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 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 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 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 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 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 South Pacific Students, Grace and Caroline

What’s New in Our Journey?

After our long flights, we safely arrived in Cairns! Mary and Sushi bravely drove on the opposite side of the road for the first time and got us to our lovely hostel. For lunch, we ventured to our first Australian shopping mall and indulged in some food court delicacies. We spent a good first night at the hostel, enjoyed swimming in the pool, started orientation, and even made a few new friends.

The next day, we drove to SheOak Ridge (with a quick pit stop at the grocery store to pick up necessary snacks: TimTams, chips, coffee, granola bars, etc.) and made MANY wrong turns on the backroads of the Daintree. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we met up with Marcus and Claire, our partners for the week who run a nature reserve here in the Daintree rainforest, and they warmly greeted us at their property.

Once we settled in, we continued orientation throughout the week, learning about managing risk, writing community guidelines, playing A LOT of games, learning how to effectively work together, and much more. When we weren’t busy with orientation, we helped Claire and Marcus with their work around the property. We took down the barbed wire (and encountered a few wasp nests along the way—sorry, Sushi, Grace, and Julia!) and prepared pots because Marcus plans to plant 80,000 trees (out of 100,000)!

We also met Theo, the VERY cute and sadly imprinted wallaby at SheOak. We fed him plenty of sweet potatoes and gave him many chest scratches, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Claire also let us watch her nightly feeding of the wild wallabies, and we loved seeing all of them, especially the adorable joeys. There are so many details we might have missed, but overall, it’s been a wonderful week!

Top Three Highlights of the Week:

1. Meeting and hanging out with Theo! He’s super friendly and loves to smile, especially when he’s drowning in sweet potatoes. He often comes up from Claire and Marcus’ house to hang out at our bunk, which we really appreciate. What a wonderful host!
2. As a group, we’ve discovered a shared love for UNO and have been playing it every night after dinner (and sometimes during the day). Our games get quite intense, filled with lots of screaming and laughter. Don’t worry—we’re keeping a tally of wins and will update you on the scores. Clivia is currently the reigning champion with four wins.
3. Our third highlight has to be removing all the barbed wire from Marcus and Claire’s property! They started the project a while ago, and we were able to help finish it. In our next post, we’ll update you on how many kilometers we removed. We became quite skilled at understanding the complexities of barbed wire, which truly seems to have a mind of its own. Many scratches later, we think we’ve mastered it—though there’s always room for improvement!

Challenges We’ve Faced (and Conquered!)

While we’ve loved our time at SheOak Ridge, we’ve found the compost toilets to be a bit of a challenge (to put it mildly). But we’re powering through, knowing that this experience will make us stronger! We’ve even picked up some Aussie slang and now call them “dunnies.”

Our second challenge has been the number of spiders and snakes. Claire and Marcus have reassured us they aren’t very dangerous, and we’ve learned a lot about them—but we’re still cautious and quickly dive into our tents, zipping them up as fast as possible!

Group Dynamics & Moments of Gratitude:

We are incredibly grateful that our group clicked immediately, and we all get along so well. With a small group, it’s easy to spend one-on-one time and really bond. Everyone is unique, but we’re all on the same page and love to laugh and sing together! We’ve been playing lots of games—both in orientation and during our downtime—and telling stories to get to know each other better.

We’ve found a great balance between being serious and getting our work done while still having fun and being a little silly. It’s been a joy to find this harmony in our group!

Bonus Fun: Language Lessons and Musical Vibes

Clivia has been teaching us German, and our current favorite word is “Schmetterling,” which means butterfly. We’ve also been enjoying lots of guitar playing and are so grateful for Gabe and JT’s (Julia T., who we call JT!) musical talents.

The post Cairns to the Daintree: New Adventures, Wallabies, and Overcoming Challenges appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Overseas Educators, Mary and Shushi

Hello, SoPac Cohort 2024!

