Blog

Being rustic is being your authentic self, putting cliques and stereotypes aside, trying new foods (and toilets!), and having an absolute blast while doing so. Being rustic is not being afraid to get dirty. It’s laughing until your face hurts. It’s putting down your phone and taking in the most stunning views with a mental…
Dear Students, We are going to ask you not to use your cell phones on your Rustic Pathways program. Before anyone panics, we want to explain our reasoning and hope you will commit to going phone-free while traveling with us. Every minute you are on your phone—texting home, sending Snaps, choosing an Instagram filter—is a…
Dear Parents and Family Members, Most of us working at Rustic remember traveling before smart phones and WiFi hotspots. We packed our bags, said our goodbyes, and disconnected from friends and family as we embarked on our own adventures. We returned home inspired and transformed from our time abroad, ready to take on bigger challenges…
I'd like to introduce you to Lauren Dahlhauser, a talented photographer that helped guide students through Moroccan cities and deserts throughout our 2015 summer season and captured its magic and mysterious beauty along the way: Hello, I'm Lauren! I'm a lot of things, but above all, I'm an adventurer, a risk taker, an inspiration seeker, a…
In 1992, the United Nations founded World Water Day as an opportunity for people around the world to learn about water-related issues. 663 million people are without access to clean and safe water. That’s one in ten people in the world, and twice the population of the United States! In addition, one in three people…
“I want to make it to 80 [years old] and be exhausted because I have been alive and awake every day.” That is exactly how I want to live my life. I love this video and I wholeheartedly agree with everything Jedidiah says in it. As human beings, we’re wired for discovery. We’re innately curious…
The role of Photographer Guide allows one to take a step beyond observing your subject, but experience and connect in the moment. Creating an image, freezing the moment in time, and allowing this moment to be shared is what photography is all about. The images below are from Louis Bryant, Spanish Immersion and Service Photographer…