LIFE ON THE MARGIN

Day 1 -
Upon arrival, our team of staff will escort you directly to your hotel where you will have the chance to get freshened up and relax for a few moments. Then, we’ll take you out to a local market where you will have your first exposure to the amazing world of Thailand. Sample some local snacks, practice haggling for a bargain, and share some smiles with the friendly local people – this is Thailand! Before heading back to the hotel, you’ll sit down for a relaxing foot massage to help your body acclimatize to being on the other side of the world.

Day 2 –
Wake up to a new country with your new friends.  Our mission today is to get to Mae Sot, the buzzing capital of NGOs and aid work on the Thai-Burma border, but before we return to the airport we’ll try to meet with some of the inspiring young people who’ve persevered through civil-war, poverty, and refugee camps to win a scholarship to some of the international universities in Bangkok.  These individuals have been carefully selected by local NGOs from thousands of applications because they have been identified as the next generation of leaders in Burma’s democracy movement.  As you’ll learn throughout the trip, these kind fun-loving people do not want our sympathy.  They only want to be able to exchange stories and friendship.  Amongst others we’ll encounter, these are the ultimate ‘pull yourself up by your bootstrap’ stories.  Next, it’s off to see Burma and Life on the Margin for ourselves.

From Bangkok, a megalopolis of over 10 million people, we’ll pass through Bangkok’s state of the art airport and head to Mae Sot, Thailand.  Just like New York City is to stock brokers, so is Mae Sot to aid workers.  It’s where all the action is!

Often referred to as the Western Frontier town of Thailand and Gateway to Burma, Mae Sot is home to traders from Burma, India, Malaysia, China, and a wide selection of Thai and Burmese ethnic groups. Mae Sot's street market is a great place to view local life - Burmese women with yellow powdered faces, hill tribe villagers anxiously selling crops, and Indian merchants trading jade – all come together to form a picturesque multicultural scene.  After settling in, you will be able to enjoy a delicious local cuisine at a Burmese restaurant and get a good night sleep.

Day 3 –
Wake up in Mae Sot, a small town booming with fascinating stories, and start the day off right with a delicious breakfast.  For fruit-enthusiasts or even casual fans, Thailand will perk your tastes to the max. Fall victim to the delights of passion fruit, mangosteen, dragon fruit, rambutan, and some fruits which you think you may know, pineapple and mango.  Over breakfast we’ll continue our ongoing conversation about Burma, its history, the border, and the issues we’ll be confronting throughout the trip.

Then, it’s time to hop across the border into Myawaddy, Burma. Walking across the bridge is a bit like stepping back in time into a simpler world.  Though Mae Sot may seem more Burmese than Thai, you’ll still notice striking differences after a 100 yard stroll over the border-bridge.  The cars driving on the opposite side of the road as Thailand probably won’t even be one of the first things you notice. The areas that we can travel to in this area are quite restricted by the government, but interesting nonetheless. You’ll see beautiful temples, a large bustling market, and have some excellent Burmese tea (the Burmese are known for making some amazing tea, and the tea shops are where many locals congregate to discuss politics away from the ears of the police). Despite these authoritarian aspects of Burma that may remain, there’s an excitement in the air these days. After years of living in a self-enforced seclusion, the winds of change are finally approaching and the country is opening up to the international community. This is an incredibly exciting time that is unfolding each day. Returning to the Thai side of the border, you’ll return to the hotel to have a group discussion about everything that you’ve seen and learned today.

Day 4 –
Today you will share breakfast with a few friends of ours who have been doing international aid work in this area for several years. This informative discussion will provide you with a valuable perspective on everything that you’ll be seeing during the program, and it will help you learn what kind of work is being done in the region to alleviate the problems being created by the humanitarian crises here. You’ll also have the chance to speak with local people to learn about their lives, how they got from Burma into Thailand, and the situations they’ve been forced to cope with.