We are super excited to journey with you this semester in Australia & New Zealand!

Mary (she/her) and Sushi (she/they) here, your Overseas Educators! Mary is thrilled to be returning to Carpe Diem, as she loves to travel, share her passions for ecology and anthropology, and learn and laugh with students. Sushi is excited for her first Carpe Diem semester to explore, facilitate social justice lessons, grow, and giggle with everyone! Please help keep them safe from robots and balloons, their greatest fears.

Here are 3 travel tips from us:

1. Pack light! You’ll be surprised how little you can live with.
2. Sleep well and rest properly.
3. Have fun! Bring games, enjoy each other’s company, and try new things. The best stories come from unexpected moments.

We are excited to create a new community and have fun with y’all!

The post Hello from Your Walkabout Overseas Educators – We’re Excited to Journey With You This Semester! appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Overseas Educators, Soumya & Forrest

To my beloved superpoopers,

We came together like the Daintree River and parted ways many moons later like its many tributaries. Along the way, we lived and laughed through seventy beautiful, challenging, sweaty, hilarious, eye-opening, wild and wonderful days.

There are so many moments I look back on… a befuddling, chaotic few hours at the Sydney airport when we realized we’d be in Sydney for a lot longer than we thought. The first time Leslie (pronouns: bad/bitch) came home with Maddie. Driving up the Queensland coast to Sheoak for the first time. Playing Mafia around the campfire. Andy getting pooped on by River the wallaby. Rides on the ute with Claire and swapping stories with Marcus. Bandicoots! Protecting Kenzie from the alpha males. That time Asa tried to carry four people.

Port Douglas and using every apartment to cook Maddie’s ramen. Scuba diving and swimming through whole schools of fish. Our ‘Born in the USA’ Aussie friends. Garage accidents. Movie nights featuring Marcus’s recommendation.

Holding hands and dancing our way into the ClimateForce community, some what reluctantly. Learning about plants in the Daintree. Playing with Liana’s daughter Ayana. Cooking in the dark. Outdoor showers. Meeting Bails, Leo, and Naim and dancing under the stars with them. Nolan embracing his inner fire-whisperer. Finding “interesting” rubbish in our beach cleanup. Bonfires on the beach. Early morning runs and yoga. Stella being in her element.

Landing in Wellington and getting fined for 1/4 of a sausage roll. Adopting the Shaggin’ Wagon and rolling into the Hart Farm. Meeting all the pups, Kyla getting pooped on by cows during early morning farm chores, extreme Sardines. Giant Jenga, going for boat rides, Sting Pong bruises, RJ’s birthday and $80 Magic cards, movies on movies, and Ricky Baker and Midsommar scenes. Building steps, the sauna room, pizza night, and Limpus (RIP).

A rainy hike to Tongariro’s waterfalls, climbing indoors just for us, whacking the mini golf balls onto the street in the freezing sunset. Singing our original song for Tiaki at our first powhiri in Raglan (“yeahhh”). Endless “Purea nei”, a freezing cleansing ceremony, a blissful afternoon on top of Karioi mounga laying in the grass. Learning how to introduce ourselves in Maori using blocks, making Maori instruments, dressing up as each other for Halloween (shoutout to Treavor and Josie – who’s who?), long walks and runs on the beach, going to kickboxing, experiencing our first hangi, making harakeke baskets, being stunned by the beauty of waterfalls and nature and learning how to connect with it all. Closing it out with Rangimarie and Rob at the sweatlodge and a final meal with Maddisyn and Tiaki and our last hongi.

