At the age of 22, Carla Alves has just completed her journalism internship in Cambodia with the Thalias Hospitality group. A significant and challenging experience for this law and international relations student, who is looking forward to returning to the Kingdom at the end of her studies for a new professional experience.
Interview
Tell us a little about yourself
My name is Carla, or should I say Sreyroth (ស្រីរ័ត្ន). This was the Khmer first name given to me by some of the staff at Khéma Pasteur, a Thalias Group restaurant, shortly after my arrival in Cambodia. In the end, most people ended up calling me by that name.
I'm Franco-Hispano-Portuguese and originally from a small village in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France. I began my studies at a university in Lyon, which I shall now continue in Paris. And now I'm leaving the Kingdom of Cambodia after a three-month internship with the Thalias Hospitality group.
What is your academic background?
After obtaining my baccalaureate, I began my first year of studies in the field of sport. At the time, I was combining university studies with dance, because I really wanted to become professional in this artistic field.
Then, for other reasons, I decided to study law, even though dance is still a very important part of my life.
So I studied for a Licence de droit and a Diplôme universitaire de droit comparé, where I studied the Japanese, South Korean and Chinese legal systems.
After graduating last year, I was selected for the first year of a Master's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy. During this year, I completed two internships, the first of which was a long-term placement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at its New York headquarters, and my internship in Cambodia with the Thalias Hospitality Group for their media outlet Cambodge Mag.
What brought you to Cambodia?
I'd say it was a combination of several factors. In any case, it wasn't by chance, it was a very well thought-out and meaningful project on my part. I just had to find the right moment to carry it out in the midst of my studies and dance.
I'd always wanted to go abroad, so I started working at the age of 16 at the same time as my studies, in order to finance it.
And why Cambodia in particular? I think it has a lot to do with my family, my family environment. I come from a very multicultural family in which, growing up and still today, I was lucky enough to hear about Cambodia from those around me.
Afterwards, having completed various internships in the fields of international solidarity and cooperation, I also worked on several projects set up here in Cambodia.
So I did a lot of canvassing, put in a lot of unsolicited applications, got a lot of positive feedback for internships and ended up joining the Thalias Hospitality group.
But what you have to remember is that, at the beginning, I had received internship offers in South Korea, the Philippines and Spain, without having yet received any feedback from the applications I had sent to Cambodia. And so, at that point, I took the risk of declining the offers I'd received while waiting for my applications in Cambodia, without being sure of being selected. But I have no regrets, because fate worked out well.
Why did you choose Thalias and Cambodge Mag in particular?
You're right. To be honest, I chose Thalias and Cambodge Mag in particular to challenge myself. I knew that, thanks to this internship, I'd be able to further develop my knowledge of Cambodia, as well as my skills in writing, project management and event management in general. And all this is linked to my various commitments to associations and collectives in France as a volunteer.
I'm particularly involved with “Banh Mi Media”, a medium founded by Linda Nguon that highlights Asian and Western heritages and cultures, as well as inspiring life stories linked to Asia, through videos, podcasts and events. And I'll also be volunteering for PSE from France in September.
So it's very important for me and I hope to be able to be more versatile thanks to this experience. And of course, the conditions offered to me by the Thalias group throughout my stay in Cambodia were also very decisive in my choice.
Can you tell us more about your internship conditions?
Well, I never thought I'd ever have a placement of this magnitude. First of all, I'd really like to emphasize the support provided by the Thalias Human Resources team. In particular, I'm very grateful to Bong Settha and Bong Samrach, who have been there for me and made my time here so much easier.
After that, the Thalias Hospitality group also supported me throughout my stay by taking care of my accommodation. What really touched me, and it's very important for me to say this, was the presence of the group's employees and especially the security guards at the hotel where I was staying.
As part of my internship, I often travelled alone to events, and I sometimes left Phnom Penh to go to the provinces for professional reasons. And most of the time, they all knew where I was going, what time I could potentially be back, and constantly asked me to be careful. Whenever I addressed them, I called them “uncle”, “ពូ” in Khmer, so I'm very grateful for everything they did for me every day and I have deep respect for them.
And then, of course, I'm particularly grateful to Mr. DARC who first of all allowed me to join his group as an intern, but also, for all these conditions that gave me a unique professional experience.