Day 5 –
After a few very informative and eye-opening days in Mae Sot, today we’ll explore the border on our way to Mae Sariang, the humble home to the Rustic Pathways Children’s Home.  Heading north, you will travel along the Thai-Burmese border through some amazing landscapes and scenery. Drive past the largest refugee camp in the country, providing shelter and relief to over 40,000 refugees.  This bamboo hut metropolis with churches and temples dotting the hilltops has been here since 1984.  The road to Mae Sariang is eventful to say the least, and we’ll pass a number of orphanages, schools, and projects that exist to support the millions that have fled Burma over the past half-century.

Mae Sariang reveals itself suddenly as we emerge from the jungles and mountains, and its beauty will welcome you.  Arriving in Mae Sariang is always a wonderful feeling.  You’ll be greeted by the staff and children living here, and settle into this magical place.  The evening will be spent playing games and activities with the children here, and maybe even relaxing with a book as the sun sets over the mountains and we settle into the valley.

Day 6 –
Good Morning and welcome to the Rustic Pathways Children’s Home.  After breakfast we’ll reconvene in the ‘big house’, a seemingly mythical teak-house and one of the largest of its kind in the world, where your leaders will bring up to speed on the family which you have now become a part of.  Here you will learn about the background of the project, including the need in which it was grown from years ago when David Venning, the Chairman and Founder of Rustic Pathways, stumbled upon this wonderful town and people.  This will provide a great introduction into the people you will meet, projects you will aid, and the powerful effects you and your peers can yield.  If you have already been here before, don’t worry! The upcoming days will be aimed at a deeper revealing and understanding of the issues here, and a chance to work on some new service projects while continuing to develop your teaching skills and relationships with the children here. 

In the afternoon we’ll explore the area, and begin a discussion into the service projects we’ll be conducting.  These hills are ripe with culture, beauty, and color which will make for unique photographs and an unforgettable learning environment.  Dinner provides more opportunities to learn about your peers on the other side of the world, and you may even be elected to participate in our dinner-presentations, a chance for our Karen students to practice public speaking.  After dinner you’ll lead some name-games to set the tone for a great week ahead!

In the evening, enjoy the sunset across the river, go for a run, play pick-up soccer, grab a guitar, or write in your journal.  

Day 7 –
Today you’ll have the day to slow down a bit and enjoy the wonderful local community.  Don’t expect too much down time, as we’ll get involved in our local service projects too.

Day 8 –
Although you’ve just arrived, today is the start of the weekend! Rising early, you will review the plans for the weekend at breakfast. First on the agenda will be a trip to the Saturday market, which is just a short distance from our Home.

Only held on Saturdays, this market is one of the major weekly events in Mae Sariang. While it may not seem that impressive or exciting to you, the festive atmosphere is contagious, and you’ll soon find yourself having a great time interacting with the local people and perusing random items with your new friends. A little money goes a long way here, and our local staff will help you find the best deals and the tastiest snacks the likes of which you’ve never seen before.

After lunch at the Home, we are off on the ROAD.  This is our Rural Outreach and Development program.  This ambitious project was established to address some of the issues facing the Karen villages in which our students come from.  Here you’ll meet with village leaders, visit bamboo houses, coordinate camps for children who may have never seen foreigners before, all while within the breathtaking clouds of Mae Hong Son’s Hill Tribes.  We’ll also get our hands dirty working to help alongside our Karen children and the beetle-nut stained smiles of the locals. After a satisfying day of service and play, you’ll be ready for a good night’s sleep!

Day 9 –
Wake up to the delicious smells of breakfast and the proud sights of your previous day’s work.  After working up an appetite through a few hours of service, we’ll return to Mae Sariang for lunch where a feast will await.  In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy the comforts, beauty, and people of the Home.  Share stories, play pick-up soccer, grab a guitar, exchange games and songs, and be present to your surroundings.

With Monday morning around the corner, it’ll be time to start your lesson planning for the Baan Rai school.  Don’t worry; we have lots of experience with this! We’ll begin with everyone sharing experiences, techniques, and then our staff and 2-week students will tell what to expect in the classroom.  You’ll learn how to make a lesson plan, a few tricks that will help break the ice and get things off to a good start, and some classic classroom activities.  Our staff will be around to make sure you are ready for the day ahead.  After dinner you can lead some reading lessons or help tutor homework with some of the children.

