Reflecting back on this whole experience I still cannot believe it actually happened. Leaving the country for my first time ever in September I was scared and clueless about the world that stood in front of me. I was however, eager to learn and ready to get out of my little town in Pennsylvania. Now I’m in beautiful Peru making my mark. In February when I arrived in Lima, the only Spanish I knew was “no entiendo, no hablo espanol” (two phrases I used quite often…and if we’re being honest, I still do.) My house manager, Karen met me right when I stepped off of the plane with open arms and a welcoming smile. We then jumped right into a taxi to start our hour and a half drive to my new home…Huaycán. There I met the LLI (Light and Leadership Initiative) family. With about ten living under one roof we all have the same goals in mind. The Light and Leadership Initiative offers classes and workshops to women and children who live in the Ate-Vitarte district of Lima to help overcome poverty and enhance social skills to improve the well being of their families. A positive space is provided for individuals to learn and grow and change through love, support and education. LLI runs English, math, chess, sports, art and bibliotheca classes five days out of the week in four different zones. I was brought on board as the art teacher, so I handle all of the art classes but I also co-teach sports, chess and private tutor three students in English. Our workweek starts on Fridays so technically it’s our Monday…confusing I know but you get used to it. We have Wednesdays and Thursdays off to plan lessons, travel outside of Huaycán or just relax. My week looks something like this:

Friday- Art class in Zona S (I take a 25 minute bus then hike about half a mile up a steep dirt hill) from 2:45-4pm then women’s literacy 4-5….I work with an elderly woman named Sofia who can barely write her own name.

Saturday- I help teach English and sports with Javier (one of the LLI volunteers) to 10-13 year olds in Zona D from 10:00am-12:00pm. I then have private English tutoring with seventeen year old Anthony from 12:30-2pm and end my day with an hour and a half art class also in Zona D for 6-11 year olds.

Sunday- I have art class in Zone Z at 10am but have to leave at 9:15 to catch a combi up and we end at 11:30am. I have art again in Zona D from 2-3 then have to jump on another combi to be up in Los Alamos for 4 because I have another art class for an hour up there. I rush back down to lovely Zona D to facilitate conversation club with young adults from 6-7:30. Conversation club is a class that helps advanced English speakers practice their English through games, activities, current events and debates.

Monday- I co-teach with Javier again but on Mondays its in Zona Z.

Tuesday- I have private English tutoring with ten-year-old Mariel and twelve year old Gabriel in Zona S. Following their hour and a half session is a forty five minute chess class.

So that’s my week in a nutshell. All of the “zona” business must seem confusing but its quite simple. Huaycán is separated into different zones, kind of like neighborhoods, and in each of the four zones that we offer classes we have a classroom where we teach the people who live in that particular zone.

I’ve been so busy planning art projects, helping get ready for a big anniversary event, and exploring beautiful Peru that my blog is very late so my sincerest apologies to all of you who wrote it on time. Here are some pictures of the students and my travels throughout my three and a half months here. My last day volunteering is June 11th and I am very sad to leave. My housemates and the students have become my family and I will miss them dearly. I plan on making my way back to Huaycán eventually. Ask anyone; it’s an addicting place. We might be the weird gringos on the block but I know the people of Huaycán have warmed up to us and look up to us for a better life. And if any of you are looking to teach in south America I HIGHLY recommend volunteering with the Light and Leadership Initiative, it’s a truly beautiful organization that’s only getting bigger and bigger every year. Here are some photos I’ve taken from classes and also off time traveling experiences and feel free to add me on Facebook if you’re interested in seeing more pictures or want to catch up! www.facebook.com/anna.malsky

Chau!

Anna J

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-Jared

The post Primate time appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

…..where even though it’s winter the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the animals are still very active. For the last month and a half I have been volunteering with Wildlife Act, an organization that monitors key animals on various reserves in the KwaZulu-Natal province. These animals are either endangered, threatened, or are highly vulnerable to poaching. Amongst these animals you have lion, rhino, elephant, leopard, and wild dog. The five main reserves in which they work are Tembe Elephant park, Mkuze, Hluhluwe, Imfolozi, and Zemunga. On these reserves we work alongside Ezemvelo, a government organization established to manage the wildlife of South Africa. However Ezemvelo does not receive enough funding to do everything necessary for the conservation process.

This is where Wild life act comes in, with the help of various wildlife funds and volunteers they perform the vital act of monitoring the animals. This may not seem important, but without the information collected by wildlife act and it’s monitors the reserves could not be managed properly. So everyday it is our job to go out and look for these animals, in order to ensure that the reserves function cohesively.

Volunteering with a program like this is so much different then going on any old safari. Apart from directly contributing to the conservation process, it is the best way to see animals in this part of the world. Working along side the reserve staff affords us certain privileges that average visitors can’t acquire. Things like staying out after dark, having access to roads that only staff can go on, being able to leave your vehicle, and most importantly being able to track animals using a telemetry device.The telemetry is simply a receiver that is connected to an antenna, which picks up radio waves that are produced by collars that the animals wear. Using the telemetry is the main method of monitoring the animals. This alone gives you a much better chance of having encounters with the animals. I can’t count how many times we have found the animals walking on the road after we have tracked them down, and almost immediately after they leave a game viewer comes by with tourists. Also unlike a normal safari there are only five volunteers on each project at a given time, so it isn’t overly crowded. We also do our monitoring from the back of an open pickup truck, so it’s feels like you are so much closer with the animals. You always have the feeling that if an animal wanted to get into the bed with you it can. Most often this isn’t something to worry about, but it does make you more conscience of the animals that are around you. With this in mind we head out to look for the animals. Most days we would have two sessions, one starting at five am and the other around three in the afternoon. All the while writing down every sighting of important animals that we saw. This is how most of our days go.

