Come With Nothing, Go Home Rich – The Mekong Expedition

First and foremost, Come With Nothing, Go Home Rich is the most intense and advanced program that Rustic Pathways offers. It is also one of our most popular and fastest growing programs globally. This is an intense experience that involves a lot of hard work. Generally, students who are not prepared for the rustic conditions on this program have some difficulty adjusting.

Despite being different from what you are used to, living standards in remote Thai villages are quite clean, and staff will make sure you are well informed in each village you visit. While the rustic conditions may require some adjustment, the vast majority of our students really enjoy the opportunity to live like local people in three different locations.

However, you can and should expect your comfort levels to be tested throughout the trip. We are not trying to scare you away, but the success of this program depends on having participants who are ready for this kind of experience. If you are expecting a comfortable, relaxing, five-star holiday, you will be in for quite a surprise when you arrive. Thus, we would like to state the facts clearly so all participants know what to expect:

* Mornings come early in rural Thailand, and you must wake up with your host family. They will be up preparing breakfast and getting ready for the day as soon as the first roosters crow and the sun begins to rise.

* Personal space is very limited in many of the Hill Tribe villages that we visit.

* You will find yourself in places that do not have Western-style toilets or showers for extended periods of time.

* You will always be well fed, but picky eaters will not always have a lot of options to choose from. Students who do not eat the local cuisine (which is generally pretty simple and tasty) can expect Ramen noodles, eggs, peanut butter sandwiches, rice, rice soup, and fruit. 

If you are not comfortable with any of the above facts, than you should probably check out another program. On the other hand, if you are up for an adventure and seeking a dramatically different service experience that will fully immerse you in fascinating cultures and places, Come With Nothing, Go Home Rich is the program for you!

About the Day-to-Day Itinerary:

The itinerary is different for nearly every Come With Nothing program because each group visits a different combination of villages. Typically we only visit each village between one and three times per summer, depending on the ongoing service initiatives in each location. This makes it impossible to provide an accurate day-to-day itinerary. Instead we try to help you understand how the program runs generally to ensure that you (and your parents) understand the nature of this experience. Each trip is entirely unique, and there is no way the subtle details can be scripted ahead of time.

This program visits some of the most rural and untouched places in Thailand and Laos. Your first couple of nights will be spent in guesthouses as you work your way towards the first village. Typically, you will stay in each village for four to five nights, and often you will work on and finish a substantial service initiative during this time.

When you arrive in a new place, you will take some time to explore the village and talk with community elders and leaders about the projects that might best suit their needs. Their input and cooperation is a critical part of this program – it ensures that your time and energy go toward a worthwhile project that is proposed and supported by the community.

In a perfect world, every Come With Nothing group would be able to sit down with the village leaders soon after arrival in each location to share ideas, agree on a project, and get to work. In the real world, this is not the case for every group in every village. Sometimes, you may be the second Come With Nothing group to visit a particular village. In this case, your group will continue to work on, and hopefully finish, the project the first group started. In other cases, the local people may have identified a glaring need in their village before you even arrive, and your group will be able to get to work very quickly on making the idea become a reality. Regardless of your input in deciding the project, your staff will work to keep the group focused on the service and the positive energy created through it. If you join Come With Nothing with this understanding, you’ll find that it’s all you’re looking for and much more!
As stated above, mornings will start extremely early. On your first morning in a village, you will almost certainly find yourself cursing the first rooster that starts crowing at 4:22 a.m. (and the bad news is that once they start, they usually don’t stop). The morning fire is usually crackling before 6 a.m., and nearly everyone in the village is awake and moving shortly thereafter. Bring along some earplugs and do the best you can to get to bed early. As the trip progresses, you may actually find that you like getting up with the sun!

A Note to Female Students About Dress Code:
Women in Hill Tribe villages dress extremely conservatively, and we demand that our students are always respectful and mindful of the local culture.
Throughout this program, you will be expected to show respect to the local people by wearing wear rather conservative clothing. Conservative dress will also prevent you from embarrassing yourself and losing face in the locals’ eyes. Since most days spent in the village will involve labor-intensive service work, you will also need to wear comfortable clothing that will protect you from scrapes and scratches.

Capri-style shorts generally work the best. If they’re not your style, you need to do your best to find shorts that cover your knees. When you’re teaching in a school, you’ll need to wear a long skirt or wrap a sarong around your waist. In addition, low-cut tank tops are strongly discouraged everywhere (and NEVER permitted in a school), and whenever possible you should cover your shoulders. These points are especially important to remember any time you enter a school, where you should always look as good as you possibly can. Although you may feel fine dressed in your normal clothes, you can quickly become a spectacle and do more harm than good if you are inappropriately dressed in these traditional places. Please respect this aspect of the culture and everybody will win!

