Chang Mai to Chang Rai

Hey everybody! We just finished our home-stays and language classes so we’re on to our next adventure. Currently we are back in Chang Mai, exploring the city, food markets, and attending a Monk Chat. Tomorrow we plan on going white water rafting on some class 4 rapids so I hope everyone can swim!! We leave Chang Mai in a couple days and go to Chang Rai where we go on… Read More

What’s up from Thailand!

Hey all you carpe diem students and/or followers, This is Chris here with all the details on the SE Asia trip so far. So we have now been in SE Asia (Thailand to be exact) for 2 weeks exacly. Crazy right?!?! It’s funny because it feels like it’s been atleast a month because of all the wicked awesome things we have been doing so far. Some examples of our adventures… Read More

Beginning in Thailand

The first couple days in Thailand has been awesome!  Chiang Mai is such a beautiful city, especially the temples.  The food tastes great, but i’m definitely going to get used to eating rice, it’s in almost every meal.  We started our Thai language classes and our teacher is very nice and enthusiastic as we struggle through the different tones and meanings of the new language.  Yesterday we visited a Buddhist… Read More

FIRST BLOG POST!

So its Emma. im chiang mai in an internet cafe chillin. im having a great time and I have no clue what to write on this blog. The days are hot, and i have 3 misquitto bites. They itch. The food is amazing and so are the smoothies. Ok im out of things to say. Emma signing off.… Read More

Hi from a Thai internet Cafe!

Chris and I are in the middle of an internet cafe in Chiang Mai.  We are doing a scavenger hunt and things are coming along nicely.  We’ve had a lot of unique experiences so far ranging from going to a buddhist temple to eating crickets and cayenne red peppers.  It’s been a lot of fun so far and we will make sure to keep everyone posted with updates!… Read More

Kickin it in Thailand!

So this is CJ or Chris or whatever nickname any of you have called me thus far checking in. We are officially in Thailand and at the Mojito Garden. Pretty chill so far and plenty of nice people. I’ve tried so many new kinds of food and even crickets. The latter was not my favorite. We’ve seen a Buddhist temple, taken thia lessons, and a multitude of other things. Anyways… Read More
We finally made it! The sights, people, and food are amazing. Yesterday we went to the waterfall park and visited a temple. After Derek slipped and fell into the water it was a pretty uneventful day. Although this is short we just wanted everyone to know at home we are safe and having fun. We’ll post again soon!  … Read More

Off to SE Asia!

Dear SE Asia families and friends, Carpe Diem HQ is happy to report that the SEAsia group all found one another in SFO this evening and are currently together at their gate awaiting departure. All flights are looking to be on time, and the students and leaders are full of smiles and excitement. While one group member unfortunately decided not to join the group, 6 students and 2 overseas educators… Read More
Dear Carpe Diem Students and Parents, It’s just a few more days until all our to-be travelers and Overseas Educators will be departing for destinations across the globe. We have been busy preparing the OE’s over the last two weeks while getting all the last minute preparations finished! We are all feeling really great and ready to embark on the myriad journeys that will take place over the next 3… Read More

We are “seriously” looking forward to meeting you!!!!

Saw wat dee ka (kap) friends of SEASIA 2012. Marisa and Ryan here – sending our love from Portland, Oregon.  8 days until we take flight over the pacific in route to Thailand. We’ll be utilizing this blog over the coming months as a medium for sharing our adventures with family and friends back at home. Each week a different student will be in charge of posting stories and pictures… Read More

Vote for your favorite photos and videos!

Thanks for all your submissions and drum roll please! After going through a rigorous selection process, we narrowed the field down to 14 photos and 3 videos – there were so many good ones to choose from, so thank you again. We just posted the videos and pictures up on our Facebook page and now it’s time to vote on your favorites! It’s pretty easy, just ‘like’ your favorite and… Read More

“An Unexpected Hello,” by Ryan St. Pierre

The following story is a retelling of an incredible experience I had early one morning at an Orphanage in Thailand.  Enjoy! Standing in the middle of the street under a moonless night sky, I cup my hands together and blow into them for warmth.  Right now its cold, but in a matter of just a few hours all that will change as the sun rises and unleashes its harsh, tropical… Read More

Fall 2011 Photo, Video, and Short Story Contest

Thanks to all of you for your submissions for this semester’s contest! We are going through all of them right now and will post the finalists very soon for everyone to vote on their favorites. Stay tuned and thanks again for another amazing semester.… Read More

A few of my favorite videos

So here are a few of my favorite videos from SEAsia. The 1st one is this string tying ritual that Thais do when someone is leaving. It’s sort of them giving a blessing on the rest of our travels. This was after our stay in the Hill Tribes. We trekked back to Chiang Rai afterwards. The next one was a surprise! You can kinda hear Adam explaining that Mike (the… Read More

So Long to the Dong, We Bid our Fairwell

Remember that time we sat in the airport for hella hours?…..Sinjaow from Ho Chi Minh! We arrived from Phu Quoc at around 5pm and have been sitting in the airport, patiently waiting for our next flight at 12am. Good times with good people, but not underwater this time. We cannot even begin to express the number of memories cultivated throughout this voyage abroad, but we probably should just write them… Read More