The first reserve I was placed on was Mkuze, where our time was divided into monitoring the lions and wild dogs on the reserve. As well as assisting with a project called Panthera,which is a global camera trap survey of big cats. Lions had only recently been introduced into Mkuze, so their monitoring was quite important. We had to keep track of them everyday no matter what, to make sure they were acclimating to their new environment. This made for some amazing encounters. One of the nights we were monitoring them, there was a full moon so they were very visible. The sky was very clear over our heads, but off on the horizon there was a massive lightning storm. So while we were observing the lions, lighting was flashing almost continuously. Another day we were supposed to find the coalition, two males, because there collars were getting too small. We had tracked them to a management road that leads to the reserves shooting range. I was using the telemetry as we drove down the road to figure out where to stop, and the signal was very strong straight I front of us. Then all of a sudden I noticed the lion sitting behind a bush, I wanted to yell and tell her to stop. But you are never supposed to make a lot of noise around a lion, and she was moving to fast for me to tell her in time. So we nearly ran him over, causing him to jump up. After that we all stayed very still hoping that he wouldn’t charge us. After about a minute he laid back down, then we slowly backed the car up and watched him. Within minutes he started calling out to the other male lion with a deep and primal call that shakes you to your very core. These were probably our two best encounters with lions. Much of our other time was spent driving around the reserve to camera trap sights, where we had to download pictures off of cameras. Which sounds very dull, but every so often it had it’s thrills. One day while we were in the middle of downloading, a male elephant came out of the bushes about thirty meters from us. So we all quickly jumped back into the car and stayed very quiet. Not two minutes after that a older much larger male came out of the bush a meter from the car. After about twenty minutes we were able to finally leave. That was one of the more intense days of collect data. Overall Mkuze was a very good experience, and I absolutely love my monitors and fellow volunteers.

Imfolozi was my next stop. This reserve was very different from Mkuze, it has far less thick bush and has many more mountains. So far the camp on this reserve has been my favorite. It sits on top of a hill overlooking a valley, with a river flowing to one side. Although we didn’t see any, our monitor told us that this is where they have seen the most black rhinos. On this reserve we mainly focused on the wild dogs, because there were so many more. Almost four times as many as on Mkuze. Monitoring the dogs full time required a lot more work then the lions. The dogs are much more active then the lions, so they move around more and much faster then the lions. It was very frustrating at times, because we would get signal that they are moving. Many times is would be very close, but then almost immediately the signal would disappear. One pack that we were tracking was especially annoying, for three days that stayed in a thicket that we couldn’t get to. We were always able to get signal for them but we never saw them. Finally after days of waiting they got very close to the road, a bit down the road from where we were. So we drove down the road to try and catch them at a corner. Once at that corner we ran into a journey of fifteen giraffes. So we stopped and took some picture of the giraffe. While we were doing that the pack came out onto the road, and started taunting the giraffe. An interaction such as this is very uncommon, so for us it was a treat to see this. However not all the dogs were hard to find. One pack of dogs was in the reserves boma, which is basically a cage that animals can be kept in if they are being transferred to another reserve. Although, unlike at zoos, it is more just a fence around the natural habitat of the reserve. Unfortunately the boma is located on another packs territory. So the pack on the outside would hang around the boma, trying to fight with the dogs on the inside. This made it easy for us to find the pack, but it created a few problems that we ended up having to deal with. The positive side of this though is that because the dogs were in there, we had to check on them everyday. Then every few days a field ranger would kill an impala for us, and we would drive it into the boma and feed it to the dogs. To some this might seem a bit much, but I find it interesting to see how animals behave in those kinds of situations. Even though our main focus was the dogs, we were able to see so much wildlife. In the first twenty four hours alone we saw the magnificent 8, which includes lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard, hyena, cheetah, and wild dog. A feat like that is quite prodigious, and was the first time it had ever happened that quickly for our monitor. We were later informed that this is due to the fact that during the winter it gets very dry, and in Imfolozi the only real consistent source of water is the river. In turn this means all the animals stay fairly close so that they can drink. Imfolozi was so unique and beautiful, it was by far my most favorite reserve thus far.

Now I am in Tembe, which is located directly on the boarder of Mozambique. It was originally created by the communities in the surrounding area, as a way to keep from being terrorized by the elephants that migrated from Mozambique. So in order to protect the people they acquired the land, and fenced it on three sides. Leaving the boarder open, allowing the elephants to slowly move into the park. Then after six years they closed the other side, effectively creating the Tembe elephant park. Of all the other parks this one is truly the most unique, it is home to a forrest that is completely on top of sand. Making it one of the most unique habitats in the world. Here we are supposed to be diving our time equally between monitoring the lions, and the elephants. However this week has been a bit hectic, and not at all like normal. Both the vehicles that we are supposed to be using are in the shop at the moment. On top of that we had to do a lion call up. This is when we have to dart the lions in order to do something with them, whether that’s changing their collars or helping them cuz they are sick. In this case they had been sold to another reserve, and needed to be transported. So what we ended up having to do was clear an area so that we could see the lions. Then we had to put bait in the area, and play a recording of a dying buffalo. Once the lions came to eat the bait, they were darted by a vet. After they had fallen asleep, we lifted them onto the back of pick ups and moved them the the trailer that the buyers had brought. This is probably the only time I will have been able to touch a lion in my life. Not much else has happened here yet.