BASIC TRIP ITINERARY

Every Come With Nothing trip is entirely different, and for this reason we never publish an official program itinerary. More than any other program, this program operates on a flexible schedule which can only be set a few days ahead of time. Changes in weather, tribal festivals, weddings, and the pace of service work are all factored in to the itinerary, and can cause us to alter our plans at any time. Nevertheless, to provide a general idea of what to expect, we have provided the following basic itinerary. Prior to departure, it really isn’t possible to get any more specific than this, so those who join this program will need to be comfortable with this fact.

This program will begin in Chiang Rai in the far north of Thailand. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by the team leaders and led directly to our Base House to get settled in for the next couple of days. Here the northern tip of Thailand, you’ll have your orientation and begin learning about the fascinating convergence of peoples and cultures in this part of the world. Your guides will provide you with about $ 50 to buy all of the supplies you’ll need, give you an intensive introduction to the places and peoples you’ll be encountering, and teach you about the essential things you’ll need to know during this challenging adventure. After getting acclimated, you’ll be off to your first village for about 5 nights.

After your first village, you’ll hop across the border to Laos and get ready for your overnight boat ride to Luang Prabang. This ride is a fascinating journey through some of the most remote reaches of the country, including many villages which are accessible only by boat. You’ll be sleeping half way to Luang Prabang in a small village beside the river, and the next day continuing onwards to Luang Prabang.

After taking a day to enjoy Luang Prabang and buy some fresh supplies, we’ll head into the hills of northern Laos to our next village for about 5 nights, diving in on a service project here. You’ll also have a chance to see the city a bit on your way out before heading south to central Laos, a couple of hours outside the town of Vang Vieng. This area is absolutely stunning, and is the highlight of the trip for many students. We have forged strong bonds with a string of villages around here, and your last several days will be spent here before heading down to Udon Thani, Thailand, to fly down to Bangkok and join your next program.

Along the program, you will have the chance to see some of the local attractions, but the heart of this program is in the service immersion experience, so you should expect many more tough days of service than relaxed days of touring.  

If you aren’t afraid of hard work for a great cause and are ready for a challenge, Come With Nothing, Go Home Rich is the adventure for you!

An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

Come With Nothing, Go Home Rich
2012 Packing List
WHEN PACKING FOR THESE TRIP REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE TRIP:
“COME WITH NOTHING”!!!!

Everything you need to bring on this trip will be able to fit inside one carry-on sized backpack that you will bring with you on the plane.  Basically what you will need to pack for this program is what you will need to get you through the first night in Thailand.  This should include one change of clothes, hygiene products, and a few personal items (camera, journal, book, etc.).  The idea behind “Come With Nothing” is to live simply like the people we are visiting and also to learn about the value of the things we have and / or will buy. The more you let go, the more adventurous your trip will be.   

Basic Information that you NEED TO KNOW: 
* Carry-On Luggage can not weigh more than 7 kilos 
* Check-In Luggage can not weigh more than 15 kilos. 
→ If your bags weigh more than this, the airlines in Southeast Asia will charge you an excess baggage fee for every kilo over the allowed limit. In past years, we have had students incur SIGNIFICANT charges for excess baggage. These fees must be paid in cash at the check-in counter (no USD accepted), so this is a situation that we always try to avoid! 

As a general rule, DON’T BRING TOO MUCH STUFF! If you’re not sure whether or not you should bring something, you’ll probably be better off leaving it at home.  You are not going to the Moon!! If you forget something on the list, you can always buy it once you get here - for a lot less money than you would pay at home.

THINGS YOU SHOULD PACK:
CLOTHING:

• 1 T-shirt (lightweight, breathable material is the best)
• 1 long-sleeve T-shirt (great for extra sun protection) – lightweight, breathable
• 1 pair of shorts
• Swimsuit (boardshorts can double as an extra pair of shorts)
• 5 pairs on underwear
• 3 pairs of socks
• Lightweight rain jacket or poncho if you have one (PLEASE do not bring a bulky jacket!!!, inexpensive, durable ponchos can be purchased in Thailand at the markets)
• ***Lightweight outdoor pants with the zip-off pants/shorts option are ideal and come in handy for service projects and treks in the jungles)***

FOOTWEAR:

• Sandals (if possible with straps such as Chacos, Tevas, Keens, or Crogs)
• Lightweight comfortable shoes for service projects and hiking trips (DO NOT BRING BULKY HIKING/WORK BOOTS!!!, these are not needed and will become a burden)

OTHER: (hygiene, accessories, medications, etc.)

• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Deodorant
• Hand sanitizer (2-3 small travel size bottles)
• Bug repellent (DO NOT NEED 100% DEET; 10% is more than enough for maximum protection)
• Sunscreen, sun block, sun protection lotion
• Nalgene bottle or other durable water bottle
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• ***headlamp or small flashlight*** (great at night and possible caving expeditions)
• Females, it is advised to bring your own tampons for it may be difficult to purchase similar tampons that you are comfortable using
• Contact lenses and solution (if necessary)
• Medications (please inform staff of specific medications that you are taking)
• Journal (great to keep a record of your thoughts and experiences)
• Camera (extra batteries, memory cards, adapter for wall unit to charge your camera)

EXTRAS:

• I-Pod or MP3 player - (IMPORTANT: these are convenient for your long air travel and for van rides to and from the villages.  However, when staying at the villages it is highly encouraged to leave these stored safely in the van.  Music players can be a distraction and limit your rural Thailand village experience.  Though it is common that we may ask to use your I-pod for a last night dance party with the local villagers.)
• Small photo album of your family and home to share with the villagers you meet along the way.  They love to see photos and learn about other cultures.  It is also a great way to break the language barrier and begin interactions.
• Small gifts/tokens for the villagers.  These can include coloring books and crayons for the children, story books for the local school, or trinkets such as beaded necklaces, bracelets, and pins that you can buy at the “Dollar Store”.  Remember, small gifts mean a lot to these villagers and they will appreciate your generosity.  They may even return the favor by giving you some local crafts of their own.

After reading this list you may be thinking; “How am I going to maintain for three weeks with just one carry-on sized bag?”  Remember, the idea behind “Come With Nothing” is to live simply like the people we are visiting and also to learn about the value of the things we have and / or will buy.  During your orientation you will be giving the equivalence of $50 US dollars, as well a traditional Thai-style bag, and then taken to a market to purchase all other necessary items you will need for the duration of your trip.  You will quickly be surprised at how much $50 US dollars can get you.  Also throughout the trip you will be stopping at local markets for resupplies and doing laundry either in the villages, local style, or at laundry shops while in towns.

IMPORTANT – A NOTE TO FEMALE STUDENTS ABOUT SOUTHEAST ASIAN CULTURES!
In terms of dress, traditional cultures in Thailand and Laos are very conservative. Despite the hot climate, you will almost never see women with their shoulders exposed, or wearing low cut shirts or short shorts. As we seek to respect and preserve the culture of the communities where we work, we strongly urge you to dress respectfully. Students must realize that when they dress improperly, they are embarrassing everyone around them. If students are not wearing proper attire, they may need to change their clothes or abstain from the service project of the day.

To DRESS RESPECTFULLY in Southeast Asia, please: - Don’t wear short shorts and low cut tops while out in public areas. In most cases, shorts that cover just above the knees are fine.

1. Where and who will kids be staying on this program?
Rustic Pathways has been to these villages and met with the elders already. They know that you are coming and are expecting you to come as well. We have friends in the villages and you will not feel awkward here. Usually, we stay in about 3 or 4 different houses, boys and girls are separate (boys in one house w/ the family and male leader, girls in another house w/ a female leader). Usually it is the village elder's house and some of his friends and family or nearby neighbors. We all gather for dinner and eat at the same house. In the houses (either made out of bamboo or teakwood), we sleep on simple mats under mosquito nets. In between villages we will be staying at small guesthouses and Rustic Pathways Base Houses along the way. All bedding and new mosquito nets will be provided for.

2. What is the ratio of staff / guides to students?
This trip has a capacity of 15 students. There will be 2 western staff (1 male, 1 female) as well as 1 or 2 local staff. We will also have our 3 van drivers (2 passenger vans and one small van for bags / equipment) with us at all times who also help out with dinners and other activities.

3. What kind of food will the kids be eating? What if my child has certain diet retrictions?
While in villages students will be eating local food prepared by our van drivers, villagers and students. We cook Thai food that the students are comfortable eating and also throw in a local experimental dish for the students to try out. We also cook vegetarian dishes as well. We have catered to Vegans before too and other dietary restrictions. In between villages we eat at local restaurants.

4. Will there be clean water to drink?
Yes. During this trip students will be drinking out of bottled water at all times. Before we enter a village, we visit the markets to buy our supplies. Depending on the amount of students on the trip and how many days we will be staying, we buy several large packs of bottled water. Kids write their names in permanent markers on the bottles to make sure they are drinking out of their own water bottles.

5. Will kids be able to do laundry?
Yes. Student can either try to wash their clothes the local way in the village, or we will also have laundry stops during our days between villages.

6. Will kids have a place to store their bags if they do another program? How will they pick these up?
Yes. We usually pick up their extra bags when they arrive in BKK and deliver them to the students when they connect to their next program.

