Summer High School Programs in Thailand with Rustic Pathways

I've spent two summers in a row visting the Rustic Pathways Children's Home (Hilltribe Orphanage Project). Both years the staff were amazing and I met the best friends I've ever made in my life. Additionally, the kids in the schools and living at the home are some of the greatest people I have ever met. They are funny, smart, and genuinely the nicest kids in the world. Both years, it was a life changing trip that I will never forget. Spending three weeks at this home in total, I have become so thankful for the life and education I have at home. Visiting the Burmese Refugee camp had much to do with that as well. Many of the kids living there chose to leave their families in Burma in order to have access to education. I have a huge amount of respect for everyone I met at the refugee camp, because they were so friendly and kind even though they are living in refugee camps with a fence surrounding them. That overnight trip at the camp was a huge awakening for me. Anytime I catch myself complaining about going to school, I think about the kids I met who are so thankful to even have access to a school that teaches above 6th grade. I will never forget my time at Hillltribe, I love everyone I met there, and my heart will always be in Thailand.

I'm mom to twin girls that just completed our 4th summer traveling with Rustic Pathways. They started at age 14 having signed up for something including Meals on Flip Flops in Thailand. That year was the summer of unrest and demonstrations in Bangkok so trip was altered to spend more time in Laos. They had most exciting adventure ever. I suggested the girls never travel on same trip at same time so they would not depend on each other too much and make new friends. They had traveled the world extensively before Rustic with grandparents but had always stayed at 5 star resorts and safari camps. I spent a lot of time between college and marriage wandering around Africa and South East Asia with a backpack a friend and no itinerary learning about different cultures and I can say I learned more than all years of school combined. I wanted them to meet locals and somewhat live life of a villager which had never happened on trips when younger. They were both nervous about not taking a friend, hearing rumors of trips being "clicky" and having just turned 14 the month before travel. They both met lots of friends from all over US and are still in touch with some. They both had amazing summers and could not wait to go back. The next year they did Service in the Clouds and connected to something in Cambodia, can't remember exact name. After that, India was new favorite country an they are patiently waiting until out of high school so we can go during nice weather,November-March and I can introduce them to the friends and the India I know and love. Last summer they wanted something a little more "rustic" and chose Ghana. It was pretty hard-core but exactly what they were looking for. Last month was their last Rustic trip as they will be seniors in high school. We signed up for Burma trip but it got canceled in May due to ethnic cleansing and unrest occurring in most of the country. Changed to Frontier Photography visiting Thailand, short hop into safe area of Burma and Laos. They went together this time and had so much fun seeing local rustic guides they met summers before. Now to the point of my review! One of my daughters slipped, hit head, was unconscious for about 5 minutes and came to having seizures. She has no history of anything like this. When they tell you to buy evacuation insurance DO IT! I always have and nothing has ever happened so this year I bought cheapest $25.00 per kid from Frontier Medex. Rustic started calling me right after she fell asking for insurance info. etc. They happened to be a 3 hour van ride from Luang Prabang which had nearest hospital and landing strip. I cannot even describe the mode of professionalism and urgency Rustic went into. They had 2 western staff and 2 local staff with the group when this all started. Kevin Connally who is American but lives in Bangkok and speaks the different local languages was with her in van ride as she continued to seize, have difficulty breathing and hallucinate. Each trip has one or more staff trained as medic for these type of situations. Bryan Haggerty who is head of all SEAsia operations continued to call updating on condition, hospital arrival etc. They had a jet headed to Laos asap to evacuate her to Bumrungrad hospital in Bangkok. No small feat considering permits, different countries etc. They literally called me to let me know when jet took of from Bangkok, landed in Laos, when Addie was in the air, upon arrival to ER. They have a global safety director named Gabe who took over and helped figure out fastest way for me to get to Bangkok. From what I gathered talking to all the staff with Addie in ICU when I arrived, this serious of an incident rarely if ever happened but they were extremely prepared and knew exactly what to do for her receive urgent care. The 3 young guys, Brent, Bryan and Kevin were there to help me out with everything. Brent was waiting for me at Bangkok airport when I arrived and took me to hospital.They gave me a local cell with their numbers programmed so I could call anytime. They would spend night with her when I needed a hotel break for some sleep. The trip was over and kids were back in US but they stayed in Bangkok helping us try to figure how to get her home. It took my Mom flying to Bangkok for my support, my husband in US working with Frontier, numerous amazing doctors and nurses and 15 days in hospital for us to finally get her home. So, my summary is I would trust Rustic staff with my kids lives any day and Frontier Medex came through like champs. This is what I got for $25.00- Medic jet with 2 doctors aboard for 3 hr. round trip to get her out of Laos. 3 days in ICU, CAT scan, 24hr EEG, and many more tests. 12 days in private hospital room nicer than any 4 star hotel, A neurologist, infectious disease specialist that is with World Health Org. that embassy sent and a psychiatrist that had excellent English skills. Frontier paid for 2 doctors, 1 nurse, Addie and me to fly Korea air business class to Dallas TX. where the Thai docs handed her off to docs at Childrens Medical Center. All I had to pay was 4000.00 deductible for entire bill. We just arrived back in US 2 days ago and she is still hospitalized but rapidly improving and Rustic and Frontier are still in touch checking on us. I love Rustic Pathways!