I have enjoyed every minute of being out here in the bush. Although not every moment is exciting, just being out in nature makes me happy. I’m also very happy that I can contribute to the desperately needed conservation of our planet.

That’s all for now
-Scott mill

The post Greetings from Zululand South Africa appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Hello to all our wonderful friends from all over the States! Our time together as a group may have just come to an end, but all your journeys are only beginning. The best journeys answer questions, that in the beginning, you never even thought to ask. We hope that some of your life questions (both known and unknown) were contemplated and pondered during our adventures in three stunningly beautiful countries. Maybe the universe provided some guidance for you along the way. Maybe some of the people surrounding you touched your soul in some way.

Both of us can say we are better people for knowing each and everyone of you. Our lives are richer for having known all of you; we can only hope that our impact on your life brought more positive light and love into the world. Whether it be by service work, seva, SCUBA, farming, or whatever experience resonated the most, we truly feel you all made the most out of your time in the South Pacific. May these memories stay fresh and may you continue to carry the experiences with you in your everyday lives. May you  not lose sight of what you aim to achieve. Success in life comes with work and dedication to your passions, and sometimes you have to overcome challenges to attain that “Personal Legend.” Remember not to let those challenges impede your ability to be the best version of yourself.

Our time together has ended, but we will remain in each other’s hearts for a lifetime. We have nothing but admiration and respect for all of you. Proud is not a word that gives justice to our sentiments for everyone that embarked on this journey. The courage and confidence you all showed to get on a plane with complete strangers to make the most out of this experience is a testament to your characters. If you continue to show that type of courage the world- and everyone in it- will be grateful for your existence.

With love and gratitude

Gwen and Mac

The post This is not the end… Only a new beginning appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

As promised, the guided semester reflection we shared during the closing ceremony is below (sorry family and friends…this might not make much sense to you, but ask group members questions about the prompts for some funny, intense, and incredible stories!).

Cards on the floor and new faces in San Francisco

This is how lizards do it

Awkward middle seats

Waiting, bleary eyed, for bags that never came

Paige’s acting debut, the dragon

Chang chang chang chang chang!

Dip, dip dip!

Footloose #1

Oh, Betsy

Endless mango sticky rice

Essence

Magical forest Wat with Phenom

Ponlami, kha

Neverending final blessing by Komodo’s dad

J.Lo never giving a shit

Elephant pants

First of many bed buddies

Coconut ice cream crack

Freezing laughter fest at 4 am

Mr. Susin singing beneach a clear starry night

Bamboo rafting in the sun

Nauseating sangtaew ride to the orphanage

Mudfights and poop cookies

Tin and Thai, one fat, one thin

Topher’s river ingestion and unfortunate aftermath

Aussie Thai soap star turned monk

Pra Ong’s photo shoot of Brook

The birth of Karenna and Brook’s love/hate sisterhood

Sitting at the Burmese border with Laurie

711 Heaven

Boom snap clap with the novices

Son in law’s testicles for Emma’s birthday

Soundwave Karaoke for Leanna’s birthday

Yesi’s amazing dance moves

Rain dancing at Sukothai

Spit takes

Surprise festival and fireworks in Korat

Spit takes

Candlelight ceremony on the roof

Smuggled hidden family to the border

Dawn at Angkor Wat

Our first sandwiches

Footloose #2 at EGBOK

Stiffling heat in Seam Reap

Breastmilk

Raw and brutal reality of S 21

Peaceful haunted fields

Somaly Mam and the Road of Lost Innocense

Dead rat showers

Patrick and Davis

Waaaterpark?

Bobblehead

French frieds for every meal

Dance party DJ’s speaker-top stage

Karen’s headrist dive in the mud puddle

O–rrr—ee—-ooo!!!

Water balloon and egg hunt mayhem

Floating honeymoon bungalows

Lord Huron

Mangrove tunnels

Ohhh, Selah

Spaghetti and garlic bread

Skinny dipping in the dark!

7 hour boat ride to floating markets

Leopard print cubby bunks

The washing machine

Russian’s posing on the beach

Rollercoasters and water rides at Vinpearland

Swimming with the fishes in Nha Trang

Kerry, Eugene and Carlos

Life maps

Alow Blacc

Captain America

Julia’s birthday cake fight

Komodo’s transformation

Chaotic, muddy streets of Hanoi

Boxcar beds on the night train

Hand stitched hill tribe clothing

Walking through clouds to Mai’s family

Terraced mountain sides

Mai’s laughter at our corn hoeing technique

Mai’s massage moves

Mai’s children rolloing over blankets on the floor and shrieking in delight

Creating our song!

Receiving silver and gold bracelets handmade by Mai’s husband

Waving goodbye to Mai and her sister from the van window

Gorgeous mini rock mountains piercing through water

Lounging in the sun on the roof of the boat

Shopping!

Blindfolds and candle light

Gratitude

The post Guided Semester Closing Ceremony appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Hello Parents and followers of Carpe Diem FANZ HONGI blog,

We just received word from Mac and Gwen that the students have passed through security and are in the air on their way back to USA or New Zealand.

This marks the end of this program, but not the end to the growth, friendships, and knowledge gained during these past 3 months. We (including Gwen and Mac) wish the best for all participants and hope that everyone will continue to “carpe” the diem in their next steps whether it be college, work, or on another program.

