Follow the Journey

Bula Vinaka Family and Friends! We have just completed our first week in Togalevu village on the western side of Viti Levu island, Fiji! Our week started with a traditional welcome from the villagers, which included a hearty serving of kava, the traditional root drink used in special ceremonies. Shortly after, we were introduced to our host families and brought to our new homes. The following days were spent building… Read More

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Bula! After diving into the crystal clear waters of Fiji, we are excited to embark on our next chapter in the village. The last three days were spent doing cultural exploration in Nadi and New Town. Here’s all the fun things we’ve done this past week: going to local mud and hot pools, watching a traditional Fijian fire dance, participating in that dance, and night swims in the ocean. We’re… Read More

Hi Friends and Family back home! We made it to Fiji last night, and the group is off on a scavenger hunt today on a cultural exploration in Nadi! Keep your eyes out for a blog post before we head out to the village on Monday! Bula Vinaka! Avi and Lauren… Read More

New Zealand felt like home right from the start. That may be because I have strong roots here or be because everyone was so welcoming and friendly but I have come to love this country so far from my own. I learned so much from this country that I couldn’t have learned anywhere else. I learned how hard it is to be with the same 12 people everyday, and while… Read More

Surely Raglan couldn’t be as cool as Avi said it would be.That’s because no place could be THAT cool. But it was better. From the moment we glimpsed the rooftops of the town and the white foam of the waves to the moment they disappeared behind us as we headed for Aukland, Raglan was amazing. Upon arrival we settled into a hostel called Solscape. To describe how we felt about… Read More

To pick a favourite part of my week is a task I am just truly unable to complete. There are too many beautiful views, crazy adventures and funny stories to simply choose one and I am confident enough to speak for the group when I say this week has been incredible. Whakapapa (pronounced phakapapa) has been our home for a week now. We started off roughing it at a retro… Read More

The HONGI group arrived at Mangarara Farm on a rainy, cold and dreary afternoon. The damp weather did nothing to sway our excitement over the sight of lambs and sheep. As we approached the driveway we had no idea what was in store for us at the farm, but we all were anxious to begin our week with the Hart family. The Harts gave us the warmest of welcomes including… Read More

Kia Ora from the HONGI group from Wellington, New Zealand! We hope everything is going well back in the States. Although New Zealand is on its last stretch of winter, the cold and rain did not keep us from exploring this beautiful city. Over the past few days, our orientation activities have ranged from wandering through Te Papa to dressing up in ridiculous outfits while trying to keep a straight… Read More

I just heard from Avi and Lauren that the group is all checked into their hostel and Wellington and ready to start their first day in the land of the long white cloud. More updates to come…but for now they are so happy to be all together and really starting this journey. -Simone… Read More

The Hongi group has gathered at the airport and are making their way through security at LAX. Next stop, Aotearoa – The land of the long white cloud. More commonly known as New Zealand! We wish these precocious wayfarers good luck on the road ahead. Stay tuned to the blog for an update when they land safely in New Zealand and then to hear tales of their adventures from the… Read More

As we've said throughout the semester…   Life is like a carton of caramels, you just have to guess which ones you will find inside.   We want to thank everyone for such an unforgettable journey through the mountains of New Zealand, across the beaches of Fiji, and from desert to rainforest in Australia. Thank you to all the people that opened up their homes to us, fed us, and… Read More

They have arrived safe and sound in LA.  Thank you to everyone for an amazing semester filled with adventures, connections, and incredibly valuable work both inside and out.   Best of luck to all of the students in their onward journeys.  So much gratitude from the Carpe office for being a part of this journey!       … Read More

  "Hey y'all! Well, here we are! The trip is coming to an end. We've spent the last week in the rainforest at Prema Shanti. We've been training and studying our minds with the power of meditation, and are becoming little Yogi masters! In our free time we've been swimming in the Blue Hole (literally the bluest water you could ever imagine), reminiscing with each other about the trip, and… Read More

Hello folks! For the past week we have been staying at Austrop in the beautiful Daintree Rainforest, where we have been involved in various rainforest conservation projects. Throughout the mornings and afternoons we either weeded, planted, or cut down coconut trees to increase the forests biodiversity. While doing these jobs, we have gotten the opportunity to see many of the animals that call the rainforest their home. We saw spiders… Read More

Hello to our friends and family back home. You are now speaking to licensed PADI open water scuba divers! This week was spent in Cairns, australia's top diving location. Each morning at 8:00 AM we went to the Cairns Dive Center for in-class knowledge based learning and finished the days in the pool, putting our skills to the test. On the final day, we nervously sat down for our class… Read More

G'Day! Our trip down under began with a few days exploring Sydney. We wandered around the entire city, going to museums, the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, China Town, art galleries, the Quay (pronunciation still uncertain), and even the zoo. We wanted to see the animals safely in the zoo before we had to yank them out of our sleeping bags in the Outback. During our time in Australia, we… Read More

A week ago we parted from our host families and Rabulu village with tears and heavy hearts but excited for the fun times ahead. This past week was our free travel week, which means that the students decide everything, including the food, how we get around, activities, and even the places we stay. After a challenging search, we agreed to spend the week in the Vatia Beach Resort, in a… Read More

  Bula! This past week in Rabulu Village was spent getting to know our host families and falling into the pace of village life. Some of us went horseback riding to local swimming holes, while others went fishing and watched the village rugby team play in a local tournament. On Wednesday, we went to the Fiji Water plant to get an inside look at the production process. On Thursday, we… Read More