Host Mom: Ma Seu

Hello world, meet the most amazing (pseudo) host mother in the land, Momma Seu!

I first met the Seu family as I was taking a leisurely bike ride near my site. I heard a woman screaming excitedly which was the first person who had been that happy to really get to know me. I saw her waving me over in that upside-down Khmer wave. I immediately swung my bike around and headed back to where they were sitting. I was greeted with the warmest smile and encouragement to “on-goy lang” (sit-play). Luckily for me, Ma’s youngest daughter, Hapisash spoke fluent English and was able to help me translate as I was still new to Cambodia, and my site. Hapisash and I became fast friends and continued to study and participate in projects together for the rest of her grade 12 year.

I have gone to visit this family at least every other day, if not every day, since I began my service. Every single day my pseudo host mom’s face brightens as I arrive. We sit and talk about Cambodia, America, projects I’m doing, and family. Sometimes we don’t talk at all, but just sit and enjoy the serenity of the moment. I have taught them how to make some American food too such as hamburgers, tacos, and my favorite, pumpkin spiced pancakes! I think the hamburgers are their favorite. Ma also never forgets to invite me to fun outings with the family such as going to the Kep Sea Festival or a Leo Beer Concert in Kampot town. One of my favorite memories was within the first weeks of meeting them and they dressed me up in a traditional Muslim outfit, hijab and all, and proceeded to take pictures of me!

One of the things I like most about this family is how much they spoil me! My pseudo mom is always giving me iced-lemon teas, coconuts, bread, or any sweet that’s lying around. Last June, the family built a Halal restaurant in front of their house and I now even get free breakfast whenever I want it! My Ma will never take compensation for all they have given and done for me, and insist that I am their “goan” (child) and I am loved just the same.

There is no way I would have been able to make it through my Peace Corps service without Ma and her family. They are my sunshine on a rainy day and continue to give me purpose for being here. She has taught me so much about Khmer and Muslim culture and accepted me for who I am. I feel so incredibly blessed to have known her and feel tears on the verge whenever I think about how I am going to have to leave her one day.


Post provided by K6 Hayley Knicely; Community Health Education Volunteer in Kampot Province

Host Mom: Kim Chantrea

Host Mama Kim Chantrea

Why I Love my Host Mom


When I first arrived at my site, I missed my training host family and didn’t want to adjust to another, different family. I got frustrated that my new host mom knocked on my door to offer me things I didn’t need, or to wake me up to ask if I was sleeping. I felt that she didn’t understand me like my last family.

So much time has passed since those first few weeks, and I am embarrassed at my initial feelings towards my host mom. I have come to see that she is the most caring, sweetest person I know, and that in the beginning of my time here, she was trying to make me comfortable even though she had no idea how. Both of us have come so far in our relationship, and we understand each other so much better now. She has done an amazing job at being flexible with me, learning each day a little more about me. We have worked the menu for dinner down to a science, and she only makes me food that I like. She is very perceptive- noticing when I avoid an ingredient in a dish. She will not put it in next time. She is receptive- when I tell her I don’t like something, she just accepts it with no questions. She is my biggest advocate in my community, and since she is a well-respected member of the community, people treat me well also. When I held a Girl’s Health event at the school, she took a whole stack of fliers and handed them out at the market. She occasionally brings me little treats from the market, which shows me she thinks about me even when I'm not with her.

She is the best host mom I could have asked for and definitely makes me feel at home.

Post provided by K6 Margaret Rusch; Community Health Education Volunteer in Kampong Chnang Province

Host mom: Ming Sun Chea

Host Mama Sun Chea

Meet my host mom, Ming Sun Chea!! I was lucky enough to live with this fireball of love and joy for the last ten months of my service but I was blessed to know her for my entire duration at site. Through less than ideal times with my first host family, Ming Sun Chea was always there for me, no matter what I needed.