The group just posted a recent blog about the yoga and Scuba experience, and Gwen and Mac will be adding another one closing up shop blog, with some pictures soon.  Carpe Diem HQ is here to support in any manner needed, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We hope there will be plenty of smiles and stories to share even through the jet lag.

All the best,

Adam and Carpe HQ

The post Group Departure!!!! appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

-Jared

The post Releasing rehabilitated animals appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

-Grace

The post Pine Ridge Indian Reservation appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

We arise to our final Fanztastic (albeit eerily quiet) day here in Cairns, Australia with the bittersweet feelings of another transformational semester closing. Laughter is shared between Meg and Greg while sipping flat whites alongside the salty sea, largely resulting from tales of Eytan filling in awkward silences with strange verbal segues (what a thrill), Courtney loudly declaring her boredom with Buddhism in her not-so-subtle body language and endless tales (tails?) of Nelly, Liz’s peculiar noises while bouncing from point A to point B, Solly confusing the gelato lady with thousands of questions and ability to make all of our tumblies-grumbly, Marisa’s thought-provoking journal responses and Harry Potter quips, Baby D’s business plan as a Boulder-based zorbing guide and Rosie’s stunning hospital gown.

What a long strange trip it’s been: from the bonds made while walking about in the shadow of a 40,000 year old culture, to the deep conversations (kinda like scuba diving) had while climbing to the summit of Mt. Doom, to the tears shed while saying goodbye to our beloved host families in Vatuse.

We have become quite a community, a humble tribe of global citizens who inevitably will not truly recognize the full impact of this experience until we settle into our routines back home. It was an honor to take part in this voyage with all of you, and from the bottom of our hearts, a thousand thank you’s for all the smiles, the stories, and The Dreamtime. The journey does not stop now, in many ways, it only now begins…

Go far, stay long, see deep.

In mind, body, and spirit,
Meg and Greg

P.S.

The post Welp, see ya later. appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Hello Carpe fans and fams,

So this is it…

Eighty-eight days ago ten anxious and confused students stumbled upon each other in an airport knowing they were about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. We came into this trip from all different backgrounds, interests, hopes and fears, but that didn’t matter because through thick and thin we have been together, united as Carpe Diem’s Spring 2014 Hongi Group. Despite losing a member of our perfect 10+2, getting stuck in an airport on our way to NZ, hiking mountains in the rain, and flipping a trailer in the outback, we’ve stayed strong. We have shared so many great memories like performing a Kava ceremony, singing Amazing Grace (or more fondly known as Praise God), hanging out with Edward Slack, mud running in crazy costumes with Tran the Man, watching the sunrise on Uluru, and going on a group scuba dive as officially certified divers. After all of this we’ve come to our final day together. Tomorrow morning we all go our separate ways, and though we may never see each other all together again, I think we will all return home saying we are proud to be Carpe Diem Education students.

The final Bilbo Bloggins,

Annie

“What is that feeling when you’re driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? – it’s the too-huge world vaulting us, and it’s good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.” ― Jack Kerouac, On the Road

The post There and Back Again, A Hongi Group’s Tale appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Namaste all!!!! The group is very happy to let you all know that we are all at peace and found tranquility in our lives….ok maybe not completely peaceful and tranquil, but we are getting closer. We had an amazing time at the Prema Shanti Yoga and Meditation Retreat center in the Daintree Rain forest. Fun fact the Daintree rain forest is the oldest rain forest in the world!!!! Other wise the retreat center was in the middle of the rain forest and rain by the two nicest and probably most peaceful people in the world who are Mara, and Janardhan. They are a happy married couple who have been running Prema Shanti for the past 17 years. The two of them are leaders in yoga and meditation which is the center focus in their lives and are very passionate about it. To walk you through a normal day at Prema Shanti was like, we would wake up roughly around 6:45 am and begin the day with an hour long meditation and Dharma talk which would be around the different aspects of the spiritual life that centered around the ideas of how to focus your spiritual energy and achieving spiritual success. After the relax meditation and the spiritual chat we would have a beautiful and healthy breakfast of granola, fruit, corn flakes, yogurt, and an assortment of tea. Also, all of the meals over the past 5 days was vegetarian. After breakfast we would do siva where we would work hard around Prema Shanti for an hour or two making the retreat center looking amazing. Then we would have the remainder of the day as a free day where we would go swimming in the most beautiful swimming holes the blue or green hole. The blue hole was for women only designated by the aboriginal people saying it would bring bad luck to men if they were to swim in the blue hole. So as a group we would swim in the green hole to enjoy the company of one another. After an amazing swim we would explore around the Daintree National Park seeing the beauty of the rain forest, and the beautiful tropical beaches of the area, or we would stay at Prema Shanti by relaxing, reading, writing, or practicing our meditation skills. Then we would meet back up at 5:30 to do a yoga and meditation practice for an hour and a half. For majority of the group yoga was an amazing experience where as some of us struggle in the practice. After yoga we would have an amazing dinner, then go to bed shortly after dinner. It was an amazing time at Prema Shanti and the group had a spectacular time. We would like to thank Mara and Janardhan for an amazing time that none of us would forget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The post Prema Shanti appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Well it´s finally happened, our adventure has come to an end. It has been a wild three months of Spanglish, host families, bus rides, llamas, stunning scenery, lots of stairs, and of course, rice, potatoes, yucca and plenty of bananas (sorry Casey).