A few whirlwind days between Taupo, New Plymouth, and Wellington again. Strawberry ice cream from the farm, yellow sunflowers, sriracha accidents in the van, the coolest Macca’s in the world, and long visits to the loo (ahem). A ferry ride across the islands and we were met by Joe and Mike. Pizza on the beach and playing in the playground, an early morning with our first rako set, visiting the womb waterfalls with Matua Mike. Our little rustic farmhouse, entering the monster’s mouth of the cave and worming our way through the possum pass, slipping and sliding our way up the muddy mountain to the secret caves, Nolan leading us astray, trying kawakawa leaves, each karakia before each delicious meal. Beginning our long day hike and the endless games and humor we used to uplift each other, getting out on the water and kayaking. Paddling among sea lions, through rocks, watching the sunrise and sunset, fighting off the tenacious weka, catching the Carpe plague and continuing despite it, feeling our way through the trees. Sunrise over the water and arriving back at Whenua Iti. Joe’s jokes and pirate persona and Michael’s vulnerability and dedication.

And finally, our last week, Tasha and Josie at the helm. Long drives, an epic D&D campaign from our very own Forrest featuring our own SoPac adventure. Talia and Josie the two-headed single-hipped fey person, exploring the wilderness of the Karamea beach, our final group meeting. Swimming through tannin-brown water, visiting Pancake Rocks and being blindfolded to birthday dinner, a very sweet surprise treat by Tasha and Forrest, bright blue waters of the Hokitika Gorge. And finally, across Arthur’s Pass where we explored the braided gravel riverbeds to Christchurch. Jumping on the giant pillow bounce in the mornings, cuddle parties, late-night Hunger Games, and playing on the coolest playground. Rounding it out with a walk through our semester via the Botanical Gardens and games and love on a bittersweet night where we parted ways at the airport at 4 am.

I’m sure now you’re reveling in the comforts of home, cozy blankets, hugging your dog or gecko or guinea pig, food you’re used to, hot showers as long as you want, sleeping in your own bed. Being with family and friends from before, going on walks around your neighborhood. Each of you brought something special to this semester, with your humor, your love, your curiosity, your kindness, your enthusiasm, and your commitment to each other and to learn and grow and push yourselves. I hope you’ll remember this time not as something that happened to you, but as something you’ll take with you throughout the rest of your life – whether it’s friendship, learning, growth, inspiration, or a sense of belonging.

As I close, I want to leave you with this poem:

“Let go of the ways you thought life would unfold, the holding of plans or dreams or expectations – Let it all go.

Save your strength to swim with the tide.

The choice to fight what is here before you now will only result in struggle, fear, and desperate attempts to flee from the very energy you long for.

Let go. Let it all go and flow with the grace that washes through your days whether you received it gently or with all your quills raised to defend against invaders.

Take this on faith; the mind may never find the explanations that it seeks, but you will move forward nonetheless.

Let go, and the wave’s crest will carry you to unknown shores, beyond your wildest dreams or destinations.

Let it all go and find the place of rest and peace, and certain transformation.”

–Let It Go, Danna Faulds

I hope you continue to stay open to however life unfolds for you. May it be full of joy and love and adventure. It’s been an honor to be your OEs.

Nothing but love,

Salt & Pepper

(aka Soumya & Forrest -but who’s who?)

The post A Final Letter from your Walkabout Overseas Educators appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Madeleine N. & Treavor O.

Our group traveled to our last contact, Whenua Iti. We spent the next 9 days caving, hiking and sea kayaking. With our leaders Joe and Michael, we participated in many group bonding activities; we learned more about the Maori culture through these activities.

What have been the three highlights of the week?

Caving – We went to a cave where we trekked through really tough, tight fitting spaces. We were also faced with multiple challenges like climbing down a waterfall inside the cave, getting lost and finding our way out, and fitting through really small spaces. Along the cave trip, we spent time sitting in silence and observing glow worms which were incredible to see.

Hiking – We had a 13.2 mile hike which took us most of the day to do. During the hike we stopped at many lookouts and ate lunch at a beautiful spot looking out to the ocean. The hike was extremely tiring for our body’s and mind, but we all pushed through and finished with a positive outlook in the end.