Day 10 –
After breakfast and a quick review of your lesson plan, you will head off to teach at the Baan Rai School! This will begin as an exercise in speaking very slowly and carefully. If you’re careful and energetic enough, you just might find that they’re hanging on your every word after just a few minutes! Remember to go SLOW – repeat yourself often, wait for our Thai staff to help you, and don’t be afraid to be a bit silly. Once you have their attention, they learn very quickly! As this is likely your first attempt at really teaching a class (though you will be part of a team of a few students teaching together), don’t expect it to go perfectly. As with everything else, the more you practice, the better you will become.

You’ll return to the Home for a bit of down time before you head out to the organic farm in the afternoon. After tending to these crops and seeing how they grow in their natural environment, you will help cook dinner in the evening. Everyone will help out, and if you’ve been enjoying Thai food, you should take some notes on how to prepare these meals so that you can ‘wow’ your friends and family when you return home.

In the evening, it’ll seem like you’ve learned a life-time of lessons about teaching so we’ll be sure reflect and build on those before preparing for Tuesday’s teaching.  Once again, our staff will be sure help you along the way!

Day 11 –
This morning, you will have another chance to work on your teaching skills.  You’ll be amazed at how much you’ve improved after only one day.  Walking away from a great class is one of the best feelings in the world!  As you walk out of the school for the last time you’ll be paraded with dozens of wais, handshakes, high-fives, and hugs, and with some of those faces you’ll remember them as your student, naughty or nice.

Over lunch you and your fellow teachers can exchange tales from the classroom, and then you’ll return to the school for another afternoon class.  After class we’ll visit one of the biggest Buddha’s in Mae Hong Son province, which overlooks the paddies and mountains of Mae Sariang.  Make a donation to your birth Buddha (make sure you know which day of the week you were born on) for good luck, snap some photos, and then off to the market.  Choose your favorite combination of Thai smoothie- maybe they’ll even name it after you- and dive into the market on a quest for our very own pizza ingredients, Hill Tribe style!  The Home has its very own wood-fire pizza oven. 

Day 12 –
After a breakfast spent reflecting on the wonderful friends and memories of the week, we’ll take you up to a temple that’s been carved from a cave and protected my massive, overlooking Buddhas.  Your program leaders will explain about temple etiquette and some of the symbolism that you can find in Theravada Buddhism and temples.  A monk will conduct a sacred string ceremony wishing you safe travels and good luck, and you’ll have the opportunity to learn meditation directly from the Temple’s abbot, the head monk.
With good-luck in hand and peace of mind, we’ll return to the Home to pack for Chiang Mai, take any final photos of your new home in Mae Sariang, and leave a note in our ‘Friendship Book’ for your Karen friends to read when they return home.  Tonight we’ll sleep in our Chiang Mai base but not before enjoying some of Chiang Mai’s luxuries.

Day 13 –
Chiang Mai will open yet another chapter to this journey.  Known as the ‘Rose of the North’ and protected by an ancient moat, the city is blessed with stunning natural beauty and a unique, ethnically diverse cultural identity.  Chiang Mai is the home to some of Thailand’s most cherished cultural treasures and Buddhist relics.  We’ll begin a journey through some of Chiang Mai’s more historical sites. The first stop will be up to the most famous temple in the region – Wat Prathat Doi Suthep. Learn the local legend about how an elephant marked the spot for the temple to be built – then head up a winding set of stairs to check it out for yourself. After being blessed by a monk, ringing bells, and burning incense for good luck, your group will take in the incredible view over the Chiang Mai Valley. On the way down, we’ll see Wat Umong (known locally as the Forest Temple) and have the chance to turn our energies inward through the sacred practice of meditation.

