Volunteer FAQs

Application process
Visa
Health & Safety
Vaccination
Money Matter
Field Support and Supervision
Communication
Climate
Materials to Bring
Gifts to Bring Host Family

Please read Rustic Volunteer Travel's 5 steps of application

• There are two options for applying to volunteer in Nepal through our program. You can apply online or down loan an application, fill it out, and mail it in to us. You will need to submit your application with a $200 deposit (this deposit will be deducted from your final program fee.) This program deposit is required to make an application valid.
  
• Once we get your application, we will immediately send it to Nepal for processing. They go over your application carefully and find the best project possible for you. The decisions for room and food are made at this time, Arrangement for room and food depends on the location of the project. The vast majority of our volunteers stay in full immersion home stays though some orphanage projects are residential.
  
• Once we get the details of your placements, we pass it on to you with a final invoice. Your final payment is due six weeks before your start date, and in expedited cases, as soon as possible. The placement details have local contact information use them for contacts on your Visa application or to get in touch with the local staff and host family.
  
• Preparation for trips should include reading about Nepal , immunization, travel Visa (entry permit), and booking airfare. If you face any problems our Program Manager is always available for assistance.
  
• Now, once you purchase your ticket, send your flight information to our US office by fax or by email. Your flight information will be forwarded to the Nepal staff who will arrange an airport pickup.

Though volunteers can get visa upon arrival in Kathmandu, we very strongly suggest volunteers get a tourist visa in their home country before departing for Nepal . It saves your time and hassles of filling forms, and waiting in long lines in the Kathmandu airport. Your visa is your entry permit into any foreign country, with out which you may be denied access.

Please find the Nepali Embassy Abroad

http://www.mofa.gov.np/missions.php?type=nepalese

Volunteers should be aware of all health and safety information before traveling to Nepal . We suggest you visit some of the websites listed below.

WHO website for international travelers ( http://www.who.int/csr/ihr/en/ )
WHO Nepal ( http://www.who.int/countries/en/ )
Tips for visitor to Nepal ( http://kathmandu.usembassy.gov/information_for_travelers.html )

• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
  1600 Clifton Road, NE
  Atlanta , GA 31333
  (888) 232-3228
  (888) 232-3299 - fax information service

• Health Canada Online
• Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Travel Report
• U.S. State Department & Consular Information Sheets
  Room 4811
  2201 C Street NW
  Washington , DC 20520
  (202) 647-5225

• Travel Health Online
• Travelers' Health

General Health Tips for volunteer/travel in Nepal

• Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by both filtering through an "absolute 1 micron or less" filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water. "Absolute 1 micron filters" are found in camping/outdoor supply stores.
  
• Buy bottled water from respectable outlets to guard against stomach upsets. Some of the better known brands are, Aquafina, and Himalaya . Make sure that the seal of the bottle is intact to avoid being sold tap water in a resealed bottle.
  
• Watch out for spicy dishes, especially at the outset of your tour. Avoid eating food from road side stalls. Don't eat unpeeled fruits and avoid fresh salads, especially in small hotels. If you are forced to eat food at some place that you have doubts about, make sure the food is served hot.
  
• Always use an insect repellent if you find yourself in a mosquito-prone area. But remember, not every place is mosquito-infested and low temperatures in winters (when most tourists come to Nepal ) kill most bugs in the northern plains and hills.
  
• If traveling in scorching heat, remember to drink enough water, use hats, sunglasses & UV lotions. Beware of the health effects that the mid day sun may cause, most importantly SUN BURN or DEHYDRATION.
• Pharmacies or chemists are available in every little town and village and you can buy medication. In case you need to see a doctor for a specific condition, ask for help from your hotel (most have doctors on call) or your tour operator. The cost of visiting a doctor is fairly low (less than a dollar) compared to western countries.
  
• In Nepal , most modern medicines are available over the counters in drugstores, but it is wise with any prescription drugs you require, bring enough for the duration of the trip. It is advisable that you carry a small health kit which should include remedy for upset stomachs, some antiseptic cream, mosquito repellant, sun block, band aids, etc.

We use the Center for Disease Control traveler's health recommendations (www.cdc.gov.) Your travel doctor will know about current epidemics and should be consulted.

