochial perspective.

What are your hobbies? What do you end up doing in your spare time?

During my spare time, I like to indulge in good old Korean drama marathons and listen to music; shout out to T.O.P from Big Bang (I first saw him in a K-drama called I am Sam (2007) in Grade 6, which introduced me to the world of K-drama and K-pop and have been hooked ever since). I also really like to read novels (some of my favourite authors and poets include Carol Ann Duffy, Haruki Murakami, and Margaret Atwood) and if I am feeling inspired, I like to write some proses and poems as my creative outlet.

What did you miss most about living in Cambodia when you moved?

Apart from my family and friends (who were spread out across the globe post-high school graduation), I missed the variety of affordable food in Cambodia: meecha, salted crabs, prohet – just to name a few. I even started craving foods that I normally didn’t even think I would miss. That’s why I took it upon myself to teach myself how to cook when I was doing my Master’s program.

How has living in Cambodia affected your outlook on the world?

Living in Cambodia has not only made me appreciate our rich culture, our tradition, and history, but learning about the struggles and sacrifices that my parents’ generation has gone through during and post Khmer Rouge have also instilled within me the values of mutual respect, diligence, grit, patience, and humility, which I believe are tenets that have helped me navigate through life thus far.

Did you know what you wanted to do when you finished high school?

I did not exactly know what I wanted to do after high school – I only had a general idea of the subjects I wanted to major in (which had been Economics and Art at the time). I ended up majoring in Economics and minoring in Studio Art, which was not too far off.

What is your favourite ��Vlog memory?

I made so many lovely memories at ��Vlog – MRISA tournaments, formals, Week Without Walls, Battle of the Bands! The most memorable of all would have to be acting in the play Monika Song-ngam wrote, directed, and acted in for her IB theatre project, entitled “Sincerely, yours”. I played a character who is part of the LGBTQ+ community and it was such a novel experience for me, both in terms of acting and educating myself about the topic.

What was your favourite subject or who was your favourite teacher?

I genuinely liked all of the subjects I studied and all of the teachers as well. Yet, if I were to choose, it would have to be economics, literature, science/biology, and art. All of the teachers had such a profound influence on me and helped me grow on a personal and intellectual level, particularly classes in which Ms Shaw, Mr Krupp, Mr Webster, Mr Etienne and Mr Underhill had taught.

What was your favourite school lunch or snack?

This question makes me recall how fast I would run to queue up for the Shop’s oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip cookies when the bell rang for recess – so crispy, yet chewy, and packed with delectable flavours! Yum! Then in 2011, the cafeteria started to also sell kuy teav and meecha; I have to say, I am definitely partial towards the kuy teav – the carrots, radish, flat white noodles, and the soup’s savoury, garlicky flavour – I am salivating just by thinking about it!

What was your most memorable song in ��Vlog years?

When I think about my years at ��Vlog, a few songs come to mind: Big Bang’s Haru Haru, Taylor Swift’s Love Story, High School Musical, Eminem, and Tyga’s hits were my jam!

What would you tell your high school self?

I would tell my high school self to live in the moment, to stop worrying too much, and to believe in myself more.

Have you visited ��Vlog since you graduated? If so, how much has it changed?

Yes, twice I believe. Once in either 2015 or 2016 to visit campus and then another visit in 2017 for my cousin’s graduation. While there was a certain allure to the homey vibes at the old Campus situated along, I like the new facility and how spacious the new campus is! I was able to see some familiar faces during the last time I was there: Mr Dara, Mr Sakada, Mr Webster, Mr Underhill, Ms Suzie, and Mr Coles!

How much has Phnom Penh changed since you attended ��Vlog?

One of the most palpable differences would have to be the infrastructure – so many new buildings, skyscrapers, and malls! On the social level, I am under the impression that communities in Phnom Penh, especially amongst youths, have been relatively more progressive and active in advocating or raising awareness on issues concerning colourism and body image, mental health, equal rights concerning gender and LGBTQ+, the environment and sustainability.

What other jobs do you wish to work next?