Into the evening, we’ll continue our investigation into local issues.  As the high-powered regional hub for NGO activity, Chiang Mai features numerous organizations which have sprung up over the years to help local communities (and those farther afield) with their aspirations, and also to improve the quality of life of at-risk groups. You’ll meet with various groups here to learn what types of grassroots projects are underway to accomplish these goals and here stories of struggles, lessons, and perseverance.  Later on, you’ll head out to enjoy a traditional khantoke dinner and dance presentation.  A famous Thai massage may even be in the cards after climbing the high steps of Doi Suthep.

Day 14 –
Today we’ll continue to meet with NGOs and CBOs (community-based organizations) to gain lessons and adopt causes to carry after you’ve returned home.  Chiang Mai is home to ongoing projects such as income generation to break the vicious cycle of economic dependence, sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation, preserving culture through promoting literature, libraries operated by exiled monks, migrant vocational training, and supporting key community members to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to develop their communities. Later, we’ll grab lunch at a café that each evening morphs into a classroom, the waitresses become students, and all the restaurant proceeds buy the books and pay the rent.

Tonight we’ll head to the famous Chiang Mai Night Bazaar for some souvenir shopping. The bargains here are world-renowned and everyone always love the opportunity to haggle on prices.

Day 15 –
Today is our last day. This is one last chance to soak in Thai culture, reflect on lessons learned, write letters to your new Thai and Karen friends, grab any last-minute souvenirs, and leave Chiang Mai with heart-felt lessons and fond memories.  We’ll make sure your stomachs are full and your hearts are at peace before flying down to Bangkok, and then returning home on your international flight.

*Want to stay another 2 weeks at RPCH, making for a total of four weeks? The two sessions are designed so that students with a special interest in living amongst and helping this amazing community can remain at the RPCH for the 2nd two-week session of Life on the Margin.  Contact us if you have any questions as to how this unique opportunity might work.

*Want to connect this program with a university independent study project?  This is an advanced program that will look at a variety of issues surrounding stateless, refugee, migrant, ethnic, and marginalized populations.

 

 

 

Basic Information that you NEED TO KNOW: 
* Carry-On Luggage cannot weigh more than 7 kilos 
* Check-In Luggage cannot 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. 

IMPORTANT – A NOTE TO FEMALE STUDENTS ABOUT THAI AND KAREN CULTURE
In terms of dress, traditional cultures in the mountains of Thailand 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 will be requested 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.

FEMALES: The main concern in visiting these places is covering your shoulders and everything above your knees. If you don’t have this type of clothing, be prepared to buy a Thai-style sarong (wrap-around dress). Our host schools do not permit our students to appear in front of class unless they are properly dressed, and we always strive to be prepared before they single people out and provide them with alternate clothing. Two or three pairs of lightweight pants (linen, thin cotton, etc.) or capris, or a couple of sarongs will be all that you will need. Normal cut t-shirts (which cover the shoulders and are NOT low-cut) which are clean and not ripped are just fine to wear teaching. 

MALES: Rules are much less strict for male students. All you need to worry about is making sure that your clothes don’t have stains, rips, or inappropriate language on them. Tank-tops should not be worn while teaching or visiting temples, and it is strongly preferred that you shave and shower before you teach a class. 

Here are some basic guidelines to use while packing: 
• Southeast Asia is a hot region, so there is no need for any heavy clothing. You should expect daytime high temperatures to be over 90 degrees Fahrenheit most days. As most of our programs are outdoors, you should expect to work up a sweat, so plan on wearing clothes that will keep you cool. 
• The sun can be quite strong, so all students should be prepared with a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. 
• Experienced travelers know that over-packing is one of the worst things you can do on a trip, and this is particularly true in this part of the world. You may want to bring one suitcase/bag for the essentials, and if you need to pick up another cheap suitcase/bag on the way home for new clothes and souvenirs you pick up along the way.
• 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.
You will almost certainly be adding to your wardrobe while you are on your trip. 

