Thoughts on Spending Two Weeks in the UK
By Kong Rathvirak, Study Abroad Global Alumni

Study Abroad Global (SAG) is a program based in Cambodia that provides study tours to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US that are targeted towards high school students but welcome to everyone. It offers an opportunity for students to experience an intensive English language program, enjoy the history, culture and attractions of their chosen destination, make friends from around the world, enjoy fun activities and have new experiences.I’mACE Magazine recently had the chance to interview Kong Rathvirak, a Study Abroad Global alumni. To learn more about his experience, read the interview below.

On the first day of class, you missed the train. What was that experience like?

It was my first day and I had never taken the train before. I missed the first train, as a result of which I was about 15 minutes late for class. My teacher was not happy with that. He said that in the UK, being late shows a lack of respect and bad manners. This is a valuable lesson to apply to Cambodian culture. From then on, my group and I tried our best to be on time. We were never late to class and our teacher was very impressed with our behavior.

What is your take away from visiting museums in London?

I visited the Natural History Museum, National Gallery, Science Museum and British Museum. I liked the British Museum the most because it contains a lot of sculptures, and taught me a lot about their history. It also shows interesting changes from one century to another in things like clothes and furniture.

How was it returning to Cambodia after spending two weeks in the UK?

When reflecting on my time in the UK and comparing it to life in Cambodia, what stands out for me are the differences on the roads. In Cambodia, drivers don’t respect traffic laws and try to reach their destinations with very little care about other road users’ safety. In the UK, when I travelled by bus from Cambridge to London, the traffic was really bad. Nonetheless, drivers respected the road rules and were patient. Most Cambodian drivers would not have done so. Drivers in the UK also respect pedestrians. The roads are safe there.

Have you ever made a cultural error in English that was, in fact, funny?

At lunch time, a chef prepared the students’ meals. One day, we had fried chicken. So, I asked the chef, “Could I have a fried chicken?” “Say that again and this time, add the word please”, the chef angrily replied. I was so surprised about my English etiquette error that for the rest of our trip, I repeatedly reminded my group to say please when asking for anything.

To learn more about Study Abroad Global, go to www.studyabroadglobal.com