Why did you decide to volunteer with Rustic Pathways in Thailand?
Cassidy: I had heard wonderful things about Thailand and knew that I would probably never go there in my lifetime. So I decided to travel there and volunteer there. I was curious about the culture, people, and land that makes up Thailand.
Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.
Cassidy: At the Rustic Pathways Children’s home, we would take part in various different types of service. Sometimes we would teach at the local elementary school where we were held responsible for creating and carrying out different lesson plans.
On my trip, we built a library in a village off in the Mae Hong Son hills. We were responsible for cementing the floors and walls and each week students who volunteered added more and more work onto the library. We were also living with the local kids, ages 8-20, and interacting and working with them.
What made this experience unique and special?
Cassidy: This experience was unique because I was almost completely emerged in the local culture. I was living, working with, hanging out with, eating, and exploring with people from that culture. This place, the Rustic Pathways Children’s Home, has become my second home and my second family.
How has this experience impacted your future?
Cassidy: I am currently studying Human Rights and Cultural Anthropology as a direct result of traveling and working with Karen people on the border of Thailand and Burma. I am also studying at the Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute as I want to continue to be involved and work in Southeast Asia as I continue forward.
I also have an interest in working with refugees after I learned about the issues happening on the border of Burma and Thailand. The time I spent with Rustic Pathways at the Children’s Home has taught me things and given me tools that are priceless.