Five months. Five months in Cambodia. Said like that, it sounds like a long time… and yet, I feel like I just arrived yesterday with my suitcase, my few familiar points of reference, and way too many questions in my head.
I left to experience a professional adventure, but I’m coming back with so much more than just an internship: thousands of memories, unforgettable encounters, a new way of seeing things, and a little piece of Cambodia that will always stay with me.
My adventure started in Phnom Penh, the capital city, a place that definitely doesn’t leave anyone indifferent.
At first, you have to adapt : the sound of tuk-tuks, scooters coming from every direction, the heat reminding you that European weather is very far away, the streets full of life at every hour of the day…
But very quickly, you get carried away by the city’s energy. Phnom Penh is a fascinating mix of modernity and traditions, between high-rise buildings, local markets, temples, hidden little streets, and a daily life that is always moving.
It was mainly in this city that I completed my five-month internship as a Communication Officer at The Place Hostel. I also had the opportunity to travel to the other hostels in Battambang and Siem Reap.
This experience brought me so much, both professionally and personally.
I was able to work on communication, content creation, social media, promoting a place and its identity, but also learn how to work in an international environment with different cultures, ways of thinking, and habits that were sometimes very different from my own.
This internship taught me how to become more independent, more creative, and above all, more adaptable. Because when you are abroad, you sometimes have to rethink your plans, find solutions quickly, and accept that everything doesn’t always go as expected. And in the end, those are often the moments where you learn the most (and laugh the most too).
But Cambodia was obviously not only about work. I was lucky enough to discover many different sides of the country.
I travelled to Siem Reap, famous for the incredible temples of Angkor Wat, a place that truly feels like travelling back in time. Watching the sunrise over these temples surrounded by jungle is the kind of moment you keep in your mind forever.
I also discovered Battambang, a quieter and more authentic city, where I experienced another side of Cambodia: less touristy, closer to local life, with a much more peaceful atmosphere.
And then there were my two trips to Koh Rong. Yes, twice… because once was clearly not enough. Between the paradise beaches, the incredible sunsets, and the feeling of being completely disconnected from the world, it was the kind of place where you quickly understand why people come back.
Beyond the beautiful landscapes, what impacted me the most in Cambodia was the people. Their kindness, their smiles, the simplicity of their interactions, and their ability to enjoy the small moments of everyday life. I learned how to slow down, appreciate the simple things more, step outside my comfort zone, and accept that I can’t always control everything.
Today, it is time to close this chapter. A chapter filled with discoveries, challenges, unexpected moments, struggles that became funny stories, new skills, and memories I will never forget.
I’m leaving with a professional experience that helped me grow, but above all, with a human experience that changed me. Cambodia taught me much more than what I came here to find.
So thank you for these five months. Thank you for the people I met, the adventures, the laughs, and all these moments that felt a little out of time.
The end of my Cambodian adventure… but definitely not the end of the memories. 🇰ðŸ‡âœ¨
