Writing blogs has never been my favorite thing, nor something I am naturally good at. I am an extremely private person, and for me, blogs are usually a semi-forced means of sharing extremely edited bits of my thoughts with random internet strangers. This may seem like an odd way to enter into this final blog post, but I promise it’s relevant. The reason I reflect back on this opinion now, is that in Cambodia I learned how happy I am to put down any form of technology and engage with people in truly organic ways. My favorite moments were those where we were able to engage with people face-to-face and connect through finding common ground. Our final night in Cambodia was spent at a traditional Khmer barbecue restaurant with the employees of Operation ASHA and a few other friends. The air of this dinner can be described by one of my favorite feelings and words, Gezelligheid.
Our last dinner in Cambodia with some of the amazing employees of Operation ASHA
Votey, the team supervisor, and me at our last dinner
Gezelligheid is a Dutch word that, unfortunately, does not translate to English. The way my mother always explained it to me is the feeling of joy in a room when one is with those they love. Many important thoughts can be conveyed through a blog post, but only those in-person experiences can give one the feeling of Gezelligheid, a feeling that’s nearly impossible to explain.
Despite my dislike for blogs, I think I have managed to write three, hopefully, interesting blogs that provide some insight into me and my experiences. In my first blog post, I said that I was always the “wildcard” in my family. Although I went on to stress that this wasn’t entirely true, my time in Cambodia proved that I have yet to really shed that persona. Working with Operation ASHA was one of the most incredible and affirming experiences I have had. Something that can be most obviously seen if you ask me, “what’s next?”
I’ve never been one to ease cautiously into new plans, and my current one is no different. After graduation, I plan to return to Cambodia to work with Operation ASHA for approximately 18 months. In this time, I will be helping them kick start a maternal and child health program, much of which will be based off the plans that Will and I developed during our fellowship. The idea of moving to Cambodia, without the safety-net of the Miller Center, is mildly daunting, but I am extremely excited. My parents, maybe less so, but they’re getting used to the idea.
Visiting Operation ASHA Clients in Rural Phnom Penh
Many people are shocked when they hear that my next step in life currently consists of running off to Cambodia, and immediately question why I decided on such an outlandish plan. For me, this is a logical step to test my belief system. As much as Will and I accomplished, my two months in Cambodia served predominantly as a learning experience. I learned that I do love living and working abroad. I learned that an entrepreneurial mindset can afford organizations a unique ability to innovate and expand. I learned that I thrive on the energy and challenge of working in a field that is constantly changing. But most of all, I learned that I am someone who is always going to want to do address the most challenging issues in health, head-on.
On the moto ride to one of the rural communities Operation ASHA works with – many people think I’m crazy to be excited
for this work environment
Going back to Cambodia will allow me to rigorously test my belief that I want to work in low-income countries, helping build healthcare capacity. I see no better way to do this than jumping into another life-changing experience.
I don’t know exactly what my future will look like, or how I will go about achieving my goals, but I do know that my work this summer is the kind that inspires passion in me. The relationships that Operation ASHA employees form with each other and their communities is truly what enables the organization to drive change and create good. Though I love school, I have never been more antsy to move onto the next chapter in my life, and get right back to work with the incredible organization that is Operation ASHA. What awaits me will be my most rewarding adventure yet, undoubtedly filled with innumerable amounts of Gezelligheid.
My favorite group photo