Blog

Thank You, India

Margaret India- SHANTI
Thank you, India, for letting me squeeze into your overcrowded population for the past 3 months. You have taught me more than I dreamed possible when I landed in Delhi. You have opened my eyes to new cultures, new beliefs, and new perspectives. Thank you for teaching me that life never goes as planned and that an open mind and flexible attitude can get one through almost anything. You taught… Read More

Gratitude

Sawyer India- SHANTI
This morning I feel grateful for opportunity. My parents, who worked hard to be where they are at, have provided me with the opportunity to pay for this trip, and the support and encouragement to take a different path then most. My anthropology teacher, Mr. Lopilato, who introduced me to the possibility of a gap year, and the wonders of India. My leaders and my group, who gave me the… Read More

Thank you

Stirling India- SHANTI
Until we humans reach a certain age (which all of us Carpe students have yet to reach), we are essentially leaches siphoning society’s resources and offering nothing in return. The more and more clearly I begin to see this, the greater sense of duty I feel towards my species, which has come incredibly far to provide me with the comforts and opportunities I take for granted every day. The nozzle… Read More

Grateful

Amber India- SHANTI
The last day of latitudes orientation in Portland, the day we left for India, these words were swirling around in my head: I am grateful to be Heart beating, lungs breathing So joyus and free And even though the hard times are all around me, I am grateful to be. Like the birds in the sky Like a dragonfly And even like the trees all shimmering and free, I am… Read More
Maddie India- SHANTI
Wow. I’m sitting here trying to find the words. There aren’t enough words I can possibly use to explain this experience, this feeling, this love that I’ve gained through this trip. Whenever I read back through my journal entries I’m so baffled at everything I’ve done and who I was when I did them. I know the saying is so cliche but I honestly feel that I’ve come such a… Read More

Machu Picchu and final farewells

Heather Vaught South America- INTI
Inti´s South America semester´s days have come to a rich end. After all the learning, growing, and experiencing that we´ve done, a hike to Machu Picchu was poised as the cap to our 3 months. After all, the site is a wonder of the world. We began our 5 day trek at the trailhead of the Salkantay path. While most tourists head through the famous Incan Trail, we followed the… Read More

Grand Finale

Lucas M. South America- INTI
The group was all packed up that night and ready for an early 5:00 am wake up when we got the news that a city wide transportation strike would delay our departure 24 hours. So one day after our intended departure we boarded a bus and rode two hours to the head of the Salkantay Trail and began hiking. Salkantay means ”Wild Mountain” in Quechua and on the first leg… Read More

I will be home for Christmas

Alex Wentworth East Africa- NKULA
Dear Family and Friends, This past week, we have been on Zanzibar in Stonetown. When we arrived here, we went to see the historic slave market. That was very tough because the slaves were kept in horrible conditions. They were kept in this small room, waiting to be auctioned off. The same day, we went on a spice tour as well! Everything we touched was edible. It was a kid’s… Read More

Enjoying good PHUd around the QUOC

Liam Southeast Asia- SABAI
Hey guys! This past week consisted mainly of getting scuba certified and group travel. It was extremely rewarding and a ton of fun! We have finished our time one the beautiful Phu Quoc island with tan complexions and peeling skin. You might wonder how we might have gotten ourselves in such a predicament, well it all started when our group got open water scuba certified. After a six hour safety… Read More

Grateful

James McManus India- SHANTI
Carpe crew, I have no negative feedback for the time we’ve shared over here, only appreciations. I am humbled to know that there are organizations out there that can get a group of 7 18-20 year-olds into, and through this place. India in a word is “dense,” I don’t know how else to put it without whipping out my camera to show off some pics and vids. I have full… Read More

Gratitude!

Omar India- SHANTI
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart- Mom and Dad: yogi and musician; Beautiful athletic woman and beautiful balding man; disciplinary/mercy-giver and mercy-giver/disciplinary; Role model and Role model. Ben and Carly: Grizzly bear and Tiger; Homie and Homie; 6’3″ rock climber and slightly shorter rock climber; Leader and Leader; Role model and Role model. My Carpe Group: Friends; Brothers and Sisters; Travelling buddies; Spankin’ beautiful people who i’ll never… Read More

The King’s Indian Sacrifice

Dan P India- SHIVA
Our trip is coming to a close, and I’ve been thinking of an appropriate way to conclude these series of updates. There are many ways to go about this, and I’m not even sure if I can put to words the emotions I’m feeling. Nevertheless, I’ll try and summarize how I feel using a different method. So grab some reading glasses and/ or a chess board; whatever you need to… Read More

One Week Left to Make the Best

Caitlin Garbo East Africa- NKULA
How does time fly by so quickly? Our last big project this semester was a week spent at the Baobab Home, just outside the beach town of Bagamoyo. We got the opportunity to help build a new classroom for the primary school there and we enjoyed our time going in to read and teach with different grade levels. One of the most memorable days we had was our Tanzanian Thanksgiving.… Read More

Stonetown Magic

Rory A East Africa- KIFARU
The thing about Stonetown, Is you don’t realize you could know new flavors until you get here. Being here is like the sudden discovery of a new color; you think you already know every color you could see, it’s unimaginable to think about one day encountering a rainbow of all strange colors. Then you’re in Zanzibar: a place where your every sense is bombarded with strange and exotic sights, sounds,… Read More

Thanksgiving

carpediem South Pacific- WALKABOUT
On November 25, Walkabout celebrated Thanksgiving. It started out with some intense debate; we quickly found out that everyone’s Thanksgiving traditions are wildly different. Some people have the classic turkey, some make lamb or tofu. Some people need gravy or there’s no point in celebrating, others feel the same about rice. Some of us start our “dinner” at 2PM, some people eat as late as 7PM. Of all things, all… Read More

Trekking

Heather Vaught Central America- QUETZAL
This week we started out on a treacherous trek through cloud forest about an hour outside of Xela. After about 10 minutes of walking the wind picked up and the mist begin. The trails became very slick as we began to climb the steep hills ahead of us. Even though we were assured that the trail was flat by our guide, we quickly figured out that wasn’t what we should… Read More

Ciudad Viviente Inkaica

Levi S. South America- INTI
Inti just spent about a week in the ancient city of Ollantaytambo. A bus shuttled us all from Cusco and dropped us off in the central plaza of the city. The first things you notice upon arrival are the ruins all around you. On the two mountains to the North and South, Incan arqueological sites almost blend in to the similarly colored sediment. To the South, terraces and temples flecked… Read More