UMW students on a winter-break study abroad learn to harvest wheat with hand tools at a rice farm in southern Cambodia.
The stories of several UMW students in Cambodia during winter break unfolded through blogs and other social media. Participants took turns posting daily about their endeavors during the 31⁄₂-week study abroad.
The group visited a rice farm and a floating village; did fieldwork in the capital, Phnom Penh; attended meetings with the Peace Corps; spoke with survivors of the infamous Khmer Rouge Cambodian genocide; and earned credits toward a UMW degree in geography. Associate Professor of Geography Donald Rallis led the students, and Assistant Dean of Academic Services Amber Huffman ’10 accompanied them.
Offered for the first time at Mary Washington, the program is one of only a few of its kind in the country, Rallis said.
While in Cambodia on his 14th visit to the Southeast Asian country, the professor posted on Facebook, “It is immensely rewarding and more than a little humbling to see students so engaged, interested, and motivated.”