From 13 to 23 April 2013 5 teachers and directors from Sereyphiap and Kampong Kontuot High Schools in Kandal province travelled to Flanders to visit their counterpart school Maria-Institute. The study visit took place within the framework of the School Links Programma with financial support from the Flemish Government. The visit included several educational visits, such as to Technopolis and the Kalmthoutse Heide, and a workshop on low-cost physics and environmental science activities, facilitated by the Cambodian teachers. Below you can read the personal story of Ms. Loeung Raksa, who teaches physics at Kampong Kontuot School, and who was one of the participants.
When I studied in secondary school I didn’t know what a study visit is. Why we do study visits? After I graduated high school I just understand the definition, so I really wanted to participate in a study visit. My dream came true because of VVOB, a non- profit organization that supports development and technical skills in education, gave me an opportunity to be one of five participants to take part in a study visit to Belgium for 10 days by the school link between Sint-Maria in Anwerp and Serey Peap high school in Kandal province, Cambodia. This is the first time for me to go on a study visit abroad and the first time for me to travel by plane, so I felt afraid when the plane took off.
When I arrived at Belgium airport on Saturday, April 13th I felt very tired and just wanted to sleep. After I got up, I thought all things were so strange because of different people, language, weather, food, culture, etc. About three days of the first week I still felt a little bit tired because it not easy to adapt to the different weather, food and time to sleep, but after that I feel ok and enjoyed the trip well. The traffic is far different between Belgium and Cambodia. People in Belgium like walking and riding the bicycle, take trains, trams or buses. I like that people follow the traffic light and let the people who are walking go first.
And I also like Antwerp because it is a city which has no noise, no rubbish, clean, fresh air and has many places to visit like museums, churches, supermarkets, etc. I know more about Sint-Maria institute and the system of education in Belgium. I went to visit many beautiful places like the Atomium in Brussels, Bruges, Karel de Grote-Hogeschool, Environmental Education Centre de Vroente and Technopolis. The place that I most interesting is Technopolis, which is a very good place for all students to learn about science. It has more than 300 kinds of activities that can educate students in physics, biology, earth sciences to develop their brains, soul, ideas, health, body, and let them discover the solution of problems that they don’t understand.
Although, the most special day was Sunday, April 21st when we went to Paris, which is the most beautiful place I know and that I never could imagine that I would have the opportunity to visit it. Back in Phnom Penh airport, I fell that I am a new person, keen to learn more, wanting to be good at communication and trying to change all bad habits. I feel more motivated and more personally responsible, encouraged to develop myself in teaching method, improve my technology skills. In conclusion, I think that this study visit is one of the key actions of the school link programme, which let participants exchange their knowledge and develop life-long education for long life, and help them get more idea for decision making to reach their goals successfully.
