Written By Reilly

Our last days in Italy were slightly hectic but also meaningful and lots of fun. We arrived in Naples at night after a long bus ride, including an impromptu bus swap an hour in. Having skipped dinner, the group checked in to the hostel then walked to a one of the last open cafes and had very good cafe pizza. The multi-level city gave an ominous first impression as the graffitied apartments towered over us. It was for sure a change from Matera. During our time in Naples, we visited the beautiful ancient town Pompeii and had a free day where most of the group either got massages or manicures. The travel day to Greece was much easier. A few hours on two planes and we arrived in a beautiful village on Crete. It is very relaxing to settle down for a while and we are excited to explore the island!

What were three of the top highlights this week?:

Some highlights of this week includes staying with different Italian families in Matera. We had a delightful lunch and embraced the moment and conversations. We also had our stay in Naples as our last top in Italy we had tried the best pizza in Italy! Next we flew to Crete for our next journey of the trip!

What is something you or the group is challenged by this week?:

The long travel days were the most significant challenge for the group, but we did a much better job than we would have a few weeks ago. The random bus swap confused everyone, but nobody complained and within 20 minutes we were on the road again. I would consider our travel day to Crete the smoothest we have had. We arrived at the airport and got through security quickly, and made it to our layover with no problems. Malcolm and Aisha did wonderful jobs driving us across Crete to the village.

What are you most grateful for this week?:

For the next week we have our stay in Greece, and a few birthdays as well like Sage’s and Reilly’s birthdays! We are being taught the language, food, culture. We also see many things like beaches, good views, and archaeological sites. I am looking forward to the awesome views blessed to us by this beautiful island, and everything that comes with it.

The post Ciao Ciao Italia appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written By Tala & Chloe

Since our last blog, we left Rome and made our way to the south of Matera. We spent the last 5 days in a monastery near the town of Altamura with the company B-Link. We got to learn a lot about this region’s Italian culture. Especially because we were joined by 3 local Italian students. We were given a tour of a 5th generation bread bakery. We also did workshops about sustainable living and about culture. On our last day, we had a tandem night joined by some other European students where we got to teach them some of our American culture as well.

What were three of the top highlights this week?:

Some highlights from this week were definitely getting to meet some local Italian students our age, learn from them, as well as make some new friends!

Another highlight was getting to play an Italian board game put together by those students to help teach us in a fun and engaging way.

The last highlight from our time with B-Link was getting to be apart of a fast fashion show put together by one of the Italian students. We were sent off in groups of 3 or 4 to dress up one model from our group and have them strut down a catwalk to show us all the power of fashion!

What is something you or the group is challenged by this week?:

Something our group struggled with this week was definitely sickness. Our group has struggled with this on and off from the beginning but this week was one of the hardest. We were all able to push through with the best attitude possible, but there were some challenging moments for sure.

What are you most grateful for this week?:

Something the group is looking forward to is spending time in Naples and exploring the city of Pompeii. We are also very excited to spend the other half of our trip in Greece. Italy brought us through an amazing and at times challenging journey. We can’t wait to see whats next!

The post Learning About Italian Culture appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written By Cece & Hannah

Welcome back family and friends to the adventures of CARPE DIEM. This week we started our Spanish classes in San Juan La Laguna! Along with regular Spanish class for three hours per day, we also got the opportunity to take art classes! Some of us chose embroidery, while others chose painting which has been a great way to learn a skill while embracing the art and culture of this beautiful lake-side town.

The school is known for their coffee production, and we got an amazing coffee tour from the one and only – Benedicto, the painting teacher and head of the school. We also got a cacao tour at a nearby chocolate factory earlier in the week, where we got to sample cacao beans, different types of chocolate and learn how cacao production works from start to finish. It was also a very special week here in Guatemala, as this Saturday was Día de Los Santos. We spent one afternoon making kites and flying them at the school. This is a tradition in Guatemala because it creates a connection between the world of the living and the souls of the dead. Another day, we made our dinner at school. It was traditional food for Día de Los Santos, which included steamed plantains, sweet potato, elote (corn), as well as a sweet squash soup with cinnamon called ayote.

Also, this Friday was Halloween! We all dressed up to go to school, passed out candy to our teachers, and carved pumpkins! That night, while our original plans changed because of the rain, some of us braved the cold night and went out on the town to a fiesta that had a Halloween event! We danced the night away for a couple hours, then slept the night away. On Día de Los Santos, we spent the day out on Lake Atitlan renting kayaks, a pretty deflated paddleboard, and a water bike! It was a super beautiful day, and we got to catch golden hour on the lake as we were paddling back to San Juan. While it was so much fun, with the wind, some interesting currents and the clouds that threatened to rain on us on the way to San Marcos, it was a bit of a struggle, but the difficult journey is what makes the destination worth it! It was a great time to talk, bond and distract ourselves until we finally got back. That night, we walked through the bustling streets of vendors up to the cemetery to see the decorated graves, and hear the music. This celebration was so beautiful and amazing, we are so grateful to have been a part of such a special celebration in Guatemala.

And that concludes this weeks summary of the crazy events these girls are taking part in for now!

PEACE OUT!

Carpe Diem Central America Fall 2025

The post Día de Los Santos en el Lago Atitlán appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written By Phineas and Sage

This week we were at Paldini! We picked chestnuts, learned how to build mud/clay houses, and went to a cool medieval town. We met super cool volunteers who were helping us do all the tasks.

What were three of the top highlights this week?:

The 3 top highlights are defiantly chestnut picking, having no phones, and being in nature. Chestnut picking was calming and super relaxing. Having no phones makes everything easier, and it’s super nice to disconnected sometimes. Lastly, being away from the fast moving cities, slowing down in nature, and being at peace in the woods made it a memorable week.

What is something you or the group is challenged by this week?:

I think the group was challenge by the location we were at as we camped. Camping meant that some things got dirty. On the day days it rained, some people experienced some leaking tents. As we were cooking for ourselves this week, not everyone liked the food.

What are you most grateful for this week?:

What I’m most grateful for this week is the people at Paldini. They were so nice and welcoming! I feel like I really connected with them, even exchanging contact information at the end of the week! They were so chill, and some of the nicest people I’ve met. They really made my experience there way better.

The post Chestnuts, No Phones, and Nature! appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written By Jackie and Lauren

We’ve officially been here for a month — CRAZY! We spent the past week in Tzununa, a tiny but beautiful town right on Lake Atitlan. We stayed at a guest house called Bambu, which honestly felt more like a resort. The food and amenities were next level, with a sauna and cold plunge, and of course delicious meals. All our food was fresh and straight from the earth, grown within walking distance at Atitlan Organics. The early morning farm work felt manageable due to the food, hospitable culture, and amazing conversations with our group and local partners. We all stayed together in one big room which made the whole week feel like a non-stop sleepover with the best views imaginable.

Our days were packed. Our mornings started with optional yoga (some of us made it, some of us… didn’t), then we went to the permaculture farm, and after, we listened to lectures about design and sustainability. We learned how humans can live harmoniously with the land and with each other by valuing community and respecting natural resources. We even got to plant tuul, which are water plants, in Lake Atitlan, trees in rocky terrain, and radishes in toiled garden beds! Throughout the week we got to explore the neighboring towns, and the most hidden waterfall pools with our Guatemalan guide, Jose! We rode in the back of a truck from Santiago to a Mayan pueblo that provides farm fresh food for their community, opposing mass-exports of coffee and avocado to the United States. At Atitlan Organics, we got to see right where our food came from and could even pick fruit right off the tree and eat it. Among some of our favorites were figs, passionfruit, avocado, and coffee beans (surprisingly tasty!).

We thanked all the amazing people that helped us in Tzununa by performing a rap…twice. We performed to the owner and cooks of Bambu and separately at an open-mic night. It was to the beat of “Still D.R.E.,” and it was incredible. I think we all have a real future traveling across Central America performing permaculture raps. We sadly said goodbye to Tzununa, took a boat ride to San Juan, and started our two-day trek up Rostro Maya. The trek was full of bugs, sweat, and way too many laughs, which was all worth it thanks to the ice cream breaks and stunning views. We got to end the night with a campfire in the clouds and wake up to see the sun rise from the mountain top. We ended the week in San Juan, ready for two weeks of Spanish classes and homestays. Covered in bug bites and full of gratitude, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Hello friends and family! Here is a little update on what the group has been up to this past week!

To kick off this amazing week, we met our host families. We were divided into two groups. The first group included: Hannah, Lauren, and Lucina, who stayed with Araceli. The second group included Jackie and Cece, who stayed with Claudia. Later that night, after dinner, we all went on a sunset walk. Unfortunately we were caught in a storm and had to shift plans. But no fear, we found a very cozy cafe at the top of the mountain. We played group games while drinking a fun fizzy drink until the rain slowed.

On Monday, we had our first day of language school with our new teachers. While it was hard work, we all loved our teachers and enjoyed meeting new peers at school. After school we were given the opportunity to explore the city how we wanted before all meeting at Casa Seibel (our previous hostel the O.E’s were still staying at) for a surprise activity. Upon arriving at the hostel were discovered we’d be doing a blindfolded scavenger hunt with the reward of yummy treats at the finish line.

The next day was filled with more adventure around the city which was wrapped up with a student directed travel meeting. Wednesday afternoon we had the option to attend a salsa class and fútbol afterwards. Not only that, our night was spent all together practicing self care. We yet again gathered at the hostel for smoothies, friendship bracelets, and some deep conversations.

Unfortunately, Thursday was Mara’s last full day with us. Sad to see her go, we needed our time with her to go out with a bang, Karaoke night! Ending the night with our theme song “Man, I feel like a woman” was the perfect goodbye and a memory that will not be forgotten. Don’t fret because the festivities are far from over, we now have new character to unlock!

Friday was our last day of language classes which meant graduation! Graduation included speeches and songs perform by the graduating students followed by a feast for everyone. After graduation we sadly gave our final goodbyes to Mara, while emotional we knew it had to happen and are very excited for her new adventures to come. Shortly after we all met up to finally meet MARY! We promptly induced her as the new spice girl to our lively group, we took Mary to a dance party!! Well actually salsa class, but same thing. We closed off our first night all together with questions and fun, cool hot chocolate flavors.

Saturday was spent on the road – Off to Tzununa we went! We traveled through various forms of transportation such as a chicken bus and Tuk-tuks. That afternoon we gave up our phones to completely disconnect. Upon arriving in this beautiful rural town upon Lake Atitlan, we decided it was time to explore. We went around the small town checking out cute little shops and appreciating the beautiful nature. Our very first dinner there was nothing short of delicious, followed by a wondrous passion class filled with more friendship bracelets and hot seat! Not only did we laugh and cackle, but we got deep and learned a lot about each other.

It’s currently Sunday and the adventure of the Lake has just begun. The day started with a 50 minute walk to San Marcos with the task of questioning the locals and observing the town. We were able to learn so much about the town and the Lake in general, especially after talking to the manager of our hostel and getting a locals perceptive on how tourism has affected the community.

Reflecting on the last week, being separated at different homestays was hard, the independence was liberating. The trips to Xelapan will never be forgotten. With our fun conversations and our unique humor, we’ve grown not only as friends but as people. We are so excited to see what this next week has in store for us and all the adventures to come!

Peace OUT!

– Carpe Diem Guatemala 2025!!!!!!

The post Language Classes & Homestays appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written By Madeline and Ella

This week we traveled to Florence and spent our time at the Emerald Palace hostel in the center of Florence. On our first full day we got a tour from our trek guide, Lauren. She showed us around the local churches and taught us about the Medici family and the history of Florence. The group enjoyed our free time with shopping, trying new foods, and finding local gems.

What were three of the top highlights this week?:

Our top highlights was seeing famous works of art at the Ufizzi, seeing Michelangelo’s David, and climbing uphill to watch the sunset and see the entirety of Florence from up above.

What is something you or the group is challenged by this week?:

Our group was challenged by the culture shock of moving from the super busy city of Florence to the Paladini campsite, where we went tech free and into sustainable living.

What are you most grateful for this week?:

Next week we travel to Rome! As a group, we are looking forward to getting back into the city to see the Colleseum, Trevi fountain, and live the Italian city life.

The post Exploring in Florence appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written By Cece & Jackie

This week was the first of 2 weeks in Xela, aka Quetzaltenango! Our first morning here was a Sunday. We spent most of it trying unsuccessfully to find an open lavanderia to wash our clothes that had been covered in mud from Comalapa. Turns out most of them are closed on Sundays!

After we took a tour of the city, and later we explored the bustling Parque Central. This week a festival has been going on there in honor of the patron saint of the city, Rosario.

Monday was the start of our first session of Spanish classes! Along with one-on-one classes matched to our Spanish speaking levels, there were also activities after school everyday that we all had the opportunity to participate in with other students at the school, the Quetzalteco Linguistic Project (PLQ). Some of these included a documentary, a super fun soccer game, and a trip to Aguas Amargas, a hot spring about an hour outside of Xela.

Some activities within our little Carpe Diem group involved a full moon ceremony, focused on self reflection and transformation as the moon enters a new cycle. We also, of course, had some major dance parties this week! This Wednesday’s self care night ended up being an insane dance party at our hostel. On Friday, we had a salsa class with some locals and other students from PLQ, which was a little less crazy than our typical dance parties within our group, but just as fun!

While this week was amazing, we also faced some challenges along the way. Learning and practicing Spanish for 5 hours a day can be mentally exhausting and many days this week we came back to our hostel tired and needing a power nap before the next activity. On Saturday, we also faced a more physical challenge. We set out to climb Mt. Chicabal, a dormant volcano located near Xela that’s crater is now a lake. We woke up at 6 AM in an attempt to reach the top before the clouds rolled in, but after just walking through town to reach the trailhead, we realized we had met our match and got a ride to the top from a Torito. After some amazing views, the fog began to roll in. For a while, it was so thick that we could barely see five feet in front of us. Tomorrow we will meet our homestay families who we will be living with for the next week! We are so excited to see what this week holds and what adventures are coming up next!

What were three of the top highlights this week?:

• Salsa Class – It was super fun and we learned a ton of new moves!
• Self Care Night Dance Party – We love to dance and it was a great way to hype each other up and hang out together.
• The Impromptu Scary Carnival Swing Ride – After salsa we went on a swinging carnival ride in Parque Central that was so fun and memorable, but also mildly terrifying

What are you most grateful for this week?:

This week we are so grateful for all the new people we have met, from teachers and students at PLQ, to the very kind locals that we have interacted with! We are so excited for what is to come in the next week as we move onto the next adventure: homestays!

The post Exploring Xela & Learning Spanish appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written By Eva & Ben

Since leaving Centro Panta Rei, we have embarked on a four day trek on the Via Francigena through Tuscany! We got to stay in small towns and the city of Siena. During the trek we had amazing views and beautiful scenery. We got to make bread, see a medieval village, learn about Italian plants, and explore the towns!

What were three of the top highlights this week?:

• We got to spend time in our first big cities of the trip and it was exciting to sightsee and do some shopping. As well as getting great food and gelato.
• On our last day of the trek we walked alongside the beautiful Elsa river. The water was so blue and vibrant, and there were parts where we stepped across the water on stones!
• Everyday we would walk to and stay in a new location which is a great way to see new places! Our accommodations ranged from an hotel in a bigger town, to an Abbey in a tiny roadside town with about four other buildings, to urban campsites with small cabins!

What is something you or the group is challenged by this week?:

The trek was physically challenging for all of us. We went from staying at one place for a full week to walking everyday up to about 10 miles. The group did a great job, with a minimal amount of complaining and good energy through all the walking. Another challenge none of the group was very prepared for was packing and unpacking daily. It took some getting used to, but by the end, most of us knew where things fit best and could pack fairly fast.

What are you most grateful for this week?:

Next week is set to be amazing. The group gets to settle down in Florence, the first large city of the trip. We can’t wait to visit the Ufitzi, and are especially excited to see the Statue of David. Many have already been planning good dining spots and fun activities to do. Some are looking forward to relaxing by getting massages or manicures, if time allows. Others are ready to hit the gym and go on beautiful runs through Florence. Overall, next week is going to be a blast! The group can’t wait!

The post Via Francigena Trek! appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

This past week has been nothing short of transformative. As we arrived in Comalapa, we were greeted by the city’s beautiful mountains, art, and an array of friendly locals. “Long Way Home” , the NGO we worked with, housed us all in one room which made the week feel like one big sleepover. While the icy cold showers and up-hill walks both to and from their eco-friendly school were definitely a challenge, those late night conversations will never be forgotten.

We kicked off our Comalapa trip with a walking tour to take a look at the Ancient city’s most beautiful artwork. One of the top pieces being an over 600 feet long mural diving into the depths of the country’s rich history. Through the walking tour we were able to discover more about the indigenous Mayan cultures that still surround the town. We spent our days working at the school learning various ways of sustainable construction. Some of which included mixing plaster and concrete, compressing trash into bricks that were then put into walls, and making eco bricks out of plastic bottles stuffed with trash. Although our time in Comalapa was physically demanding, group bonding was at an all time high. We learned a lot about each other as we worked together towards a common goal. We utilized our individual strengths and skills where they were best applied to maximize the efficiency of the work done. Nevertheless, building doesn’t have to be boring. That’s right- dance party on the worksite!! Aside from our amazing dance party, we also spent time at the school playing with the kids. Don’t worry though, we made sure to take care of ourselves after work with a spa night!! I know you might be surprised, but our night of face masks and lip scrubs did eventually devolve into yet another dance party!! We also got the opportunity to attend a cooking class after work one day. Together we made Turasco- a traditional dish with the most unforgettable guacamole. Our last night at the school, the kids gave out an amazing musical performance with traditional Guatemalan goodies for sale. As our time in Comalapa sadly came to an end, we said our goodbyes to the school and everyone who helped us with a handmade mosaic the group put together. On the way to Xela, we stopped at gorgeous Mayan ruins called Iximche before finally arriving for some much needed decompression and hot showers. Whoever thought one could miss flushable toilets this much? We can’t wait to see what the next week brings.