Sea Kayaking – After the hike we camped out for the night on a beach where we then woke up in the morning at 4am proceeding to get the kayaks ready. The kayaking was 36km in total spread out to 3 days. During the kayaking we experienced a lot of really cool sights like natural rock formations, seals, and a beautiful sunrise. Sea kayaking took a lot out of the group mentally and physically which make it challenging to push through. Even though it was a hard process, it was completely worth it in the end.

Growth comes with challenge – what are some of the challenges you’ve overcome this week?

During this week, we faced a lot of challenges we had to push through. One of them was the majority of the group getting sick during the sea kayaking portion of the week. Another challenge we had to face was the weather. The weather was pretty bad to start off our camping portion. It was consistently raining which made some peoples tents get really wet on the inside. We were also challenged by the fact that sea kayaking put an unreal amount of soreness and pain to our bodies which made us really tired and drained mentally. Throughout this process we all stayed happy and calm with a great attitude. During camping we encountered an animal called a Waka, who persisted in stealing many of our belongings and food. Even though this was a slight challenging, it was hilarious to watch the Wakas steal our stuff and chase after them in a panic.

What are you grateful for this week?

We are extremely grateful for our contacts Joe and Michael for pushing us through the whole week with a great mindset/attitude. Joe has taught us so many life lessons and skills to take back home to our families. We are also grateful for the amount of opportunities we had during this week whether it was caving, hiking, or sea kayaking. The amount of beautiful sights, places, and animals we saw were incredible and we are very grateful to have that opportunity. In general, this whole week was a great experience that we will never forget.

The post Caving, Hiking, & Sea Kayaking: Whenua Iti appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Asa & RJ

We drove from Raglan down to Wellington over a few days while doing a practice run of our student directed travel. We spent a day in a very culturally significant museum in Wellington before we departed towards the South Island.

What have been the three highlights of the week?

The first highlight of the week was on our first day of the practice student directed travel. We had a zero day where we didn’t do anything at all, which may sound a little boring but trust me everyone enjoyed it.

The second highlight of the week was getting a major adrenaline rush when we took a leap of faith off of the top of a 20ft pole on to a trapeze bar.

The third highlight were all of the beautiful sights we saw while caving which was a very challenging but rewarding experience for everyone!

Growth comes with challenge – what are some of the challenges you’ve overcome this week?

The challenge this week was having to figure out how to do everything ourselves with little help from our OEs.

What’s coming up next week?

Next week we will be beginning our adventure backpacking and kayak packing through the Abel Tasman national park! We are looking forward to seeing some beautiful sights and amazing wildlife!

The post Student Directed Travel from Wellington to the South Island appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Talia M. & Madeleine N.

Over the past week we had our final stretch outside of Raglan with the Māori. We spent time with knowledgeable Māori community members, Tiaki and Madisyn. We also spent two days at the home Rob and Rangi Marie who combine many Native American and Māori beliefs and customs.

What have been the three highlights of the week?

Our group surf expert, RJ, taught the group how to surf. And we caught some waves in Raglan, the top surf spot in the nation.

Tiaki took us on an afternoon “right of passage” journey. Which many Māori young adults take part in as a transition from childhood to adulthood, that addresses inner growth and fundamentals of emotional maturity.

We experienced the sacred ceremony of a sweat lodge. We helped to assemble the structure and heat the”grand(mother/father)” stones. And took part in the challenging and rewarding experience.

Growth comes with challenge – what are some of the challenges you’ve overcome this week?

“Maa te wa” is a fundamental aspect of Māori lifestyle, which was very present in our experience. We often didn’t know what each day would hold until it was actively happening. This made it challenging to plan and prepare, but allowed us to fully embrace living in the moment.

What are you grateful for this week?

We have been very grateful to have such immersive experiences in the Māori culture. We have been welcomed into communities like family and have been able to learn so much through first hand experience. We appreciate the vulnerability shown by the Māori community and will take home what we have learned into our own lives.

