Welcome back 'Walkabout Cambodia' Pilgrims

Welcome back to the students and staff who recently experienced the 'Walkabout Cambodia' Tour with fellow Anglican school representatives, Frederick Irwin and John Wollaston.  It was a rewarding and life-changing trip for all involved, solidifying the incredible Service Learning initiatives taking place at PCACS.

'Walkabout Cambodia' Team 2019:  Jack Austin, Caelan Browning, Dakota Franz, Aiden Galbraith, Georgia Johnson, Annelise Morton, Mr Paul Dewhurst.

Reflections

Over the last few days on this pilgrimage we’ve been to a variety of sites, all rich in culture and history. Some of these sites have seen atrocities and devastation in the last century.

Everyday we meet the children and they greet us with smiles that reach across their faces from cheek to cheek. It’s only taken a few sessions with them and we’ve become like family. The kids and the pilgrims are as one whole family and it’s what keeps these people happy. Having a family to go home to in this country is like having gold or silver. I know that if I was to take one significant thing about this trip home with me, it would be 'true happiness is to be with family'. That doesn’t necessarily mean your immediate family, it can include anyone that treats you as family. I know whilst over here I have two distinct families whilst I’m away from mine. My biggest family here are the pilgrims who keep me on track and help me when I’m home sick or not feeling 100%. Every one of them is amazing in their own unique way and I hope more than anything that we will continue to help each other well after this is over. My other family is the one with the Cambodian people, from Sam our amazing Tuk Tuk driver, to the Sanpour, to the kids in the centres. All these people are part of my family bringing joy throughout this experience, through smiling faces and meaningful conversations...I will miss every person of this family when I return home. I hope that I’ve been able to brighten the life of everyone around me here throughout this trip and hope to continue when I return from this amazing country.  Aiden Galbraith

Today was a day to remember, a day at the killing fields in Cambodia. The Genocidal Centre was a moving experience that is ingrained in my memory for life. The 17 tiers of skulls in the Stupa has moved me to sadness, that these innocent men, women and children could be so callously and methodically murdered for a madman’s cause. I was taken with the frank recounts from people who experienced these horrors, I was impressed with the tape player and headphone so I could listen to all the commentary at my own pace with my own thoughts. The place was one to remember and aI pray that this sort of thing will never happen again.  
Mr Paul Dewhurst

Today reflecting on everything so far I am extremely thankful for the new family I have made. The bus ride was amazing purely because I was surrounded by my new family and I’m looking forward to the centres where I’ll make an even larger family with the Cambodians who have accepted us with open arms. I was slightly afraid for the trip but now as a family we support each other and our fears melt with the heat of love from one another. That’s what I’m truly grateful for this moment in my life.
Caelen Browning