My experience on this trip was exciting, joyful, educational, fulfilling and inspiring all in one. From the onset, our small group clicked and that connection contributed to my enjoyment and the feeling of safety and comfort that endured for the length of the trip. We got to experience Cambodia through the lens of both a tourist and local; visiting sites such as the Killing Fields to contribute to our understanding of the country while also going off the beaten track to places such as Prek Toal. The Floating Village was my personal favourite, as we integrated ourselves into the quaint and simple lives of its citizens. Our service project, which involved the completion of a floating house was rewarding and inspired me to continue to seek out ways to provide service for others.

I will always remember how knowledgeable, insightful, and considerate the Rustic staff were and the amazing intimate and authentic experiences we had such as the Koli village, eating at peoples’ homes, and the scavenger hunt. This trip was exceptional, unforgettable, insightful, and rewarding.

Indescribable! Incredible! Once in a lifetime! We had the best Rustic leaders and the best group of students!

I’ll never forget feeling like the home stays in the highlands are actually our Fijian family and feeling so welcomed, loved and appreciated by everyone everywhere we went. My experience was absolutely amazing and it is something that I will remember and hold onto for the rest of my life.

The best week of my life. Words cannot do justice to this experience.

Truly unforgettable. I’m so glad I made myself go. It was definitely eye opening and I have a new appreciation for the life I have. I will never forget the bond we made with our leaders, friends and teachers as well as the connection to Fijian culture. The incredibly beautiful landscape is something I’m glad to have seen and helped protect. Overall the genuinely friendly, grateful and welcoming attitude I received is something I will keep close to me forever. I will definitely be recommending people to see the real side of Fiji… it is something I am so grateful to be able to have experienced.

My experience on the trip has been a life changing one, that I could never forget. My overall perspective on life has changed and I feel like a new person. I am so thankful to be able to have gone on this trip.

I can’t say enough to recommend Rustic to my fellow teachers. Each year the trip is a rich experience and we come back the next year to big improvements. The commitment Rustic has to developing the local com- munities it works with really shows. I’m so impressed by their investment in the local staff, training, and en- abling them to lead. Our trip leaders are excellent with the kids and very responsive to any suggestions we have. They’ve worked hard to customise our trip and build off our thoughts, goals and observations. What I like most is the genuine relationships that are built between our students and the Thai students and staff. There are plenty of intentional activities followed by unstructured time to just play.

Since 2012, Year 9 Cornish College students have had the opportunity and privilege to work with a variety of communities in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos through our Make a Difference Experience (MADE) program. Our students raise funds for educational infrastructure then work alongside community members to provide labour for the projects. Rustic Pathways provides ex- cellent leadership and service work that is achievable but challenging for Year 9 students; work that makes a difference for local communities. The MADE program is integrated into the Year 9 Global Sustainability course at Cornish College. Through observation and interviews while travelling, students look for evidence of the val- ues, traditions, customs and symbols that shape the unique cultural identity of either Thailand or Laos. They are tasked with looking for commonalities as well as differences in order to understand the cultural dynamic of Thailand or Laos and its people. On return to school, students write up their MADE experiences and inquiries, demonstrating their new understandings. Their work is presented to parents at an exhibition in November.