What were your responsibilities?
As far as my tasks were concerned, I was essentially, as they say, “in the field”. This was one of my wishes, because when I went for my interview, I was asked what I most wanted to achieve as part of my internship.
So my main missions were to go to the various events to which Cambodge Mag was invited, to represent the media and write articles in French about the event in question. I also did a lot of prospecting in order to get in touch with certain influential people in the Kingdom and interview them.
This internship gave me the opportunity to get involved in the fields of gastronomy, tourism, solidarity, sport, culture, business and diplomacy. So my assignments were very varied and I think that's what made my internship so rich and intense, it was really this diversity of fields in which I was able to work and the plurality of professionals I met. I'm really grateful to all the people who gave me their time.
Were there any professional highlights during your internship?
Of course I did! And before I came to Cambodia, I'd never have thought I'd take part in so many exceptional events, and conduct such memorable interviews.
Every event I attended, every moment spent with a person, was very special and unique.
To be honest, all the interviews I've done have left their mark on me, so I couldn't single one out over another.
But if I had to share some events or moments that particularly marked me... I'd say the France-Cambodia 2024 Business Forum was very enriching.
The 13th Cambodia International Film Festival, where I interviewed Chris PARKHURST, director of “Elvis of Cambodia: The Legacy of Sinn Sisamouth”, as well as young filmmakers from the Bophana Center who had made short films about daily life in Cambodia.
Thanks to this event, I learned more about Cambodian culture, the country's history and the cinematic landscape here in the Kingdom.
I also took a tour of the Kantha Bopha Hospitals' departments alongside its General Manager, Denis LAURENT, whom I interviewed twice. Firstly, as a painter at an art exhibition at the Sofitel, and secondly, in the context of his main profession, which is in the medical field. This visit was very meaningful for me.
And finally, the Coastal Culinary Dinner between Amber Kampot and Topaz Norodom in Kampot. On this occasion, I was able to meet Bong Sopheak POV, Executive Chef of the Topaz Norodom restaurant, and learn about his background and the aspirations he had for Cambodia as a chef. It was very inspiring.
But really, I've got so many in mind, especially in the field of culture, like the IFC Breaking Battle, it was a real opportunity to be there, I was in my element.
What did you learn during this experience in Cambodia as an intern, and what lessons did you draw from it?
Well, maybe it's more a personal evolution than a professional learning as such, but I learned to be “less introverted”. In fact, I'm quite reserved and I don't often dare approach someone for fear of disturbing them. And here, thanks to this course, the fact of constantly going out to meet others and having to initiate the exchange most of the time, has helped me a lot to “come out of my shell”, if I can put it like that.
All in all, the field of this internship was quite new to me, so thanks to everything I did every day, the events I took part in and the people I met, I was able to develop new professional and interpersonal skills.
What did you really like - and dislike - about Cambodia apart from the professional aspect?
Well, to be honest, my internship was short, so I don't necessarily have anything in mind that I didn't like. What really comforted me in Cambodia was the family values of the Cambodian culture. You see, when I arrived here, I was alone, far from my loved ones, and my upbringing was very much rooted in the values of sharing and family. Even if it was “only three months”, I'm not necessarily used to not feeling that “family warmth”.
And here, the fact that the locals I met here, in particular the employees of my hotel and the Khéma Pasteur restaurant, with whom I forged many bonds, clearly enabled me to share moments with them, as if I were in a family, was very precious and invaluable for me.
Thanks to them, I have truly unforgettable memories of sharing meals together “à la cambodgienne”, as they used to say, or of taking turns listening to music and dancing to traditional Cambodian tunes. I'm very grateful to them for that, and I hope they realize how much they've given me every day here.
Last question: what are your prospects for the future?
Well, I'm going to continue my Master's course in France, specializing in international relations and international project development, while continuing my various associative commitments.
So I have to succeed in my studies, and if I get the chance, I'd obviously like to come back to Southeast Asia, and Cambodia in particular, as part of an international volunteer program such as VIA, VIE, VSI or a Junior Professional Officer (JPO) program.
But I'm not going to close any doors on myself, I'm going to continue to thirst to learn, to enrich myself professionally in different sectors and I sincerely hope to be able to return to the Kingdom of Cambodia for a longer professional experience.
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