**We’re waiting for photos from this group when they return to wifi connectivity – stay tuned on our social media! 

The post Māori Community, Surfing, & Sweat Lodge in New Zealand appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Stella K. and Asa P.

Post Hart Farm, we got back on the road and headed to Tangariro National Park for a waterfall hike, mini golf, and a wide view of Mount Doom. Next up: Raglan! We found our way to the maraes to learn about the Maori culture and immerse ourselves in a new lifestyle, making new friends along the way all the while. With hikes through sacred land, new language learning, and historical lessons, we have experienced bountiful new things and look forward to learning more.

What have been the three highlights of the week?

Through an incredible week, we were able to have a Halloween celebration that included a scavenger hunt and the chance to dress up as fellow group members. We hiked to a beautiful waterfall in Tongariro National Park where we stopped and ate lunch over looking the amazing views of rolling mountains and the largest waterfall that I’ve ever seen. We also had an amazing lesson over traditional Māori instruments where we tried playing them without any direction or previous knowledge about them. After we tried, and mostly failed, we were shown the correct ways to play them and the beautiful sounds that they could make. We then sat down and made our own instruments out of clay, which was difficult but very fun!

Growth comes with challenge – what are some of the challenges you’ve overcome this week?

Our group had to move locations multiple times this week. From Hart Farm to Tongariro National Park, where we had an amazing 2-day stay, and then from Tongariro to Raglan where we changed accommodations 4 times. These transitions were mostly smooth except for our move from Tongariro to Raglan. On our drive we had a flat tire that delayed our arrival by nearly an hour. Luckily though we pulled over in a very beautiful spot, so the wait wasn’t that bad. The worst part of constantly moving was the fact that we were never able to fully settle and get comfortable in any particular place, however it was nice being able to see and learn the amount that we did in this short time!

How has the group been doing?

The group is incredibly close and views each other as a little family. Wether it’s cooking together, exploring, or just sharing laughs, there’s never a dull moment with the SoPac squad.

What’s happening next week?

Up next with SoPac we have our first taste of student directed travel on our way to the South Island of New Zealand! We are all excited to put our travel knowledge to the test and take charge on our first excursion planned and led by the group.

The post Tongariro National Park & Raglan appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Andy & Kyla

We arrived at the Hart family farm in New Zealand. This is where we met Greg and Rachel, the amazing hosts that run the cattle farm we worked on. Every morning, part of the group would go with Greg and do the animal related chores such as weighing and herding cattle, feeding pigs and chickens, and driving around on the yute with Greg. The other parts of the group would either clean or cook in the morning before the group would get together and complete our afternoon work. This work included sawing branches off of trees to help maintain a native forest, building forest steps, weeding different tracts of land on the property, demolition work on a neighbors house, and using a flamethrower to remove weeds from a driveway . In the late afternoon/ early evening we would play games as a group including volleyball and soccer and hang out before dinner. Dinner was cooked by our group and we made a variety of delicious dishes including pizza, hamburgers, curry, and other delectable dishes . After dinner we would either watch a movie as a group or play a game as a group.

What have been the three highlights of the week?

We celebrated our good friend RJ’s 19th birthday at the Hart family farm with cake, presents, and games. Everyone loved to spend his special day with him!

After several days of work we had a day off where we went to the city of Napier. Once there, people bought clothes, snacks, and other fun items. The group got to go out for lunch and enjoy the variety of choices for food that Napier offers.

On one of the nights of the week, we watched a Kiwi movie called Hunt for the Wilder People. The group really enjoyed the movie and it made everyone laugh a lot. It also introduced us more to Kiwi movie productions and the work of Taika Waititi.

Growth comes with challenge – what are some of the challenges you’ve overcome this week?

This week was the week of adjustment. After spending weeks in Australia with temperatures staying steady at around 30C for the duration of our stay, transitioning to New Zealand was hard. People had realized that they might not clothes for the cold weather so they had to do some adjusting and shopping for the change in temperature.