The post Comalapa, Eco-friendly School, and Exploration appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Aidan & Sage

We have come a long way in our stay at Centro Panta Rei. We have learned a plethora of sustainable practices that have greatly impacted our perspective on how we as humans use the natural world, as well as participated in culturally significant activities such as noodle making, dough making, and partaking in the entire process of making olive oil. As well as extending our knowledge of Italian significantly, we have made friends in the community with our newfound communication skills.

What were three of the top highlights this week?:

One of the main highlights of this week was exploring the grand city of Perugia. We walked throughout the historic district, gazed upon 3000 year old building stones

What is something you or the group is challenged by this week?:

Something the group was challenged by was the mindfulness hike. The difficulty mostly came from the cold, but we were also told to walk while thinking more carefully about the sounds and environment around us and the action of walking itself. These instructions resonated with many people in the group, and several spoke afterwards about emotions or thoughts that had come about during their listening and deeper thinking.

What are you most grateful for this week?:

The group dynamic is amazing! We all mesh and have been bonding extremely well, and group synergy is also great!

The post Fostering Community and Reflecting appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

After a looong travel day from our various homes to JFK to Rome to our home for the first week of the program, Centro Panta Rei, we enjoyed our first delicious Italian dinner and collapsed in bed for a good night’s sleep. The next few days we split between our Carpe Diem orientation activities, aimed at bonding our group, establishing expectations, and laying the foundation for the program to come, and activities led by our partners at Centro Panta Rei. Those activities included a scavenger hunt around their sprawling property filled with gardens and eco-buildings, a handmade pasta lesson, and a stroll along Lake Trasimeno and through the town of Passignano. Our group began forming connections and building a strong community as we recovered from our jet lag and settled into the program. Our hosts and partners here at Centro Panta Rei have been amazing teachers and introduced us to many of the key themes and ideas for the program, as well as began our instruction in the Italian language and culture. You will hear more about our work and lessons at Panta Rei in the next blog!

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Written By OEs Abby & Mara

Woweeee! What an incredible welcome to Guatemala it has been! We dove straight into getting to know each other, the program, and the incredible country that will be our home for the next 8 weeks!

Our orientation activities have allowed the group to reflect on their intentions for being here, their comfort zones, stereotypes and assumptions about different cultures, best practices for health and safety moving forward, and what leadership will look like within the group! Rarely a silent moment, we have had fun conversations about everything from origin stories of our names to favorite types of dogs. We enjoyed the comforts of our colonial style Airbnb, where we also shared delicious homemade meals and meaningful conversations with Isabel! The group has quickly been bonding and enjoying learning more about the diverse backgrounds we all come from!

Some highlights of our week have included joining the locals at a night market outside the cathedral, our first salsa class, views from the Cerro overlooking the town, and exploring the city together on a scavenger hunt! We have found that capybaras (typically of the stuffed and plastic variety) are everywhere. We have quickly adopted a couple to be our group mascots.

We closed out the orientation period with an opening ceremony where we wrote letters to ourselves and wove our gratitudes, gifts, fears, and manifestations for the program together, continuing to deepen our irreversible bond as we embark on this experience together. We have made it to our next stop: Comalapa, where we have already been immersed in the town’s rich artistic culture and are embracing life outside of the touristy heart of Antigua.

We are so excited for all that is to come and to support each other through the newness!

What were three of the top highlights this week?:

Some highlights of our week have included joining the locals at a night market outside the cathedral, our first salsa class, views from the Cerro overlooking the town, and exploring the city together on a scavenger hunt! We have found that capybaras (typically of the stuffed and plastic variety) are everywhere. We have quickly adopted a couple to be our group mascots.

What is something you or the group is challenged by this week?:

We’ve been challenged by navigating a new country and culture, using Spanish to order and navigate, and by adjusting to the program as a whole.

What are you most grateful for this week?:

We are so grateful for how well we have embraced each other, our differences, and our boundaries!

The post Bienvenido a Guatemala! appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Buongiorno and Kalimera from the Terra Fall 2025 OEs, Aisha and Malcolm!

We are passionate travelers, inspired educators and global citizens, excited to embark upon this adventure together with all of you!

Here are a few pro tips before we embark:

Pack layers, and consider comfort!

Keep an open mind, be ready to try new foods!

Learn how to say please, thank you and I’m sorry in the local language.

We are excited to eat delicious food and be welcomed into the local community with all of you!

The post Buongiorno and Kalimera Group Terra appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Julia Kate Thompson, 2024-25 Latitudes Student

Diving Into Conservation on Koh Tao

This semester abroad, I’ve been interning with a dive shop on the island of Koh Tao, working on their Reef Conservation Team. I’ve been a part of several projects such as environmental monitoring, shark snorkels, measuring key species, water testing, turtle rescues, artificial reef building, and client work.

My first month of the three was spent in classes with the program to prepare me for this work. Outside of diving, I’ve also taken part in social events like Songkran (Thai New Year), a whale shark fundraiser, and volunteering at the local school! It’s been an action-packed 12 weeks, and the support and team I’ve found here have truly changed my life and reshaped how I view adult workplaces.

Learning to Care for Myself Abroad

My biggest challenge abroad has been balancing health, work, and social life. As a teen who’s never lived alone before, setting my own rules around getting things done, establishing a healthy bedtime, and eating well has been a real struggle. I’ve learned the hard way that neglecting those things often means getting sick—and when that happens, I end up missing out on work and social activities. I’m learning that taking care of myself is essential to showing up fully in all areas of my life.

A Moment I’ll Never Forget

My top highlight has been seeing a whale shark at Shark Island. Just the fact that I got to swim next to such a beautiful creature crosses my mind at least once a day—it was truly unforgettable.

Skills I’m Taking Home

The improvement I’ve seen in my diving has been incredible. I never thought it was something I’d be good at or that I’d see such a noticeable change in. My buoyancy, air consumption, and overall comfort underwater have improved by miles—and I’m so proud of the work I’ve put in to get better.

Inspired by Julia’s gap year? Learn more about the Latitudes Year and carve out your own journey! 

The post The Depths of Discovery: Julia’s Latitudes Year in Thailand appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Summer Sorensen, 2024-25 Latitudes Student

Diving into a New World: My Internship in Tenerife

There’s so much I could say about my experience so far! I was nervous about traveling to an unknown place on my own for the first time—especially to islands I hadn’t even heard of four months ago.

At the start of my FVP, I worked with See You Diving, got my open-water scuba certification, and completed a marine biology internship in Tenerife, Spain. My days in Tenerife typically looked like this: I’d get up around 8:30, depending on whether we were diving or having class that day.

If we were diving, we’d go out for two dives in the morning, with locations varying each day. On non-diving days, we’d have class—either entering previously collected data or giving presentations. Our internship and research focused on sampling seagrass and studying the importance of healthy seagrass growth. Seagrass is a strong indicator of how well the surrounding ecosystem is functioning.

We used underwater whiteboards to record measurements like height, length, metric coordinates, temperature, and more. We also learned about local marine life, collected plankton samples, and gave presentations on seawalls, algae, and other marine topics.

Additionally, I learned how to write manuscripts and worked in Google Excel and Word, gaining confidence in entering data—skills that will definitely help me in college.

Throughout the internship, Alice—who runs See You Diving with her husband, Beltran—shared her marine biology expertise with us both in and out of the water. She was always enthusiastic, approachable, and ready to answer any questions I had. Her passion for the ocean inspired me to further pursue marine biology, and she made sure I understood and felt confident in everything we were learning. I can’t wait to go back and visit one day!

Now, I’m living in Bilbao, Spain, attending a language school and staying in a shared apartment. My experience so far has been great!

Challenges Along the Way

I think the biggest challenge has been staying present. Time is flying by, and I often catch myself thinking ahead instead of fully soaking in the moment. In Tenerife, I was learning so much every day—it felt impossible to absorb it all! I wish I had recorded everything so I could revisit and reflect on it all later.

Another challenge has been the social aspect. While I love connecting with others, being “on” from morning until bedtime can be exhausting. The hostel was always buzzing with activity, and I didn’t realize how draining that could be. It’s been a valuable reminder to honor my limits and carve out time for myself when needed.

Unforgettable Highlights and Favorite Moments

Wow—so many highlights! One of the biggest was working with See You Diving. I saw a turtle, an angel shark, stingrays, and so many fascinating fish. Scuba diving introduced me to a new world—quiet, vast, and completely perspective-shifting. The experience of breathing underwater is surreal at first!

Another highlight was spending time at the hostel—singing karaoke, dancing, cooking, and forming connections with travelers from around the world. I’ve made lifelong friends I can’t wait to visit again.

I also loved exploring the beaches of Tenerife, visiting the incredible volcano, and taking long walks.

Finally, being in a city like Bilbao has been a joy. It’s the perfect size—not too big, not too small—and super clean, with tons to explore. The beaches and coastline in Northern Spain are absolutely stunning!

Personal Growth and Lessons Learned

When I started the program, I was really nervous about solo travel. I loved being part of a group in the fall, and I wasn’t sure how I’d do on my own. But I’ve gained a level of confidence I didn’t know I had.

I’ve always been most comfortable around familiar people, so this experience pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. I’ve also embraced a “go with the flow” mindset—something that doesn’t come naturally to me since I love to plan. I’ve realized that stressing doesn’t help and that things usually work out in the end.

Moving across the world to live somewhere entirely new—with different people, a new culture, and unfamiliar surroundings—was a huge leap. But I’m incredibly glad I took the risk. I’ve grown so much because of it.

Inspired by Summer’s gap year? Learn more about the Latitudes Year and carve out your own journey! 

The post Time Flies When You’re Learning to Be a World Traveler: Summer’s Latitudes Year in Tenerife & Bilbao, Spain appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Ava Mendler, 2024-25 Latitudes Student

Living and Volunteering in Saint-Louis

I can’t help but think back to my first day here—stepping out of the DSS airport after 20 minutes of sleep, carrying an (expensively) overweight suitcase, a backpack, and my guitar. I spotted a man holding a sign: “AVA MENDLER – Maison de la Gare,” hopped in the car, and began a four-hour journey to Saint-Louis, my home for the next two months.

Having never been anywhere in Africa before, I was completely captivated by the scenery—desert landscapes, animals of all kinds, Baobab trees (which I quickly learned the name of), and small villages that looked nothing like I had ever seen before.

My host family lives in a huge, bustling neighborhood called Darou. From the moment I walked through the door, I was greeted with hugs, handshakes, and choruses of “Bienvenue!” The family consists of Astelle, her husband Jules, and their kids: fun-loving Soraya (12), soccer- and basketball-obsessed Samba (8), and adorable little Ndaye Astou (4).

In Senegal, people speak Wolof and Pular, but French is the national language, taught in schools. I used French to communicate with my host family and with the staff at Maison de la Gare, as very few people speak English here.

Maison de la Gare is an NGO dedicated to supporting and educating Talibé children in Saint-Louis. In Senegal, it’s common for families to send their young sons to live in Daaras—Islamic schools to study the Quran. These boys sleep, eat, and study under the supervision of Marabouts, but living conditions in many Daaras are poor. Food insecurity and illness are widespread, showers are rare, and most kids wear the same clothes for months. As a result, skin conditions like scabies are rampant.

Marabouts often send boys into the streets to beg for money and may beat them if they fail to return with enough. Many children sleep on the streets out of fear. I had read about the Talibé situation before coming here, but seeing it every day—children in dirty clothes, barefoot, begging—was heartbreaking.

Maison de la Gare provides these children with free education (in French and math), snacks, showers, and even toothbrushes and toothpaste. They also offer afternoon English classes open to the wider community. There’s a yard where the boys can run and play, and what struck me most was the sense of family. Despite their struggles, these kids form strong bonds—and I’ve been so lucky to become part of that.

Monday through Friday, I work at the center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and again from 5 to 7 p.m. In the mornings, I help younger Talibés with French and basic Math. In the afternoons, I co-teach English with Khalidou, one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. He translates my lesson plans into native languages and is fluent in four languages himself! He used to be a Talibé and learned English at Maison de la Gare, and now he’s dedicating his life to giving back. The staff here are incredibly welcoming, and working alongside them has been an honor.

On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, I also joined visits to the Daaras to help provide medical care. This was completely new territory for me. I slowly learned to recognize medications (everything was labeled in French), and began helping treat scabies, wounds, and eye infections. I didn’t always know what I was doing, but I reminded myself that even imperfect help was better than none.

My experience living and working in Saint-Louis this semester was impactful and more meaningful than I ever could have imagined. Though it came with some challenges, (I will get to those shortly) I believe I’ve learned so much about myself and the way I view the world.

Challenges I Faced

I think being in any foreign country alone comes with its challenges, but there were a few things I really struggled with here. First and foremost, I felt really isolated, and especially at first, I struggled a lot with the language barrier. There were a few other volunteers who came in and out for a bit, who were all from France (shoutout Louna!). It was also extremely hard to see the young Talibé children on the streets every day, torn clothes, begging for food and money. That is just the nature of living here, and it was so sad to see right in front of my eyes.

For most of my time here, I think I was the only white person walking around the streets and in my neighborhood, which gave me a very unique perspective. Sometimes it attracted a lot of attention on the streets and never before had I felt this vulnerable and aware of my whiteness. A lot of people would shout « Toubab! » when I walked by, which is slang for foreigner. After a while, I got used to it, but it was still hard feeling like I stuck out and couldn’t walk anywhere without people talking to me asking to check out their shops. For the most part though, everyone is friendly but just trying to chat/were curious and wanting to know what I was doing here. I picked up some phrases in wolof while here, my favorite being « Sama Kharit » meaning « my friend ». Small phrases in Wolof helped me connect and feel closer to the community.

The Highlights

The highlights of my experience have been working one on one and seeing academic improvement in some of the Talibé children while I’ve been here. It’s rewarding to think I may have helped them learn useful skills. It’s been great feeling like part of the community. The kids call me « Awa », a common Senegalese name similar to Ava. When the Talibés see me out and about they always stop to shake my hand or fist bump. I have loved the working environment at Maison de la Gare, and there is always a chill and relaxed vibe at the center.

One of my favorite moments was playing in a soccer game for the first time with the staff at Maison (we won)! I have loved teaching English with Khalidou, and learning his story. He used to be a Talibé and learned English at Maison de la Gare. He is dedicated to helping these kids and I find his story very inspiring. In addition, never before have I seen students so eager about learning. I am truly inspired and grateful for all of it.

Reflections and Gratitude

Something that has really surprised me about living here is the huge population of Muslims. Muslims make up 97% of the population, and it was (while startling at first,) really cool to hear daily prayer calls. My second month here fell during the time of Ramadan, and I enjoyed learning and observing the traditions that take place here. Another culture shock here is that it is very common for men to have multiple wives, as is permitted in the Quran. It was cool to see how peoples lives are shaped by Islam and the Quran.

Since the beginning of my time here, I would say I’ve grown. I’ve become more aware of my privilege and more grateful for the opportunities I have at home—whether it’s access to education or the ability to afford travel. Most people here can’t afford to travel overseas, and the Talibé children are sometimes unqualified to attend university because they have only studied the Quran at Coranic school. I think I’ve become more independent, and my competence in speaking French has improved significantly… I hope!

I’m most looking forward to sharing stories from my experiences here and sharing the stories I’ve learned from the people I’ve met. I look forward to coming back to Saint-Louis in the future, as it now feels like another home to me—full of familiar faces, people I really want to see again, and will miss a lot.

I am incredibly grateful for the chance to experience Senegal on such a personal, authentic level—to improve my French, and most importantly, to meet people who have truly inspired me. Shoutout to Khalidou, Adama, Issa, Samba, other Samba, Momar, Eladgh, Américan, Madame Taida, and everyone else at Maison de la Gare. You made me feel like part of the family.

P.S. If you ever find yourself in Senegal, you must try the national dish, Thieboudienne. You will never be the same again.

Inspired by Ava’s gap year? Learn more about the Latitudes Year and carve out your own journey! 

The post Assalam Aleykoum from Senegal! Ava’s Latitudes Year appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Nina Rafaela Shear Quitiguiña, 2024-25 Latitudes Student

Hello, my name is Nina I’ve been volunteering at a project called IMAP (Mesoamerican Permaculture Institute) in Guatemala for more than a month, and I’ve loved it.

One of my first impressions of Guatemala was how kind and welcoming people are. I arrived in Guatemala City on February 11th. From there, our trip to San Lucas Tolimán was about three hours. It was fascinating to watch the landscapes change as we descended into the Lake Atitlán basin. The next morning’s breakfast was delicious: fruit, beans, tortillas, fried plantains, cheese, eggs, and a wonderful tea. Everyone at IMAP was so welcoming and made sure I felt at home. On my first day, I was introduced to the director, Inés, who gave me a warm welcome and an overview of the project and its work ethic.

For my first three weeks, I stayed in IMAP’s volunteer housing. The rooms are spacious, with balconies—usually shared, but I had one to myself. The views are beautiful, and I felt very safe. IMAP has green spaces, a communal dining room, a kitchen volunteers can use anytime, composting toilets, and handwashing stations for laundry (though laundry service is also available). Everything at IMAP is very organized and carried out with care.

During my first week, we planted qa q’ani (amaranth), worked in the gardens, and began building relationships with the people and the land. On weekends, I relaxed at the lake’s dock and explored downtown San Lucas. The streets are full of color and culture—women selling huipiles, fruit, baskets, and bags.

San Lucas Tolimán is in the municipality of Sololá, located in the southwestern part of the country beside Lake Atitlán. The lake is surrounded by eleven beautiful towns that offer everything from zip-lining and volcano hikes to restaurants and artisan shops. Some of the most well-known towns include Panajachel, Santa Cruz, San Pedro, San Juan La Laguna, Santiago, Santa Catarina Palopó, San Marcos, and San Antonio Palopó. It’s easy and safe to get around the lake by boat (lancha).

