Class of 2010 | Years at 糖心Vlog 2001 鈥� 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 糖心Vlog; reconnecting with my friends from 糖心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 糖心Vlog Alumni reunion for the first time ever, meeting 糖心Vlog Alumni from after my time in 糖心Vlog, finally being able to participate in something I’d only seen in pictures, and having great conversations with those I shared time with 糖心Vlog and those I didn’t; finally meeting Neb [糖心Vlog Alumni Relations Officer] in-person after exchanging emails for the past 7 years; visiting the 糖心Vlog new campus and facilitating two expansive writing workshops with Grade 6 which was so much fun; being interviewed by The Grapevine (糖心Vlog’s student podcast and newspaper); participating in The Alumni Caf茅 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 糖心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, 糖心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 鈥� 65 at universities, schools and institutions.

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

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

• Clara Kim (2012 鈥� 2014)
• Victor Byenkya (2001 鈥� 2005)
• Joseph Surivong (2002 鈥� 2014)
• Visakha Som (1991 鈥� 1996)
• Yoobin Kim (2012 鈥� 2015)
• Gaurav Raul (2005 鈥� 2007)
• Meghan McMurray (2015 鈥� 2017)
• Enya Pangilinan (2009 鈥� 2012)
• Vimuolea Hang (2006 鈥� 2013)
• Frank van Zoggel (1991 鈥� 1993)
• Sharlynn Ng (2005 鈥� 2010)
• Brian Webster (2002 鈥� 2016)
• Thida Leiper (1991 鈥� 2005)
• Luca Fleschler, Fraya Fleschler, Ximena Herrera (2011 鈥� 2017)
• Dany, Soriya and Kalyane Warren (1996 鈥� 2001)
• Nadia Fernando (1999 鈥� 2015)
• Lotta Urban (1998 鈥� 1999)
• Sreyneath Poole (2000 鈥� 2005)

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

The post The Power of Social Bonds appeared first on 糖心Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

This is Clara Kim from the Class of 2014! After graduating from 糖心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 鈥� home, family and country. So, I’ve been heavily involved with that project as well.

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

Where do you reside now?
I鈥檓 currently living in London! I鈥檝e 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鈥檙e 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 糖心Vlog memory?
They say that those who suffer together, bond together. I actually miss the late evenings and Saturdays when we鈥檇 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.

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鈥檛 panic. Your career aspirations and what makes you happy will change over time. It鈥檚 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鈥檝e made so many great friends and learned a lot just by being involved with the university鈥檚 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 鈥� 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鈥檚 more challenging: analyzing financial crime or mastering the perfect salsa spin?
I鈥檓 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.聽

What鈥檚 your 鈥渟ecret weapon鈥� 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 馃槈 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鈥檓 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, 鈥淜itchen Confidential鈥�. 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 鈥渟low noodles鈥� 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 p芒t茅 de foie, as well as Khmer curries, stir-fries, and handmade b谩nh 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鈥檚 kitchen into words.

If you could write a new recipe into your mother鈥檚 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.

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Class of 2006 | Years at 糖心Vlog 2001 鈥� 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 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Admissions, Communication and Marketing team, where he has taken up the role of Admissions Officer. This is a full circle for Victor, who attended 糖心Vlog from 2001 鈥� 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 糖心Vlog from 2001 until 2005 鈥� 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.

During my time at 糖心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.

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 糖心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.

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 糖心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 糖心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.

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.

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 糖心Vlog?

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

How does it feel to come back?

It feels amazing and quite surreal to be back. There is a warmth here that鈥檚 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鈥檛 recognise a lot of the buildings, but the streets still feel like home.

How much has Phnom Penh changed since you attended 糖心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鈥檚 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 糖心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鈥檚 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鈥檝e dreamt about going to since I was a kid, and haven鈥檛 had the chance to yet.

Name some of your favourite foods

My favourite food is probably a Ugandan dish that isn鈥檛 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鈥檚 been a very exciting return to Phnom Penh. It鈥檚 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鈥檛 recognise it, the energy and the feeling remain. The environment at 糖心Vlog is even more welcoming and vibrant than I remember.