How has the group been doing?

Our group is extremely close with lots of laughter, inside jokes, and the occasional bit. We always find ways to do things as a group and include everyone. Everyone in the group has gone above and beyond to establish a personal connection with each other. We overcome every bump in the road as a group and we pick each other up when needed. This is a group that is going to stay close friends after this trip concludes. Plans to reconnect have already begun:))

Anything else?

Hola mama te amo!! – Andy

The post First Week in New Zealand appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Josie G. and Nolan S.

We continued our journey at ClimateForce, immersing ourselves in the magic that is the Daintree rainforest. We’ve been mixing our time with physical work for ClimateForce (weeding, fence making, beach cleanups and tending to their tree nursery), learning about environmental careers and the research that ClimateForce does (workshops with plant and seed identification, conversations with ClimateForce employees, and being able to see their work in action), and interacting with the nature and people around us in a less structured setting. Then, we said goodbye to our friends at ClimateForce and Australia and headed to New Zealand! After a long travel day (and redemption in the Sydney airport!), we arrived in Wellington. After a night in Wellington, we headed up to the Hart Family Farm.

What have been the three highlights of the week?

Our group drove to Mossman to the home of Barney, ClimateForce’s CEO. We were able to have a great conversation with him where he talked to each of us about our future aspirations and how we could shift our perspectives to making them “green jobs”– this was amazing as our group has a wide variety of interests but we were able to see how we could use our passions in a way that can help the planet. Afterwards, we went to Mossman Gorge, a special place to the Kuku Yalanji tribe. We swam, ate, and hung out with Barney, Jack, and Georgia. Then, we met with an elder from the area where we learned about the incredible healing properties that certain fruits and plants from the Daintree have, and about his journey to integrate his culture into a more mainstream point of view (something worth mentioning, Australia went through a voice referendum during our visit to incorporate indigenous representation in parliament; it was a political movement that we were very conscious of, even though the referendum did not pass). This day was overall so much fun and educational!

We were so fortunate to be invited by Liana of ClimateForce to an ecstatic dance event at her home! Her property was deep in the Daintree and was a perfect place to immerse into nature. Some of the group danced in a judgement free zone, others went for a night swim in the creek nearby, but we all had such a great time at this very unique community event.

We had so many amazing fires under the bright stars. Every night, we would sit out and look at the sky while talking with each other. On our last night in Australia, we went to the beach at Cape Kimberly and had a fire on the beach with the volunteers at ClimateForce. It was an incredible way to close out this chapter of our trip!

Growth comes with challenge – what are some of the challenges you’ve overcome this week?

This week, a few members of the group fell sick to some sort of illness, as well as some dehydration. This was a challenge because it was scary to see our friends in a bad state of health, and having to wait to hear if everyone was okay. Another challenging experience was traveling into another country, as there were so many moving parts and there were a few hiccups getting through customs, like some people forgot some items in their bags that were not supposed to be there. New Zealand biosecurity is legit! Other than those hiccups, the week went very well for the group and was a very fun week.

What are you grateful for this week?

This week, we spent a lot of time reflecting on our gratitude towards our time in Australia. Between a surprise Sydney trip, time with Claire and Marcus, scuba, and ClimateForce, so many amazing memories have been made already. We all came to the consensus that Australia will always hold a special place in our hearts, specifically the Daintree. We feel so grateful to have had such fulfilling and new experiences in Australia.

The post Green Jobs, Ecstatic Dance, & Australian Campfires 🔥 appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Treavor O. & Tasha B.

With our instructors, Martin and Chad, we were able to get certified in scuba diving. We spent one day learning in a pool and two days scuba diving in the magical great barrier reef. After our tiring, but rewarding, three days, we come up to the Daintree. We met the CEO of ClimateForce, Barney and his team. We planted trees, weeded, learned about identifying trees, gathered seeds to identify, and put up an electric fence. We’ve learned a lot about the oldest rainforest in the world and how to preserve it.

