Hello, this is M, an employee at Yumelia! This time, I'll share my experiences from volunteer work in Cambodia!
To begin, the main goal of this trip was "volunteer activities for library construction." During my first year of university, I participated in international volunteer work in Cambodia for about a month over spring break. The moment I left the airport and got into the car, the scenery unfolding before my eyes took my breath away. It was a landscape completely different from Japan.
What left the deepest impression on me was how the entire town appeared in shades of orange and reddish-brown. The colors of the roads, dust, and buildings blended together, making it seem as if the entire town was enveloped in warm hues.
I still remember that scenery vividly.
I was also surprised by the sheer number of motorbikes. The roads were dominated by motorbikes rather than cars, with families riding together and people transporting large loads. Scenes rarely witnessed in Japan were commonplace, making me realize, "This is everyday life in Cambodia." Whenever I travel abroad, I find myself more drawn to "the daily life of that country" than to its tourist attractions.
What kind of scenery do the people living there see, what kind of lives do they lead, and what do they cherish? Discovering these everyday aspects is one of the joys of my travels abroad.
The town was not as orderly as in Japan; shops, stalls, people, and vehicles were all mixed together, creating a very lively atmosphere.
Initially, I was overwhelmed by the chaotic atmosphere, but after spending a few days there, I came to feel that this vibrancy was precisely what made Cambodia unique.
Leaving the town, I visited an elementary school located in a richly natural area where the roads were unpaved.
There, the villagers prepared a whole roasted pig for us. Eating lunch together, gathered around a magnificently roasted large pig, was an experience rarely had in Japan.
I still remember how happy I was to receive such warm hospitality from the local people, feeling their genuine welcome.
Among all the activities, painting the library walls white together left a particularly strong impression on me.
The task of repainting the concrete walls entirely with pure white paint wasn't just about painting; it felt like we were "creating something new together," and it was a truly enjoyable time.
Initially, everyone was working seriously, but before we knew it, both the children and we volunteers started playfully putting paint on each other's hands and a little on faces, laughing together.
Even though words were mostly unintelligible, there were countless smiles.
I cannot speak Khmer. The children, of course, didn't understand Japanese, and English wasn't widely understood either.
In the countries I had visited before, English had been my "weapon." Speaking with locals and communicating in English was one of the joys of my travels abroad.
However, in Cambodia, that 'weapon' was largely ineffective.
Nevertheless, we laughed together, used gestures, high-fived, and played with paint. Simply spending time together naturally bridged the distance between our hearts.
It was then that I truly realized for the first time that "communication is not just about words."
Language is, of course, important. But even more important, I believe, is the willingness to engage with others and the attitude of wanting to enjoy time together.
This experience remains one of the values I cherish when interacting with people.