As a permaculture center, IMAP provides a wide variety of volunteer work. I’ve helped with garden maintenance, transplanting, preparing planting soil, bagging compost, drying fruit in a solar dehydrator, assisting our neighbor Don Carlos in his garden, and—my favorite—caring for the amaranth plants.

Amaranth is an ancient Central American crop considered a “superfood” for its nutritional value. It’s been amazing to see the process unfold—from fertilizing to planting to watching it grow. Georgia (another volunteer) and I have been in charge of the amaranth. Even when the sun wore us out, we always rewarded ourselves with delicious chocolate-covered ice cream bars for just 5Q. Charlie, one of the team members, is always ready to offer you one!

Halfway through my stay, I decided to move from IMAP into town to live with a host family so I could immerse myself more fully in the culture. The Lec Agcot family welcomed me warmly. Mrs. Chona made me feel like one of her own from the start. We’ve shared meals, walks, and conversations. I’ve learned local recipes and family traditions—like Sunday lunches, when extended family gathers to eat together. We even went on a hike with her son and his family. There are beautiful trails nearby for small hikes and walks.

Helpful Tips I’ve Learned Here:

• Try the amaranto snacks at IMAP—they’re delicious and perfect for long workdays. I especially recommend the cacao amaranth cookies.
• Market days in San Lucas are Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. These are the best times to experience the full vibrancy of the town.
• To explore nearby towns, you can take a lancha from San Lucas. To reach some destinations, you might first need to go to Panajachel (about 20 minutes away), then take a boat from there. Alternatively, you can take a pickup truck to Santiago and catch a boat from there.
• Always ask the prices before getting on a lancha or pickup to avoid being overcharged.

What has challenged me:

The first few weeks were full of new experiences—the people, the food, the land—everything felt exciting. But as I settled into a routine, I realized I wasn’t appreciating the moment as much as I wanted to. It was a challenge to stay present.

At times, I missed home and the people there. Field work can feel repetitive and requires patience. If you’re not used to it, the sun can also be intense. Still, these challenges taught me the value of being present and embracing every part of the experience.

Highlights so far:

There have been so many. Swimming or relaxing at the lake, laughing with the IMAP team during lunch, and exploring nearby towns have all been amazing. One day that stands out was Valentine’s Day—my first at IMAP. The whole team worked together in the garden, then shared chocolate-covered fruit under an avocado tree. At lunch, everyone shared food like a potluck, and afterward we enjoyed ice cream. I got to relax on my balcony and watch the sunset from my beautiful room. It was such a special day.

Looking Ahead

I’m now preparing for my next destination in Guatemala, where I’ll be learning about eco-construction and sustainable building. I’m excited to continue exploring people’s lives and Guatemala’s vibrant culture.

Inspired by Nina’s gap year? Learn more about the Latitudes Year and carve out your own journey! 

The post Spending Time in a Beautiful Place Next to a Lake! Nina’s Latitudes Year in Guatemala appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Alexandra “Ally” R. Olejniczak, 2024-25 Latitudes Student

Before coming to Melkhoutfontein, I experienced a three-day orientation in Johannesburg where I visited multiple historical sites like Soweto, Nelson Mandela’s house, Prison Four, and Maropeng. I also visited the Apartheid Museum.

When I first got off the plane at George Airport, I was taken to the beach in Stillbaai where we sat at a restaurant, and I shared a sandwich with my Dreamcatcher mentor, Anthea. Watching the giant waves, I immediately decided I’d love it here.

When I got to the place I would be staying and met my host parents, Marie and Leonard, I immediately felt at home. All the same, coming here was a big change. Everything I took for granted became a privilege. It was a huge change in perspective as I was shown a completely different way to live.

The purpose of a dreamcatcher is to dispel bad dreams from your sleep; the object is a symbol of lighter times. It is hope that rises as new volunteers come into the village each week, month, and year. With that hope, the dreamcatcher can create a desired dream—a dream for hot water, a dream for education to grow up through, a dream for a roof over your head and food to eat, a new door, or a painted mural. That became my new goal as a volunteer: to give people hope. The purpose I chose for myself became much more fulfilling.

Challenges Along the Journey

There is a lot of work I have to balance during the week—from working on my research project on the history of Melkhoutfontein, lesson planning for the kids I work with on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and writing my theater production (also about the history of Melkhoutfontein), to building Green Johannas, painting murals, and other side tasks.

I love working with the kids and seeing their improvement in dancing and singing, but so much of it is new to me. During the summers I work at a camp close to my home, and there I teach the kids choreography for their theater productions, which inspired my work here.

What I’m doing with Dreamcatcher South Africa involves so much more, because I am also directing the show—not to mention creating it from scratch! It’s a lot to do, and sometimes it feels overwhelming if I’m not looking at a layout written or typed on a calendar of deadlines I’ve created for myself. Luckily, I love creating calendars and other time charts, and I consider myself to be good at time management too.

It took me a while to create a complete schedule, and sometimes things happen that I can’t control and things get pushed back or changed around—but I always get through it.

If I could give myself one piece of advice—or anyone reading this—I would say:

“Always be prepared to be flexible and overcome that obstacle with stride. Look at it like a playground.”

Most importantly—the world does not have a personal grudge against you. Things just go wrong, and you have to get back up two or three hundred times.

Memorable Highlights

There are so many things I love about Melkhoutfontein. The community has been so welcoming. It’s also a huge bonus that I got to escape the cold winter months in Wisconsin and the confused spring that follows.

Melkhoutfontein and Stilbaai (which is just next door) hold so much interesting history, including the Blombos caves—which are considered the birthplace of humans!

When I get home from my work, I usually play soccer or race with the girls. Melkhoutfontein has a giant rugby field, and I love to go with my new friends to watch them play. There’s also a court where the girls play netball, which is what we would call basketball. If we aren’t doing any of those activities, you can usually find me and the girls dancing in the yard.

My favorite place to go is the beach in Stilbaai. I love the soft sand and the clear water—the light shade of blue the waves create, and the beautiful shells that crowd along the sea line. I think the beach is so peaceful, and so far it hasn’t been crowded when I’ve gone.

One time I got to go with the Dreamcatcher kids—we had so much fun playing volleyball and waiting in the water for the waves to crash into us. Usually, my motive for going to the beach is quiet walks or peaceful naps, but I think that day was my all-time favorite beach day.

Unexpected Moments and Unforgettable Growth

I think the thing that surprised me the most is load-sharing. Load-sharing is a period of time where all electricity across South Africa is cut off. It causes a lot of problems like food spoilage, and people who are on life support need to pay lots of money for machines that don’t rely on electricity.

If America had a situation like this for even one day, I know people would act like the world was ending—but no one in my community blinked (or rolled) an eye at it.

The first time it happened while I was there, it occurred in three-hour periods, four different times, for two days in a row. It was weird, and almost creepy to me—but after the first occurrence, I barely noticed when or if it had happened anymore.

I’m actually excited for the day that it happens at night on a clear day so I can look up and see all the stars—something you usually wouldn’t be able to see.

I’m really looking forward to the performance of the production I’m putting on. Teaching music and dance—two of my biggest passions—makes me feel so honored to share with the kids. They’ve been learning so fast and having so much fun too!

So much has come out of my time in Melkhoutfontein, and I’m only halfway through my adventure here!

Inspired by Ally’s gap year? Learn more about the Latitudes Year and carve out your own journey! 

The post Volunteering with Dreamcatcher South Africa: Ally’s Latitudes Year appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Nora Thomas, 2024-25 Latitudes Student

So far this semester, I’ve spent my time traveling about the whole of Namibia!! I started my time by flying into Windhoek to be transferred to the main volunteer site at Na/ankuse. I spent two weeks are the main camp and got to participate in Anti Poaching Unit sleep out, carnivore feeding, and baboon walks. During my time here, I was able to interact and meet a lot of the other volunteers.

After this, I transferred to the Coastal project, which I can say has been my favorite project so far. After that, I moved to the Kanaan and Neuras projects, where I got to experience the Namibian desert and the dead tree forest. It was mind-blowing to see such a barren landscape. I then moved to the Harnas Project, where I saw so many lions and encountered my first rhinos in Namibia. I am now gearing up to transfer to the Timbila project to close out my time in Namibia. In total, I’ve been able to experience the country completely by traveling to the west, south, and north while seeing so much wildlife.

Challenges Along the Journey

As is common with most solo travel, the challenges can seem endless. I found that I specifically struggled with relating to so many different people from around the world. The more people you meet, the more you learn about their perceptions of other parts of the world, and it can be a difficult challenge to navigate or challenge those perceptions.

Another challenge I faced was understanding the dynamics behind why some animals were kept in certain reserves. It can be hard to understand other people’s choices and decisions while still enjoying your experience, even when you disagree. This was a skill I had to work on and learned a lot from during my time here.

Memorable Highlights

My time in Namibia has been filled with countless unforgettable moments. As simple as it sounds, just seeing the African bush every day is amazing. Casually going on game drives and seeing loads of giraffes and zebras is mind-blowing—sometimes, they don’t even seem real! I’ve loved getting the chance to experience so many different aspects and environments of the country.

Looking Ahead with Gratitude

I am most looking forward to continuing my time volunteering in Africa. The continent has so much beauty, and I am excited to see even more. My next project is with the SAVE! Foundation, and I’m excited to switch it up a little by doing some humanitarian work.

I’m extremely grateful for the modern blessings I’ve had along the way.I’m grateful that I have been able to keep in touch with my family during my travels and also to be able to communicate with Doug over any worries, questions, or exciting things that have happened.

Overall, I’ve had an incredible start to my time in Africa!

Inspired by Nora’s gap year? Learn more about the Latitudes Year and carve out your own journey! 

The post A Transformative Journey Through Namibia: Nora’s Latitudes Year appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Malcolm Reid, 2024-25 Latitudes Student

From beachside strolls to working hands-on with wildlife, my semester in Australia has been full of new experiences, challenges, and personal growth. Here’s a look at what this journey has meant to me so far.

Challenges Along the Journey

Adjusting to life in a new country comes with its fair share of challenges. For me, one of the trickiest parts was figuring out how to get to places from my house. Navigating public transportation and planning routes on my own took some trial and error, but over time, I learned to become more independent and resourceful. Learning how to budget my meals and manage my weekly expenses was also a new experience—one that taught me practical life skills I’ll carry with me well beyond this semester.

Memorable Highlights

Working with animals has hands-down been one of the most rewarding aspects of my time in Australia. I’ve had the chance to interact with birds, kangaroos, and even crocodiles—something I never imagined doing! After long days of work, there’s nothing like a walk on a sunny beach to clear my mind and take in the beauty around me. The atmosphere here is relaxed and friendly, and the people I’ve met have made me feel incredibly welcome.

Looking Ahead with Gratitude

This experience has helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect. I’ve become more confident navigating unfamiliar environments and taking care of myself day to day. I’m grateful for the warm community, the chance to work with amazing animals, and the little moments of joy that have come from embracing something completely new. I’m looking forward to what the rest of this journey holds—with even more learning, connection, and adventure to come.

Inspired by Malcolm’s gap year? Learn more about the Latitudes Year and carve out your own journey! 

The post New Experiences, Challenges, and Personal Growth: Malcolm’s Latitudes Year in Australia appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Italy & Greece Overseas Educators, Maggie and Chelsea

Lovely students, what a wild and wonderful 70-day journey we’ve been on. You all have absolutely rocked it every second, and we cannot express how proud and honored we are to have spent the most precious resource we have together: our time. 

From meeting you at JFK, we traveled from Panta Rei where we bee-kept, bonded for the first time, drew our river of life, cooked pancakes for the residents, created our group agreements, did wood-burning, and got obliterated in soccer by Italians. 

On the Via-Francigena, we walked silently, made the yummiest bread chips, learned about healing plants, and, of course, saw St. Catherine’s head and thumb. 

In Florence, we learned to taste wine, climbed the Duomo, were floored by Michelangelo’s work, danced in the streets, and made lip balm, pesto, tea, and more with Giacomo. 

At Paladini, we did CHESTNUTS so hard, made a pizza oven, and got our hands dirty. We huddled in the rain, sang songs, learned drama, went on an epic hike, saw a mushroom festival, and learned about our leadership and goals.

In Rome, we scavenger hunted, explored the Colosseum, *made our dreams happen* and saw the wonderful Vatican and St. Peter Basilica. 

In Matera, we explored the Sassi, experienced the Casa Noha/ history of Matera, we learned about bread mills, our carbon footprint, and the festival of the trees. We made focaccia, chatted under the oaks, swam in the sea in Bari, and of course met the beautiful Giuseppe. 

In Naples, we had the best pizza, had many solo adventures, and took the cable car from Sorrento. 

On Crete we explored Minoan archeology with Carly, swam in the sea and saw so many fish, learned Greek with Manolise, and did Greek dancing and pottery. 

In Athens, we explored the Acropolis and Acropolis museum, loved the street art and flea markets, and rode so many rides at the fun park. 

In Aegina, we cycled across the island, went scuba diving, played Jeopardy, connected with Anna, and rested!

Finally, at Re-Green we learned so much about permaculture, made the best compost pile ever, did movement and drumming, and prepared for the sad ending we are now facing. 

You all brought so much life to every step of this program. Your positive energy has impacted so many people and places we met along the way. You should be very proud of how you showed up in each of these stops. 

We have learned so much from each of you. Each of you has such beautiful and unique gifts to offer.

A highlight has been seeing you all engage so well and dive into everything. You ask great questions, say yes to things even when they are outside of your comfort zone, and have opened your hearts to every soul we’ve encountered. It has been outstanding to watch. 

You all realized quickly the challenges of living in the community. What it means to share space, hurt each other unintentionally, be hurt, be silly, annoy each other, be loved, and make mistakes. You have learned how to express your hurt, have hard conversations, and come out stronger. You all care for each other so deeply, even if there is sibling-like annoyance at times. You have supported each other beautifully through every challenge, and you should all hold close to your hearts the knowledge that Carpe Fall ’24 is your family for life. 

Some ways that you all have grown this semester: realizing the world is so wide, other cultures have so much to learn from, that your sensitivity is your strength, that nature heals and reconnects, that you are capable of anything and resilient, that you can be flexible and adaptable, that sustainability is a way of life, and that you can sleep on moving vehicles.

As you move forward remember that this beautiful experience is only the beginning. Dive deeper into every single thing that piques your interest. Keep on traveling, exploring, and learning. This world is yours in every way. Keep on Shaking the Dust and making your dreams happen. 

And know that you can count on me like 1-2-3, you’ve got a friend, we’ve had the time of our lives, and we want to linger a little longer. 

Love, your OEs, Maggie and Chelsea

The post Terra ’24: A Wild and Wonderful 70-Day Adventure of Growth, Connection, and Discovery appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Central America Overseas Educators, JB and Andy

What’s New?

And just like that, three months of adventure, growth, and connection have come to an end. It’s hard to believe how quickly time has flown since our journey began. As we wrapped up our Central American program, our final days were filled with moments that felt both bittersweet and deeply meaningful. From sunset swims to heartfelt conversations, we made the most of every second we had left together.

Our last few days in Parrita, Costa Rica felt like a dream. The rhythm of the waves became our soundtrack as we spent time unwinding at the beach. One evening, we decided to take a walk during sunset, and what started as a casual stroll quickly turned into something magical. The sky transformed into a canvas of fiery oranges and soft purples, and the water called to us. Without hesitation, we jumped in, letting the ocean hold us in a way that felt freeing and grounding all at once.

Of course, paradise came with a price—mosquitoes. We became an all-you-can-eat buffet for them, but as we watched the sun dip below the horizon, it felt like the bites didn’t matter. That moment was about us, together, soaking in the beauty of nature and the joy of shared experiences.

From Parrita, we made our way to Alajuela, where the final pieces of our program came together. We organized a farewell activity, giving us a chance to reflect on our journey as a group. It was a space to celebrate how far we’d come, to laugh over inside jokes, and to share the ways we’ve been inspired by one another.

But because life has a way of surprising us, our last days weren’t just about planned activities—they were about spontaneity, too. Take the soccer game, for example. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but it turned into one of the highlights of our time together. The Costa Rican team dominated, winning 4-0, and the energy in the stadium was electric. And then there was Cleo, who not only got interviewed by a local reporter but somehow went viral on TikTok afterward. Seeing her excitement and our group’s reaction reminded us how even unexpected moments can feel like the most unforgettable ones.

Throughout it all, we talked about what it means to be a global citizen and how we’ll carry the lessons of this program into our lives back home. We shared our thoughts on growth, resilience, and what it looks like to live intentionally in a way that builds bridges across cultures. Those conversations weren’t easy, but they were so important—just like everything else we’ve experienced these past three months.

Top Highlights of the Week

It’s impossible to sum up three months of memories in a few lines, but here are three moments from this week that left an impression:

Sunset Walk in Parrita

The mosquitoes were relentless, but the sunset was worth every bite. Walking along the shore, laughing, and eventually plunging into the ocean felt like a moment of pure freedom. It was the kind of memory you hold onto when you’re back home, longing for the sound of the waves and the warmth of the sun.

Ray’s Trivia Extravaganza

Leave it to Ray to put together a 40-question trivia game that somehow captured the essence of our journey. From recalling the funny mishaps to reliving the big milestones, it was a chance to celebrate all we’d been through together. Trivia reminded us of the depth of our shared experiences—and how much we’ve grown as a group.

The Soccer Game

The last-minute soccer game wasn’t just a win for Costa Rica—it was a win for us, too. The energy in the stadium was contagious, and being part of the crowd felt like a celebration of connection and joy. And then there was Cleo, whose impromptu fame added an unexpected twist to the evening.

Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!)

As much as we savored our final days, they weren’t without their challenges. Saying goodbye to the people and places that have been our world for the past three months wasn’t easy. How do you let go of a group that has become your family, or a place that has felt like home?

There were tears, hugs, and a shared sense of disbelief as we watched the video that recapped our time together. Seeing all the moments—big and small—that shaped our journey was overwhelming in the best way. It was a reminder of everything we’d been through, from the challenges that pushed us to grow to the moments of pure joy that reminded us why we were here.

