Learning about the world’s geography, language, culture, and climate may be interesting, but experiencing it can be life-changing. Each year, Bryn Mawr sponsors a range of global education programs that give students the opportunity to study abroad for service as well as cultural and language immersion.The goal of these programs is to instill in students a deeper understanding of and appreciation for cultures and people around the world. Most of all, global education provides students with the opportunity to get to know themselves and understand their role in the world in a way that can only be achieved by stepping outside of their comfort zones.

This year, Bryn Mawr girls traveled to South Africa, the Czech Republic, Spain, England, Peru and Thailand and Cambodia. Read on for more about the two week adventure 12 Bryn Mawr students and three faculty advisors embarked on in Thailand and Cambodia. 

After a flight across time zones, students began the trip in Thailand at the Sappraiwan Elephant Sanctuary. They assisted the sanctuary staff, known as mahouts, with elephant behavior research, caring for the elephants, and learning about traditional mahout culture. After a sad goodbye to their new elephant friends, students road-tripped to the Rustic Pathways Ricefields Base in Udon Thani, where they completed wilderness first aid training, and aced their certifications. In the evenings after class, they explored Thai culture — visiting a temple, night market, taking traditional dance lessons, and sampling local cuisine like crickets and durian.

Onward to cambodia, where the group spent their days immersed in Cambodian history and culture. They visited the S-21 Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields in Phnom Penh. After the visit, faculty advisors led students in a discussion about the heavy history they had just learned about. The group agreed that while some things were difficult to see, it was important to know the full history. After the discussion, they visited the ancient Wat Nokor Bachey and took in an uplifting traditional dance performance by children from the Buddhist Center for Social Development Action in Kampong Cham.

The group spent the last two days of their trip giving back to the community by helping build a new fence at Kong Maha Primary School.The girls worked tirelessly, taking a few breaks from honing their new masonry skills to play soccer with the Kong Maha Students. Thanks to all their hard work, a significant portion of the fence was completed in only two days!

Before beginning their journey home, students had one last opportunity to spend the day in the city of Phnom Penh, where they explored Central Market and visited the Cambodian Royal Palace. After saying goodbye to their guides, new friends, and the city, the group made their way back home. Sereena Knight '20, whose favorite part of the trip was the experience at the elephant sanctuary, says she learned a lot about herself from this trip. “I have definitely become much more in touch with nature and the world around me, and I have developed a true appreciation for new and different cultures that I didn’t have before,” says Knight. The students agree that they all brought back a new appreciation for Thai and Cambodian culture, and memories to last a lifetime.

To learn more about Bryn Mawr’s global programs, visit: www.brynmawrschool.org/globaleduation. Read on to hear directly from the students who participated in our global programs about the most meaningful part of their experiences.