ITEMS TO BE PACKED IN YOUR CHECKED BAGGAGE:
– T shirts: 7-8 lightweight shirts (make sure to bring a few which cover the shoulders for temple visits. you should try to pack some lightweight, breathable t-shirts if possible. As stated above, Thailand is very hot and cotton shirts tend to hold moisture…)
– Long sleeve t-shirts: 1-2 lightweight (for the flight)
– Pants or skirt: 1-2 pairs
– Socks: 3-4 pairs
– Shorts: 3-4 pairs (long shorts or Capri style shorts are needed for service! You don’t want to have the whole village staring at you wearing very short shorts while doing service – it makes everyone look bad!)
– Swimsuit: 1 suit
– Footwear: 1 pair of lightweight, comfortable shoes. Hiking boots are NOT needed, and neither are high heels. Students connecting to service programs will need basic shoes to protect their feet.      
– Sandals: 1 pair.  Sandals with straps (Chacos, Tevas, Keens, etc.) are ideal. Or basic flip-flops can be purchased everywhere in Southeast Asia for under $1. 
– Hat or bandana 
– Sarong: Can be purchased at markets in-country (guys and girls wear these in Burma)
– A small travel towel: Can be purchased in country (Quick-dry towels are best, and don’t bring white!!)
– One nice casual shirt for Final Dinner (not too fancy)
– Rainproof, Lightweight Jacket - If your jacket does not pack very small don’t bother bringing it! Most local people use only ponchos and umbrellas which can be bought for very cheap. When it rains, it rains so hard that jackets won’t begin to keep you dry. 

Personal Items/Toiletries
Basic items such as soap, shampoo, razors, toothpaste, etc., can be found in many places along the way on our trip.  You can bring a small amount from home but large amounts will not be necessary, it will just make your bag heavier.  
– Sunscreen
– Prescription Medications
– Insect repellant (1-2 bottles 35% DEET)
– Hand sanitizer: This does not take the place of washing your hands, but you should carry sanitizer with you.  (1-2 small bottles)
– Tampons (difficult to find in Southeast Asia)
– Deodorant (if you are particular, otherwise this can be purchased here)
– Lip balm
– Contact lenses and accompanying paraphernalia - if you use contacts, bring all of your chemicals with you

Optional Items:
– Pictures! Make up a small album! Pictures of mom, dad, boyfriend/girlfriend, dog, strange neighbors, school buddies, etc. - People you meet will be really interested in where you live, what your house looks like, what your parents and grandparents look like, what your school looks like, etc. This is a great way to break the ice, break the language barrier, and have some fun.
– Any fun, engaging games that are easy to explain» Musical Instrument (Guitars and Harmonicas, other portable instruments) - if you play an instrument at home and it fits in your suitcase easily, bring it along. (Frisbee, mini football, hackysack, etc. – anything fun to do and easy to carry.)
– Thai phrasebook

Remember, if you not sure, leave it at home.  Laundry is easy enough, and people are usually surprised at the good and cheap stuff you can find when you’re here.

NOTES ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS
Students, staff members, and our host family all love receiving gifts from our students, and they certainly go a long way toward helping people in this humble part of the world. We generally encourage students to bring things that will be easily shared and that will last. As you have seen noted above, the airlines which we use within Thailand are quite strict with their baggage allowances, and students who bring more than 33 pounds of baggage (total – not per bag) will be charged about $3 per kilo. For this reason, we advise choosing your donation items/gifts carefully, and avoid items which aren’t worth their weight. Many simple items (pencils, paper, soccer balls, medical supplies) can be bought in Thailand for very cheap, so it is likely better to bring some extra money to buy these items in country if you’d like to donate these types of things.  If you have any questions about the relevance of certain donations, contact elbot@rusticpathways.com