It wasn’t just the goodbyes that were tough; it was the recognition that we were stepping back into lives that might not fully understand what this experience meant to us. But we reminded ourselves that the lessons we’ve learned and the connections we’ve built will always be a part of who we are.

Gratitude and Growth

If there’s one thing that stands out from this week—and this entire program—it’s the power of connection. Every moment we’ve shared, and every relationship we’ve built, has been a reminder of how much we need each other.

The students in this program brought so much to the table. Their openness, curiosity, and resilience transformed every experience into something meaningful. And it wasn’t just the group—we were shaped by the kindness of strangers, the warmth of our homestay families, and the incredible people we met along the way.

Looking back, it’s clear that this journey was about more than the places we visited or the activities we did. It was about the people we became along the way.

As we close this chapter, we hope the students see the beauty they’ve experienced here as a reflection of their own strength, curiosity, and light. The laughter, the challenges, the magic—it all happened because of who they are and the way they showed up for this journey.

To the students: This program may be over, but the lessons and connections you’ve gained are yours to carry forward. Remember the beauty of this experience is simply a reflection of the beauty within you.

Here’s to the memories, the growth, and the unshakable bonds we’ve created. Until next time, Central America!

The post Quetzal ’24: A Bittersweet Farewell to Meaningful Connection and Transformation appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Italy & Greece Students, Izzy, Peter and Malcolm

What’s New in Our Journey?

After an amazing week of student-directed travel on Aegina, the group took a train two hours outside of Athens to Akrata. The week was spent at Re-Green, a permaculture community dedicated to the regeneration of Earth. Each day, the group participated in learning activities like garden bed prepping, composting, herbal talks, mushroom talks, and much more set up by the wonderful hosts, Debo, Kyle, Emily, and Nejma. Remembrance and reflection circles were held daily to cherish the past while preparing for the future. Each day, the group had an African drum circle and, on the final day, the whole community came for a performance followed by a pizza party.

Top Three Highlights of the Week

The group greatly enjoyed the company of the hosts and getting to know the volunteers staying at Re-Green. Getting to choose an activity like a herbal talk, mushroom talk, or habitat creation, the group was able to choose something that interested each person. Another highlight for the group was an African drum circle that the group participated in nightly and had a performance at the end.

Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!)

While we enjoyed the packed schedule, one thing the group was challenged by was finding time to connect as a group. Our only true break time was siesta, and many people took that time to recharge and for self-care. That made it hard to plan and do activities together; however we made it work, and the last night at Re-Green we had a movie night and watched Surf’s-Up.

While we were challenged physically with finding time to spend together, a mental challenge was opening up to new ideas regarding permaculture while being at the end of our journey. Initially, it felt difficult to understand and open up to permaculture principles, however, the Re-Green team did an amazing job of making learning easy and fun. Over the week, the group was exposed to new ways of thinking regarding the regeneration of ecosystems and how to apply these principles in our daily lives.

Gratitude 

On behalf of the group, we are grateful for all of the Re-Green hosts this week. They accomplished a difficult task in making activities fun and engaging while understanding the group’s needs and tiredness at the end of our journey. The activities they provided, such as the morning movement and composing, are things that the group can implement in their daily lives, which is a plus. Overall, all of the hosts were super helpful and we could not be more grateful for their hospitality and their passion for educating us on how to be more cognizant of our environment.

Final Words

The group has grown and learned so much throughout this semester. Thank you to the OEs and local hosts for making our semester unforgettable. Goodbye and thank you from Carpe Diem Terra 24!

The post Our Final Stop at Re-Green in Akrata – Summing Up a Semester of Growth, Gratitude, and Unforgettable Memories appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by India & Nepal Overseas Educators, Tara and Anand

Eight Wild Women and Anand! This wild journey went through Nepal and India encountering all that it had to offer. We began as a group of 9 individuals but slowly made our way to forming a group of people who were ready to take on this world. We walked, ran, and traveled by jeeps, buses, trains, and planes to take all these countries had to offer to us.  

In Nepal, we walked many circles around the Boudhanath Stupa, understood the role of religion, climbed never-ending vertical steps to be greeted by the most beautiful peaks of the Himalayan range, and inhaled vast quantities of  Daal Bhaat, Momos, and Chowmein. 

In India, we saw beautiful sunsets and came face to face with The Taj Mahal. We experienced clouds all around us, cows everywhere we went, and never-ending Tea Fields.

While we saw so much of the world outside we also found ourselves navigating through under layers of these communities. We observed the collective grieving, we saw how communities support one another and we saw the importance of taking care of one another in our world today and questioned the harsh realities of the world around us. 

This journey showed off the world that existed and the history that has created the culture we are in along with that we heard stories of hope for the future that is constantly being experimented with. 

The diversity in Nepal and India allowed us to see opposite realities co-exist and it also showed us people engaging with life at different paces. 

All of this was experienced by us with 7 incredible girls bringing their own realities and ways of looking at the world. 7 incredible girls who brought their stories and were always curious to listen to the stories of the world around them. We become our own community. Crying, laughing, dancing, and singing together. Sometimes doing questionable things, everything with the best intentions. We were also nourished by many communities we became a part of. Every community we became a part of allowed us to see how this world works in different ways. There was no one way of how this world is meant to be, but a definite source of what everyone hopes for our world to become. This was something that was deeply showcased by how these students showed up to us. 

We couldn’t have imagined this journey without either of them, each bringing an integral yet highly quirky way of being. We consumed large quantities of food and chai and at the same time found ourselves throwing them out of our systems in different ways.  Naans/Parotha/Chapati/Appams were consumed by the dozens and spice thresholds were tested with every meal. Food became our way of understanding society and many beautiful conversations were had over dining tables across the countries. Reflections, personal stories, and gratitude become our fuel to find clarity within and the history of Nepal and India has allowed us to be present to the world around us. 

Through this experience, we hope things have shifted within all our students, even if it is a degree and we hope this shift brings them closer to their hearts and the world around them. Witnessing each one of them during this semester was a privilege we hold close to our hearts and if there was a word that would describe each one of them, it would be:

Ava – Resilience 

Steph – Decisive 

Nora – Precision

Mae – Liberated

Iona – Benevolent

Nina – Essential

Sarah – Enthusiasm

These words in many ways sum up what they mean to us and what they brought to this incredible journey. 

We hope as they move forward they find the courage to be true to their hearts and speak for what our world needs. And as they go home they appreciate their loved ones and their communities a little bit more. 

Through this semester, we are grateful to all the people who brought different stories, to all the moments when nature left us speechless, and to the communities that allowed us to be our wild selves in their presence. 

Wild Woman

What makes the grass grow?

Blood makes the grass grow.

Who makes the blood flow?

We make the blood flow.

WILD WOMEN WILD WOMEN WILD WOMEN

They are 7 incredible women who hold the strength to do big things and to remain wild and will constantly remind us what hope means. 

We hope wherever they go, they find time to sing and dance. 

As they march forward we hope the words of this poem ring true for them

Desiderata – by Max Ehrmann

The post Shanti ’24: A Final Ode to Our Wild Women and the Journey of a Lifetime appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Overseas Educators, Mary and Sushi

Our beloved belayers, queens of the Daintree, goddesses of Aotearoa, BBs. Our dearest SOPAC ’24,

Wow, what an incredible, magical journey we have embarked on together through the South Pacific. We are so proud of each and every one of you for the leadership, the growth, the openness, the bravery, and the Aroha you’ve embodied every leg of the way. You are the reason we love doing this work! You are more than our students, you are our whanau.

What a special flock we are! We have a weka (Caroline), a tui (Julia), a fairy-wren (Grace), a cassowary (Clivia), a fantail (JT), a kookaburra (Susannah), a kiwi (Ash), and an owlet nightjar (Gabe).

The first week during orientation, we shared with a Māori proverb with you all:

“E koekoe te tūī, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererū”.

The proverb means “it takes all kinds of birds”; a deeper message to celebrate the unique gifts that each individual brings forth to the collective. This rings so true for the community we created – this trip would not have been whole without a single one of you. Thank you for being you, and for sharing your heart with us.

What a highlight it was to watch you all shine this past week during Student Directed Travel, taking us along for the ride as you navigate the path ahead! You fiercely balanced the budget, arranged activities, slayed our stays, and directed the driving. Woohoo! From pancake rocks to Hokitika Gorge, kiwi conservation to Wicked, hot pools to a hanging bridge, what a blast we had!

As we sit here reminiscing in a Christchurch caravan park, ready to cry, humor helps us fight the heartbreak. Therefore we are going to share a written version of a semester bloopers reel with you all.

Here’s some LAUGHTER we are never FORGETTING:

– y’all mind?

– 7 zambonis

– Nighttime stories at Sheoak

– Sprite

– Bert’s booty bump

– Ellen (apple sorbet) and Uncle Ernesto (Venus)

– Halloween night… everything that occurred

– Sunshine rain cloud icebreaker (…and the Port Douglas edition LOL)

– BREAD PUDDING

– Sleep deprived and unwell KFC walk

– the really hard psychiatrist round when Grace was guessing

– The abandoned water park hot pools

– Naïm: teacup, honey bees, chainsaw, bicycle, no shoes. You know the vibe 😛

– Barney’s AI poem

– Being abandoned at Shipwreck Bay

– Moo off: Tiaki vs. Caroline

– The branch in the fire (Eli’s favorite)

– Olive’s story??

– Theo’s enthusiasm…

– Tim tam slam AND #timtamslam

– Fit it Felix and his cows

– The vibes of the Whenua Iti bus: alphabet music, wet clothing smells, shapes in many flavors

– THE GREAT EXPLOSION OF THE APRICOT YOGURT COOKIES

– The van door… rarely being closed

– Fighting for our lives in the sea kayaks… KAKAAAAW

– Probably… tacos. With chocolate!

– Belting playlist

– Mud fight(s)

– The first apple dance without your OEs (IYKYK)

– Marinating and cooking always

– Water guns (and Susannah’s tiny croc pistol)

– Dr. Organix

– Marcus’ slang trivia

– Loving mushy food 😉

– Uno games …and the whispers

– Crashing out

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for such a remarkable ten weeks. For your mauri. For your humility and openness. For your gratitude. For your hilarity. For being our favorite student group. 😉 We could go on and on, but for now, we will say “ma te wa”, and see ya later, our sweet little birds!

Fly far with each wing, and use your voice to sing (…or belt).

We are always here for you as a nest of love. Can’t wait to hear about all of your adventures.

Take care of yourself. Take care of each other.

Love your two OEs,

Mary and Sushi (Marshi, not Mushi!!!)

The post SoPac ’24: A Final Farewell to Our Beloved Whānau appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Julia T. (JT) and Gabe G.

What’s New in Our Journey?

So many things happened this week, as Whenua Iti was packed with incredible experiences. We got to sea kayak in a fierce rainstorm and treacherous waters, participated in a high ropes course, walked 12 miles in Able Tasman National Park, spent time caving with our guides caked in the mud from mud fights, and hiked to the most northern point in south island – many long walks across the beach. Our introduction to Whenua Iti also brought people our way, we had guides named Kegan and Charlie and got to be listeners to an amazing Māori creation story told by Lara. This week was hands-on but also was a huge point for the whole group to reach new personal levels, stepping outside of our comfort zones in every challenge we faced.

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

1. Discovering the scenic beauty of Abel Tasman National Park.

2. Venturing into the caves at Paynes Ford.

3. Participating in a high ropes course challenged many in the group to try something new.

This Week’s Challenge

Many if not all members of our group had to step outside of their comfort zones during this week. Some of us are scared of heights and others of caves yet we still managed to participate in every activity regardless of those fears. Even though reluctant, everyone put on their best face and mustered their best energy for every activity, making it all the more worthwhile. (Some joke about type 1 and type 2 fun).

Group Dynamics and Reflections

We thought we were going to be in the middle of nowhere in the backcountry with no access to any life luxuries, however, we ended up getting the best of both worlds this week and got to go explore the great outdoors while still being able to come back to shelter and enjoying cups of tea and hot chocolate. The group dynamic has always been so good, and everyone has settled into their roles through the group, though there’s always something to improve on, we keep pulling together and powering through every week.

Looking Ahead

Student-directed travel, as well as the promise of soon returning home, are things everyone is looking forward to. We are nearing the end of the South Pacific semester!

The post Breaking Boundaries: A Week of Growth and Challenges at Whenua Iti appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Italy & Greece Students, Kyle Chang and Arianna Wilson

What’s New in Our Journey?

We have arrived on student-directed travel week! Since our last blog, we met as a group and decided on a location to travel to. Keeping the budget and all members of the group’s interests in mind, we settled on Aegina. Aegina had something for everyone- archaeological sites, hiking, beaches, scuba diving, and a small town to explore.

Top Three Highlights of the Week

The top three highlights of the week were scuba diving, biking to ancient ruins, and the mini Olympics we held at the beach. The scuba diving adventure was one of our favorites from the entire trip. To be able to see the earth from that perspective underwater in its rawest form was remarkable. Our day with e-bikes was another highlight. We biked across the island (around 30 km in total) to the Temple of Aphaia and the Church of St. Nectarios. Lastly, we had a mini Olympics, where we partnered off and competed in events ranging from three-legged races to a group volleyball game. It was difficult choosing just three highlights as it was a really great week on Aegina!

Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!)

Contrary to other weeks where we had the location, accommodation, and parts of the itinerary planned out, we had to start from scratch this week. This posed a few challenges for us, like booking and planning our activities- especially keeping everyone in the group’s needs and interests in mind. This week the group was also challenged with adjusting from the fast-paced city of Athens to the slower island of Aegina. We were proud of the way the group overcame these challenges and grew from them.

Looking Ahead

Next week, the group is traveling to the mountains of Akrata, a town roughly two hours west of Athens. We are staying at Re-Green, an ecoculture center focused on sustainable living. We are excited to take this time to learn more about Green living and reflect on the past couple of months we have spent together.

The post From Athens to Aegina: Intention, Adventure, and Connection in Student-Directed Travel appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by India & Nepal Students, Sarah Ross and Ioan Asher

What’s New in Our Journey?

Hi everyone!!! Sarah and Iona here, reporting live from a café in Kochi. It’s been a heck of a week here on this side of the globe!

After departing from the Sivananda Ashram, we hopped on a bus and drove to Munar, the land of mountains and tea fields. The next morning, while the majority of us decided to sleep in, Tara and Stephanie woke up at the butt crack of dawn for a sunrise mission… and returned hours later to the rest of the gang still fast asleep. After some debate, we decided to spend our day on a Jeep tour offered by the zostel. The next six hours were spent zipping around Munar, music bumping. Some highlights included spotting wild elephants, trying a variety of yummy street food, chatting with shop owners, and drinking WAY too much tea.

Top Highlights of the Week

The next day was the first of our trek!! We met our guides: Shabib, Rizwan, Yaseen, and Mautto, who gave us a quick briefing before we set off around midday. We made our way, winding on leach-infested trails, through stunning green tea plantations. As we walked Shabib explained to us the planting and harvesting process of the tea plants that surrounded us. We learned that although the smaller, more tender leaves produce higher quality tea, many locals prefer the more coarse taste made by the mature leaves. We also learned about the amount of hard work that goes into harvesting the tea. This gave us a new perspective on the drink we have almost every day!

Eventually, we arrived at the base camp of Meesappulimala. We spent that afternoon cooling off at a nearby waterfall.

Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!)

Day two put us through the wringer. After a grueling climb to the summit of the second tallest mountain in the Western Ghats (aka Western “Gyatts”), we were rewarded with a breathtaking view (and a delicious packed lunch). That night, hoping to escape the cold, we gathered around a campfire built inside a small, enclosed space. Unfortunately, the setup lacked a chimney—or much ventilation for that matter. And so we sat, eyes watering, engulfed in thick smoke.

The night only got more painful when we sat down to one of the spiciest meals of the trip so far. The combination of spice and smoke sent us into a fit of delirium. We sat there, cracking up uncontrollably, while our hosts peeked out at us from the kitchen, perplexed.

The following morning we embarked on the long drive to Kochi. Here, we look forward to spending the week participating in various classes and living with local families in homestays.

The post Tea Trails and Trekking Tales: Our Intentional Adventures in Munnar and the Western Ghats appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Central America Students, Bridger and Ronan

What’s New?

Since the last blog post in Xela, our group has been in Tzununa, Guatemala staying in a sustainably built hotel called the “Bambu House.”

This week’s focus has been centered around permaculture, man’s relationship with nature, and engineering. We’ve also been getting to know each other better because we are not using our phones and we’re sharing living spaces. Our main teacher has been Shad, a successful entrepreneur, permaculturalist, family man, and philosopher.

Top Highlights of the Week

• Touring various permaculture farms and seeing how to correctly and incorrectly live sustainably. This meant learning about food forests and how a garden can be self-sustaining whilst also benefitting the pre-existing ecosystem. We have toured 3 different ones, ranging in size from the spinning spaceship carnival ride to the size of a large stadium.
• Hiking up the mountain of Rósto Maya. This entailed embarking on a 4-hour hike one way to the peak overlooking Lake Atitlan. The views were absolutely breathtaking, and the visibility was low, giving the illusion of being one with the clouds.
• Transferring between a sauna to a cold plunge. This was my personal favorite part of the week, as the feeling this created was one of unity with the earth, as well as acceptance of my body and mind. Just pure bliss.

A Challenge We Faced

As we have been getting to know each other better, we have learned about the parts of each other that we have not been comfortable showing. This means that there have been some disagreements in perspective and personality, however, we quickly learned how to meet in the middle. Although we may not be the most likely of friends, we are still very appreciative of each other’s presence, insight, and humor.

Group Dynamics

The group is thriving. Although inner groups of like-minded individuals are for sure forming, there is still a resounding sense of comradery between each individual.

The post Living Sustainably in Tzununa: Lessons in Permaculture, Unity, and Thriving as a Community appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Italy & Greece Student, Ally Hudsyn

What’s New in Our Journey?

