The craziest, bestest, awesomest study abroad. January 31, 2025

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Excellent program, well guided and challenging but perfect for a students who wishes to be pushed a little outside their comfort zone. Classes were half in the classroom and the other half completely emerged in the culture and environment in Cambodia.

On-site administration of your program

SFS Cambodia is organized excellently. With a program director who is happy to help and provide any assistance needed, and 2 amazing and supportive Program Assistant who would travel and assist us in all our adventures. They were kind, receptive and helpful.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

It is much like described, a dorm like rooms with bunk beds and a shared bathroom. How many roommates you get depends on the amount of people in your study abroad.

It’s Cambodian food cooked by a local team… it’s as amazing as you can expect. From fresh fruits to local dishes to feel-good American cuisine when you need it. They are super vegetarian friendly and adapt if you want to make special requests!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Very integrated, the whole point of the SFS Cambodia program is to tackle environmental justice issues while being immersed in the culture of Cambodia (huge amount of traveling around Cambodia and meeting locals). We lived right on the outside of the city so it was a perfect mix of easy access to the city (by cheap and fun tuktuk) and being surrounded by locals.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There was the kindest Health and Wellness manager at the center, she travelled with us and helped us through physical and mental health challenges through the semester. I needed to consult a medical specialist and it was incredible. The Health and Wellness manager helped me through the process and it was extremely easy and accessible to go to the International Hospital and get doctors that spoke English. It was a great service, and medication administration as well. Easy receipts for insurance also.

Very safe, we had a buddy system to start the semester and a curfew for the entirety of the semester there. Even during vacation times (no curfew and hostel on my own, I have NEVER felt in any way threatened (and I am very paranoid / careful).

It was honestly perfect, there were ups and downs but I would not change anything — my expectations were high and they were still more than met.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Super super cheap living there, tuktuks were a dollar or two, food ordering was the same, and you get stipends sometimes. The only time you are truly spending money is because Cambodia SFS requires you to leave the center for 3-5 days breaks during the semester where you have to fully host and feed yourself. But even then, food is a few dollars per meal and hostels is literally 7$ max if you do a dorm style (which is the cleanest and best service ever).

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

The program assistant and program director, as well as most teachers speak fluently. Everyone is SUPER excited and happy, including custodians, staff, cooks, but also everyone in the city is excited to talk to you. You also have a half credit language course where you learn the language so they are definitely motivated to make you learn it.

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• The people
• The program (like academic wise)
• The guidance

• Maybe some things I didn’t get from just the explanation like that there would be a curfew every night at 10 PM.
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The Avid Adventurer