In the future, I would like to further enhance my research skills and I am still contemplating some options for my profession in the long term. As of now, I am highly considering working for either an independent research think tank, a multilateral institution, or going into academia.

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

The post Where Are They Now? appeared first on ��Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

Where Are They Now?

Nebojsa T — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 08:38:48 +0000

Alumni Interview: Frank van Zoggel

Years at ��Vlog: 1991 – 1993

Hi ��Vlog! My parents arrived 35 years ago to work at the refugee’s camps on the Thailand/Cambodian border when they were 21 years old. My older sister, younger brother and myself were all born in Bangkok but grew up in Phnom Penh in the early ’90s.

When I finished kindergarten at ��Vlog we as a family already left Cambodia to go back to The Netherlands, where I had some difficulties adapting myself to the school, cold and language in the beginning. My father was working as a history teacher but missed working in Cambodia so went back six months per year for work.

In 2009 after graduating from Sports Management Leisure Outdoor, I wrote a business plan based on our holiday house in Kampot to set up a kite school with some sports activities for water sports such as paddleboarding, kayaking, wake/knee/ski/boarding, boat cruise, mountain biking and many other things.

Every year we had the honour of hosting the graduating class from ��Vlog. One year, I had the pleasure of having Julien Schill as an assistant kite instructor as an internship in 2016.

I am still in close contact with old ��Vlog students from the early days, which I have visited in America, England, The Netherlands and have seen them often here in Cambodia.

Recently we had a few ��Vlog teachers who took some kite lessons with us and are now trying to get on the board! I can’t wait to share my passion with them again, or any other students who are looking for an extreme sport to do in this beautiful kingdom.

How did you adjust to the new culture when returning to The Netherlands?

My mother comes from a big family (9 members), however, they all live across our little country, yet my father’s side live all in the same village (4 family members). Luckily, my father’s sister had two kids who also lived in Phnom Penh. We played with them a lot when we grew up. I joined a football club where I met most of my close friends until this day.

What did you miss most about living in Cambodia when you moved?

The beaches, nice weather, rice dishes, playing in the rain, the chaos.

What are your recommendations to those moving to new countries?

You come from a different country where you met hopefully many interesting friends and people, stay in contact with those who you love, try to pass on the positive/friendly/respectful vibes you received growing up here. You are the future.

How has living in Cambodia affected your outlook on the world?

The Khmer Nation gets nominated every year first for being the friendliest place on earth. With having many problems in the past or present, they have a great heart; willing to always give, help others.

Hopefully, we can give something back, helping the struggles they will be facing soon with overpopulation, waste disposal, pollution, ocean acidification, deforestation and loss of biodiversity.

What were your parent’s jobs in the refugee camps?

My mum started in 1982 as an English teacher in the Phanat Nikom refugee camp. As a volunteer for Consortium, she taught English as a second language to refugees from Laos and Cambodia who were going to live in the United States.

In 1984 moved to Aranyaprathet at the border, to work in refugee camps where Cambodian refugees stayed until it would be possible for them to return to their homeland. This is in contrast to the refugees in Phanat Nikom, who did not want to go back to their homelands. She worked in different camps called Site II.

Together with a small group of Cambodian volunteer social workers, they started courses to make life easier and to make them aware of important aspects. Since there were many more women than men living in the camps, this was the target group. Daily, many of them came to participate in reading and writing courses (the vast majority could neither read nor write) and furthermore in all kinds of practical matters such as silk/cotton weaving, sewing, knitting, food preservation, child care, basket weaving and hygiene.

How did you discover your passion for water sports?

We used to go to Hotel Cambodiana all the time. We played in the pools non-stop. Diving off stuff, creating games…

We visit the beaches in Sihanoukville often, where my brother and I got some scars on our bodies from playing in the waves with tubes hitting rocks. I have the feeling that back then the shore breaks were much bigger.

So I guess I always liked playing in the water, but to be able to enter my “Sports scholarship” I had to be in procession of Swimming diploma A. Somehow I never got the paper when I was young, so when I was 16 years old I had to join the exam with kids starting from the age of 4 years old. Someone even asked me if I was the examinator for that day.