The following vaccines may be recommended for your travel to South Asia including Nepal .

Hepatitis A Recommended for all travelers
Typhoid Recommended for all travelers
Polio One-time booster recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult
Yellow fever Required for all travelers arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa or the Americas . Not recommended otherwise.
Japanese encephalitis For long-term (>1 month) travelers to rural areas or travelers who may engage in extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural areas, especially after dusk
Hepatitis B For travelers who may have intimate contact with local residents, especially if visiting for more than 6 months
Rabies For travelers who may have direct contact with animals and may not have access to medical care
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) Two doses recommended for all travelers born after 1956, if not previously given
Tetanus-diphtheria Revaccination recommended every 10 years

Find the Exchange Rate of Nepal Rupee (INR) http://www.xe.com/ucc/

The local currency is the Nepal Rupee. You can change your money upon arrival to Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport . There is one bank counter at the departure lounge and three bank counters at the arrival lounge. All transactions are done on the basis of the declared amount by the passenger and the currencies permitted by the government based on the day's foreign exchange rate. We suggest you change $200 in the beginning as you can change money in any bank (some banks are near to our office).

Your credit card information can be stolen and used fraudulently just by making a credit card payment. For this reason, cash and travelers checks are suggested to settle most accounts. You will have trouble paying with traveler's checks, but you will be able to exchange them at local banks. Traveler's checks are recommended as a safe way to carry money with you, make sure you write down the check numbers and contact information you need to cancel stolen checks. Different brands of traveler's checks work better in different countries so consult your local financial institution about which company you should buy your checks from.

Travelers should have a credit card for large and emergency purchases so you won't go broke if something goes wrong. If you've requested a pin number for your credit card, you can use it to get cash advances at the ATM.

You can also carry a debit card that can be used at ATM's to withdraw local currency. When using ATM's, be advised to bring a friend along, travel directly from the bank back to your home and stash your cash. Find a private, well disguised place to hide any cash. When you are carrying cash, break it up into different amounts and keep it in different pockets so if you get robbed you won't lose everything.

Debit card is the best way of getting money and ATM vendors are available in major bank and department store in Kathmandu . Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted in some of the large stores and hotels in larger cities but not accepted in smaller cities.

How much money you bring depends on your personal spending habits. Thrifty people can get by on less than $10/day. Your budget should also include money to explore Nepal in free time as well as for your personal use. A good rule of thumb for money management is the 1/3 method, bring 1/3 cash, 1/3 traveler's check and leave 1/3 of your money in your account - plus a credit card for emergencies.

Take advantage of the Web which can bring you current weather and forecasts for your destination:

Yahoo Weather: http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/NPXX0002.html (www.weather.yahoo.com)

The Weather Channel: www.weather.com

The Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/44454.html (www.wunderground.com)

Nepal has a diverse climate; summer is normally the hot, humid and rainy season. Winter is cold in the morning and warm during the daytime. The temperature drops during winter nights. Volunteers should bring appropriate clothing according to the season and activities. The months of fall and spring are wonderful.

*Please bring a raincoat in June-July-August

Temperatures in Degrees Celsius (maximum - minimum Temperature)

AVERAGE RAINFALL IN NEPAL

Most of stuffs of daily use are available in Nepal at a cheaper price. However, we suggest volunteers pack the following things.

•  Camera
•  Mobile phone (you can use mobile phone after changing sim card)
•  Sleeping bag
•  Mosquito repellents
•  Insect repellents
•  Sun-block
•  Working gloves (if you are joining conservation or construction project)
•  Some books about Nepal
•  Map of Nepal
•  Toiletries
•  First aid kit
•  Flash light
•  Electricity adopter/converter
•  Sun glasses
•  Footwear (for work and travel)
•  Towel

It is a common courtesy to bring a small gift for the family that will be hosting you. You are not required to do so, but if you choose to bring something it can be pretty simple. We suggest a box of chocolates, a t-shirt with a hometown logo, or pictures of your family and some local post cards.

If you want to bring gifts for your project (and if you are working for an orphanage or a school please bring pencils, pens and paper, art supplies like markers and construction paper pads, and games. Remember that every child will need these items so you may wish to bring a bunch of one thing.