The last July school holidays, nine boys from the year 12 class of Marist College North Shore and three staff members were carefully selected to be part of an immersion experience in Cambodia to face the realities and be part of a different culture that has suffered through many years.

On our way to Cambodia on flight VN872, I thought of this as just another overseas holiday, spending my time in a Hilton hotel, chilling by a pool drinking an icy cold drink or going on shopping spree at the markets buying Louis Vuitton Bags, in which case I did end up doing for only 2US dollars.

I had friends at school telling me why am I spending two and half grand on a 12 day trip to Cambodia, just before my HSC trials, where I could’ve gone snowboarding with my mates during that time.

However, this was an immersion experience! The moment I walked of the plane in Phnom Penh; I felt the hot atmosphere sink into my body, the variety of smells, tastes hit me.

A Buddhist culture, where everyone smiles and greets you even though their home are on a side walk. You look around and notice how a whole generation of people are missing because of Pol Pots Radical agrarian Marxism regime back in the 70s.

We stayed in a backpacker’s hostel exposed to all the crime and night life in this lakeside district, were each morning we were taken by Tuk Tuks to Sala Lavalla school, established by the Marist brothers on the outskirts of Phnom Penh 10years ago, helping Poor children with Polio, land mine victims, and other serious disabilities.

We worked at this school for five full days, in helping around in the class rooms, planting a new garden, cleaning the school, playing activities, etc... These children came from poor families, they had so much enthusiasm towards life, keeping a smile on their faces and being welcoming, made me fell as if I was disabled.

We also visited the Jesuit service, world vision centre and aids orphanages. Working and visiting these places opened a whole new world to me, changed my view on life, in how important health and security is.

On the last two days of our trip we headed north via the Mekong river to Siem Reap where the ancient ruins of Angkor temples are. This was a spectacular sight, seeing this ancient city was absolutely amazing.

This immersion experience has been a life changing experience, it has taught me in who I am and in how big this world really is.

I’d like to thank Brother Mark Fordyce, Dana Barnsley & Tony McDonnell who were great throughout the trip and all my mates who came along made this experience work.

DOZENS OF PHOTOGRAPHS BY SEB SWASKI
ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR PHOTOGALLERY