Traveling to the city of Athens was an exciting adventure after exploring the peaceful towns in Crete. From the acropolis to hay markets there was plenty to explore. Walking on ancient ruins everywhere we went is an experience we will never forget.

Top Three Highlights of the Week

I think the most amazing thing we did this week was visit the Allou Fun Park in Athens! Getting to ride a Ferris wheel for a better view of the city was another beautiful perspective to experience.

Another moment I loved was being able to experience the Acropolis in real life after learning all about it in Crete.

It was good to have free time to make individual dreams happen too, so that everyone could accomplish their own beautiful moments.

Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!)

Navigating a city is always hard. So many streets look the same with the usual tourist shops and Greek restaurants. We learned how to navigate the metro and make sure everyone could handle navigating around. It was a challenge but it was quickly concord by our amazing and talented group.

Looking Ahead

Next week is our student travel to Ageana! We are all excited about the new adventure that awaits. We will be hopping islands, scuba diving, and venturing on bikes! I am so grateful for the opportunity to explore so many places!

The post A Week in Athens: Ruins, Rides, and Unforgettable Highlights appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Julia M and Clivia

What’s New in Our Journey?

This past week, we volunteered at the Hart Family Farm, a livestock farm near Napier. We learned about sustainable agriculture practices and humane livestock farming from Greg and Rachel, who have owned the farm for almost thirty years! Along with Greg and Rachel, we got to know Frasier, one of their farmhands. We got some experience herding cattle and found that some herds are more… temperamental than others. Greg also showed us how to herd piglets, as well as collect chicken eggs, getting many chicken cuddles in the process. On the last day at Hart Family Farm, we helped to prune pine trees, a tradition that every Carpe group has done. Over the weekend, we drove back to Wellington. We got to explore the city, eating at cool restaurants and learning about the city’s drag scene. It was very enjoyable for the group to rest after two intense weeks, and get ready for the upcoming adventures at Whenua Iti!

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

Drag Show Extravaganza: One of the top highlights of the week was the drag show that some of the group went to on Saturday night. It was a new experience for most of us, and we had lots of fun dancing and singing during and after the show.

Art Deco Afternoon: On Wednesday afternoon, we explored Napier and learned more about the background of the city’s famous Art Deco style. We did some shopping and visited the Napier Museum, learning about the city’s history with earthquakes.

Farewell Farm Feast: Finally, we had a wonderful last night at the Hart Family Farm, when we got to make our own pizzas in a pizza oven and taste the traditional New Zealand dessert pavlova. Over the week, Rachel helped us with cooking, helping us to make new meals with fresh ingredients grown on the farm. The last night was a great way to say goodbye, and reflect on all we had experienced with Greg, Rachel, and Frasier.

This Week’s Challenge

This week, we all got our hands dirty when we had to chase down runaway cows and put them back in the pen. While we knew the cows were more scared of us than we were of them, it’s hard to stand your ground when facing off against dozens of cows. We also faced similar challenges with the piglets, though on a much smaller scale. The piglets were overwhelmed by how many people there were, which made corralling them into a pen a surprisingly hard task.

Group Dynamics and Reflections

This week, we are especially grateful for our strong group dynamic, which gives everyone in the program a support system. We’ve grown even closer this week through hard work, movie nights, and lessons on many topics presented by group members. One lesson led to an interesting debate about agroecology, letting us interact with each other in a more academic setting. We have also supported each other through times of political change and experienced a wide range of emotions as a group.

Gratitude for the Week

Our group is very grateful for the two nights we spent in Wellington, which allowed us to explore a different side of New Zealand while also giving us more free time and independence. This was the first time our group got to really dive into a big city for multiple days, and it was great to see New Zealand in a different light.

The post Fields to Cityscapes: Our Dynamic Week at Hart Family Farm and Wellington appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Central America Students, Maia and Ripley

What’s New?

This past week, we had the pleasure of continuing to explore Xela, but through a different lens—homestays! We were paired off with another person in the group and got to build one-on-one relationships while also building community and connection with the host families. Seeing Guatemalan life through the perspective of a local family was an enriching experience. Eating delicious meals and spending time with the families was a great exposure to the culture and a wonderful way to continue practicing our Spanish. We worked hard in Spanish classes in the mornings and explored the city in the afternoons. One-on-one Spanish classes allowed us to build unique connections with our teachers. The school was tailored to our needs and interests, and we had the opportunity to explore Xela with our teachers as guides.

Top Highlights of the Week

Equestrian Adventures: This week was filled with fun activities offered by the school, and most of the group elected to go horseback riding one of the days! Many of us have limited experience with horses, which made it all the more exhilarating when our guides started having us trot, and eventually gallop on the horses. The freeing feeling of galloping on the back of a horse is unmatched.

Kayaking on Lake Atitlan: Another activity organized by the school ended up with many of us in kayaks, boating the beautiful Lake Atitlan. We were surprised when our guides put us on the boats, told us to be safe, and then sent us off by ourselves, but that led to amazing group bonding time and an opportunity for us to explore all together. We ended up on one of the public beaches and went in for a quick soak before heading back to shore.

Relaxing Days by the Lake: Another favorite day this week was on Saturday. We woke gently and had peaceful mornings spent with our separate host families. Then host families packed us sack lunches full of food, which we took through San Juan, on a boat, and along the shore of San Marcos, where we sat as a group and ate and kicked our legs off the edge of the dock while we watched the lake. A couple of us went swimming, or shell hunting at the water’s edge. But mostly we talked, laughed, and soaked up the sun.

A Challenge We Faced

This week we began planning our Student Directed Travel Week and were definitely challenged by connecting our ambitious ideas with our limited planning time and budget. We met almost every day as a group to research hostels and activities, and brainstorm cheap meals so we could jigsaw everything we wanted to do within our budget.

Gratitude Reflections

Surprising Warmth: We were very pleasantly surprised by just how warmly we were welcomed into the homes of our host families. We ate our meals with the whole family, helped with chores, and spent evenings playing with our host siblings or talking with host parents.

Language Growth: We have noticed a lot of growth in our Spanish communication skills, as many of us have appreciated deeper conversations with our host families or teachers.

So grateful to have been able to be immersed in the culture this way and to have a safe and comfortable home to return to at the end of each day.

The post Language and Laughter in San Juan: Homestays, Horseback Riding, and Spanish Conversations appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by India & Nepal Students, Ava Mendler and Nora Thomas

What’s New in Our Journey?

Jaipur: The First Golden Triangle City

Jaipur was truly a shock to my (Ava) system, both mentally and physically. Immediately when I got into the Rickshaw after our long train journey from Udaipur, I was totally overwhelmed by the commotion, sounds, traffic on the streets, smells, and poor air quality. That night, we ate a rejuvenating meal at the Hawkview restaurant with a rooftop view- the chocolate milkshake was ethereal. After a tiring day of travel and moving around, we all collapsed onto Zostel beds and rested for the next two days, where Tara and Anand (our phenomenal OEs) gave us full autonomy over our day plans for the first time. You heard that right folks, we could finally go out on the town BY OURSELVES and explore Jaipur the way we wanted to.

Everyone in our group did an insane myriad of things in Jaipur with our freedom. Some went to cafés for a more chill Jaipur experience (I’m looking at you, Sarah). Iona and Nina came back after their day on the town having made some local friends who toured around with them. Stephanie (when she wasn’t sick) visited the city palace and worked on her bargaining skills at some local touristy shops. When Mae’s solo hiking plans were foiled by an overly cautious rickshaw driver who was scared she would be attacked by monkeys, she went to a museum (where she taught a boy English) and explored Central Park Jaipur Edition. Nora finessed her way into a Bollywood film called Devara Part 2, walking around, and visiting too many things for me to explain. These are just a few examples of the many experiences we had. A Rickshaw driver I befriended, Ali, took me around to Gatore( a pretty monument), a textile factory, and the water palace, on my alone day. It was beautiful to see everyone explore Jaipur the way they wanted to and come back to the group with their own unique experiences. I think everyone felt more confident about solo travel after those two days in Jaipur. Jaipur really made a mark on us all, but little did we know how much of an impact it would have on our group.

Agra and the Majestic Taj Mahal

We got on an early morning bus and later arrived in Agra, where we had one objective: to see the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, in all its glory, once and for all. I’ll keep it brief. The Taj Mahal absolutely delivered. Beautiful is a huge understatement. I have no words to describe how majestic the Taj Mahal was. Birds were flying around it, and the way the sun shone down on it and set behind it was so picturesque. I will never forget the Taj Mahal. It also had a cool story! Arif, our guide, explained that Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal for his wife who died, and a little more boring Taj Mahal history you can just search if you want to learn. But something that stuck with me was the hexagonal pattern at the front of the Taj. It represents honey, which if left pure, never goes bad, just like Shah Jahan’s love for his wife. This left me feeling really curious, though. What makes love pure? How and why was Shah Jahan’s love pure? What does pure even mean…it could be so subjective. Anyway, I didn’t leave with those answers, but I will always look back and remember how beautiful of a day it was and how much I loved seeing the Taj Mahal.

Unfortunately, the day also brought an outbreak of illness among the group, marking a less pleasant memory of our time in Agra. Something tells me Jaipur was the culprit for all the “chocolate milk” hitting the porcelain of our poor, poor hostel bathroom.

We spent the morning of our second day in Agra visiting Wildlife SOS, an organization dedicated to rescuing Elephants and bears who have been mistreated and abused in the entertainment and tourism businesses in India. I truly think the website will do a better job at explaining it than me: https://wildlifesos.org … go check it out if you want to learn more! A quick PSA: never EVER do an elephant ride. These businesses market themselves as an animal “sanctuary”, but they mistreat the animals and isolate them. Wildlife SOS provides these animals with a place they can recover from injuries, and live a happy life.

Delhi: Recovery and Revelations

The chronicles of the group’s sickness followed us into the bustling town of Delhi. We arrived by train and immediately were swarmed by a group of rickshaw drivers. We snagged three and headed to the beloved Zostel. The Delhi Zostel would later become an amazing temporary doctor’s office for the Carpe Diem group. On October 28th, cue a dramatic rendition of Darth Vader’s March, the group arose from the throws of sickness and excitement and embarked on our first day in Delhi. Amazing Anand prevailed in leading us to the famous Sikh temple in Delhi. We oversaw the inside and witnessed the generosity surrounding the temple. It was an amazing time and another location on the devastating diarrhea map the group would develop throughout India. After sitting with the temple, the group as a whole moved further into Delhi. We visited a custom Jean store. Everyone got jeans. Baggy jeans, straight-leg jeans, jeans, jeans, and jeans. It was an amazing time to be alive. Amid the delirium of buying jeans, the group felt the cramps of sickness take the whole. The Zostel called for rest and relaxation. But we moved on. Nora, Stephanie, Anand, and Tara went to a delicious Italian spot to qualm the rumblings of their tummies. While Sarah, Iona, Mae, Ava, and Nina went to a nearby cafe. After enjoying a delightful meal it was time to return to the Zostel. The rest of the day was a fever dream of resting and healing.

The morning of October 29th was a slow start. Nora and Ava ventured out to the same Italian spot for Ava to indulge in some classic GF pasta. While the rest of the group HaveMore a beloved butter chicken restaurant. We saw the Lodi garden and lauded it on the grass while watching a couple’s engagement photo shots. During sunset, we visited the Tomb of Safadarjung and landed on the warm tiles of the tomb. The group re-entered the streets of Delhi via rickshaw and traveled to the Dilli Haat. Nora and Anand sat and chatted. Sarah and Ava shopped about. Nina was on a mission for gifts. And Mae got a shirt to wear at the Ashram. We tried fruit beer and then headed back to the Zostel to try on our jeans. Everyone in room 108 was subjected to a fashion show of custom jeans. We were all asked to meet on the roof of the Zostel and there was a surprise celebration for Nora. It was an amazing cake that embraced the essence of Delhi with 18 birthday candles. It was a wonderful close to the trials and tribulations that had occurred in Delhi. The day of October 30th the group swept down to the south of India and endured a full day of flights from Delhi to Bangalore to Madurai.

Ashram Life and Diwali Celebrations

On October 31st it was Diwali and everyone was excited to celebrate! We received a tour of the Ashram and understood what our schedule would look like for the upcoming days. There was a celebration of the goddess at night and afterward, we lite off many fireworks in celebration. On November 1st the schedule began. 5:30 wake up, 6 morning Satsang, 7:30 grab time, 8 morning yoga, 10 brunch, karma yoga, 1:30 tea time, 2 lecture, 3:30 afternoon yoga, 6 dinner, 8:00 evening satsang. The group embraced the schedule.

On November 2nd the Ashram hosted a talent show. The group did a singing rendition with Ava, Steph, and Nina singing and Nora, Sarah, Iona, and Mae singing and swaying in the back of Something in the Orange and Scientist. Later we performed a remix of the dance we learned in Nepal with a combination of the Cotton Eye Joe line dance. A lady at the ashram, Tina, said it was the most American thing that could have been performed. It was an amazing accomplishment after Sarah’s 2-hour rehearsal of our dances.

On November 3rd morning Satsang was different. We went on a hike to a local rock and were above the tree for sunset. As Tara described it, it looked like an untouched land of broccoli. Then again the tailors found us in the ashram. Amid tea time the group was huddled around their cups when suddenly a man appeared. He is working with the ashram and pulled out fabric samples of things he could make. Of course, we bought some. Truly an amazing investment.

Looking Ahead: The Western Ghats

We leave the ashram on the morning of the 7th. This segment of our journey through India has been a whirlwind of sickness, excitement, and challenge. Now, it’s time to head for the Western Ghats—ready for new adventures in this breathtaking region!

The post From Jaipur to Delhi: A Journey Through India’s Heartlands and Beyond appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Ash and Grace

What’s New in Our Journey?

Hello there from your LOW’s, Ash and Grace! We are sad to say we have left Raglan but are happy to report the many fun activities that have taken place since the last blog.

Starting off, we took a trip to Wairēinga, or Bridal Veil Falls, and Tiaki took us through a ceremony. We started the ceremony by meeting up and going over Tuakiri, the base pillars of Māori culture, and then discussing its principles. We set off on our walk to the falls with the intention of grounding our focus. During this beautiful ceremony, we were accompanied by two new lovely friends, Tua Hu and Kirsty. We got to enjoy the ceremony all together which ended at the base of the falls, reflecting and participating in a prayer. We ended the day with some incredible karaoke and tofu bowls.

The next day (and half a crew later, due to the illness plaguing our group) we set out to plant potatoes! We all jammed out to music with the LEGENDARY Tiatia and planted 130 potatoes! Due to the high elevation of the beautiful property, the weather was slightly erratic, causing rain storms to randomly occur out of nowhere and then blazing sun coming out just a few moments later. We learned this weather is great for potatoes!

On Wednesday we had a much chilly day and got to learn how to weave harakeke into bracelets and flowers. After weaving we had a quick lunch and went to Gnara Noa’s home and learned a whole lot about traditional natural medicines. We got to sample lovely balms and drink amazing tea, leaving her home relaxed and much more knowledgeable on the topic of holistic healing.

THURSDAY WAS HALLOWEEN!! Oh goody goody it was insane. We started the day off painting a community building next to the Marae we were staying in. Many new friends from the Māori community came and helped us out, and we once again jammed out to reggae, making the whole process fly by. Towards the later part of the afternoon, an amazing community member cooked up an incredible meal of mussel fritters, mussel chowder, and fry bread. It was delicious and we all had a serious case of the JAMS (just ate must sleep) after. In the evening, part of the group as well as some close new buds headed into town. Candy was collected, and homes were visited (partially by showing up at Tim’s house, a Kiwi George Clooney, without an invitation and begging for candy!) All and all it was a Halloween we will not be forgetting.

On Friday, we left the Kokiri and headed out in the direction of our next adventure. Emotions were high, with a goodbye ceremony from Tiaki and some of the community members who we made friends with, and tears from many. Ash and Grace sat in the front seat of the van as we drove away and sobbed for 20 minutes while eating lunch (wraps with weird leftover ingredients, like pickles and hot dogs). We stopped on our way to a “sick as” Airbnb at the most famous glow worm cave in New Zealand, the Waitomo Caves. It felt like a beautiful ending to the Māori cultural experience and was a nice break from sitting in the car.

On Friday and Saturday nights, we stayed by Lake Taupo, the biggest lake in New Zealand. Waterfalls were walked to, lakes were kayaked on, and lukewarm hot springs were swam in (natural ones this time, no scary waterpark vibes).

After another scenic road trip, we have arrived at the Hart Family farm, and are excited for some awesome agriculture.

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

1. Getting ready for Halloween! Fun makeup and improvised costumes all around, some highlights were Caroline as a Cereal Killer, Grace and Sushi as sushi (Grace was the rice, Sushi was the shrimp), Mary as a leaf, and Susannah as a cat.

2. On Monday, we headed to town in the afternoon for some coffee and swimming. Gabe made some new friends and played basketball, and we concluded the trip to town by walking home on the beach. On our way home, we got caught in a torrential downpour that felt akin to hail. Once the rain began to lighten up, a beautiful rainbow took over the sky, feeling like a wonderful symbolic reflection of our time with Tiaki.

3. This week, we took an exciting journey to the pub! Where we hung out with a bachelor party, drank Coke and Sprite, and watched a rugby game while our OE got a bit of unexpected attention.

This Week’s Challenge

Our group was sadly cut in half due to a disease most similar to a cold. The cold wiped out many members of the group sadly making some activities on the smaller side. Thankfully, we are mostly on the up and up! Most everyone has recovered from the cold, or is in the progress of it.

Gratitude

The group is extremely excited to get to know the Hart family farm and learn lots about regenerative farming and rural practices. We are placed right on a a beautiful lake in the rolling green hills of Eastern NZ and it is just incredible!

A Few Extra Highlights

• UNO scores: Clivia is still in the lead for UNO wins, but Julia has overtaken Ash with 11 games won so far.

• Shout out to the awesome members of the community we stayed in for making this week so special and memorable. They were kind enough to show us the ropes around Raglan and all the best spots to hang out and swim.