I did "Come With Nothing, Go Home Rich," a Rustic program where you bring only 5 items in your suitcase and spend 3 weeks doing service work in villages. We bought all of our necessities in Thailand at the beginning of the trip. I was surprised to see how few clothes and toiletries I actually needed to last me the month. In the villages, we had breakfast at around 7:30 and worked at our service site all morning. The service work usually involved mixing cement (by hand) to build freestanding buildings or to lay ground. We took a break in the middle of the day (the hottest hours being from 1-3), and then worked into the evening. We ate dinner at around 6:30 with our group, the American trip leaders, and our 4 thai staff. Bedtime was usually early, as we were always exhausted. Being in the villages was spectacular. We got to live like and with the villagers, in some cases in a homestay! The children in the villages were charming and energetic; some of them helped us at our work site! In between villages, there was always a thrilling activity planned. We rode elephants, took a muay thai lesson, and hiked among many other activities. It was an unforgettable three weeks!

Whilst I believe the teaching service length was suitable (6-8 hours) I would have been happy to do an extra day of service at the Library we went to to help build it! But accommodation was good, food good and the whole experience otherwise unbeatable! Would be happy to do more service with less free time!

The program was wonderful! We had the chance to get certified in CPR and WFA all while having fun and volunteering. Our normal day-to-day schedule would change, but it basically involved volunteering in the morning, learning in the afternoon, and a fun activity with the rest of the Ricefields base at night. On weekends, we visited local temples and malls. The base was big and beautiful, the staff was very friendly. We also had the chance to make new friends from all around the world.

All my weeks included completely different experiences, yet all were positive ones.Visiting temples in Bangkok, getting to see the beauty, and learning about the culture was a great . So was riding elephants through the jungles of Thailand,washing them, and eating with bugs. Washing dogs, and removing tics from them, and patching up wounds is a completely different, yet no less rewarding experience. Overall I had a great time in all 3 of my weeks there.

I had such a fabulous summer with Rustic Pathways and can't wait to sign up to go on another program with them!! The local and western staff were amazing. I met so many people from all over the world that I can't wait to visit. I hope that everyone had as great of an experience as I did!

Traveling to Thailand with Rustic Pathways was incredible. I had Rustic leaders named Hannah and Kevin who were both incredibly kind and so much fun to be around. We traveled from Chiang Mai, to the Pai Valley, to Mae Hong Song, to Bangkok. We rode elephants, met the Long Neck Karen people, stayed with a Thai family, stayed in beautiful hotels, visited numerous beautiful temples including the Grand Palace in Bangkok, we swam in gorgeous waterfalls and visited beautiful caves. The kids I met were from all over the world and so much fun. The trip was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.