EDUCATION is inspiring young minds with new experiences and connections. Fostering those experiences, ACE College Shepparton took 12 students on a life-changing trip to Vietnam and Cambodia in September.
Travelling through Hanoi City, Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh, the students visited Vietnam War historical sights and the Killing Fields of Cambodia. They also experienced local art, cultural sites, and the incredible temples of Angkor Wat.
For Miles Hoffman, the trip reminded him how lucky we are in Australia.
“Learning a lot about the culture of it, then when we went down to Ho Chi Minh in the south, that’s when we started learning a lot about the Vietnam War. We are very fortunate here,” said Miles.
Isabella Cartwright was taken in by the generosity and kindness of the people despite its tragic history.
“They’re still subject to the effects of Agent Orange from all the fighting that happened with the American soldiers and whatnot, and they still welcome the same people back into their country, because they’re very, very nice people,” said Isabella.
For Zahil Aylett, it was her first time on a plane, but meeting a Vietnamese fighter pilot was her favourite part of the trip.
“My favourite part of Vietnam was meeting him,” said Zahil. “He was a soldier in the Vietnam War, and he was the first Vietnamese pilot to shoot down an American plane.
“He told the story, and then our guide translated it. He had all these helmets too. It was so cool to hear the story; he remembers it like it was yesterday, and it was cool to hear just how much detail he remembers.
“I’m just so grateful to the school. The trip was so amazing, you’d never get it at another school,” Zahil said, reflecting on the ACE College trip.