Our South American family has expanded beyond our group of 14 to include Pete in Pucara, Juan Carlos and his family in Santo Domingo, Lorena and Marcello in Banos, Maria and Rick and all those brilliant girls in Arequipa, Chaitanya, Samantha and Elizabeth in the Sacred Valley, Mamma and Papa Cusco, John and the teachers at Fairservices, and of course Antonio and Marycruz, our friends and guides at Salkantay and Machu Picchu. It has been an incredible experience full of learning, growing, pushing comfort zones and developing closer relationships. Every member of this group was essential to making our semester a success.

We are all back home now, perhaps whistfully pining over that last baby aplaca shawl we chose not to buy, and perhaps planning our next adventure, but all knowing that we have had an incredible experience together and made lasting memories. With the close of one journey, another expanse of potential unfolds in front of us all. Now equiped with new skills and confience, born aloft by inspired friends and clearer aspirations, its time to seize the day in whatever form the next adventure arises.

The post The Great Expanse appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

There was a time when we stood back, observing from Shores’ safe sands, in awe of Oceans’ expressive faces. Sun illuminating hues of greens, blues, turquoise. An immense pond of life-force rustled awake by Winds’ sweet caress.

Following a spark of inspiration, there was a moment when we each decided to drink deeply of the sweet and fiery droplets of Clouds’ offering. Open, and overwhelmed, we were weighted to greater ocean depths…

Nicaragua,

and deeper…

Costa Rica,

even deeper…

Guatemala,

And finally deeper into another world once inconceivable…

Roatan.

Throughout all the journey were practices in being and experiences lined with questions…

Where do I come from? How did I arrive here? Is it safe? Will I be accepted? What is my story? What’s yours?

Upon questions…

What am I grateful for? What have I taken for granted? What is privilege? Should I feel guilty? What can I do? What is helpful? What isn’t? Why am I here? Intention. Impact. What is important?

Upon questions…

Where do hippies come from? Where do they go? Is living with the land for me? Can I live without it?

And questions…

How many turtle hatchlings live to adulthood? Is this cruel? Sad? Maybe with love and encouragement this whole bunch will live long and healthy lives. Am I naive? Should I dream? What’s at risk if I stop?

Upon questions…

Is my Spanish improving? What do the vibrancy of clothing and traditions represent? What is the history and future of indigenous people? What is it to be called indigenous? How does my presence effect the world around me? How do my actions at home relate to the rest of the world? What is natural regarding cultural evolution? What’s irresponsible? What is a global citizen? What is education good for? What is education? Who’s education? What’s working? What’s not? How might I be responsible?

Upon questions…

What is important to me? What is the difference between acceptance and apathy? How does privilege relate to responsibility? From where do I derive my power? How do i exercise it? What is it to be fully alive?

And questions…

What will life be like when I return? What will I be like? How are my friends and family? What are the big conversations to be had? How to begin? Will anyone understand? Will I become bored? Depressed? What boxes will people try to put me in? How do I build bridges of connection and understanding? How do I show up as my fullest self? How might this effect others?

As questions begin to build momentum, we STOP! Words and thoughts escape as we confront infinite beauty beyond Ocean’s face and within coral reefs. It is an underwater orchestra–silent, rythmic, and vocal, all at once. Connected. Plantlife dances fluidly with Ocean’s current while delicate crabs clean zebra-striped fish. We float, we drift, we dive. A turtle passes casually near, then a smiling dolphin says hello. Hungry coral reef, sharp as glass, stretches out finger-like plantlife to capture unsuspecting blood worms. Life-feeds life-feeds death-feeds life. And so it is. The cycle continues. Inspiration ensues…

“We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers
And sitting by desolate streams;
World losers and world forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.

With wonderful deathless ditties
We build up the world’s great cities.
And out of a fabulous story
We fashion an empire’s glory:
One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown;
And three with a new song’s measure
Can trample an empire down.

We, in the ages lying
In the buried past of the earth,
Built Nineveh with our sighing,
And Babel itself with our mirth;
And o’erthrew them with prophesying
To the old of the new world’s worth;
For each age is a dream that is dying,
Or one that is coming to birth.”

-Aurthur O’Shaugnessy

Like the currents that ebb and flow while feeling deeply the Moons’ presence, so do the music-makers. Now, we slow, breathe, and revisit Oceans’ face with newfound appreciation and connection to life. Buoyant. With fuller hearts. With smiles. With sadness. Our vision has shifted. New opportunity. New challenges. New fire. New rest. Letting go. Bringing in… Breathing… In…….. Out…….. Smile slighly showing in the corners of the mouth. Grieving. At peace. Joyful. Full of care… Thank you…

“You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again.
So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below,
but what is below does not know what is above.
One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen.
There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions
by the memory of what one saw higher up.
When one can no longer see, one can at least still know.”

-Rene Dumal

The post Hearts Full, Coming to Birth appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Today we celebrated the amazing Miss B’s birthday and sent the students off into the cool Vietnam eve. Everyone is safe and well on their journey and we MISS THEM ALREADY!!!!!! We will post more goodies in the next couple days (hint hint: guided semester reflections), but for now, we hope all the students are well in to their 4th movie on the plane, have long devoured their pack of oreos, and are soon peacefully sleeping as they cross the bizarre time portal across the date line into the past (but Brook gets TWO birthdays, how cool?!)

