Alumni Interview with Stacey Krepel

What inspired you to go abroad?

While taking a gap year between undergrad and (hopefully!) med school, I was in contact with one of my best friends. She was working in the Peace Corps, and she inspired me to step out of my comfort zone to do some hands-on, much-needed volunteer work in a developing country.

Why did you choose Project Abroad?

I did a lot of research into various programs, and I chose Projects Abroad for a few reasons. First of all, they were very receptive to questions I had prior to my enrollment in the program, and they were very quick to respond to emails. I also liked that each country the program serviced had slightly different types of projects, so you had numerous options for what you wanted to do and where you could do it. Lastly, I was reassured by the website's details about accommodation, travel, etc., as it seemed that every detail was very carefully planned to keep the volunteers safe and comfortable.

What was your favorite part about Cambodia?

The people! Despite the fact that probably 90% of the country lives in extreme poverty, the Cambodian people are incredibly happy, respectful, and paradoxically content. They never complain and are only too willing to share what little they have with family, friends, and even strangers. Interacting with them--even when direct communication was entirely hindered by language barriers--was always enjoyable.

What made your experience abroad unique?

Ordinarily, the public health team works out of Phnom Penh for 3 weeks out of each month, but half of my two-week stay overlapped with the one week each month that the group went to Koh Sdach, a tiny fishing island off the coast. Instead of living in our comfortable, air-conditioned city apartment like we did in Phnom Penh, we stayed in a bungalow on the water with no air-conditioning, running water, or flushing toilets. Now I know this sounds slightly less-than-pleasant, but it was an incredible experience. Did I mention that our living/dining room is literally a roofed-porch that doubles as a dock for the Conservation team's scuba boat? We spent each morning drinking coffee and watching the sun come up over the ocean from the comfort of our living room couch. :)

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

Is it too broad to say "In every way possible"? From the moment I hit "Enter" on my online application, I had someone communicating with me. The comprehensive check-list online made it easy to know what steps to take (and in what order) to prepare for my trip, and I had my own personal advisor whose job it was to make sure I was ready to leave when the time came. Once I arrived in Cambodia, I was picked up by one of the coordinators who drive me to the apartment, which was taken care of by two Cambodian woman and watched over by at least one security guard 24-7. Each volunteer was given multiple ways to contact all of the admin, so we were never without options if we needed to contact someone. The staff were also more than willing to answer questions we had or take care of problems that arose, and volunteers always receive an enthusiastic response to any comment, question, or concern, so we never worried about feeling awkward about bringing any needs to the staff. Many of us also had a specific tuk-tuk driver who was in charge of taking us wherever we needed to go. The amazing thing about their situation was that they were employed during the day by the program, but the program also paid for them to go to night classes at a local college! My personal driver was studying engineering of some kind, and although we definitely had a strong language barrier, he was more than willing to try to talk to me. It’s always a fun thing to explain to my American friends that one of my facebook friends was my tuk-tuk driver in Cambodia. ;)

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

Stayed longer!

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

As a public health volunteer, my day started at 8:30 when the tuk-tuk drivers picked us up and drove us and the public health staff to a daycare center (the center rotated every day, so we were always in a new location). We spent the morning working with the kids, doing basic check-ups, and teach them to wash their hands. This was always a wet, but highly enjoyable part of the day! After a lunch break, we used the daycare center as a free-clinic, and adults from the area would come for check-ups or to refill basic medications. Tasks were divided among volunteers, so some of us took notes on patients and their symptoms, some took blood pressure/blood glucose readings, and others dispensed and tracked medications. The staff acted as the medical professionals and translators, but we as volunteers were able to help with differentials, and we were encouraged to ask the patient questions in order to help understand/find the diagnosis.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

Many of us went to night markets or restaurants in the evenings, and weekends were usually spent in a different part of the country. My first weekend there, a group of us took a trip to Kampot, where we went to the spa, took a hike at the old abandoned casino/palace/church inside the national park, and explored the city's nightlife. Another weekend, we took a night bus to Siem Reap so we could spend a full 2-days exploring the numerous temples at Angkor Wat, the floating village, and the massive night markets.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

While in Phnom Penh, I stayed in an apartment with many other volunteers, where we had a housekeeper and cook, plus 'regular' amenities like showers, air-conditioning, and running water. I really enjoyed the very central location of the apartment! My week-long stay in Koh Sdach, as mentioned above, was almost the polar opposite from the apartment: a small, wood bungalow on the water with no air-conditioning, running water, or flushing toilets. Bucket showers were how you survived the heat, and mosquito nets were your best friends. It was basically tropical glamping! However, I really enjoyed the rustic experience, and living the way a local lived was a really neat experience.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

Do not expect this to be an extremely comfortable, easy experience. One of my roommates was miserable because she hated the heat, didn't like Asia very much in general, and was expecting it to be an easy lifestyle. Basically, research your country before you go so you can expect the worst; this is what I did, so I wasn't too shocked by some of the discomfort, and I was pleasantly surprised when my expectations were exceeded (they usually were, it just helped to be mentally prepped for the worst). Volunteering abroad, by nature, is not supposed to be easy: it is hard work and it is not for the faint of heart. That being said, it will absolutely change your life for the better. And I'm not trying to scare anyone away from participating, I just think that you need to be fully aware that it's supposed to push your comfort zone, and it absolutely does.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

I feel like I view the world differently now. I am so much more appreciative of all the amazing resources that are available to me every moment of every day, and I don't take access to medicine for granted as much as I used to. When I'm unhappy, I think about how content the Cambodian people are, despite the fact that they have literally nothing, and it helps me put things in perspective and encourages me to be more content. Also, just knowing that I participated in something like this has an odd way of subtly sneaking into your soul.....it feels like it changes who you are, but in such a subtle way that you can't quite put your finger on it.

Would you recommend Projects Abroad to others? Why?

Absolutely! I think I've made it clear from my review that this was the most incredible experience of my life, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone. It gives you such a strong sense of accomplishment, as well as changes the way you see the world. It also makes you a much stronger person, and it really opens up the world to you by helping you see the possibilities of what you are capable of doing and where you can go to do it.