Rustic Pathways was recommended through a family friend, and it had many options as to where to go and what to do. I ultimately chose Thailand because of the difference in their culture and knowing that it would change my life. This program had no community service which was a good way of learning about Rustic Pathways and how they run their programs.
Alumni Spotlight: Aidan Sullivan
Aidan lives in New York and attends high school.
Why did you choose this program?
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
Every day was planned by our group leaders ahead of time. As young adults, it’s hard to plan our own vacations and make decisions on where to go. At markets, we got a choice on where to go and just chose a meeting place to meet back to. We could eat wherever we wanted which was great for trying new things that you couldn’t get at a Thai restaurant in Thailand or America.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Making friends is one of the most important things you can do on a trip where you are away from your family and friends. Making as many friends as you can makes you feel like you have a family away from home. My group was a very tight knit group which made it hard to leave everyone, but we still keep in touch today.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Every day, we have breakfast together where we talk about the plans for the day. There are days when we have lots to do, and other days we have two things to do and have free time where we can swim and hang out playing cards. We also go to markets or restaurants for meals which gives us a great view of the Thai culture and what makes it so special. Almost every night, we would have group games and bond all together.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
I was afraid that it was going to be difficult to make friends. However, I met many people on the planes flying to Thailand, and I really bonded with the people in my group. Group games at night helped to get to know the kids as well as the group leaders. The group leaders felt like extra kids in the group, and we really became close with them as well.
What do I get out of Rustic Pathways that is different from traveling with your family?
While traveling with Rustic, you make a family with your peers and your leaders. It is an amazing way to get to know someone and create a long lasting bond of friendship with them. Also, when you travel with Rustic, you are traveling with people who know the area that you are going to. They are able to teach you so many things about the culture and daily life there that you wouldn’t be able to learn if you went with your family.
I was able to live in a treehouse, swim under a waterfall in the woods, visit hidden temples, and travel to many cities. Rustic Pathways has truly given me a life changing experience that has affected my way of thinking and how I look at the world. I cannot wait to take another trip with them!