Peace and Love!!!
Julia and Topher

Towards Another Home
By Seasia Students Spring 2014
(last verse borrowed from Lord Huron)

Orange blazing lanterns
released from our hands
Winged light fades into the night

Saffron robes, folded palms
Barefoot dawn rounds of alms
Blessings bound wrists warm goodbyes

Fragile bodies, laughing eyes children born asking why
rising hope from the depths of the dark

Ancient stone cities lost
crawlin roots, hungry moss
wooden homes over stilts under stars

CHORUS
Lifting up our packs
Together on our own
Leaving heavy footprints on this memory paved Road

Green Rivers, blue mountains, rusty trucks and wooden boats
Once again we find ourselves
Once again we find ourselves

Moving towards another home
Ba da ba, ba da ba…

Green fields growing rice
River Highways hold life
Peaceful paths in haunted hills

Bright silver dark skin
wrinkled black toothy grins
Wet labyrinth streets overfill

Who knows where will go
what new bonds we will grow
how many goodbyes we will say

but what good is living
the life you’ve been given
If all you do is stay in one place

CHORUS x 2

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We are sitting here in Dar es Salaam, lamenting the recent departure of our little Nkula family but also celebrating the completion of a beautiful semester.  3 months, 3 countries, 10 incredible people – what a journey it’s been!  We’ve been honored to learn, play, grow, and laugh with each of you.  We also want to extend a deep-felt gratitude to family and friends back home who have supported us along the way.  And to Adam Fischer and all of the Carpe Diem staff – your passion and hard work makes this possible.  Thank you, and Safari Njema Simaki!
Now for one final GrataBra:

Kevin. Thank you Mr. Chill! Your smooth moves and relaxed vibes kept this group flowin’ on the ocean. We loved those poignant moments when you dove deep and revealed your inner wisdom.

Breezy. Oh Bristle Breezbox! Thank you for your poetic tongue, your Anti-jokes and your smile. It was cruel of you to tease us by never sharing your written genius. We respect your writers’ process, but we do look forward to signed copies of your best seller. We loved hearing your laughter more and more through out the semester.

DeeDee. Thanks for your rasta spirit and your fiery passion. You were always there with beads in your hair and wicked motivation to grow. You called things as you saw them, stayed strong in the face of that red moon, and your shoulder was always there to lean on. Plus you got some awesome dance moves!

Savannah. Trivia, Biology, Scientific Curiosity, History, Excitement for nature and random conspiracy theory factoids…All some of the many things we love you for. Your ability to stand atop the mountain and faces the storms showed us the impressive and unbelievable strength which you posses. We can wait to see you swimming with the Dolphins, diving deep in the ocean and soaking up the ‘Aloha.’

Skyler. Thank you Skybear for your playful caring spirit. From supporting others in their times of needs to making the parties happen that spirit kept shining all semester. Travel well in Europe.

Mackenzie. Thank you Kenny for your ability to be honest while all the while being continuously sweet. You were always looking out for your comrades equipped with a hug and open heart.

Alvin. Dear Mr. Alvin Patrick Swearingen Jr. Your quick wit, epic stories and outrageous yet enlightening questions kept us laughing, thinking, reflecting and enjoying all semester. Thank you for your strong commitment to your self-growth.

Talia. Thank You for always keeping it weird. You’ll do well in Portland Your enthusiasm was contagious. From Dance parties to changing-of-the-guard rituals, from the seance to the egg toss, you are the energizer bunny of adventure. Dance on!

As for us AvCo McHarris.

Colin is soaking up his final days in Tanzania before his two week travels through Europe. Back in the States, Portland, OR, he eagerly awaits his Ecstatic Dance Community, his Didjeridoo named “Inti” and to spending the summer with family and friends, relaxing, adventuring and gaining new knowledge and skills. After that he is thrilled to return to Carpe Diem and meet his fall 2014 NKULA Crew and Co!

Avy is also spending a few final days in beloved Tanzania.  She will then fly to Ghana to visit some dear friends before beginning her next chapter in Portland, OR.  She is retiring her passport (for now, anyway) and rooting down.  She is overjoyed to be moving to a yurt, planting a garden, cooking up meals with friends and family, and settling into life at Carpe Diem Headquarters!

“Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.” – Mark Jenkins

Smile ~ Dance ~ Love ~ Laugh

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The post SCUBA! appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

We just received word from Megan and Greg that the students have passed through security and are readying for their journey back home.

This marks the end of this program, but not the end to the growth, friendships, and knowledge gained during these past 3 months. We (including Greg and Megan) wish the best for all participants and hope that everyone will continue to “carpe” the diem in their next steps whether it be college, work, or on another program.

The group just posted a recent blog about the SCUBA experience, and Greg and Megan will be adding another one closing up shop blog, with some pictures.  Carpe Diem HQ is here to support in any manner needed, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We hope there will be plenty of smiles and stories to share even through the jet lag.

All the best,

Adam and Carpe HQ

The post Group homeward bound! appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

We just received word from Colin and Avy that the students have departed for their journey back home, with some students staying in Europe for personal travels.

This marks the end of this program, but not the end to the growth, friendships, and knowledge gained during these past 3 months. We (including Colin and Avy) wish the best for all participants and hope that everyone will continue to “carpe” the diem in their next steps whether it be college, work, or on another program.

Carpe Diem HQ is here to support in any manner needed, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We hope there will be plenty of smiles and stories to share even through the jet lag. Savannah’s last blog (not yet posted), and the leaders will post a final blog soon sharing about the group’s experience during SCUBA and the last final days together.