I have returned to 糖心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.

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鈥檛 grow up in Uganda, it helped establish pride and acceptance by sharing my own culture.

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

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

• Joseph Surivong (2002 鈥� 2014)
• Visakha Som (1991 鈥� 1996)
• Yoobin Kim (2012 鈥� 2015)
• Gaurav Raul (2005 鈥� 2007)
• Meghan McMurray (2015 鈥� 2017)
• Enya Pangilinan (2009 鈥� 2012)
• Vimuolea Hang (2006 鈥� 2013)
• Frank van Zoggel (1991 鈥� 1993)
• Sharlynn Ng (2005 鈥� 2010)
• Brian Webster (2002 鈥� 2016)
• Thida Leiper (1991 鈥� 2005)
• Luca Fleschler, Fraya Fleschler, Ximena Herrera (2011 鈥� 2017)
• Dany, Soriya and Kalyane Warren (1996 鈥� 2001)
• Nadia Fernando (1999 鈥� 2015)
• Lotta Urban (1998 鈥� 1999)
• Sreyneath Poole (2000 鈥� 2005)

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

Towards the end of last year, our team of Lead Advisors spent time together to reflect on how we support our young people via the homeroom advisors and the advisory programme. One of the outcomes of this work was to renew our focus on the 糖心Vlog Learning Principle of 鈥渟afe & social鈥� and how we can ensure that the adults in the school have a greater knowledge and understanding of the young people in their classes.

The staff at 糖心Vlog have always taken great pride in the way that they connect with the students to ensure that they tap into their passions, interests and aspirations to make learning meaningful and their time in school rewarding and enjoyable. We wanted to explore if we could take this further.

During orientation, we welcomed Steve Barrett from the Wildwood school in Los Angeles and he spoke to our teachers about how time with advisory classes can be maximised. Steve discussed enhancing student voice, allowing for meaningful discussion within the classroom and the impact of relationships across all members of the class. He also provided some practical reminders and tips with the delivery of advisory and subject lessons. This work will continue through the year with our Lead Advisors and school counsellors in the form of an ongoing review of advisory content and scope/sequence of sessions and content.

In line with our commitment to enhancing our relationships with students, we hosted the first Family Connect event in the Secondary school on Wednesday 23 August. Families visited the school campus to meet with the homeroom advisor for their children. As always, a first run of anything leaves us with lots of reflections and thoughts for the next time this happens but the event was a huge success. When reflecting on the event, families remarked:

• 鈥淲e valued the individual attention to our son鈥檚 well-being and happiness.鈥� 鈥� Grade 9 & 12 family
• 鈥淚t was insightful to see our son interact with his teacher.鈥� 鈥� Grade 6 family
• 鈥淚t was great to meet the advisory teacher in person, this will make it easier to reach out if needed in the future.鈥� 鈥� Grade 10 family

Teachers were also very pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with families:

• 鈥淪o wonderful to meet all parents face to face and have that authentic connection.鈥�
• 鈥淚 got to know the students and parents differently. Very nice to have a discussion about them rather than academics.鈥�
• 鈥淣ice conversations with the families helped me have more of a sense of who my students are. I learned a lot and felt connected!鈥�

We will use the feedback to further enhance this event next year as there were valid and reasonable adjustments that were suggested to help make, what was already a very positive event, even more impactful and enjoyable.

The importance of knowing our young people and creating a school environment in which all students feel safe physically and emotionally is, and always has been, a major strength of 糖心Vlog. Our work so far this year has already helped to take this principle of our school further and we hope that it will continue to enrich learning and the day-to-day lives of our students.

Lee Hole
Secondary School Principal

The post Safe and social appeared first on 糖心Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

Students develop their curiosity about the world, extend their understanding and appreciation of both shared values and cultural differences and strive to effect positive change.鈥�

Within the curriculum framework of the , we provide opportunities for learning about issues that have personal, local and global significance. Under all the transdisciplinary themes, students are provided with opportunities to study global issues in depth and over time to understand the complexity of these issues and to consider ways of taking meaningful and responsible action. There are many ways in which the 糖心Vlog students live international-mindedness, through the units of inquiry. From the Early Years through to Grade 5, students are guided to look at multiple perspectives and respond to relevant literature. Our curriculum provides students with many opportunities for learning about their own and others鈥� cultural identities, inquiries into discrimination and prejudice whilst being open-minded and developing an international perspective.

