In Love with Laos

This summer, I embarked on my second volunteer-abroad trip with Rustic Pathways. I was originally drawn to Rustic because of the high levels of organization that can be seen just by visiting the website. Rustic has an amazing user-friendly website that matches its in-country experience. Another thing that drew me in was the sheer amount of programs that Rustic offers. There are so many countries and programs that it is almost impossible to choose just one! Thankfully, there are travel advisors that you can chat with on the website to answer any questions you may have and offer some insight into the programs.

The programs themselves are put together in such a way that even if you are volunteering, you still get to do a good amount of sight-seeing and adventuring. It is a great mix of work and play, and the program schedules are designed keeping in mind the levels of exhaustion that come with international travel. The program leaders are truly amazing and all connect with the students so well! Students from all over the world travel with Rustic, so you are sure to meet some interesting people all from different countries and different backgrounds! I traveled alone on both of my Rustic trips, which was an amazing experience, because I got to meet all new people in a new country all by myself, but it is also okay to travel with a friend, as it can be comforting to have something familiar in an all-new environment.

Rustic provides an amazing experience that would be very hard to experience alone or with another company, because Rustic is so ties into the communities that they work with, providing a welcoming and immersive experience. Some of my favorite memories from my trips with Rustic are of the homes that we had the experience to stay in while staying in rural villages, and being able to interact with the villagers. Rustic also works with local staff to truly immerse you into the culture of the country you are visiting, and it also provides you a wonderful connection with other locals.

Personally, I look forward to a new Rustic trip each summer, and my expectations are always exceeded by Rustic. Every Sumer I get to experience an entirely new place with a group of friendly strangers that make my time with Rustic a time I will never forget! Rustic is absolutely an experience I would recommend to anybody who loves to travel, loves to help out in their community or others, or just wants to meet some new and extraordinary people.