Here are two photos from the completion of the SCUBA course and the departure of the group at the airport today!

Safari Njema (Safe Travels),
Adam and Carpe HQ

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Bright and early Monday morning, our guide Antonio and his sister Mary picked us up from our hostel and thus began our journey. An hour out of Cusco, we stopped for a delicious breakfast set out for us on the mountainside below an Incan moon shrine where Antonio gave us a brief history of the Quechua civilization and their use of this ruin. Two hours further and we reached the trailhead. Piling out of the van into trickling rain, we giggled at being able to put our big blue ponchos to use and snapped a few photos in our sexy attire.

The valley was filled with fog for the majority of that morning, but at one point I looked up to see the top of a towering mountain peeking out behind a cloud. Tilting my head all the way back to see its peak, I gasped and fell dizzy at the sight of its stature—probably the most skyscraping mountain I had ever seen.

We arrived at our lunch spot a few hours in, where we pulled out all of our coziest layers and sipped on some coca tea and café to keep us warm. I quickly learned that fashion over function is a foolish principle, as my fingerless gloves were worthless against that chill. We snuggled up to our tea mugs for warmth and shivered our way through our meal, until we continued along the trail and our aerobic body heat came to the rescue. We continued a few hours further along a river that ran through a gorgeous green meadow with little yellow flowers and grazing horses sprinkled throughout. This brought us up to the mountain side where we climbed up and up until we reached flat land. Looking out at that viewpoint was an incredibly empowering moment, as we could see the point where we ate lunch and the tough terrain we had just conquered. About a half hour more and we arrived at our camp site nestled in between mountain ranges from every side. The sun promptly set as we bundled up, pooped, and waited for dinner. The stigma of blatant bowel movements was quickly abandoned (more so than it has been the entirety of the semester) as we realized it was going to be an intimate few days in that regard. We enjoyed tea and coffee before our meal, and in that time sat together, teeth chattering, and brought back one of the first group-bonding activities we did at the start of the trip. Drawing a name from Matt’s fuzzy, very beautiful, worth-the-money hat, we each shared an appreciation and gratitude for the person we pulled. After dinner we crawled into our tents, snuggled up to our bunk-mates and did our best to stay warm throughout the night.

I awoke the next morning to oooohs and ahhhhs, and unzipping the door to my tent, my own gasps joined the choir. That night may have been ass-chillingly cold, but the view of those huge mountains surrounding our site freshly powdered with snow was well worth those few hours of discomfort. As many of us jumped around doing giddy little dances, Casey got out her camera and filmed all of our excitement.  After a brief breakfast and packing up our things, we continued along for day two, reaching the highest point of the trek at 4600 meters above sea level.

From here we were headed to Turquoise Lake—something I don’t think any of us expected to be so accurate to its title. But that lake was most definitely turquoise.  We sat on the rocky cliff overlooking the lake, clutching three coca leaves level with our hearts as we made a wish while Antonio whistled an Andean tune that echoed among the mountains. We then found a special place for our leaves amidst the rocks and had time to just sit and reflect before we continued on. Back on the trail, we walked to our lunch spot that was situated at the bottom of the valley along the river. Despite the still chilly air, Arturo and Robbe took a quick dip in the water and even though they deny it, I’m sure regretted it a bit upon having to dry off in the wind. Walking just a little longer we got to our next camp site where we put our tents up and enjoyed another happy hour in which we did two more little ceremonies. Arturo led a brief meditation where we focused on the gratitude we have for our friends and family. We were then each asked to write a short bit of wisdom that we’ve really connected with over the semester—something we wanted to share with everyone—on a piece of paper. Again drawing from the magic hat, we each picked out a slip and read off the wise words of our peers. The spin? We had to guess which of us wrote each sentiment. A beautiful way to see one’s spirit.

Our third day was somewhat of a break from the long days of walking we had had in those preceding. We walked for about four hours total, at one point painting our faces like warriors with berries that grew along the side of the trail. We zip lined across the river to where our bus was waiting and were driven to where we would camp for the night. We watched the preparation of our lunch—a traditional Peruvian dish called Pachamanca—for which they throw different types of potatoes, vegetables, meats, plantains, and literally every kind of delicious food you could imagine into a stone stove that they then collapse and cover with banana leaves, a tarp, and dirt. They leave this to cook for about half an hour, and when uncovered, everything is perfect and ready to eat. Ohhh boy did we feast. I was in heaven. We were all in heaven. After lunch we took a bus ride to the Santa Teresa hot springs, during which the driver blasted the worst pop tunes from back home that strangely became our JAMS overseas.  The dance party ceased upon our arrival to the springs, where we enjoyed the warm water for a few hours. Back at the campsite we had a light dinner and went to bed early to be well rested for the long day ahead of us.

We were awoken by knock, knocks on our tents and some hot coca tea to get our asses out of our sleeping bags. We headed out bright and early—three hours up to the top of the mountain where we stopped to explore another ruin and lay in the sunshine while our heart rates recovered. After another hour and a half down the other side’s steep slope, our knees were incapable of straightening back out once we returned to flat ground. Some folks stopped to dip in the glacial river to cool off from the hot hot sun, while I collected pieces of mica rock along the trail to our lunch spot. We enjoyed our final lunch with the cooks and thanked them greatly for having taken such great care of us. Then on we went once more. We walked for what seemed like a thousand hours alongside the train tracks. At one point Antonio pointed to the peak of one of the mountains to our right—“There’s Machu Picchu,” he said. We could see two tiny windows cut out within a stone wall that just barely protruded beyond the tip of the mountain. But there it was. I wondered why it hadn’t been discovered earlier if it was visible from a route that’s been used for hundreds of years. I later learned that it was because the site had been completely covered in foliage before it was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Just before I felt like my legs would refuse to bring me one step further, we finally reached the town of Aguas Calientes—Machu Picchu’s tourist haven. Antonio led us up a block, to the left and up a flight of stairs at which we all groaned, around another corner, and then started up another flight that was, I’m not kidding, probably a thousand steps long—this time all of us in unison—“Antonio, heeeellllllll no.” To this he gave us a giddy smirk and turned a sharp right into the hostel door just ten steps up. We could deal.

