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

• You can either apply online or download the application and mail it to us after filling out the form. To complete your application process, we’ll need an application fee of $200. Without the fee, you’re application won’t be processed.
• When we receive your completed application, it will then be forwarded to the country coordinator of Nepal for processing. The coordinator will thoroughly check your application and search for the project you mentioned. The coordinator will also fix the details regarding your accommodation and meal. Your accommodation will either be fixed in a home stay, where you’ll stay with a Nepal family and enjoy local food, or you’ll be accommodated in a project hostel or in a safe and secure Home Base.
• After the country coordinator finalizes the details of your program, the information will then passed on to us. We then will forward the details to you, along with the final invoice. You will have to make your final payment six weeks before the start of your program. If your application has been expedited, the payment has to be settled as soon as possible. The placement details contain local contact information, which you can use while applying for Nepal Visa or to get in touch with the local staff and host family.
  
• You’ll then start to prepare for your trip to Nepal. You’ll have to take immunization required before travelling to Nepal, get a visa to enter the country (for details on this, check the Visa section of FAQ) and book air tickets. If you want to contact us any time during your preparation, we’re only a phone call away and eagerly waiting to help and advise you.
  
• Once you have confirmed your tickets and arrival details, please pass on the information to us (US Office). We’ll inform your flight timing to the Nepal country coordinator and you will be picked up at the airport, upon arrival. You can also email the country coordinator directly.

Rustic strongly suggest that all volunteers apply for a tourist visa, in a timely manner before departing for Nepal. Please call our office or contact the local Nepal embassy to learn more about visa, visa fees, and visa extensions. Getting your tourist visa is your responsibility.

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

• Avoid drinking tap water directly. Do not also drink fountain drinks and ice cubes. Always drink bottled, boiled water or carbonated drinks in cans or bottles.
  
• There have been cases of many fake bottled waters being sold in Nepal. They don’t stand up to the standards. When you buy bottled water from stores, make sure the seal of the bottle isn’t tampered with.
  
• Do not eat hot or very spicy food. They can create stomach upset. Stay away from salads also as leaves not cleaned properly can contain tiny bugs unseen to eyes. Eat from good, clean restaurants and don’t try your luck with roadside vendors.
  
• Always use an insect repellent if you find yourself in a mosquito-prone area.
  
• 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.
  
• If you need doctor, ask your host family, hotel or our country coordinator. You’ll find plenty of helping hand. Most of the towns and villages in Nepal have pharmacies and chemists, if you want to purchase any medical supplies. The medication and the fees for the doctors are usually low.
  
• Bring drugs you require with you. Although you can find most modern medicines in the drugstores of Nepal, they can be named differently and come with different level of dosage. Carry a health kit and include medications 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.

• Japanese encephalitis, if you plan to visit rural farming areas and under special circumstances, such as a known outbreak of Japanese encephalitis.
  
• Malaria: your risk of malaria may be high in these countries, including cities. See your health care provider for a prescription anti-malarial drug. For details concerning risk and preventive medications, see Malaria Information for Travelers to South Asia .
  
• Rabies, if you might have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas, such as might occur during camping, hiking, or bicycling, or engaging in certain occupational activities.
  
• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG). Transmission of hepatitis A virus can occur through direct person-to-person contact; through exposure to contaminated water, ice, or shellfish harvested in contaminated water; or from fruits, vegetables, or other foods that are eaten uncooked and that were contaminated during harvesting or subsequent handling.
  
• Hepatitis B, especially if you might be exposed to blood or body fluids (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11-12 years who did not receive the series as infants.
  
• Typhoid. Typhoid fever can be contracted through contaminated drinking water or food, or by eating food or drinking beverages that have been handled by a person who is infected. Large outbreaks are most often related to fecal contamination of water supplies or foods sold by street vendors Vaccination is particularly important because of the presence of S. typhi strains resistant to multiple antibiotics in this region. There have been recent reports of typhoid drug resistance in India and Nepal.
  
• As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles, and a one-time dose of polio for adults.

Nepalese Rupees is the local currency of Nepal.

You can change your money upon arrival to Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. There is a 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.

Our local staff (and country coordinator) will keep in touch with your once the program stays. We will also visit you every 2 weeks to make sure you are happy and satisfied with the project. If the project is very far, then our local staff members maintain communication by email and phone.

You’ll also be provided with the mobile phone number our country coordinator. In case of any emergency, you can contact him directly.

Bring your mobile (cell) phone with you. When you’re in Nepal, insert the local sim card and you’ll be ready to receive or call anyone anywhere in the world. Internet cafes are widely available in Kathmandu and Chitwan.

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.