Primary and Secondary Education - TEFL/English Teaching

All Volunteers (including couples) live with host families for the duration of their service typically in rural towns and villages. Some families have several generations living together while others may be a couple with grown children who have left the community. While Volunteers have their own room in the home, they often share common living and dining spaces as well as a bathroom. Volunteers typically experience less privacy and more attention than they are used to in America.

Host family experiences vary in Cambodia, but most Volunteers find their relationship with their host family to be one of the most meaningful aspects of their service. Volunteers are encouraged to participate in the day-to-day activities in their host families’ lives as well as to celebrate special occasions like weddings, holidays, and ceremonies. Some families must tend to their business or farm, small children, and other responsibilities that may keep them busy. Peace Corps ensures that Volunteers live in a safe environment with a family in the community, thoroughly assesses the families, and provides training for them before they host Volunteers.

Housing reflects what is typical in the community and includes space for sleeping, cooking, eating, and bathing. Indoor plumbing may not be available and bucket showers and squat toilets are typical. Drinking water must either be boiled, filtered, or purchased but is readily available. Volunteers use electric fans for cooling their living space.

Volunteers are required to live according to local cultural norms, which include sharing at least one meal with the host family each day. Typical Cambodian meals include rice, noodles, fish, pork, and chicken. Maintaining a strict vegetarian or vegan diet is difficult as soups are made with various meat and fish stock, and vegetables may be a minor part of your family’s diet. Fresh produce is available in markets year-round, but the selection may be limited. Cooking for yourself may be your only option if you want to maintain these dietary restrictions.

Volunteers have reliable access to the internet as most towns have internet cafés, and schools and offices are likely to have internet service as well. For this reason, Volunteers often bring their own laptops and tablets.

Travel by bicycle is required of all Volunteers. Local transportation options may be limited in the semi-rural areas where Volunteers live. Volunteers often ride on gravel or paved roads that can be muddy in the rainy season and dusty in the dry season. Volunteers ride a bicycle up to 5 miles on a daily basis in Cambodia’s hot climate to commute to school, the market, or internet cafés.

Volunteers experience a high degree of curiosity and attention from community members that may be unwanted and uncomfortable, but these moments are opportunities to deepen local community members’ understanding of the multicultural nature of American society by sharing their own values and life experiences. Peace Corps Cambodia is committed to creating a supportive and safe environment for Volunteers of all backgrounds.

Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Cambodia country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.