430am—today’s the day. Grabbed our cameras, grabbed our water, our lunches, and woke ourselves up enough to be able to walk to the bus, get on, and fall right back asleep until we reached the entrance point to Machu Picchu. It was amazing. One of those things that doesn’t seem real no matter how long you look at it; no matter how long you stand right in the middle; no matter how long you sit on a high terrace to enjoy a picnic while overlooking its magic.

We boarded our train at around 3pm, then met a van that drove us back to our hostel in Cusco in time for dinner. Like every other night, we went on a hunt for chicken, bought some kiwicha pop and soy milk, then went back to munch and head to dreamland.

These last two days are certainly bittersweet. We had a discussion last night about what it will be like to go home, the effects of reverse culture shock, and different ways to handle readjusting into a lifestyle we’ve been separated from for three months. As much as I am ready to be able to throw my toilet paper into the toilet and to cuddle with my parents, there is no denying that I will miss this adventure and these beautiful people with whom I have been able to grow.

Thank you, thank you, a thousand times to all the forces that came together to make this semester something I have learned beautiful things from.

Con todo mi amor,

Olivia

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I have been volunteering at Parque Ambue Ari for the last three months and it has been an unbelievable experience in so many ways. The park is located 6 hours outside Santa Cruz, and sits on a 800 hectares of jungle. I live with no electricity, no hot water, and all the mosquitoes you could ever want, but I love it here. I wake up every morning at 6:45 and begin my tasks at 7. The morning tasks change both daily and weekly, so one week you may be cutting food for the birds and the next cutting up food for tapirs. The daily tasks are chores around camp to keep things running, from doing breakfast to cleaning the toilets & showers. The volunteers are responsible for keeping a good work environment  and the camp running smoothly.

After breakfast My cat partner Josh and I walk 10 min down the road and then brace ourselves as we slowly enter the swamp weaving through trees, trying not trip over roots and vines. Once we are out of the swamp we yell out “Hola Maggie!” And wait until we hear “Meow” back and that´s when things start to begin. Maggie is a female Puma is the park and is such a fun and interesting cat to work with, she always keeps you on your toes. When we get to her enclosure we reach through the fence as she rubs up against it purring, and begin to give her affection by giving her scratches and once she has had enough she will turn look at us and bolt off like a spaz. The spaz sprints. That´s when Josh and I get our ropes hook ourselves on, and get ready for the walk. One person goes into the double doors and one stays outside, the person in the doors opens another door to her cage and lets her into the double door and clips her on. Lets just say its quite the experience going in the double doors with Maggie. Once clipped on we let her loose on the world, we walk down trail with Maggie and along the way I have experience her trying to kill a turtle(failed), lay down and sleep for 1 hour, have her sprint down trail, and jump me when she wanted to play. I love Maggie and she is such an awesome cat, I love going out her everyday and taking her on walks through the jungle its an experience you cant find anywhere else. Once she is done with her walk we feed her and give her medicine. Then were off back to camp for lunch.

At 2 I begin my afternoon cat which requires 30min of walking through swamp, mud, and jungle but the journey is worth it when you get close to the enclosure you shout out “Hey buddy! Whats up Ru?” And the most handsome Jaguar comes up to the fence to say hello to you, and give you licks all over your arms as you scratch him under his neck and behind his ears. Ru is a caged cat meaning he can´t walk. At one point during his time at the park he was a walking cat, but because he was so playful and didn´t know his own strength he ended up doing some damage to some volunteers and the Bolivian government made the park cage him. Ru is an amazing cat that is full of love for people he just doesn´t realize that he is a huge Jag. My job is to keep Ru happy. I give him affection and he gives me some, then we begin to play through the fence by him stalking up on me, and right before he jumps I bolt off and he comes running after me, and then we trade I begin to stalk him and then chase after him. I also let him on his runner which is a long piece of cable that runs down a tree from his cage, and I will hook him up to that to give him time out of his cage and just explore a bit. After all that playing and affection I begin feeding time.

I lock Ru in his management cage(Smaller cage attached to the main enclosure) and enter his big enclosure. I take all of his food wrap it up in huge leaves and wrap them in vines to make it difficult for him to get at, and the proceed to hide his “packages” in various spots around the cage, mostly up in trees to get him climbing. Once I am done I lock the cage up and let Ru loose to find all his food which is amazing to watch. You put a package up tree that 10 meters off the ground and he is up tree in a heart beat, its absolutely incredible to watch. Once he is done I say goodbye and make my journey back to camp to enjoy a cold shower and nice bowl of Bolivian slop mmmm.

I have loved my time at the park and the last two months have flown by, and I cant believe my time here is almost up. I have met some amazing people, have made some awesome friends, and have made so many incredible memories along the way. Ambue Ari is the place to be.

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