Follow the Journey

By Jake Marcus… Read More

By Caroline Kessler Riddle this! At what point does the Carpe Diem group decide to head home? Halfway through… This week marked the halfway point of our trip! In a month and a half, we’ve traveled through two countries, lived in eight locations, stayed with three host families, and eaten about ten pounds of Gallo pinto. Yum! An update since the last post: We were in the rural mountain town… Read More

By Emmy Huefner ¡Adiós, Guatemala! On Sunday, we flew from Guatemala City to Managua, Nicaragua, and we are now in the town of Matagalpa, where the electricity is spotty and where they don’t pronounce their “S’s” at the end of a word. In some ways, Nicaragua feels very similar to Guatemala: toilet paper still must go in the trash can, there’s no shortage of crazy drivers on motos, and natives… Read More

Getting strong in the airport on the way to Nicaragua! Beautiful coastal sunset. A few of our local guides on the mangroves tour. A local surfer catching a wave in el Paredon. Discussing issues regarding sustainable development.… Read More

By Quincy Hirt Lexie Drew “Welcome to El Paredon” These four words, spoken in a kind British accent, greeted us as we stepped off the bus. It was immediately clear that this place was unlike our recent destinations as the salty, humid, and hot air washed over us. Alex (kind British voice) and Lexi (a volunteer at Surf Camp, our hostel) greeted us warmly as we settled into our palm… Read More

By Tavish and Eli The week began in Xela, and with Spanish classes complete, we are all eager to explore the city of Xela. Some students decided to climb the famous Santa Maria volcano, one of Guatemala’s tallest and most formidable climbs. Others decided to hang back and spend the day in Xela. With a volcano conquered and Xela thoroughly explored, the group decided to attend a superchivas soccer game… Read More

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By Emma Wagner Hola from the cozy computer lab at PLQ (Proyecto Lingüistico Quetzal Educativo)! We have taken a break from the delicious cinnamon tea and bread we’ve grown to know and love over the past few days, to give you a glimpse into our lives in Xela—and hopefully, some pointers on Xela’s best offerings if you ever find yourself here with some time to kill. Some highlights of the… Read More

By Eliza Cash After our three-day orientation in the city of Xela—where we explored the tiny side streets, filled up on street food, celebrated Guatemala’s Independence Day, and worked out in the courtyard of our hostel—we piled into a tiny van and made our way up the mountains to begin our first week together. Our adventure began as we rumbled down the cobblestone street to La Escuela de la Montaña.… Read More

Imagine constantly listening to cars, whistles, and music. That’s what we have been experiencing during our time in Xela. Outside of our tranquil hostel, it is difficult not to be overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of the city. Meanwhile, behind the doors of Casa Seibel, you can hear the timeless classic, “Yeah!” by Usher and “Amber” by 311 playing, accompanied by laughter, stories, and the sounds of discomfort as… Read More

We just received this stellar photo of the group on their way to Xela. The flights were smooth and everyone is happy and excited to begin orientation!… Read More

We’ve just received word that the MAYA group landed safely in Guatemala. They are gathering their bags and getting ready for the drive to Xela. They are very excited to have arrived and to be beginning their journey. In the coming days, the students will be posting updates here, sharing how their orientation is going. We look forward to reading about the this adventure from their perspective.… Read More

The MAYA group is all together for the first time! They’ve all arrived safely to LAX, checked in for their flight to Guatemala and are getting ready to head through security. They are already enjoying getting to know one another and are looking forward to the journey ahead. We wish them safe and easy travels tonight and will post another blog here once we receive word that they have arrived… Read More

Just over a week ago we met face to face for the first time. Much like what our students will face, the moment was filled with excitement and anticipation. Will this person like me? Am I good enough to be here? The doubts and worries soon faded as we embarked on a variety of workshops and sessions, acquiring the knowledge and resources needed to empower and lead our students through… Read More

On going home… “It is not a garment I cast off this day, but a skin that I tear with my own hands. Nor is it a thought I leave behind me, but a heart made sweet with hunger and with thirst. Yet I cannot tarry longer. The sea that calls all things unto her calls me, and I must embark. For, to stay, though the hours burn in the… Read More

Hey yallll! Time has sure flown by. We;re in Roatan Honduaras! We landed safely from Costa Rica and was greeted by the BEAUTIFUL clear blue water. We were all stoked to go scuba diving and to swim with our new blue tangs and sea turtle friends! For most people it was our first time scuba diving. Although we had many mixed feeling about it at first, we all faced our… Read More

“title” : TORTUGA! Welcome to sunny Costa Rica where we’ve been staying at a turtle conservation project for the last week. Apparently we came in the low season which was a disappointment because we’ve all been looking forward to seeing turtles for the last 11 weeks. 3 of us did actually end up seeing a turtle on the beach the very first night but no more after that. The beach… Read More

Nicaragua has been a dream. We started off the week leaving Bona Fide which just about everyone was excited for. Getting up before the sunrise was hard for most but we managed to make it to the bus stop in time. The day was full of a lot of ‘playing it by ear’, running to catch the next bus and being squished by random Nicaraguans. We eventually managed to make… Read More

Howdy y’all, Greetings from sunny Nicaragua! Currently we’re finishing up voulnteering at a permaculture​ farm in Omatepe, a small island made up of two massive volcanos. Our daily routine consists of an early 6:30am wake up, and then we make ourselves useful for 4 hours grating poop, chopping up termite nests, or whatever else the farm needs. In the afternoon we either get free time or take part in various… Read More