Frannie and I met in September 2011 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Specifically, at Soria Moria’s $1 Wednesday night deals, where everything on the menu is one dollar. Yes, this is a real thing. As two of the few American expats teaching in Siem Reap, we became fast friends. As young 22 year olds, we did what every normal recent college grad did, which was to dance, drink, and lie to tourists about where we were from. While I went home after one year, she has taught for the last 6 years in Cambodia, Kuwait, and Guatemala…
Tell us about what led you to your first job abroad:
I learned to love traveling when I did my study abroad in Rome. I studied Elementary Education and Special Education at St. Mary’s, and did a summer internship going into my senior year at a primary school in Kyurosozi, Uganda. That was my first real teaching abroad experience, and knowing I could do two things I love at once - teach and travel - prompted me to apply to every teaching job possible after I graduated.
Every job?
I really applied everywhere! Using tieonline.com. I got a Skype interview with JPA in Siem Reap, they had me come to Chicago for an in-person interview with their sister school there, then went through a summer internship with them, and off to Cambodia!
Was Cambodia on your radar? Did you know anything about it before going?
Haha, no. I didn’t know anything about Cambodia before going.
Can you tell us more about JPA?
Jay Pritzker Academy (JPA) is a college prep school located in Siem Reap, geared towards the best and brightest Khmer children. The goal is to have these kids eventually leave Cambodia, study abroad in Australia, Europe and the United States, and come back to help rebuild Cambodia. A lot of their vision is still in progress and they need to figure out how to keep kids connected to their culture when they’re living abroad.
Sounds like very admirable goals. What did you do there?
I taught in their first Pre-K program. There were 2 classes, 30 kids each. The school day was 7:30am to 3pm in English, and it was everything from reading, sounds, letters, and such. I signed on for 2 years.
How were the kids?
They're incredibly bright, and all came from the Thma Pouk district, which meant they had to be under a certain poverty line. So the process is pretty intense to choose kids because obviously all families want their kids to have access to education, 3 meals a day, doctor visits and dental care. There were 500 applicants for 60 slots.
What was it like to live in Cambodia for two years?
It was a perfect country to start my time abroad. Everyone was so friendly. And being 21-23 years old, it was easy to meet people, big going out scene, everything was easy going.
Were you ever homesick?
Oh yeah. It was so far away! I was able to go home early into my stay when there were massive floods and the school closed for a month. Before that, I thought maybe this was the wrong decision, what have I done!? But then I went home… and everyone was loving life, and I would have been happy at home I guess, but it was all the same, and will be the same when I get back.
Did you learn any cultural nuances from living in Cambodia?
I adopted a strong British accent. It’s true. What I can say is that Khmer people are incredibly friendly and want to help so badly. They never say no, just always “maybe cannot.” Cambodia is the only place so far that I felt the most immersed in the culture, I had a lot of Khmer friends and went to a few weddings while I was there.
Where did you go during time off while in Cambodia?
I went home every Christmas, did a lot of trips within Cambodia, and visited Thailand and Malaysia.
So after 2 years, you left for Kuwait, how was the process of finding your next job?
Well, I was deciding between the most dangerous border town in Mexico, and Kuwait City. On my interview with the school in Mexico, she said “it’s totally safe if you’re in the compound by 7.” So, I chose Kuwait. But not only because it was safer, but also because the director really sold me on the school.