In the Village of Nakuku

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
By Jenny Olea Hey everyone! It’s Jenny here, writing all the way from Australia. I would like to share my experience during the last couple of days in the village of Nakuku. On November 3rd, we went to visit the school Vuni Salusalu, where we got to meet a bunch of wonderful kids! Personally, I loved doing this because I really enjoy interacting with kids, getting to know them, and… Read More

Fiji: I Will Never Forget You

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
By Chandler On my way to Fiji, I didn’t really know what to expect. I hoped the people I would come across would be nice, and welcoming, and helpful. I hoped that my upcoming time in the village would be an amazing experience. I hoped all these things, but I really didn’t have any expectations. Little did I know, what was to come were life-changing moments and memories. In New … Read More

North Island Updates

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
By David Bleecker The group’s spirits are high as we leave the North Island (Te Ika a Maui) of New Zealand, en route to the South Island (Te Wai Pounamu) via the Interislander ferry. Our last week was mostly spent trekking, caving, biking, and camping through National Park, a large area of protected wilderness in the heart of the North Island. Our five-day excursion was led by Blue Mountain Adventure… Read More

Respect and Gratitude

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
By Daisy Katelyn Osowski Last week we wrapped up our time with Tiaki at the marae in Whaingaroa and spent two nights with Rangimarie and Rob, a Maori/Native American couple that welcomed us into their home in Manu Wairua (means Bird Spirit). We got to participate in a Lakota sweat lodge ceremony and drum in a drum circle while singing traditional, and not so traditional, songs. Our time with Rangimarie, … Read More

Maori Language and Cultural Immersion

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
By Overseas Educators Lolly Beck-Pancer and Eric Strickler Arriving at the marae, Tiaki, our host and guide for the week, Tawhai, his three-year-old son, and Matewai, our warm language and song teacher, welcomed us to the grounds. In accordance with tradition, we had to wait at the ceremonial gate to be called into the marae by one of the elders. During the week we frequently practiced te reo Maori, the… Read More

Scavenger Hunting and WWOOFing in Raglan

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
By Curtis and Jenny Friday the 15th was the start of our journey together as a Carpe Diem group. The first three days of orientation were spent getting to know everybody. We shared personal details about our lives to understand everybody’s motivation for coming on this trip. After agreeing on the rules we wanted to abide by and the skills that we all wanted to work on, we made a… Read More

Kia Ora! Bula! G’day!

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
Kia Ora! Bula! G’day! (That’s hello in Maori, Fijian, and Australian!) First things first- we want to take this opportunity and tell you guys how EXCITED we are to be going on this trip with you! There’s so many incredible things we’re going to experience together this fall, so many amazing people and places we’ll get to encounter and explore- we can hardly contain ourselves! After we meet at the… Read More

This is the end, my sweetest friend

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
How can we begin to describe this journey? Challenging, wonderful, hard, beautiful, it is a weighty task to try and put the past three months into words that can possibly convey its different shapes and forms. Our group has changed and shifted throughout these three months, and every single student has created their path and growth in many different ways. As we hugged our dear friends Carly and Anna goodbye,… Read More

Bula From Fiji!

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
We’ve made it to Fiji! After a few hiccups (missing bags etc.) we finally arrived in Nadi and boy was it HOT! After a brief ride through the streets, and checking in at Bamboo Backpackers, we were eager to find a way to escape the heat. Fortunately for us, there was a pool, right on the beach, and it naturally ended up being where we spent most of our down… Read More

Walkabout is ready for a Walkabout!

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
That’s right, the crew has all gathered in LAX and proceeded through security. Based on this photo we can safely assume that they are already practicing the Haka, a traditional warriors greeting of the Maori. What an appropriate way to enter into Aotearoa, The Land of the Long White Cloud, more commonly referred to as New Zealand. We wish this team the best of luck on the road ahead. Stay… Read More

Five Day Countdown!

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
Dear Walkabout Students, Parents, and Public at Large, Ryan and Cheridyn here reaching out to you from the infamous Carpe HQ in Portland, Oregon. We’ve begun the official countdown and are eagerly excited to be departing for New Zealand in a wee five days. We feel like two hobbits about to embark on an incredible adventure and can’t wait to meet you in person (our students) at the airport in… Read More

Fiji Finale

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
Fiji, What an amazing country. We started out in Nadi, staying at Bamboo Beach. Serving as a baby step by teaching a few cultural traditions and Fijian phrases, Bamboo Beach was lots of fun. Nadi was very chaotic, with the food markets, lots of kava and loads of souvenirs. Free travel begins. We stayed at this beautiful resort called the Beach House. The best way to describe it was 4… Read More

Nasolo Village

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
Bula Friends and Family, Greetings from Nasolo Village on Vatu Levu Island in Fiji. We have spent the last week immersing ourselves in a Fijian village. We have spent the week constructing sidewalks and a driveway. It was definitely an interesting experience making concrete using sand and rocks and mixing it in a barrel that was cut in half with a hand saw. Our hard work paid off though because… Read More

Fiji Fun

Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT
Greetings family and friends, After many great experiences in New Zealand it was time to embark on a new journey; Fiji. After a short and much anticipated 3 hour flight, we arrived in Fiji! We started our time at the Bamboo Beach hostel outside of Nadi. Highlighted by kava ceremonies and picking out sulus in the city of Nadi, many group members got a taste of Fijian traditions. After a… Read More