• For the children at the Rustic Pathways Children’s Home and at the Baan Rai School and The Refugee Camp Side Trip – The children living here really don’t have many possessions, and they are actually just fine with this. For them, expensive possessions which cannot be shared by the group are almost selfish, and might even make them feel a bit embarrassed. Therefore, we always encourage gifts which can be shared and enjoyed by many people if possible. Simple games, blocks, and small engaging items like hacky-sacks, Frisbees, etc. are always quite popular. They also love receiving t-shirts and hats from your home town, old backpacks, used cameras, and other things that you may have lying around the house. They also like music CDs, movies, and other popular things which our students have shared with them over the years. Even just small tokens like magnets, key chains, stickers, and patches really go a long way. Most of them have never had the chance to travel abroad, but our students bring the world to their doorstep and these small souvenirs help places far away feel that much closer to them.  
• Used (but not over-used) clothing and shoes are always much appreciated. In particular, quality shoes (from running shoes to old soccer cleats – cleaned up a bit) always make great gifts. As always, just make sure that you don’t over-burden yourself by bringing too much stuff – anything you are able to manage will go a long way. 

 

If you are packing nothing else for your stay here, make sure that you bring your kindness and your gentleness, and a big smile. These are unusually kind and giving people living in a culture that puts great value on the nature of a person's heart and little value on material possessions. So before packing your material gifts, prepare your thoughts and your heart to live in a place that places infinite value on thoughtfulness, laughter, generosity of spirit, and showing care for others.

 

What is unique about the Hill Tribe Orphanage Project?
This is perhaps Rustic Pathways most ambitious global project, in which we have now supported over 35 Karen Hill Tribe children access education with many more on the way.  In this quintessential humanitarian service project, this is your opportunity to make real relationships with real people in a real place and do some real service, and while having a really good time.

What do students usually like most about this program?
Our students typically love this program and come back year after year because of the relationships they are able to build with their peers from across the world.  Students are often inspired and empowered by the opportunity to teach in a real classroom and venture into a Karen Hill Tribe villages for service.  All of this happens in one of the most pristine and breathtaking places in the world.

Who are the Karen people?
To answer this question would be a massive generalization.  That being said, all Karen people are awesome.  The Karen strike most people as very hard-working, fun-loving, genuine, and caring.  The seemingly brutal task of harvesting rice flies by as jokes and stories are exchanged.  It is a great privilege to soak in their subtle wisdom and ways.

The Karen (pronounced Kah-REN) are a distinct ethnic group who have settled primarily along the Thai-Burmese border region.  There is an estimated 4-7 million Karen people in the world today, with perhaps 300,000 in the mountains of western Thailand making them the largest Hill Tribe in Thailand.  Here, they have long been marginalized by Thai society and most of their villages still lack basic services, including schools.  Some are in the precarious and terrifying situation of being stateless without any legal form of identification.  These Karen youth are growing up in quite a different world than the one their ancestors knew.  The challenge facing this new generation is great as they are being tasked with maintaining their traditional heritage and identity while also assimilating into a new culture.  
  
What service projects will I be doing?
Rustic Pathways plays a large role in supporting the local school, Baan Rai.  We have supported various projects, and continuously help them in the classroom.  A large part of your service, and realistically some of the most meaningful service anyone can do abroad, is teach English.  English is an incredibly valuable asset for these children.  English exposure and practice will without a doubt open opportunities for them.  Back at RPCH, it’s a good time to sit down with a student and continue their ongoing English lessons or just have a chat.  Additionally, we will venture out on the ROAD, our Rural Outreach and Development project, aimed at aiding some of the Karen Hill Tribe villages in which our students come from. 

Can I teach English?
Yes, and it will make a difference in these students lives.  Our staff will help you with the fundamentals: making a lesson plan, themes, activities, and ways to break the ice.  Ultimately, this will begin as an exercise in speaking very slowly and carefully. If you’re careful and energetic enough, you just might find that they’re hanging on your every word after just a few minutes! Remember to go SLOW – repeat yourself often, wait for our Thai staff to help you, and don’t be afraid to be a bit silly. Once you have their attention, they learn very quickly! As this is likely your first attempt at really teaching a class (though you will be part of a team of a few students teaching together), don’t expect it to go perfectly. As with everything else, the more you practice, the better you will become.