She sold bobor in front of her house and everyday I stopped before work and ate a heaping bowl full, if not two. Not once did she ever ask or accept money. Whenever I would see her at the market she would buy fruit or bread or those weird pink slimy noms for me. She would put them in my hands and tell me to save them for when I was hungry. One night during the weekend she would have me over to eat dinner with her family. She would cook bowls of meat and so many vegetables! She made certain that we sat and ate until every last piece was gone. I napped in her hammock and celebrated holidays with her family. Everything was given to me without ever asking for compensation. And everything was always done with a loving smile and true compassion. She made me feel so welcomed, loved, and most importantly, wanted.

I was able to move into her house after three months with my first family. It was a new start to my time in Cambodia. She was always having a laugh, loved to pick on people, never let you wear a bra/pants after showering, generally a major goofball yet was always looking out for me. She not only made me happier but also refocused my mindset.

That night in October, when circumstances became out of our control, she was stronger than anyone. She held me as I cried. Held me tight with two arms. She had the entire neighborhood and police squad at our house before I even found my phone to call anybody. She was exactly what I needed.

She was the last person at my house that I hugged goodbye. When I speak with her now, I can still hear the love in her voice. I will never be able to thank Ming Sun Chea enough for what she did or the impact she has had on me. I am so proud and fortunate to call her my mom.

RPCV Amber and her host mama

If you’re ever traveling up road 5 and pass by my site, keep an eye out for her. She’ll be in the hammock, in an old Michigan State University t-shirt, drinking an ABC & I know she would love to share.

Post provided by K6 RPCV Amber Bytwerk; she was a Community Health Education Volunteer in Kampong Chnang Province

Host Mom: Vannary

Host Mama Vannary

My host mom Vannary is known as the respected assistant director at the local high school but to me she is a modern day superwoman.  She is an inspiration to me and I hope to many other girls and woman in Cambodia.  She works, has a family, and still has time to expand her education on the weekends, which is why she will be speaking on a career panel at a camp in March.  I want young adult Cambodians to see that it is possible to have it all, career, family, and education.  Her most important job is instilling this hunger for life in her four daughters and she does it quite well.

My host mom is literally my source of strength during my service.  She makes sure that I'm happy, healthy, always fed and worries about me just like I'm one of her own.  She loves me without reservations and that is more than a volunteer or anyone could ask for.  Although I look forward to the day where I return to the comforts of my homeland, I will be leaving a part of my heart here with her.  She will always be my Cambodian Momma!

Kind. Intelligent. Respected. Boss.

Post provided by K6 PCV Jennifer Reinert; she is a Community Health Education Volunteer in Pursat Province

Host Mom: Sok Sovannara

Host Mama Sok Sovannara

It's come to my attention that for many Peace Corps Volunteers, our host moms are very important figures in our lives. They are the glue keeping our service together as best they can; feeding us delicious fried vegetables, making sure we always have a place to sit, keeping us sane in difficult times during our service, and possibly one of the reasons we don't pack our bags and leave Cambodia entirely.

The latter is my experience with my host mom. Without a doubt in my mind, SHE CARES ABOUT ME. When I first started to travel around the country, I took for granted her phone calls checking in on me – making sure I ate rice and was safe in Phnom Penh, Kampot, or Siem Reap – wherever I was traveling, she made sure to check in. Those phone calls are not as frequent as they used to be and I find myself missing them.

During dinners with my host family, she makes me feel included in the conversation (even though I have no idea what's being said most of the time) simply with a nod of her head and a flash of the most beautiful smile in Cambodia. She gave me a new pair of flip-flops when I lost my third pair in about a month. She gives me handfuls of fruit – durian, jackfruit, apples, bananas, dragon fruit, and papaya (our favorite.) I will never go hungry with her around. I have not found a single person in the village that denies that she is "jet la'aw" or very nice. She is generous and welcoming to everyone and treats my PCV friends just the same as our Khmer visitors.

And when my living situation was really tense, she cried with me. I don't know if I'd still be here without all of her love and support during the last year and a half. She took me into her home and treated me like a child of her own and I am so lucky to have her in my life. And as far as I'm concerned, the (host) moms of Cambodia truly run the world.