7. How much spending money do you recommend?
We usually recommend about $150 / week. This money can be used to buy souvenirs in local markets. They will also need money for internet, laundry, phone calls home, massages and snacks for road trips.

8. Where is the closest hospital? Will I need any special vaccinations?
From each village the farthest hospital is only 45 minutes away. If we ever needed to evacuate someone, we can do so right away as our van drivers our with us for the entire trip. There are major western hospitals in Chiang Mai and also in BKK. If you have any questions about what vaccinations to get, please consult your local doctor. You can also check out the Center for Disease Control website (www.cdc.org) as well which gives detailed info on what vaccinations to get.

9. Will kids have access to internet / phones?
Yes. In between villages we will stop at internet. Although students are allowed to have cell phones, they are not encouraged to use them. Staff will all have cell phones which students can use to call home at reasonable rates.

10. How will the weather be?
Although it is rainy season in Thailand during the whole summer, the weather is still very nice. If it rains, it will usually rain hard in the late afternoon for 30-45 minutes and then stop and be sunny again. The weather in Thailand is also very hot and can be humid at times too.

11. Are there a lot of bugs?
Although it never seems as if there are a large amount of bugs, students must always be protecting themselves from them. It is important that students have bug spray (which we can buy in Thailand).

12. What kind of service will the kids be doing on this trip?
During the CWNGHR program, students will act like NGO’s (Non Government Organizations). After students settle into their homes, we have a meeting with the head of the village and several village elders. Here, we ask them questions about their village and where they feel they could use some help. The next day we tour the village and assess the needs keeping in mind Short Term Projects and Long Term Projects. They visit the school, local clinic, several houses, village water sources and any other areas we feel may need help. Short term projects can be teaching at the school, running a camp for the students, working alongside villagers in the ricefields, etc. Long term more sustainable projects can be building a library, toilets at the school, repairing the village’s water holding tanks, etc. All the projects are up to the students and leaders help guide them through the decision process. Students are also in charge of a $1,000 budget which they will need to distribute amongst the three villages and the projects we do. This money is used for donation materials (school supplies, medicines, farm equipment, etc) as well as supplies for our projects. We work as a team to and have discussions on how to use this money in the best way. This program needs students to be involved in the process and decision making.

13. What is village life like?
Life in the villages is very simple, relaxing and slow paced. Many of these people are farmers and they spend long days in the rice fields or farms. Many elders stay at home with the young kids and lounge around all day. Students will be able to help out with family chores, cooking, cleaning, and a lot of game playing with the local children.

14. What are the bathrooms like in the villages?
Bathrooms in the villages are very small and simple. All of them have squat toilets that need to be flushed by hand (pouring a small bit of water into the toilet). Also there are no hot showers in the villages. Showers are cold water "bucket showers". There is a big tub of water where students take a bucket and pour the water over them. Don't worry, everyone gets used to these types of showers and after a while they are fun (but they also make you appreciate a hot water shower in our guesthouse in between villages a lot more)!

15. How will the kids communicate without speaking Thai?
You'll be amazed at how far sign language and body gestures go. Also, don't worry, you will have bilingual staff to help you communicate to the locals. Along the way, you will also be taking a few lessons in Thai that will help you get by and make friends with the locals.

16. What will the kids be doing between villages?
In between villages we will be taking long road trips through winding roads in the mountains and countryside. These van trips are a lot of fun. Students are not allowed to bring their Ipods into the village, but they are allowed to use them in the vans so it’s a lot of fun making playlists and sharing music. We also stop in several towns and may sleep in a guest house or Rustic Pathways Base House. While here we may get massages, go to local markets, check emails, do laundry and get a tour of the town and local temples.

17. How long are the drives?
Drive lengths can vary, but may be up to 6-8 hours on our longest days. Don’t worry, we are always stopping for snacks, food and other surprises along the way!

18. Why is this trip only for older students?
Because of the intensity of this trip, we are looking for smart, mature, focused and active students who show good leadership skills and are committed to the community service projects that we will do in the villages. This trip has several meetings with NGO heads, government officials and village elders and we would like the students to be active in asking questions and listening. Also, during this trip we will be talking about some major issues such as refugees, migrant workers, malaria, sustainable development and more. The students will also be in charge of a $1,000 budget where they will be responsible for distributing this money how they see fit for different service projects. We would not want a younger student to feel lost, left out of discussions or feel that the program is too tough. Please understand that this is an advanced service project which is best suited for older students.

19. Will we be able to charge our cameras?
Yes. Although the villages that we visit are in very remote areas, there is either electricity supplied to the village or solar cells. Students can charge their cameras in the village if necessary. It is recommended however, that students charge their electronics in between villages when we stay at guesthouses and Rustic Pathways Base houses.