• A new one of our friends from the community showed us how to make the most delicious bread pudding with just white bread, nutella, jam, nature valley granola bars and milk. This bread pudding was made at 12 am and devoured while sitting on the beach. The group all decided it was the bread pudding we had ever had!

The post Unforgettable Week in New Zealand: Waterfalls, Halloween Festivities, and a Farm Stay Adventure! appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Italy & Greece Students, Peter, Izzy, and Ester

What’s New in Our Journey?

This week, the group was in Matera working with local contacts from Link and B-Link. We started our week in Matera, doing a scavenger hunt to learn about the ancient city, Sassi, and what makes Matera the European Capital of Culture. The next day, the group got to explore Altamura, the City of Bread, visiting a grain mill to view the process of grain becoming flour, a bakery to learn about the production process, and doing a scavenger hunt to explore the city. The following day was spent enjoying the Adriatic Sea and the beaches of Bari. The following two days were spent in the mountains where the group went on hikes and learned about the wedding of the trees that happens each year in Accettura.

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

The three top highlights of the week are (in no particular order):

1) The scavenger hunt around Matera and the Casa Noha video and experience.

2) The beach day in Bari and being able to get in the water and relax.

3) The walk to Accettura and being able to make tiramisu and pasta with local Nonni.

Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!)

Something the group struggled with this week was being prepared for all the activities. As well as being timely for everything. Towards the end of the week, the group was able to be on time and fully prepared for the travel day and had a perfect transition to Naples!

Growth Since the Start of the Program:

For a lot of people in the group (including me), the biggest way that we’ve grown since the start of the program is adapting to whatever is thrown at us and keeping a positive outlook on it. Adapting to certain situations is a valuable skill and the program has allowed us to not only be in these situations but thrive in them.

Another way that we have grown is by adapting to the flow of Italian culture. I think that everyone has really embraced what Italy has to offer; and has pushed outside their comfort zone to be able to fully immerse themselves in this Italian environment.

The post From Ancient Streets to Adriatic Waves: Our Unforgettable Week in Matera appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by India & Nepal Students, Mae Reinke and Stephanie Jones

What’s New in Our Journey?

We arrived at the Shikshantar campus after a long travel day from Kathmandu to Udaipur. The campus was full of eco-built structures, colorful murals, and a junglesque ecosystem. After crashing hard, we had an incredibly warm welcome the next morning by our leaders and the family that lives on the campus. Throughout the whole week, the food was amazing traditional Indian food cooked by didis from a nearby village and Mona (the mom of the campus family). We gobbled roti and pineapple jam many times a day.

For some background, Shikshantar is an umbrella of nontraditional learning programs. We were participating in Swaraj University which fell under this umbrella. The week was dedicated to unschooling and exploring ways of learning that extended beyond stereotypical memorization styles. A major part of this was learning through spending time in the city of Udaipur. The city is filled with an assortment of foods, shops, chai, and restaurants. Rickshaws line the streets, motorbikes buzz by, and the energy of the community is alive and well. Our first experience in the old city was a tour. We learned about the different shops, the prevalence of reused sustainable goods, and ancient architecture. Later in the day, we found ourselves at a piercing shop. Many many nose rings and earrings were added. It was a great bonding experience. Walking around the old part of town which at one point was a walled city is like exploring a maze that is alive. Houses that are hundreds of years old blend with cows and the honking of horns so that every sense melds into one. To get around the city our mode of transportation was rickshaws. We were blazing through the streets in the green and yellow many times with at least one person hanging their legs out the trunk.

Besides spending a lot of time in town we also got the chance to participate in Shikshantar community events. These included a weekly community cafe and a gift festival. Both programs are intended to build community and provide opportunities for connection. The cafe was a community gathering at the Shikshantar building in the city that was filled with music and conversation. The gift festival was a public gathering on the walkway beside the lake where people shared experiences, activities, and food with anyone who passed by and wanted to participate. Some of the “gifts” people brought included doing henna, playing music, and clowning. Both of these events provided an opportunity to interact with a large swath of the population.

During our time with the Shikshantar and Swaraj University community, there were plenty of opportunities for tough conversations. While at times uncomfortable, these conversations provided an opportunity to deeply listen to a wide variety of opinions and life experiences. Shikshantar and Swaraj are built around the values of unschooling. Experiential learning, student-directed curriculum, and intentional community were some of the identifiable values. Tied into that was deep dissolution ment with the mainstream school system. While I will not speak on the group’s behalf I (Steph) know I personally did not identify with all the negative generalizations about the school system. Within a day of being at the Swaraj campus, we had heard that schooling was a crime against kids. My experiences often contradicted the philosophical ramblings. While at times intense listening and emotional reservedness were important in these situations they also allowed me to reflect on my own school experiences in an entirely new light. This point of tension fueled conversations about the differences between the Indian and American school systems and encouraged discussion about the different methods and contexts of education. It challenged all members of the group in different ways but the conversations allowed us a window to unexpected new positions.

One powerful, intentional conversation our group got to have was with Dr. Nishta, a homeopathic doctor and psychologist. Our talk was centered around traditional gender roles and the lives of women in Rajasthan. The region is relatively conservative and therefore the emphasis on tradition is very engrained. Dr. Nishta’s grace and power when talking about her experiences and the work she does to support women was incredible. The scale of the challenges women face in Rajasthan is something I have never experienced before. From child marriage to the pressure of upholding family honor, to the limited prevalence of women in the workplace, it was incredibly profound. This conversation provided valuable context for us as we were further immersed in both Rajasthani and Indian culture and gender norms.

Beyond the intellectual challenge of tough conversations we had some more tangible challenges this week, for this, I will pass it over to my co-leader Mae.

Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!):

Our first challenge came when I walked into the bathroom, only to spot a flickering light. At first, I thought someone had lit a candle, but as I opened the door further, I realized it was actually the waste bin that was alight. The bin, which we used for toilet paper disposal, had caught fire, melting the plastic and incinerating the paper. For a moment, I was frozen, just staring at the bin in surprise. All I could say was, “There’s a fire.” Once the shock wore off, I managed a louder, “There’s a fire!” and quickly evacuated the bathroom, with Sarah, Iona, and Nora right behind me. Thankfully, everyone was safe, and the fire was promptly put out. It turns out a heating rod had fallen into the bin, igniting it. It wasn’t as bad as we initially feared—when we checked later, we even found a little frog in the debris, hopping happily! All was well.

But just a few nights later, we faced another unexpected visitor: a snake! Nora Thomas, our brave “monster slayer,” was the first to encounter it. “I went to grab my water bottle, and as I came back to close the door, I noticed it wouldn’t latch,” she recalled. “I looked up and saw the snake coiled there. I took a step back, and it dropped to my knees. That’s when I realized it was a cobra.” After a tense moment, she carefully nudged the door, which sent the snake sliding out. We learned later that her quick reaction may have saved us from a bigger scare, as she unknowingly sent the snake away. We were a bit hesitant to return to the dorm afterward, half-joking about “snake ghosts” and baby snakes lurking around.

Amid all this, Stephanie faced her own mystery when mouse droppings kept appearing around her bed. Was the snake drawn to the scent? Was it a hunter on the prowl? Or were there other little critters hiding nearby? These unanswered questions linger, sparking a few laughs—and maybe some dreams—among us all.

More Highlights and Challenges of the Week:

On our last day with the Swaraj community, we visited Farmversity, an organization that works to promote agricultural jobs and provide job training in the tribal communities. We got to talk to an environmental scientist who specializes in long-term solutions to climate change. We also had the opportunity to tour some of the fields and experience traditional celebratory music played by some locals. This in some ways connected back to our time in rural Nepal through the traditional farming techniques and the focus on small rural communities.

The original plan was to stay at Shikshantar for a few more days, but after a group vote, we decided to leave early. With the extra time, we added a stop in Jaipur (also known as the Pink City). Everyone had different experiences and a wide variety of feelings about the early departure. The week began with considerable confusion about the structure and purpose of the organization we were working with, as well as our group’s intention. This lack of clarity overshadowed many activities, as it took us three days to understand the difference between Swaraj and Shikshantar. Over time, the group’s energy declined, and engagement waned. Despite the challenges, we had some incredible conversations and valuable experiences at Swaraj. Recognizing when the value had run its course, we made the collective decision to move on earlier than expected.

While in Jaipur, we had plenty of flexibility to rest and explore independently. Jaipur is often called the Paris of India, but I’m not sure that’s how I’d describe it—there are fewer berets and a lot more rickshaws! It’s a vibrant terracotta pink and very busy. Our big group activity was visiting Amber Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site perched on a hill above the city. We went at sunset and wound through the maze of orange and pink stairs, hallways, and courtyards. There was just one run-in with a bat! After dark, the palace lights up with vibrant colors, creating a stunning view.

Jaipur was our first opportunity to go out into a city alone. Mae will discuss her adventures out on the town.

I was wary at first to go out alone, as I’d never been in a foreign city without somebody there to guide me. Although I was nervous, I held a confidence in myself that I could navigate my day and my alone time. I left our Zostel early and made my way to the Tattoo Cafe, an award-winning restaurant that served great food. I spent almost an hour there, admiring the Hawa Mahal standing across from the cafe. I read my book and hyped myself up for the rest of my day. I was planning on hiking up to the Nahargarh Fort, as I like to hike as a way to decompress when I was told I’d be mauled by monkeys if I attempted. I thought this was bogus, and I happily got into a rickshaw and asked the man in command to take me to the fort. I told him my plans, and he too warned me of the monkeys. Well, I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. I got out of the rickshaw and found another one, only to be told a third time that monkeys might be the death of me. So, I had to come up with a new plan. With a quick Google search, I found a list of things to do in Jaipur, the one catching my eye being the Albert Hall Museum. I told my rickshaw driver to take me there, and we sped off into the busy streets. Once I arrived at the museum, I quickly immersed myself in the history and displays it presented. The museum is a collection of weapons, pottery, and art from all backgrounds, and I was pleased to meet a man and his eleven-year-old kid. We got to talking, and as it turns out the boy wanted to learn English. I offered to teach him, and the three of us spent the next hour going over the alphabet and other common phrases. I left that interaction feeling joyful, because I felt like I had actually connected with someone naturally, and all on my own, too. I spent the rest of my day in Central Park, with tall trees and a lot of land. I worked on my research project and journaled. At the end of the day, I felt satisfied and proud of myself. My first day out on the town in a foreign country, and I had managed to find my way around and connect with locals. It taught me so much about who I am as a traveler, and what to do if plans fall through. Shout out to Tara and Anand for trusting us enough to go free into Jaipur.

Shopping in Jaipur is quite the experience. Walking in Jaipur can be an experience. On most streets we were on there were shops lining the bottom level of the building stuffed with every colorful item possible. Patterned fabrics, bangles, shoes, art, and food, poured out onto the street. These areas are loosely called bazaars. When walking down them looking like a tourist, someone outside almost every shop will attempt to get you to stop, from yelling out random goods to asking where you are from, to attempting to strike up a conversation. This constant bombardment combined with the common ask for pictures with you means there is no aimlessly floating down a street. We were all active participants in the marketplace whether we wanted to be or not.

After a great few days in the Jaipur Zostel and some great times in the craziness of the old city, we are headed out. The next stop on our journey is Agra for the Taj Mahal and some elephants. From discussing education systems to nose piercings we have had a solid introduction to India.

The post From Shikshantar to Jaipur: A Journey of Culture, Challenges, and Unexpected Encounters in India appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Ash and Clivia

What’s New in Our Journey?

After a few wonderful weeks in Australia, we continued our journey by hopping on a plane to New Zealand! We flew from Cairns to Auckland, and then from Auckland to Wellington. We crashed in Wellington for the night, after wandering aimlessly through the streets in search of dinner at midnight. Thankfully, KFC saved us all.

We then began our eight-hour road trip to Raglan, a short two-hour drive from Auckland.

We were warmly welcomed to Manu Wairua by the lovely Rangimarie and her husband Rob and stayed there from Monday to Friday.

During our time at Manu Wairua, we participated in a sweat lodge, a Native American ceremony passed down from Rangimarie’s ancestors. This was a new experience for all of us, giving us plenty to reflect on and process over the following week.

We’ve been learning some Māori, with the help of our guide, Tiaki, who has also been teaching us about different rites of passage and guiding us through some of them. We’re incredibly thankful for him and the way he’s brought us into his culture.

We spent a day at a rites-of-passage campsite, helping to take down tents and host a BBQ with our new friends and Tiaki’s family.

Now, we are staying at the Marae Kokiri, and thanks to Tiaki and Kimo, we’ve been learning Māori songs, history, and forms of art.

We’ve met so many new people over the past week, all with a story to tell and something to teach, and we are amazed by the kindness they’ve shown us.

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

1. On our way from Wellington to Raglan, nine of us squeezed into a hot tub meant for four. It was definitely a challenge, but we made it work!
2. During our free time, we visited a hot spring. Expecting a large, natural hot spring, we were instead greeted by an abandoned waterpark. A unique adventure, to say the least!
3. Elder Matutaera took us on a walk, teaching us about Māori history, showing us interesting art pieces, and patiently answering our many questions.

This Week’s Challenge

This week, our group felt a bit like Victorian children—dealing with bouts of illness and a few encounters with mice. Five students and two OEs managed to stay healthy, though Gabe was the first to catch a bug. As for the rodents, Clivia kept hearing sniffing and chewing sounds, and everyone tried to convince her it was just Susannah rummaging through her backpack. However, when we found teeth marks on Clivia’s backpack, we all started to believe her!

Gratitude and Growth

This week, we’re especially grateful for the mentorship we’ve received from elders in the Māori community, as well as from Mary and Sushi. We’re learning to adapt to a culture different from our own, discovering so much about the history of New Zealand, Māori arts and culture, and ourselves.

A Few Extra Highlights

• Uno Statistics: Clivia is still very much winning at Uno, with Ash close behind. Leaders of the week on top!
• Sprite Count: JT’s Sprite addiction continues to be a concern, with our current trip counter at 59 Sprites.
• Speed Grocery Shopping: We’ve done a lot of quick grocery runs this week and practiced adaptability in cooking. Sometimes, we cooked for double the people expected, and other times, we found out about a BBQ the day before it happened. But once again, we made it work. YUM!

The post Discovering New Zealand: Embracing Māori Culture and Unexpected Adventures appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Italy & Greece Students, Pepper Travers and Aidan Stier

What’s New in Our Journey?

Since we last wrote a blog post, we’ve been to Rome! We visited all the major sights: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. Our hotel was a monastery very close to the Vatican, so just a short walk brought us to St. Peter’s Basilica.

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

One highlight from our time in Rome was our city tour on our first full day. We started at the Colosseum and ended with paninis in the piazza in front of the Pantheon.

We all cherished our time in the Vatican, visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Another highlight was a scavenger hunt that kept us busy for a whole morning and gave us an opportunity to explore areas of Rome we hadn’t yet seen.

We also enjoyed a chapel and crypt that were ominously, yet beautifully, decorated with the bones and remains of Capuchin monks. And, of course, we bonded over lots of delicious pasta and gelato!

Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!)

We were challenged by dealing with inconsistent buses in Rome. One even had a flat tire. Another challenge was trying to see all the sights in such a short amount of time. I do think we ended up doing pretty well in the end, though.

Looking Ahead:

As we depart Rome, we are looking forward to slowing down our pace in a smaller city. We are excited to see what the unique and historical city of Matera has in store for us.

The post Roaming Through Rome: Sights, Scavenger Hunts, and Sistine Moments appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Central America Students, Laurie and Ray

What’s New?

This past week, we had the pleasure of continuing to explore Xela, but through a different lens—homestays! We were paired off with another person in the group and got to build one-on-one relationships while also building community and connection with the host families. Seeing Guatemalan life through the perspective of a local family was an enriching experience. Eating delicious meals and spending time with the families was a great exposure to the culture and a wonderful way to continue practicing our Spanish. We worked hard in Spanish classes in the mornings and explored the city in the afternoons. One-on-one Spanish classes allowed us to build unique connections with our teachers. The school was tailored to our needs and interests, and we had the opportunity to explore Xela with our teachers as guides.

Top Highlights of the Week

Fuentes Georginas:
The group took a van to Fuentes Georginas, a well-known attraction outside of Xela. The volcano-heated natural spring water trickled down the mountainside into a pool. The group had a relaxing time in the steamy lagoon. The nature was beautiful—cliff walls covered in lush, hanging vegetation surrounded the pool. A thick fog filled the atmosphere during our time there, adding an extra feeling of magic.

Mayan Cooking Class:
For the first time since the pandemic, our Carpe group was the first Americans to have the honor of participating in a cooking class at the home of a local Mayan chef. Working as a team, we split off into groups and were each assigned a part of the meal to prepare. We made a delicious pepián de pollo and shared a lot of laughter in the kitchen.

Dancing:
While talking with locals, we heard about a popular spot for young people to go dancing and decided to check it out. We made many friends with the local teenagers and had a lot of fun dancing our hearts out to popular Guatemalan music.

A Challenge We Faced

After being together for almost three weeks, being separated was a big change. It became harder to plan group activities and debrief our days. It was an adjustment to each be living different experiences and feeling the weight of individuality. In a way, it made the group stronger because we missed being together, making each time we saw each other more special. Being randomly paired off allowed us to branch out and connect on a deeper level with a group member we didn’t know as well.

Growth and Gratitude

With a new sense of individuality, there was a lot of time and space for personal growth. Stepping out of our comfort zones and speaking Spanish with the families all the time allowed us to improve our Spanish skills and make meaningful connections with locals. One thing the group has been working on since the beginning of the program and carried into our homestays was leaving time and space for reflection and mindfulness through journaling. We are looking forward to continuing to adapt how we reflect and internalize the fast-paced routine we are living in. As we look to the weeks ahead, we are excited to cherish every moment and new experience together.

The post Homestays, Hot Springs, and Heartfelt Connections: Our Immersive Week in Xela, Guatemala appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Italy & Greece Student, Hudsyn Toppenberg

What’s New in Our Journey?

