By Heike Wilmsen
Year 10, Academy of Mary Immaculate
Hello Heike! What made you want to join the Infuse Cambodia trip at your school?
I have always loved travelling, and Cambodia was a new and exciting place to experience. I was interested in experiencing a new place like I never had before, meeting locals, visiting villages and stepping out of my comfort zone.
Before departure, I was most excited to learn about Cambodian culture. I was looking forward to trying new foods, such as beef lok lak and chicken amok, which were both foods my whole group enjoyed. I was excited about meeting the locals and learning about the daily life of Cambodians, and how it differed from places I travelled before, such as Vietnam or China.
What was a favourite memory from your trip?
The most memorable experience on the immersion was the house building project we did in Kampong Cham over three days. It was hard and tiring work, but also a lot of fun. It brought the group I was travelling with closer together, as we worked together through rain or shine. This service project gave me a deeper appreciation for my house at home and what already I have.
I also loved staying in the Base House in a village in Kampong Cham. One memory that sticks out was when we had been playing in the front courtyard of the house, and it started bucketing down with rain. Although we were getting drenched, we continued to play. Some local kids who lived down the street joined us and we played soccer in the rain. Although we didn’t speak the same language, we were still able to have a fun time together and had a few laughs!
Did anything surprise you during the journey?
It surprised me how happy and friendly all the people were. We’d be walking down a road in the village or in the car and there would be little kids waving at us or coming up to say hello. It was nice to build connections with many of them, even though we didn’t speak the same language.
Any challenging moments?
The biggest challenge I faced during the immersion was learning about the genocide in Cambodia. Although it was important to learn about, I found it hard to hear about the stories of what happened at the killing fields and at the S-21 prison. However, it is important to bear witness to these events in history, so they are not repeated. Learning about the genocide at the beginning of the trip gave me a deeper understanding of the country and how the people behave.
Have your perspectives shifted in any way?
This journey changed my perspective of the world deeply. It reminded me that there is so much more out there than just Australia. I think often we get wrapped up in our own little bubble and we lose sight of the fact that there is so much world out there left to explore. This experience also reminded me that I am so lucky to have the life that I have, to be able to go to school and have a roof over my head.
“I now understand that I can be happy with what I already have and that life is not about having more but rather living more.”
During this trip, I met so many amazing people that showed me the importance of resilience. While staying at the Jesuit Refugee service in Siem Riep, we met Nobel peace prize winner Tun Chanareth and listened to his inspiring story. His story, like many others that I had listened to in Cambodia, showed me that you must always get back and continue your life, even when things are hard, there’s no use moping around feeling bad for yourself.
What is the one thing you’ll always remember?
One thing I will remember for years to come is the little boy who was going to live in the house that we were building. Everyday he would watch us work and try to help as much as he could by helping carry planks of wood or nail in the flooring. He was so determined to help us, even though there was a language barrier. We tried the best we could to include him, as it made him so happy to be able to help.
Any advice for future students heading to Cambodia?
For future students considering an Infuse program, I would tell them to give everything a go! Even if you’re unsure or a little bit nervous, going out of your comfort zone is when you discover new things about yourself and find things you love. You’ll always regret not doing it, but never regret giving it your best shot.
My Infuse trip was a rewarding trip that gave me a new perspective of the world. I learnt about a new culture that showed me that you don’t need a lot to have a happy life and that when life gets tough, you’ve just got to keep on going.
Heike travelled to a Service Learning Tour, Cambodia House Building Project, with Infuse Travel in August 2026.
