Greetings from Cambodia, or as we say here, "sua-sdai"!
Growing up in Coral Springs, FL, I never thought I would one day live somewhere with higher temperatures than sunny South Florida. Long before becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer and moving to tropical Cambodia, I was curious about the world around me. When I was 18, I boarded my first international flight to Ireland, and from then on, I fell in love with seeing new countries and getting to know how people in different cultures live.
After I finished my Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University, I moved to Switzerland to work as a nanny for a year. I had to learn a new language and adjust to a different way of life, and I made a lot of good memories in the process. When I returned to Florida, I spent a year teaching English and performing service projects with AmeriCorps. Serving others and helping people improve their English was so much fun that I decided to apply for the Peace Corps! Peace Corps Volunteers live and serve in over 60 countries, and I was lucky enough to be placed as an Education Volunteer in Cambodia.
Since August 2025, I have lived in this beautiful country. I live with a host family in Kampong Chhnang Province. I have two younger host brothers and one younger host sister. To communicate with my host family and community members, I speak Khmer, the official language of Cambodia. Did you know that the Khmer Alphabet is the longest in the world, with 74 letters? Even though my language skills are not perfect, I can understand and say enough to get by, and I enjoy practicing Khmer with my fellow teachers and students.
I teach English at the town primary school. In Cambodia, primary school is from Grades 1-6. My school is the biggest in the province with almost 3,000 students! I teach Grades 5 and 6, and I host an English club for the teachers in my school to practice English once a week. A typical class has about 50-60 students, so I have to use creativity and a loud voice to make sure my students are all following along with the lesson.
Not only am I teaching English while living in Cambodia, but I am also learning so much about the people, food, traditions, and history here. Outside of the classroom, I am usually on my bike exploring the nearby countryside, reading a book, or sharing a delicious meal with my host family. I am excited to share all that I am learning with you all, and I hope that my journey inspires you to learn more about the world around you!
Peace Corps Volunteers like me live and work side by side with community members around the world, collaborating on locally prioritized projects, building relationships, exchanging cultures and knowledge, and helping transform lives for generations. Learn more by clicking here.