The past week has been full of incredible experiences in unlikely places. The group traveled by train to a quaint campsite called Paladini, nestled beautifully in the region of Garfagnana. It was quite an adjustment for the group to go from a big and bustling city like Florence to a rustic campsite, and it definitely took some getting used to! But after the first few days, we all found ourselves really enjoying the change of pace. We met volunteers at the campsite from all around the world and got to work with our hands in ways that many of us hadn’t done in a long time. Our host, Colm, really made Paladini feel like home.

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

Capture the flag!
Our group got the opportunity to play a very intense and long game of capture the flag, where our territories spanned far across the Paladini campground. Many of us found ourselves crawling through the forest, in creeks, and really challenging ourselves for the sake of the game. It was truly an incredible experience, being able to play a game with newfound friends in such a beautiful place. In a way, the experience brought our group so much closer together, as well as closer to nature.

Building a pizza oven!
Every morning, all of us were tasked with different jobs to keep the campgrounds running, and one such job was helping to build and decorate a pizza oven for the site. We only used organic materials and were built using techniques that had been used in the region for thousands of years. We used a mixture of wild clay, limestone, and water and splattered it all over the structure of stones before covering it in a myriad of mosaic tiles. We unfortunately left Paladini before the mosaic was finished, but we were able to taste some delicious pizza made from the oven we helped create!

Nighttime campfire sessions!
Each night after dinner, our host, Colm, as well as some of our students and the volunteers at Paladini, played guitar and sang around the communal campfire! We got to hear music from all over the world, which was an incredible experience for all of us. Many of the students in this program are musicians, and the opportunity to share and experience art from others truly made our time at the campgrounds one to remember. We all really enjoyed the chance to share the magic of live music in such a unique setting. I honestly fell in love with the community at the campgrounds each night, having the opportunity to share and experience the breathtaking art of others.

Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!)

Our group was incredibly unified this week; however, many of us struggled with the weather conditions at the Paladini campgrounds. When we arrived, we hiked during a torrential downpour, one which we assumed would calm down throughout the week. We were unpleasantly surprised to see these conditions continue for the next few days, making it difficult for many of us to complete our daily work and stay dry in the process. It was tough, but somehow we all managed to pull through with surprisingly good attitudes. Despite the cold and harsh weather, we found ourselves around the fire, playing games and sharing stories as though the rain was just an afterthought. We worked hard to maintain positive attitudes about the weather and powered through as a group. I believe we did a really good job managing the difficulties nature threw at us during our week at the campgrounds.

Reflections and Gratitude:

This week, we were all grateful for the opportunity to rest and recharge after a chaotic week in big cities like Siena and Florence. While many of us adored the experiences in such culturally rich places, it could be overwhelming and disorienting at times. We often found ourselves drained, and it felt like Paladini was the perfect place to recharge after the big cities. It offered us the priceless opportunity to get closer to each other and the natural world around us, and we really all put noticeable effort into making the most of our tech-free time together. A common theme this semester has been learning how we, as humans, are part of nature, and how getting in touch with nature is really getting in touch with an extension of ourselves. Throughout our time at Paladini, we were able to connect not only with ourselves but with more honest versions of each other, and for that, we are eternally grateful. I know that we will continue to look back on our experience in Paladini as one of beauty, art, and community—a safe space where we were free to take care of ourselves and reconnect with nature and, in turn, ourselves.

The post From City Streets to Campfire Beats: Our Transformative Week in Paladini, Italy appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by India & Nepal Students, Sarah Ross and Ioan Asher

What’s New in Our Journey?

Hi everyone!!! Sarah and Iona here, reporting live from a café in Udaipur, India (we’re always on the hunt for a sweet treat).

Last week, after saying goodbye to our friends from Conscious Impact, we departed on a three-hour jeep ride with our guides, Suvash and Sandesh, to the beginning of our trek. After a classic lunch of dal bhat and HUGE cucumbers, we embarked on our journey. The next five hours were spent questioning our life choices as we walked countless stairs up the mountain. Luckily, as the best leaders ever, we had stocked up on an abundance of cookies and apples. Unfortunately, Ava (the token celiac of the group) had eaten her apple two minutes after lunch so I (Sarah) had to give her mine. #leadermoment #instantregret. Eventually, we reached our destination, chowed down, and enjoyed the first hot showers we had had in weeks.

The next day we woke up refreshed and ready for another day of trekking. We cruised flat roads, witnessed the inauguration of a new monastery, and drank our first Tibetan butter tea which received mixed reviews from the group.

Our last day of the trek started at the asscrack of dawn (FOUR O CLOCK IN THE MORNING). Our goal for the day was the top of Ama Yangri Peak ( 12,372 ft ). We slowly plodded our way up, our minds pondering Tara’s albatross riddle. When we finally arrived at the top we were rewarded with an incredible view of the Himalayas. The way back down was EVENTFUL.

As we navigated one of the many switchbacks, we encountered a yak being led up the trail. Steph, Mae, Nora, and I (Iona) quickly moved aside to give it space. Nina, Ava, and Sarah found themselves a bit closer than expected. The yak, perhaps startled, briefly tugged its handlers off balance. Reacting quickly, Sarah and Nina swiftly moved down the slope, while Ava momentarily froze, her mind quickly crafting a yak-related joke. Gratefully, one of the experienced yak herders skillfully redirected the yak’s attention, diffusing the situation calmly. Everyone came through the encounter safely and happily relived it (many times) as we finished the remainder of the trek.

That night, we feasted on snicker momos and enjoyed dancing and singing around a bonfire (shoutout DJ Timi, one of the sweet little girls we met at the tea house). Questionable harmonies, impressive dance moves, and hardy laughs were shared! It was truly one of our favorite moments from the trip and a perfect way to finish off our time in the mountains.

The next day we returned to Kathmandu, where we would spend two nights back at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and one in the city before heading to India.

Top Highlights of the Week

One of our favorite moments of the week was our first full day back at the ashram. We were lucky to be there during Dashain, a festival that celebrates good prevailing over evil. The day started with everyone getting dressed up in sarees. The women from the ashram kindly picked out the colors and helped dress us. Everyone looked so beautiful and it was a great start to a fun day.

The next day we got to celebrate Steph’s 19th birthday!! From museums to free time spent exploring the city- it was a very Stephanie esc day. In the evening we all gathered for a beautiful (and bougie- we balled out) birthday dinner. We shared laughs, cries, and a whole lot of GOOD food as we reflected on our time in Nepal.

Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!)

On the 14th we said goodbye to Nepal and hopped on a flight to India! Saying goodbye to Nepal and all the people we met during our time there was challenging for our group. The transition felt sudden as we had been busy moving around the past few days so it came up quickly. We miss our friends from Nepal and have still been in contact with some of them!

The post Trekking New Heights: Peaks, Festivals, and Celebrations in Nepal appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Central America Students, Summer and Nico

What’s New?

Hello families! Sorry for the late blog post, the last 3 weeks have been packed with many adventures and laughs! We’re now writing from Lake Atitlan where we’ve been relaxing at the bamboo house and learning about Permaculture! We started off our first week in Xela at a local hostel taking 1:1 Spanish lessons at PLQ. We explored the city and built relationships with our teachers. The city of Xela was vibrant and filled with lots to do. Outside of classes, we would fill our free time with journal sessions, card games, spontaneous hikes, karaoke, and other various group activities.

Top Highlights of the Week

On Wednesday we played soccer after our long day of school. We played with locals and had a blast running around and being competitive.

On Saturday we had a packed day! We woke up at 5:00 am to hike to a volcano lookout. We were all in awe of the beauty of the volcano and it gave us an opportunity to pause and appreciate the amazing place we’re living in.

Also on Saturday, we had the chance to go see a local soccer game. The spirit of the game was energetic and exciting and we appreciated being able to experience a part of Guatemala’s culture and a game that brings people together.

A Challenge We Faced

One of the challenges we faced this week was jumping back into school and maintaining focus for a five-hour period. After a long summer off and being in a new and exciting place with friends, it was challenging to be back in school mode. Since we were all excited and eager to improve our Spanish skills we were able to push through this challenge.

Gratitude and Growth

Our first week in Xela we were really grateful to all have a great group and support system. Our group has been feeling very connected to our surroundings and each other. We’ve enjoyed sharing spaces and great conversations together and now we feel like we’ve known each other for months. Our curiosity to learn more about each other continues to grow and we can’t wait to see our bonds together grow through the next couple of months.

The post Embracing New Rhythms: Education and Adventure in Xela appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Julia T. (JT) and Julia M.

What’s New in Our Journey?

This week the SoPac group got to explore the Great Barrier Reef and earn our scuba certifications! We spent time building a connection to the water and learning how to navigate the depths safely. We grew physically and mentally, surviving the somewhat intense sea sickness that came with being on a boat multiple hours a day. We were taught how to scuba dive by two amazing instructors, Michael and Martin, who cared for us as divers and people. Their patience and experience allowed us to grow as divers and experience a whole new world.

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

This week we were in an urban environment for the first time since the start of the trip. As a result, we had a big group dinner out and got to taste food that we hadn’t cooked for the first time in weeks (best. burgers. ever.). Secondly, being in a city also allowed the group to experience the common day-to-day lives of Australians. Finally, in addition to exploring the city, we got to dive and explore the reef! We got the chance to meet many experienced divers from around the world, some of which have dived with famous marine biologists.

This Week’s Challenge

This week has been a huge mental and physical challenge, as we spent 7+ hours in the water each day, learning to navigate under the ocean. We dealt with blisters and sore muscles, and don’t get us started on the leg cramps. We also had more independence this week, leading us to organize our own personal meals and schedules on off days. Learning to prioritize self-care became incredibly important, especially after many long days of scuba diving.

Looking Ahead

Looking into the future, the group is very excited to delve into Māori culture, something that is new for all of us. As a group, this upcoming leg is the start of a new chapter, as it is the first time the group will be exploring New Zealand! We are starting to plan for Student Directed Travel, and are very excited to explore the wonders of New Zealand.

The post Navigating New Waters: Scuba Certification and Urban Exploration Down Under appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Grace and Gabe

What’s New in Our Journey?

Hello from your friends Gabe and Grace, the current leaders of the week!

It has been a whole week since the last blog, and boy oh boy, are there updates! Starting off the week, we completed our second food shop of the trip, and it was by far our biggest one yet. We purchased seven days’ worth of food, and the group divided and conquered the grocery store beautifully. Since we were already in the beautiful town of Mossman, we visited the Mossman market and lots of other shops on the main street. The group indulged in lunches at the café, bubble teas, and whatever else the local vendors had to offer!

The next day, we all visited Cape Tribulation, an incredible beach with beautiful wooden boardwalks that lined the sides of the entire beach. The water was so incredibly blue, and we all felt very lucky to be in such a beautiful and unique landscape. After the beach, we drove to Mason’s swim hole and waded in the beautiful jungle water (don’t worry, there were no crocs!). We concluded the day with ice cream at the Daintree Ice Cream Company, which was some of the best ice cream we’d ever had! After our relaxing long weekend, we got back to work at Climate Force and helped the crew around the property. Some of our tasks included mulching, weeding, working in the tree hardening center, and planting trees. Rob showed us the ropes throughout the entire property and was always happy to answer our questions as we worked, putting up with our Y2K music accompanied by pitchy singing.

Towards the end of the week, the entire ClimateForce crew and Carpe Diem participated in a remote beach cleanup, only accessible by boat! Terry and Calum, the boat owners, were generous enough to shuttle us back and forth from the main beach to the remote beach we were cleaning up. We ended up cleaning 251 kg (553 pounds) of trash and finished the workday “stranded” on the beach, drinking fresh coconut water and listening to Bob Marley. All in all, it was a great week at Climate Force, and we are grateful to have been a part of such an inspiring project. We will miss the Daintree, volunteers, and Climate Force staff very much and will always hold this experience near and dear to our hearts.

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

1. Mary’s spooky haunted house: Our fabulous OE, Mary, took it upon herself to set up the scariest haunted house that has ever occurred in northeastern Queensland. It was filled with riddles, haunted house music, smoke, a scary French man, and a lot of crawling. Shout-out to Mary, Sushi, Ash, and Naïm for putting on a stellar performance.
2. A “Fancy” dinner party hosted by the lovely Nicky: Barney, the CEO of ClimateForce’s mother, cooked up a delicious curry for lots of hungry beach cleaners. We were incredibly grateful for her generosity and her delicious food. We played smooth jazz on the speaker and had an elegant evening. We wrapped up the night sitting by the fire and exchanging stories.
3. The beach cleanup: Cleaning the beach seems to be a unanimous highlight of everyone’s week. We showed up to a trash-covered “Shipwreck Beach” and left it a little cleaner and definitely a bit more sunburnt. Although one of the group boat trips broke down in the middle of the ocean, and the other groups were left on an isolated beachfront, everyone left the beach cleanup in high spirits, giggling tons (and a little dehydrated).

This Week’s Challenge

This week, the group has begun to understand the true power of mosquitoes. We are all completely covered in little bites and are constantly itching our ankles. These unwelcome friends very much enjoy coming out during the evening and disturbing any group peace. I think the group can all agree we are excited for a bit of a break from the “mozzies.”

Looking Ahead

This upcoming week, we head to Port Douglas to get our scuba diving certification! We will be spending a little over a week in Port Douglas at a hostel in town. The group is looking forward to lots of new foods, meeting hostel friends, exploring Port Douglas, and, of course, getting our scuba on! We’ll let you know how it all goes in the next blog.

A Few Extra Highlights

• Gabe conquered the pepper challenge: This week, Gabe and two other volunteers at ClimateForce took it upon themselves to eat the hottest pepper grown on the farm. The pepper is called a beach habanero and causes reactions like throwing up, hiccups, crying, and screaming. Gabe was the first to start back up on mulching after subjecting himself to the pepper, while the two other volunteers, Naïm and Jo, needed a longer breather and a rest break. Good job, Gabe, once again making the SoPac 24 group proud!
• UNO scores: Clivia and Ash are still tied at seven wins each! An honorable mention goes to Susannah for winning UNO for the first time and crushing the competition. Good job!!!

The post Life at ClimateForce: A Week of Fun, Hard Work, and Making a Difference appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Italy & Greece Students, Ally and Malcom

What’s New in Our Journey?

Welcome back! We just finished our trek on the Via Francigena, visiting our first two cities, Florence and Siena. The group enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the trek and admired the historic architecture in both cities. Along the way, we had the chance to bake bread, try medieval sword fighting, and visit the world’s best gelato place. This week has been great and we are excited about the following weeks!

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

• Trekking is not an easy task, but the journey is worth it. We got to try the world’s best gelato and happened upon some of the most beautiful sights.
• Our group also got a little taste of medieval fighting, wielding heavy swords and shields and being led around by a “servant” from the 1500s.
•  In the final parts of our hike, we tracked across the Elsa River, hoping stones and stopping to capture the miniature waterfalls that the vibrant aqua the river provided. The best highlight was our first trekking day when we arrived at San Gimignano—an eight-mile hike rewarded with the best gelato in the world, making every step worth it.

Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!)

One of the challenges this past week was being on the move almost constantly. It was tough to find time to decompress and truly relax. That’s why Florence provided a much-needed break from the daily hustle. It gave us some good R&R.

Reflections and Gratitude:

The amount of gratitude the group had, for the 40-kilometer hike, in five days, and the strength it brought us to climb the bell tower in Florence, and also be grateful for rest, not to mention laundry. In general, the trip helped us to reflect and build gratitude for simple things, and that realization held us closer to the environment around us. We’re all excited to continue learning about what the world has to offer and how our roles can make a difference.

The post Journey Through Italy: Hiking Trails, Medieval Battles, and the Best Gelato! appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by India & Nepal Students, Ava Mendler and Stephanie Jones

After our restful and rejuvenating time at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, we embarked on a wild four-hour jeep ride through the winding roads of Nepal and arrived at Conscious Impact (aka camp), our new home for the next eight days.

I (Steph) arrived at camp riding the high of the sick jeep ride. The first thing on the docket when we got to camp was a tour. Conscious Impact is a several-acre camp perched on the side of a mountain. It’s made up of earthen and bamboo structures that are integrated into the thick, lush, forest that coats the steep terrain. Half our group stayed in the nest which is a row of simple rooms made of natural building materials. The other half of our group stayed in tents. My room in the nest presented the greatest personal challenge in the form of the numerous spiders that roamed the walls. They came in a wide variety of makes and models including chunky, lanky, stocky, jumping, and straight-up giant. Besides the spiders, the nest was great though.

There is a very strong emphasis on community living at Conscious Impact and that can be felt in everything from the way the organization interacts with their local partners to how meals are organized. The common space includes a large kitchen where all of our meals at camp were prepared. The people living at the camp were divided up into three teams. Every day we were at camp one team started making breakfast at 6 am. The other two teams took care of dinner and dinner dishes. Lunch and snacks were prepared by a local woman named Parvati who made some bussin dal bhat. Cold, outdoor showers were on the move all week and provided some respite from the intense heat and humidity during the day.

I (Ava) can confidently say that no one could have quite expected what we were getting ourselves into after our luxurious stay at the Ashram. The biggest shock for me was the toilets. Or should I say, holes in the ground. I thank god every day I did not fall straight into the poop and sawdust abyss. I was fascinated at the amount of ongoing projects happening all over camp as if the whole camp was a work in progress and constantly evolving. I felt instantly welcomed by kind faces here and got so excited when I saw a pair of gymnastic rings and a guitar. I didn’t even care that it had five strings. I could work with that. The whole experience started to feel like I was at camp, and I loved sleeping in a tent.

We spent two nights in camp before heading to homestays that were about a 15-minute walk away in the village of Takure.

