The document summarizes the experiences and learnings of students who participated in an orientation program in Cambodia. It describes how the program opened their eyes to new perspectives and cultures, increased their global awareness and understanding of issues like climate change. Students formed strong connections with each other and locals and felt the program gave them more confidence and insight into their passions and future. They felt the experience was truly life changing and invaluable compared to any classroom learning.

1. Missoula: Orientation

3. “The entire program can be described as eye-opening for me because it
really did change the way I look at many different issues.”

4. “I'm glad that I did this program because really I don't think anything else
could have opened my eyes more. It allowed me to really push myself to
see what I could do.”

6. “[The program] made me want to do bigger things and go to the
extremes rather than just skating by, in whatever it may be.”

8. "I was really nervous about spending time with 19 other teenagers…but I
found out that although we are all different,
we all have a way to connect.”

10. “I appreciated creating relationships with the students from all over
Montana. I have continued those relationships since returning home
and believe some of those relationships from Cambodia and
Montana will last a lifetime.”

11. Phnom Penh: Culture, History, Politics

13. “I would strongly recommend this program to anybody interested in
travel, other cultures, environment, and those who are willing to grow,
change, and adapt to other lifestyles and want to experience new things.”

15. “I am now inspired to do more traveling and hopefully make more friends
around the world.”

18. “I made connections between Cambodian students as well and feel
amazed when I think about how we are so alike yet our lives
are so different.”

20. “I have so much more confidence in myself and in what I want to do in
the future [and] I have a newfound love for international affairs.”

24. “Cambodia definitely broadened my horizons and opened my eyes to not
only a new place but also new sides of myself. I felt myself change on this
trip and learned a lot about myself.”

27. "When I told people I was going to Cambodia, those who knew where it
was, only knew about the genocide. So, I want to go back and tell them
about the people."

31. “Multiple times throughout the program I persevered and grew from situations outside my
comfort zone. The AYLP Cambodia program will continue to influence my choices and ideals
for many years to come. I know that I have not even begun to fully understand or appreciate
the many facets and affects this once in a lifetime opportunity will contribute to my character
and future life choices.”

35. “In spite of the poverty and the challenging past of Cambodia, the people
inspired me to be a better, more mature person and to not take standard
Western luxuries for granted.”

37. “I’m glad I got to participate in the program because it really proved to be
both life changing and eye-opening.”

38. “I appreciate knowing that people are just people no matter where we go
in the world.”

41. “To be able to make such connections with the Cambodians and getting
to know them on such a more personal level than I would have been able
to anytime in the future. It really was a great program.”

44. "You can't appreciate places like this without experiencing them.”

46. “This program was one in a lifetime.”

48. "This is the best time I have ever had in my life.“

49. Battambang: Agriculture, Mining, Logging

50. “This program really made me want to change my lifestyle and what
things I personally think are important and what is not.
It was so amazing.”

53. “I grew a lot throughout my time in Cambodia. We were faced with many
challenges and we had to work through then together. I most certainly
became a better leader, and more mature, and aware of the world.”

55. “The quality of learning through this trip was high, while we were
experiencing new things and taking part in another culture we were also
learning about our own lifestyles.”

57. “We made many connections with environmental issues in both Cambodia and
Montana and were surprised to find many issues are parallel. Climate change,
logging, natural resource management and wildlife preservation are all topics
we learn about in Montana and are now able to connect with Cambodia.”

60. “I never thought I would form such a connection with some of the students on
the trip and they were like my family away from family. Or even the host
families we were with made me feel so much more at home than I could have
ever imagined. ”

62. "I'll remember this entire experience forever because it has been so
wonderful. My life has been completely changed for the better because of
this experience.“

67. “Going to Cambodia made me realize how much world there is outside
Montana. It’s difficult to explain how much I truly appreciated this entire
program, but for me, it was both an educational journey and a gift.”

68. “I would without a doubt recommend this program to my friends or other
students at my school.”

69. “I really appreciated the opportunity to get a better idea of who I am and the things
I'm good at and the things I need to work on. The program has definitely shown me
things I didn't know I was capable of. I learned to be far more confident and fluent in
talking to strangers and interacting with people in new situations. “

70. Siem Reap: Ancient Temples & Tonle Sap Floating Villages

71. “I can't express how thankful I am to be able to travel abroad and learn
the things I did. It is something that can never ever be
taught in a classroom.”

73. “I can't even begin to show my appreciation for what AYLP and the Department of State and
everyone involved have done. I know this is incredibly cliche, but that doesn't make it any less
true: This was truly a life changing experience. I am so grateful. I had such a good time and I
learned so much about Cambodia and other cultures and even myself.”

74. “I increased my global and cultural understanding, and now am able to
share these experiences and knowledge gained
with everyone in my community.”

77. “I learned so much about the country from the people and I formed
relationships that I will treasure forever. The interactions with people
strengthened my desire to travel to other countries, learn about different issues
first hand, and share my experiences.”

81. “This program allowed me to go just about as far away as I could go and it
made me realize that I will be okay leaving home and being away from my
family. It just made me even more eager to go somewhere else as soon I
returned.”

85. “I fell in love with Cambodia, and, as much as I would love to go back, I
would love even more to be able to help the country become a better
place in whatever way I can.”

87. “The amount of information and cultural differences we encountered over the
course of those three weeks was enormous, and its an experience I'll certainly
never forget. The situations we were involved in strengthened my global
awareness and culture tenfold, it was truly unbelievable.”

89. “Before leaving on the exchange, I had some preconceived notions on what I thought the
country would be like after reading so much about it, but actually traveling there and seeing
everything up close and personal proved to be a much more valuable experience than just
reading from a book. All the new knowledge and experiences from the trip to Cambodia are
absolutely invaluable.”

92. “I am glad I did this program because it has allowed me to see the world from a
very different perspective, and it has opened my eyes to so many wonderful
things; whether they are positive or somewhat scary in terms of the challenge
they pose to my generation. I am so glad I had this opportunity.”

94. “One of the greatest gifts that going to Cambodia gave me was a
reassured feeling about my future...the program really helped me find
what I’m passionate about.”

95. “The program really gave me a perspective on the world and its diversity,
and made me realize how I can modify how I live to have less effect on
the environment and inspire others to do the same.”

98. “[…] It really opened my eyes up to how major of an issue climate change is and how
deep it stretches into every aspect of global life. I had never thought about the
connection between development and mass pollution, but it is a major issue that my
generation is going to have to tackle.”

99. “I am pleased that I was a part of this program because it felt good to
travel with a purpose and be a part of something bigger than a tourist
experience.”

101. “At the end of the exchange, I was more sad to be leaving our group than I was
happy to be home. I really made some lifelong friends on the trip—both
American and Cambodian, and the experiences that we all had together on the
trip will always be some of my favorite.”

102. “I really feel as though I was immersed in the culture of Cambodia,
and I am thankful for that.”

103. “I can't imagine a more engaging, educational, and rewarding experience.”