Were you always interested in extreme sports when you were younger?

I guess not. Football was always my passion! When I had the chance of 52-meter bungee jumping in Las Vegas on Friday 13th when I was 11 years old, I backed out, but my sister went for it anyway.

How did you navigate setting up a school in a “foreign” country?

With a solid business plan and always having a great team around me, it turned out really good. We started small, with just four rooms. We gradually moved forward in the right direction. In the first seven years, I was living alone in Kampot, as my dad would just come for the weekends. I would call him regularly to ask for guidance and get enough feedback to work on from those weekends. I guess you learn the most by just going for it. Surely If I can start over I will do many things differently.

What drew you to Kampot?

My father and his best friend looked around to invest in some property to build their holiday house on. Because of their work, they have been all over the country but surely Kampot is one of the most beautiful places with its location closest to Phnom Penh. I have spent Christmas and New years here for the past 16 years. It feels like a second home. After finding out that this spot has seven amazing months with blasting wind, I knew I had to focus on putting Cambodia on the map for Kiteboarding.

How has COVID affected your career in water sports?

Unfortunately, many kite friends and regular guests have left Cambodia due to COVID-19. Because some people decided or couldn’t travel outside of Cambodia, it injected a new group of kitesurfers who took the opportunity and started with this extreme sport. Kiteboarding is one of the fastest extreme growing sport in the world for many years and now due to COVID regulations (1.5m distance), it was still possible to learn this sport.

What are your plans for the future?

To train people with Cambodian nationality how to kiteboard, so they can enter and compete in the Olympics.

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ()

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

The post Where Are They Now? appeared first on ��Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

Alumni Archives - ����Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh

Where are they now?

Alumni Interview: Mugabi Byenkya

Class of 2010 | Years at ����Vlog 2001 – 2005

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

Where are they now?

Alumni Interview: Clara Kim

Class of 2014 | Years at ����Vlog 2012 – 2014

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

From Student to Staff

Alumni Interview: Victor Byenkya

Class of 2006 | Years at ����Vlog 2001 – 2005

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

Where Are They Now?

Alumni Interview: Joseph Surivong

Class of 2014 | Years at ����Vlog 2002 – 2014

Find more photos .

This interview was first published in the ����Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

Where Are They Now?

Alumni Interview: Visakha Som

Class of 1997 | Years at ����Vlog 1991 – 1996

This interview was first published in the ����Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

Where Are They Now?

Alumni Interview: Yoobin Kim

Class of 2015 | Years at ����Vlog 2012 – 2015

This interview was first published in the ����Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

Where Are They Now?

Alumni Interview: Gaurav Raul

Class of 2007 | Years at ����Vlog 2005 – 2007

This interview was first published in the ����Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

Where Are They Now?

Alumni Interview: Enya Pangilinan

Class of 2012 | Years at ����Vlog 2009 – 2012

This interview was first published in the ����Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

Where Are They Now?

Alumni Interview: Vimuolea Hang

Years at ����Vlog 2006 – 2013 | Class of 2013

This interview was first published in the ����Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

Where Are They Now?

Alumni Interview: Frank van Zoggel

Years at ����Vlog: 1991 – 1993

This interview was first published in the ����Vlog Pulse Magazine ()

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

Alumni Archives - ��Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh

Class of 2010 | Years at ��Vlog 2001 – 2005

Class of 2014 | Years at ��Vlog 2012 – 2014

Class of 2006 | Years at ��Vlog 2001 – 2005

Class of 2014 | Years at ��Vlog 2002 – 2014

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

Class of 1997 | Years at ��Vlog 1991 – 1996

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

Class of 2015 | Years at ��Vlog 2012 – 2015

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

Class of 2007 | Years at ��Vlog 2005 – 2007

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

Class of 2012 | Years at ��Vlog 2009 – 2012

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

Years at ��Vlog 2006 – 2013 | Class of 2013

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

Years at ��Vlog: 1991 – 1993

This interview was first published in the ��Vlog Pulse Magazine ()