Where will I stay?
Everyone sleeps in traditional, Karen-style bamboo houses along with the children living at RPCH.  The houses are stilted amongst golden rice paddies, and have wrap-around balconies overlooking rivers and mountains.  There is one house for boys and male staff, and one house for girls and female staff.  Each house has smaller bedrooms (2-3 people) and larger bedrooms (4-6 people).  Karen people almost never sleep in a room alone, so expect to share a room with at least one other person.  Comfortable sleeping pads, pillows, blankets, and mosquito nets are provided!

How often can I do laundry?
Doing a quick load of hand-wash laundry is a great way to start the day- the weather’s cool, gets your blood moving, a sense of accomplishment before most people have their coffee, and the clothes will be dry by noon.  But, if you need those extra 15 minutes of Zzz’s, we have 2 washing machines on the grounds as well.

Are the mosquitoes a problem?
There are mosquitoes. They’re usually not too bad, but you will want to have a light weight long sleeve shirt and long pants for the evenings. Also bring a small bottle of insect repellent containing DEET.

What can I spend my allowance money on?
You’ll want money to buy hand made crafts in the villages and at the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.  There will be all kinds of souvenirs and fun stuff to buy, so budget some money for that.  You also may become victim to the Thai cultural trait of constantly buying ‘Ka-Nom’ – little snacks or sweets.  You may want to donate some school supplies, sports equipment, or clothes to the kids at the Children’s Home and the school. These things can be bought in Thailand.

What is the weather like?
It’s hot and humid in the day and a little cooler in the mountains at night. Daily downpours are short and give way to sunny skies. Be prepared for heat and dampness. Synthetic fiber clothes are great because they dry fast and don’t get as mildewy as cotton. 

How often will I have access to email and phones?
Phones and email will be accessible daily, although we encourage our students to use the internet only for a limited time, and only for corresponding with their family and friends.
Your time here will be far more valuable interacting with the people and environment around you.

Who will the staff members be on the trip? How many staff members will there be?
Each trip is staffed by a combination of western (American) and Thai leaders, and in most cases each team will include a nationally licensed guide, a western man and a western woman.  We have both local and Western staff in Mae Sariang year-around to ensure our commitment to the community.  We never have fewer than one staff member for every five students. 

What kind of food will I eat? What if I have certain dietary restrictions?
We’ll eat a wide variety of Thai and ethnic food, as well as a good deal of Western food.  Thailand is famous for its food, and this trip will awaken your tastes to flavors you didn’t even know existed.  Almost all dietary concerns can be accommodated, but please alert us of any relevant restrictions beforehand just to make sure.  Vegetarians Welcome! 

What water will we be drinking? 
We will be drinking all bottled water.  Bottled water is safe and readily available.

Where is the nearest healthcare?
Mae Sariang has a hospital with reliable medical care that caters to hundreds of Westerners every year.  For the short time we will be in more rural areas farther from top-quality medical care, our staff will have a clear plan and route to the nearest healthcare depending on the severity of the situation. 

Is your staff qualified in First Aid?
Because safety is our number one priority, all of our programs have staff that is certified with First Aid and CPR training. Many of our guides are also qualified Wilderness First Responders, EMTs, Wilderness EMTs, or Life Guards. 

What immunizations do we need to get for the trip? 
Rustic Pathways does not make recommendations regarding immunizations. You will need to visit your local travel clinic and discuss your specific itinerary with a physician so that they can make medical recommendations for you.  For general information about travel around the world, please see the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.

Will there be a flight leader to this country?
All flights departing from and returning to the United States will have flight leaders. In the event a student is connecting from another country, they may or may not have a flight leader. In such instances, we generally have coordinated with the airlines to escort the students from check-in through customs, and delivered to a verified Rustic Pathways staff member. 

How does this program connect to other programs?
All of our programs within Asia connect seamlessly.  All trips begin and end on Thursday, thus allowing for easy connectivity and convenience.

Did you know?
For generations, the Karen people of this region told tales of Bangkok, the lowland capital of Thailand, flooding and people migrating to the mountains of Mae Hong Son province.  Well, Mae Hong Son still has not seen an influx of Bangkok migrants, but Bangkok did see some flooding in 2011.  Coincidence?  You be the judge....