We continue to build on international-mindedness within our curriculum to help students embrace diversity and realise that different perspectives have a great deal to offer. We recognise that there is always more work to be done and the 糖心Vlog Diversity Equity Inclusion Committee is working with a consultant (Eeqbal Hassim) in not only mapping out the curriculum in terms of intercultural awareness but also how well we do at 糖心Vlog in community engagements and school culture from an intercultural viewpoint. We would welcome parent input into how we as a school can do better. Please contact us at deij@ispp.edu.kh if you would like to find out more.

Liz Ford
Elementary School Principal

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Class of 2014 | Years at 糖心Vlog 2002 鈥� 2014

Hello 糖心Vlog Community!

My full name is Boonchu Joseph Surivong however throughout my time at 糖心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 糖心Vlog circa 2002.

My arrival at 糖心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 糖心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 糖心Vlog in 2014 shares many similarities with my time as an 糖心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 糖心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 糖心Vlog. In Grade 7, my English teacher Mr Krupp introduced the class to 鈥淭he Road Not Taken鈥� by Robert Frost. The first line is 鈥淭wo roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both.鈥� 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鈥檚 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 糖心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 糖心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 糖心Vlog鈥檚 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 鈥減assion鈥�. 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鈥檛 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鈥檚 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 糖心Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

• Visakha Som (1991 鈥� 1996)
• Yoobin Kim (2012 鈥� 2015)
• Gaurav Raul (2005 鈥� 2007)
• Meghan McMurray (2015 鈥� 2017)
• Enya Pangilinan (2009 鈥� 2012)
• Vimuolea Hang (2006 鈥� 2013)
• Frank van Zoggel (1991 鈥� 1993)
• Sharlynn Ng (2005 鈥� 2010)
• Brian Webster (2002 鈥� 2016)
• Thida Leiper (1991 鈥� 2005)
• Luca Fleschler, Fraya Fleschler, Ximena Herrera (2011 鈥� 2017)
• Dany, Soriya and Kalyane Warren (1996 鈥� 2001)
• Nadia Fernando (1999 鈥� 2015)
• Lotta Urban (1998 鈥� 1999)
• Sreyneath Poole (2000 鈥� 2005)

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

Each year we are sad to say goodbye to faculty members, but we welcome wonderful new teachers to the Elementary team who you can read more about within the new faculty biographies in . We are especially excited to welcome Anika Sommer as our new PYP Coordinator who you will get to know over the coming weeks. We are already in the process of planning several workshops and coffee mornings for families to get to know each other, for you to understand us more and to develop a truly collaborative community. Two of the most important people in the Elementary school are Sokanha Menh and Chark Rya Pum, who you will find in the office, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and warmly welcoming our students throughout the day. They have been working tirelessly all summer to ensure everything is set up for this coming year and I hope you take the time to come by the office and say hello to them.

During the first week of school, all Elementary parents were invited to a Settling-In Conference with their child鈥檚 homeroom teacher which took place online. This was an opportunity for parents and teachers to introduce themselves and for parents to share a little about what they hope for their child in the coming school year and any concerns that they may have. We wanted to hear what you may have to say about your child no matter if they are new to 糖心Vlog, starting school for the first time or have been with us for many years. These conferences were low key and no preparation was necessary. Still, feedback from previous years from both families and teachers was that they are invaluable in ensuring a positive year ahead for students.

A great deal of time and thought has gone into the process of student placement for the 2023-2024 school year. Classrooms have been balanced academically and socially and are structured to provide equitable class sizes at each grade level. Moving students is difficult without causing imbalances and inequities and we have confidence that all students will be happy in the classes they have been placed in. All our teachers and assistants work hard to make school a positive student experience. It may take a few weeks for a child to acclimatise to a new grade, peer group and teacher and the Settling-In Conference helped in this transition period.

