Students Set Sail for Cultural Exchange

In mid-March two EGBOK Mission students from Cambodia named Somiel and Nita took off for Singapore to board a Semester At Sea (SAS) ship. The adventure marked the start of EGBOK Mission’s latest partnership designed to give students an opportunity to experience different cultures and increase understanding of the hospitality industry.

Semester At Sea is a global study abroad program that uses a ship as its traveling campus, porting at between eight and thirteen destinations during each voyage. Both students were accompanied by EGBOK Mission founder Ben Justus, who participated in SAS in the spring of 2007.

Somiel and Nita are 18 year-old natives of Cambodia who are studying hospitality in EGBOK Mission’s program in Siem Reap — the country’s most popular tourist destination.

After two days in Singapore touring five star hotels and sightseeing, Somiel and Nita boarded the Semester At Sea ship to get to know SAS students and faculty and to help them learn about Cambodian culture over four days. The country is a field trip destination for many SAS students.

After four days aboard SAS, the ship docked in Vietnam.

The experience included some big firsts for Somiel and Nita: leaving the country of Cambodia, flying on an airplane, visiting Singapore and Vietnam, riding a subway, and boarding a cruise ship.

EGBOK Mission seeks to provide students with new experiences to expand their worldview. The exposure to developed, international cities, the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, and see life outside of Cambodia is invaluable for students. Somiel has already expressed interest the next opportunity to “work abroad to gain more experience in a new culture.”

The EGBOK/SAS collaboration did not end on the ship. SAS participants spent a day with EGBOK Mission on the ground in Cambodia. EGBOK Mission hosted a workshop on sustainable traveling, followed by a visit to the local communities in which we work. The field trip ended with a dinner hosted, prepared and served by EGBOK Mission students.

Ben Justus sailed and studied on SAS in Spring 2007. The experience was influential, eventually prompting him to start EGBOK Mission. He has since wanted to unite the two communities of SAS and EGBOK — two organizations that share passions of open-minded learning, adventurous travel and dedication to helping others.

A sincere thank you to Semester At Sea for providing Somiel and Nita with this life changing experience.

We look forward to future collaboration between SAS and EGBOK Mission.