My (Ava’s) homestay experience was extremely memorable. After walking down the side of a mountain, we found ourselves in a small rural village. Iona and I each took a deep breath as we walked inside and prepared to meet our host family. We were greeted with kind faces and immediately served a ginormous portion of dal baht (which was amazing), and luckily we had the camp dog, Roksha, at our homestay to feed leftovers to. It was scary at first, but we immediately started to feel welcomed and comfortable when Amma (the older woman at our homestay) started laughing and giggling with us. We soon realized our hosts knew about as much English as we knew Nepali. It was hard to communicate at first, but with some smiling, laughing, pointing, and gesturing, we were able to get our most important points across. My personal favorite moment was when we pointed to the glutenous Nepali bread and then to my stomach, then to the toilet, implying the gluten would give me diarrhea and thus, I couldn’t eat it. The following two nights, we had Sarah (and two other dogs) join us, and we had a lot more fun giggling with our hosts and trying to communicate. Amma loved it when we said “Pugcha, pugcha!” meaning “enough, enough!” when they tried to give us even more food to add to the Everest-sized pile of rice on our plates. Maybe someday I will show up to their farm again, and I know for sure they will welcome me with open arms and give me some rice. I would love to go back.

I (Steph) was paired with Mae and we stayed in the home of an incredibly welcoming family. There was always a rotating cast of characters within the house. It seemed as though all the houses nearby were owned by and filled with extended family that would habitually swing by throughout the evening with a familiarity uncommon for American families. It was only on the last night that I sort of pieced together the family tree due to the sheer volume and comfortability throughout the whole bunch. Within our house alone there were four generations, the youngest being a sweet 4-year-old who called us didi (big sister). As is regular for Nepali families, our host sister’s husband was abroad working in Dubai. I learned how to make Chiya and Rotis and we had some of the best daal bat of the entire trip. The family had a large vegetable garden, chickens, cows, buffalo, and goats. One morning I emerged from our room onto the roof to find two goats had climbed the stairs on the hunt for corn. On the last night, a family gathering sporadically built up on the porch of the house. Soon there was a rambunctious game of spoons (without spoons, putting hands in the middle instead). Whoever lost had to dance for everyone. The laughter and love that our host family held was contagious. They truly made me feel so welcome and comfortable.

During the day, whether we were sleeping at the homestay or at camp, we did a variety of projects for conscious impact.

One of my favorite projects I (Ava) worked on at camp was the construction of stairs using “earth bags”. What are earth bags, you might ask? Well, I’ll tell you. They are these really cool canvas bags that you fill with dirt and soil you can dig up from the ground, and you pat them down, otherwise known as “tamping” and you can build up on them and cover them with concrete. For my first experience with bio-construction, I rate it a 10/10. I also cannot stress enough how much I loved working on the greenhouse at conscious impact. We got to climb up and sand off the old rust on the frame of the greenhouse, and repaint it. My personal favorite activity was zig-zagging metal wires through the posts of the greenhouse to attach the UV protective covering to the frame. I simply loved how at the end of the work day, the conscious impact community would come together and cook/eat dinner, laugh, and hang out. Nothing beats a nice kitchen dance party. I loved having a pizza party and fully letting loose, having fun dancing with everyone. Credit to Nina for teaching us how to salsa! I still have to work on my hip movements, but we’re getting there. We played an amazing game of charades (don’t mention human centipede, we were all a little scarred), and shared our gratitude. We met so many lovely people here, and I could totally see myself coming back to camp somewhere down the line. I felt so welcome at conscious impact and I am so grateful for that.

My (Steph’s) favorite activities included harvesting bamboo, learning to weave with rice stalks, and painting classrooms at a local school. For the bamboo harvesting, we are working with the building team to get bamboo for use in structures around the camp. We used machetes and axes to cut three-year-old bamboo stocks from a bunch up a hill. We then had to pass the bamboo down the hill and take it up the road. The group got very into swinging blades around and shoving bamboo through the woods. Another day we went to a local weavers house to learn how to weave coasters. Sitting on the ground and watching her work we learned with very minimal verbal instruction due to the language barrier. It was fascinating how fast and neatly she could wrap a pile of hay into a beautiful design. After some starting struggles everyone in the group walked away with a complete coaster. Sitting around and talking while weaving was very calming. Our big outing this week was a 45-minute jeep ride down to an elementary school where we painted the alphabet and other assorted designs in two classrooms. The English alphabet was slightly Nepali themed with momos for M and yak for Y. Painting the actual Nepali alphabet required a Google search or two. It took us the whole day to complete and the teamwork was on point. I LOVED the jeep ride to and from painting. The views from the narrow roads were incredible with mountains and rice paddies the whole way. I got a sense of the Nepali countryside just by observing the villages we passed through.

Every night the camp inhabitants gathered for dinner and a gratitude circle. This period got us in the mindset of being reflective and intentional with our time at camp. There are dozens of things the group was grateful for throughout our time at Conscious Impact so we have only pulled a few highlights. First and foremost all the amazing people we got the privilege to meet and work with. From other volunteers to all the staff there were so many gems. A special gratitude to Tina, Archu, Santosh, and Qumari. Besides the camp community, the people we got the privilege to interact with in the local community were truly awesome. A lot of gratitude to our homestay families and the local farmers. Everyone in this space was so friendly, helpful, and patient. Some more niche and also very important gratitudes include locked gluten-free food, buffalo milk, yak cheese, and guava. The dogs were also a big highlight of the week. Pongri, Roksha, and Covita were always around to provide entertainment and they would join us as we worked. Pongri was the baby and the troublemaker, Covita was the matriarch, and Roksha was the sweetie pie.

In closing a poem from Ava:

8 wild women, plus Anand

salaciously sexy, and of whom I am fond

greenhouse fun

under the sun

machete goals

rusty poles

Daal bat scoops

squatting poops

perfectly content

sleeping in a tent

Tina is our G

Archu is our queen

Santos is our leg

Now I eat passion fruit on the reg

To stay here I would beg

For without conscious impact

I would be as lost as last year’s easter egg

Consciously impactful

Impactfully conscious

The post Living Simply, Living Fully: A Week of Gratitude at Conscious Impact appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Caroline and Susannah

What’s New in Our Journey?

Hello, world!! Greetings from your Leaders of the Week, Caroline and Susannah. We’ve had another great week here in the Daintree Rainforest and are excited to share our adventures with you. We started our week at SheOak Ridge and continued our work with our lovely hosts, Claire and Marcus. We took down a wallaby pen, put up barbless wire to replace the barbed wire we removed, and continued preparing pots for Marcus’ 100,000 trees project.

We also took two very fun day trips! On Sunday, we took a tour through Mossman Gorge and did a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk with a member of the Kuku Yalanji indigenous group. It was super interesting, and we learned a lot about their cultural practices and how they learn from the land. We also had a chance to swim in the gorge and had lots of fun! On Monday, we ventured farther to Lake Eacham, a beautiful lake created when a volcano erupted over 12,000 years ago. We spent lots of time swimming in the crystal-clear water, tanning (and some of us burning… eek), and chatting.

During our time at SheOak, we also met two lovely kids, Eli and Olive, who quickly became honorary members of our group. We loved hanging out with them and answering their MANY questions about American culture (our favorite being, “Do Americans really die from vending machines?”).

We left SheOak on Tuesday after a sad goodbye with Marcus and Claire and headed to Mossman to complete our first big food shop! We figured out our budget beforehand and wrote very detailed shopping lists, so we felt very prepared. We then drove to ClimateForce, the organic farm where we are spending the next week. We learned about their work and how they are trying to restore the rainforest and document their steps so they can create blueprints for other organic farms in tropical environments. So far, at ClimateForce, we have collected seeds from the rainforest and identified them, planted those seeds, done lots of weeding, planted baby trees, and spread tons of mulch. We’re enjoying our time here and look forward to the week ahead!

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

1. Lake Eacham: Lake Eacham was definitely a big highlight of our week! The water was beautiful, and we loved hanging out lakeside. It was a great way to cool off from the heat.
2. Campfire with Eli and Olive: We had a great campfire on our last night with Eli and Olive. Olive and Mary planned it, and it was dinosaur-themed! We played games, told stories, and roasted marshmallows—a perfect night!
3. ClimateForce Progress: We’re very proud of our work so far at ClimateForce! One morning, we cleared out a huge area full of weeds and were able to plant trees there in the afternoon. It was amazing to see the impact of our work, and we’re excited about the progress.

This Week’s Challenge

Our first big group food shop was definitely a challenge! This was our first time shopping for a group this size, so it was a bit tricky figuring out how much food we needed and how to fit it into the budget, but we think we did a pretty good job! We’ve been loving all of our meals so far.

Looking Ahead

We’re super excited for our next week at ClimateForce. We’re planning to go out on the boat for a beach cleanup, and we’re also hoping to watch a controlled burn happening in the area (weather permitting—it’s been quite windy and rainy here). We’re also looking forward to cooking as a group and trying out different recipes, as well as learning more about the people here at ClimateForce and the research behind their work.

A Few Extra Highlights

• Uno Update: Clivia and Ash are tied for the most wins with seven each. Congrats to both!
• We’ve met two other volunteers here at ClimateForce and loved working and hanging out with them. Naïm is from France, and Jo is from Japan. It’s been awesome hearing all about their lives.
• We were excited to choose Gabe and Grace as the next Leaders of the Week! We’re confident they’ll do a great job.

The post Rainforest Adventures and Real-World Learning: A Week of Growth at SheOak Ridge and ClimateForce appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by Central America Overseas Educators, Andy & JB

What’s New?

The program started in Antigua, Guatemala for orientation. The group quickly found its footing as we explored the town and created a culture amongst everyone. As the first couple of days went by, we explored markets, reviewed the itinerary for the next 10 weeks, and got to know each other more before heading to Comalapa, Guatemala for our first service project of the program.

As we conclude an inspiring week at Long Way Home in Comalapa, it’s a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our experiences together. Here are three standout highlights, a challenge we faced, and some insights into our personal growth since the start of this transformative program.

Top Highlights of the Week

Sustainable Building Progress: This week, we made significant strides on our sustainable building projects. Students worked tirelessly on the construction of our eco-friendly classroom, incorporating local materials and techniques. It’s incredible to see our vision materialize and to witness the community’s enthusiasm as they join us in creating a space for future generations. Each day consisted of building, playing with the school children during recess, and activities once the workday was over.

Cultural Exchange Workshops: We hosted a series of cultural exchange workshops where local artisans shared their skills with participants. From traditional weaving to tortilla making, these sessions not only celebrated Guatemalan heritage but also strengthened our bonds with the community. The joy and pride in learning and sharing these crafts were palpable.

Becoming Better Travelers: This week, many students took significant steps toward becoming more adaptable travelers. As we immerse ourselves in the local culture and navigate the language barrier, we’ve learned to appreciate the nuances of daily life in Comalapa. From practicing our Spanish to understanding local customs, each interaction helps us grow more comfortable and connected to our surroundings. This journey is not just about building; it’s about building bridges with the community and enhancing our cultural awareness.

A Challenge We Faced

While this week was filled with positivity, we faced a challenge regarding new living styles. We focused on being in our stretch zone for the week, inviting new conversations about compostable toilets, cold showers, and washing our clothes in a pila. Though some of us were out of our comfort zone, it has also prompted important discussions about sustainable practices and the value of maximizing what we have. This challenge encourages us to think innovatively and work collaboratively to find solutions and learn more about ourselves and the group’s needs.

Growth and Gratitude

Since joining Long Way Home, each of us has experienced significant personal growth. Many participants have developed a deeper understanding of sustainability and its importance in our lives and communities. We’ve learned to appreciate the power of collaboration and the impact we can have when we come together with a common purpose.

Moreover, the experiences here have fostered a sense of responsibility and pride in our work. We’ve become more engaged citizens, ready to advocate for our community and environment. As we reflect on our journey, it’s clear that we are not just building structures; we are building a resilient community.

Looking Ahead

We’re looking forward to our time in Xela, Guatemala. Students will begin their Spanish intensive classes and then transition into their week-long homestays. The weeks will be filled with classes during the day, and evening activities where they will have a chance to explore the city and continue their self-growth journey.

The post A Week of Cultural Immersion and Sustainable Building in Guatemala appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by India & Nepal Students, Nina Shear and Mae

What’s New?

A Girls’ Trip + Anand

This is our first official blog of our journey to Nepal and India, and we have so much to share. Our adventure began at the San Francisco airport, where we met as a group for the first time. Mae and I had already faced our first airport challenges together, nearly missing our flight and navigating security. After refueling with a huge burrito and sandwich, we were ready to meet the rest of the group. Tara, one of our guides, and Ava, our joker who always keeps us laughing, were the first to arrive. We started chatting right away, wondering what the rest of the group would be like.

Soon, everyone else joined: Sarah, with her fun and caring personality and the loudest, most contagious laugh; Iona, the sweetest person, who finds beauty everywhere we go; Steph, the outgoing and always action-ready member with plenty of stories; and Nora, whose expressive reactions and facial expressions guarantee there’s never a dull moment. We instantly connected, talking about our favorite sports, siblings, and our excitement for the trip—especially the layover in Singapore!

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

Exploring the Singapore Changi Airport: The 14-hour flight went relatively fast, and we all had the energy to explore the airport. The airport was so fancy and big. I still don’t know how many floors it had. We had 12 hours to explore and also go outside. Some of us went to explore the cloud forest—yes, a cloud forest inside an airport—and a waterfall! While I (Nina) slept in the airport’s sleeping area, some drank their first of many coffees for the day. At around 12:30, we left the airport and took several trains to the city. We walked and saw cool buildings and sights. This walk turned into a hike, although we weren’t able to go on our city tour, which was our original plan. It was fun to walk around the crazy parks and the food and bay area of the city. We ended our city hike by eating some very delicious Singaporean traditional ice cream while we sat and said hi to the boats passing by.

During our 7 hours in the airport, we were not able to go on the slide or canopy because you had to pay to go in! We are all very concerned about this. But we did find the best food court ever, had multiple delicious meals and became experts at walking around the waterfall and hundreds of stores.

Kathmandu & the Stupa: We spent our first days in the center of Kathmandu, just a minute’s walk from the Budanath Stupa, “the Luck Temple,” one of the most important temples for Buddhists. I remember the first day when, after having our first masala tea, we went to see the Stupa for the first time. I was astonished. It was so beautiful. The Stupa, the other temples surrounding it, the smell of incense in the air, the hundreds of pigeons flying around, motorcycles everywhere, and people chanting made it feel like I was in a magical place. It was so cool to see all the different people walking around the Stupa, and we later learned that this was done as a way of meditation and chanting. Our first lunch in Kathmandu was also something I must write about. Everything was so delicious, with all the flavors so new to me. During that lunch, we also had our first lassis (a Nepalese drink made from yogurt and sometimes fruit), which has become our group’s favorite drink at any time. So far, we’ve tried watermelon, banana, plain, and sweet lassi—can’t wait to try more!

Later that day, we went on our first scavenger hunt, where we had different missions around town. We had to eat somewhere with a view of the Stupa, talk with someone and ask them about their favorite festival and about the Stupa and Buddhism (I think this one was the hardest task), buy some postcards to send to you, reader, and write a poem inspired by what we heard, smelled, tasted, and saw. We all enjoyed our scavenger hunt so much! The exploring and walking around made us very happy, and we had an awesome time talking and laughing about our tourist experiences during dinner.

We spent 4 nights in Kathmandu. Every day we explored temples, new food, music, and traditions. It took us a while to get used to the new schedule and heat, but after our first three days there, we felt like we had been here for a month and were so excited for our next destination.

Ashram Life: On the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal sits the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Up in the mountains, surrounded by fresh air and a lively community, it’s clear that the Ashram is a place of great peace and love. This week, we students immersed ourselves in the lives of those who reside here. It was a big change from the streets of Kathmandu, and the slow pace and rainy days became a part of our routine. We prepared for the silent dinners that weren’t so silent after all. We practiced our flow with morning yoga and enjoyed the view of the mountains from the roof. We enjoyed the company of others, whether they were kids, teachers, Ayurveda doctors, or gurus.

After settling in on that first day, I (Mae), along with Ava, Nora, and Nina, were drawn to the football field where some of the older kids were playing. I was immediately impressed by the footwork and skill that had obviously been built over years of practice. I wondered if the kids had taught themselves, how long they had been here, and if they ever wanted to pursue something related to the sport, as they were all so immersed in it. Getting to play with them and be a part of a small team meant so much to me, and I was surprised by their quick inclusion of us, despite our varying levels of skill. I left the field feeling energized and better acquainted with the community of kids my age, all while being filled with a sense of hope for connection and faith in the community.

For my personal development, I chose classical dancing, which to me involves slow music and complicated steps. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to find upbeat, rhythmic music and a teacher who was passionate and knowledgeable about the dances we would learn. The patience she showed us and the enthusiasm she brought shone through, creating a comfortable environment where we could dance freely and learn creatively. Kids filtered in and out of the dance room, observing us with kindness and humor, and at one point, they joined us. We circled up and let them guide us, creating a deeper bond with the community and a core memory for me.

Finally, at the end of the day, when everyone is settling down, kids and adults alike gather for meditation, chanting, and movies. Watching the way people interact with each other, and how deeply they rely on one another, was something I feel has been lost in the States. Here, people live together, and the hyper-independent mindset I’m used to is almost nonexistent.

Challenges This Week:

With every high comes a low, and this week was no exception. We faced heavy rain for two days straight with no clear idea of when it would end. Our pants got a little damp during walks from the guest house to the dining hall, and we experienced a few brief power outages. Drying laundry took longer than usual due to the weather, but we all found ways to make the best of it. Despite the rain, we persevered and had fun, growing closer through the experience. In the end, we were rewarded with a stunning view of the mountains, sunshine, and freshly dried clothes!

Growth and Gratitude:

During our first week here in Nepal, we have all broadened our perspectives on the world, beliefs, and ways of doing things. Realizing how different this place is from the States has given all of us a new outlook. We learned how Buddhism and Hinduism are considered more of a lifestyle than a religion. We learned about the importance of traditional art and dance. We also learned about the culture of fatalism, where everything is meant to be. People don’t judge or criticize because everything is how it should be. This has made us all more conscious and grateful for life.

The post From Exploring Airports to Ashram Life: Our First Week Journey of Connection, Culture, and Growth in Nepal appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.