糖心Vlog values every member of the community! Please stop by the Elementary office and say hello to us. We look forward to a fantastic year ahead.

Liz Ford
Elementary School Principal

The post Welcome Back! appeared first on 糖心Vlog - International School of Phnom Penh.

Class of 1997 | Years at 糖心Vlog 1991 鈥� 1996

My name is Visakha Som and I am happy to share a bit about myself and how 糖心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.

糖心Vlog changed that for me. At the time, 糖心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 糖心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.

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 鈥� 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.

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 鈥� 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 鈥� 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. 馃檪

Visakha Som, MPA

What years and grades did you attend 糖心Vlog and when did you graduate?
I attended 糖心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 糖心Vlog contributed to where you are now?
So much! I mentioned already how 糖心Vlog and living in Cambodia have made me who I am today. I am so grateful for the rich experiences and for 糖心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 鈥� 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鈥檛 mean that you can鈥檛 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鈥檚 a great way to figure out what you are capable of. Consider this for a minute 鈥� 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鈥檚 passion if they don鈥檛 know what one wants to do in the future?
Centre and ground yourself. Ask yourself 鈥淲hat makes me tick?鈥� 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.

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

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

• Yoobin Kim (2012 鈥� 2015)
• Gaurav Raul (2005 鈥� 2007)
• Meghan McMurray (2015 鈥� 2017)
• Enya Pangilinan (2009 鈥� 2012)
• Vimuolea Hang (2006 鈥� 2013)
• Frank van Zoggel (1991 鈥� 1993)
• Sharlynn Ng (2005 鈥� 2010)
• Brian Webster (2002 鈥� 2016)
• Thida Leiper (1991 鈥� 2005)
• Luca Fleschler, Fraya Fleschler, Ximena Herrera (2011 鈥� 2017)
• Dany, Soriya and Kalyane Warren (1996 鈥� 2001)
• Nadia Fernando (1999 鈥� 2015)
• Lotta Urban (1998 鈥� 1999)
• Sreyneath Poole (2000 鈥� 2005)

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

Class of 2015 | Years at 糖心Vlog 2012 鈥� 2015

Hello everyone! I鈥檓 Yoobin and I attended 糖心Vlog from 2012-2015.

I grew up in South Korea until Grade 9 and joined 糖心Vlog when my father moved to Cambodia for work. 糖心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 糖心Vlog teachers and students.

When I think of my life in Cambodia, it was definitely a turning point for me. I鈥檓 still thinking if I haven鈥檛 been to Cambodia and 糖心Vlog, I might still have been short-sighted. 糖心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 鈥淎nimal Farm鈥� 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 糖心Vlog, I double majored in Economics and Finance at the University of Hong Kong. My experience at 糖心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 糖心Vlog students, please feel free to reach me if you have questions about anything. I鈥檓 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鈥檚 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 糖心Vlog contributed to where you are now?
Time at 糖心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 糖心Vlog with the best teachers and activities, I was able to be independent enough to go to Hong Kong for further studies. 糖心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鈥檛 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鈥� 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鈥檛 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 糖心Vlog Pulse Magazine ().

More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:

• Gaurav Raul (2005 鈥� 2007)
• Meghan McMurray (2015 鈥� 2017)
• Enya Pangilinan (2009 鈥� 2012)
• Vimuolea Hang (2006 鈥� 2013)
• Frank van Zoggel (1991 鈥� 1993)
• Sharlynn Ng (2005 鈥� 2010)
• Brian Webster (2002 鈥� 2016)
• Thida Leiper (1991 鈥� 2005)
• Luca Fleschler, Fraya Fleschler, Ximena Herrera (2011 鈥� 2017)
• Dany, Soriya and Kalyane Warren (1996 鈥� 2001)
• Nadia Fernando (1999 鈥� 2015)
• Lotta Urban (1998 鈥� 1999)
• Sreyneath Poole (2000 鈥� 2005)

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