Xela Week 2

Archive Central America- MAYA
This week in Xela we continued to attend Spanish language classes. Everyone has really enjoyed getting to know their instructors. We have found that those who originally struggled are now navigating Central American culture with what can be described as, almost, skill. Some of us continue to go to Yoga classes and find that the eccentric Kevin is our favorite instructor thus far. Though he can be a bit controversial… Read More

Nananu forever

Archive South Pacific- HONGI
Bula vinaka (a warm welcome) from Nadi, Fiji! Anna here with a quick update (since we have a group dinner soon), so apologies for any typos and/or lack of detail. We just got to Nadi (the city) today and are taking the day off to rest and relax before we fly out to Auckland, New Zealand, tomorrow! It’s the first time we’ve gotten access to the Internet since the last… Read More

Carpe Kids Week 2 in Banos!

Archive South America- INTI
I am blogging from the popular internet cafe in the center of the small town in Ecudaor where we currently reside, Banos. We have been here for 10 days, long enough for us to already have our favorite cafe´s and hangout spots. When we are not playing Spanish Scrabble, hangingout, and eating with our homestay families, we all love to get together at Cafe Hood, this cute, warmly lit cafe… Read More

To Mufindi and Beyond

Archive East Africa- KIFARU
Hamjambo friends and family! Sorry for a delayed post but we had some technical difficulties at our last internet cafe a week ago. Wespent a week in the Mufindi region working with Jenny and Geoff, two amazing people who run an NGO (non governmental organization) there. The main projects include an orphanage, HIV clinic, income generating projects, home based health care visits and much more. We got to spend a… Read More

Xela end of week 1

Archive Central America- MAYA
We have finished our first week of Spanish school in Xela and are starting our second week today. Most of the time so far has been spent in class in the mornings and hanging out in the afternoons. Last week we had a couple group activites through the school, one of which was making choclate. A group of about thirteen students from the spanish school went to a local womans… Read More

Reflections from a Spring 2011 student

Archive India- SHIVA
As of 365 days ago we were all drifting far above the Asian continent, very much separate but somehow connected by gossamer threads of what destiny had in store for us… Connected by the simple fact that we threw our unharnessed faith in the Carpe Diem boat bound for India. I remember seeing the lights of Delhi waver into sight, a pit in my stomach of rumbling excitement and question-… Read More

Reflections from a Spring 2011 student

Archive India- SHANTI
As of 365 days ago we were all drifting far above the Asian continent, very much separate but somehow connected by gossamer threads of what destiny had in store for us… Connected by the simple fact that we threw our unharnessed faith in the Carpe Diem boat bound for India. I remember seeing the lights of Delhi waver into sight, a pit in my stomach of rumbling excitement and question-… Read More

Happily in Xela

Archive Central America- MAYA
We are currently in Xela at our first language school. Almost everyone, it appears, has a love affair with their teacher. We have one on one classes everyday from 8 AM to 1 PM. They´re very flexible and many of us have gone to the market, a menonite bakery, a church service, or have just walked around for class. We have the afternoons free; yesterday we learned how to make… Read More

The First Two Weeks in Ecuador

Archive South America- INTI
Hello to everyone back home, from Cali to South Cackalacky. It’s hard believe that it has been almost two weeks since we first arrived in Ecuador. It seems as though we have been here for months and also like we just arrived yesterday. We are now in our third location: Baños, and it is simply beautiful. The town is a bit touristy with outdoor sports companies and currently with Carnival,… Read More

Slow down a minute…We’re on Fiji time!

Archive South Pacific- WALKABOUT
Greetings from Rabulu, Fiji! We have spent the past few weeks living, eating and sleeping in our new home and what an experience it has been! It is safe to say our group has really been put to the test of adapting to a completely different culture than the comfort of our homes in the States…With great rewards! After a day of getting settled into our home-stays, we immediately delved… Read More

El Dia de Amistad

Archive Central America- MAYA
El dia de amistad We can´t believe it´s been almost a week already! After landing on Guatemalan soil, we were promptly settled into a cozy camp on the hillside with views of a little colonial city nestled between two volcanoes that seemed to dance with the tireless clouds and provide us with endless entertainment. As a group, we spent our first few days getting oriented as we acclimatized to the… Read More

Bula! (hello) from Fiji!!!!

Archive South Pacific- HONGI
Family and Friends,   Ben here to let you know that we have arrived!! We crossed the infamous date line and missed Friday, arriving bright and early on Saturday morning at 5:30am. We slowly made our way to a local bus to take us to where we were staying which unexpectedly took us on a beautiful two hour scenic drive which was full of awe (and some sleep) of the… Read More

BULA from Sigatoka!!!!!

Archive South Pacific- WALKABOUT
After meeting at a McDonalds in LAX, a 10 1/2 hour flight and a phenomenal stay at the Mango Bay Resort the Walkabout group is on their way to the Romulu village.  Our first four days on our journey through the South Pacific were a bit of a vacation as we were able to swim in the ocean, kayak, snorkel, make coconut jewelry and watch Polynesian  fire dancers as we… Read More

Seth & Lizzy Say Hello

Archive South America- INTI
Hello everyone in cyberworld. I and my only fellow Southerner, Lizzy, are on a scavenger hunt in downtown Guayaquil. We have been practicing are rusty Spanish with the local people, often being corrected and hopefully not being rude. Guayaquil is a great city on the coast with a lot to offer. Unfortunately, I have yet to try the seafood, but it will happen. Anyhoo, we´re off to win the scavenger… Read More

Hola from Tucker and Kai!

Archive South America- INTI
So we´ve arrived in Guayaquil! Such a beautiful place it is, and the people so welcoming. It´s incredible to see the relatibility of humans even beyond simple communication. Conversing with others traveling through the hostel has been insightful as to occurrences and precautions in other countries and areas of the continent, but even moreso just incredible to sit in communion with people unkown to yourself to share and learn WITH… Read More

Emily and Ivy

Archive South America- INTI
Our first few days in Guayaquil, Ecuador have been sweaty, hot, and a whole new adventure, but we´re already loving it! The mango tree outside our window has been like our constant vending machine and the fresh juices served seemingly everywhere, help with the humidity. So far everyone is super chill and we´re becoming tighter as a group by the second. Shout out to our parents with lots of love,… Read More

Katie Cade and Max

Archive South America- INTI
Hello from Guayaquil!! We are currently running around the city in a scavenger hunt and we are winning!! its a beautiful day and are getting excited to work on rio muchachos but not so excited for the 8 hour bus ride!! We are in a rush so we have to go! Bye! lots o love… Read More

Best Coast West Coast

Archive East Africa- KIFARU
Africa is awesome! The people are friendly and the food is great, I really enjoy eating with my hands but only the right one. We have only been here a few days but we do and learn so much each day. The whole group is the best but me and Erin destroyed the scavenger hunt so yeah. We were able to lose ourselves in Morogoro for a few hours and… Read More

Mambo!

Archive East Africa- KIFARU
Greetings from Morogoro, Tanzania! Team “Best of the Rest” is rocking out at the all-day scavenger hunt around the city. So far in Tanzania we have eaten local foods such as Ugali, beans and rice, chipate, and delicious fruits. The entire group has bonded over intense games of Uno, SLAM, and BS (Erin winning them all of course). The weather is quite a change from what we were used to… Read More