What have been the three highlights of the week?

The top highlights of this week we’re definitely scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef and learning all the skills we can use for the rest of our lives, learning about restoring the rainforest in many ways like planting trees, putting up electric fencing so the wild hogs won’t ruin the property, and helping clean up the area by picking weeds so that the community of Climate Force has an easier time restarting the rain forest when we leave here. We were also trying a lot of different delicious fruits and food we can’t get anywhere else in the world that were offered from the community of Climate Force. Lastly seeing all the beautiful sights/views at Climate Force was an awesome experience including looking up at the stars and seeing the Milky Way. This week was definitely one to remember.

Growth comes with challenge – what are some of the challenges you’ve overcome this week?

The Daintree is a beautiful place full of a variety of different animals and plants, and it gets hot! Working to preserve the environment by weeded and planting trees in the hot sun is quite taxing. Keeping hydrated and healthy is consistently on our minds. As well as knowing our limits and when to take breaks. We’re looking out for each other by brining water to each other and reminding each other to drink water.

How’s the group?

Our group is closer than ever, granted we started off this trip getting extremely close with one another right off the bat. As we keep moving within this trip, we will be getting closer and closer every day slowly becoming a family. We all have learned many things about each other and enjoy all the time we have together. As this trip keeps moving along our group will become friends forever.

The post Daintree, ClimateForce, & the Milky Way ✨ appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Students, Talia M. and RJ L.

We spent last week at the lovely Sheoak Ridge in the Daintree rainforest. Hosted by Claire and Marcus, two passionate and accomplished conversationalists. We had some amazing wilderness experiences including cuddles with wallabies and educational nature walks.

What have been the three highlights of the week?

Getting to have unique and immersive wildlife interactions were definitely some highlights, from feeding wallabies out of our hands to spotting a platypus in the pond.

Hearing from Claire and Marcus on their passions for environmentalism and conservation was also an amazing experience. We learned about glow worms, aboriginal history, and local environmental action.

We also had fun day trips, including a visit to Lake Eachem. A volcanic lake with beautifully clear water and lush nature paths.

Growth comes with challenge – what are some of the challenges you’ve overcome this week?

We were all challenged by the extreme change in lifestyle. Living out of tents and not having access to normal bathrooms. We were also disconnected from internet and our phones. Our daily work was definitely an adjustment and included tasks like digging trenches to provide water to a greenhouse, and clearing invasive shrubs and trees on the property.

How is the group bonding together?

We have grown as a group bonding through late night mafia and other games by the campfire light. As we adapted to our new environment we have become more self sufficient having to care for our own tent and possessions in a mainly tech free environment without many modern conveniences.

The post Wallabies, Glow Worms, & Lake Eachem in Australia appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written by South Pacific Overseas Educator, Forrest

On September 20th, thirteen strangers got on a plane with the intent of making their way to Cairns, Australia. After a 15 hour flight the group decided they liked Sydney so much that they’d stay there a little while. We spent two days in Sydney napping away jetlag, exploring Bondi Beach, playing games, and posing in front of the Sydney Opera House. We bonded as a group and even added a 14th member to our little family. Leslie (pictured below) is a native of Sydney, they are a meerkat posing in the skin of a koala.

After 2 fabulous unplanned days in Sydney we made our way to SheOak Ridge. Our hosts Claire and Marcus are two conservationists who have spent the last 20 odd years rewilding 165 acres of rainforest and bushland. Our group was lucky enough to have orientation here. The week has been filled with games, rainforest camping, manual labor, and wildlife encounters.

What have been the three highlights of the week?

The group has swarmed Claire and Marcus’s house every evening to interact with the wallabies Claire has been rehabilitating. Group members sit on Claire’s porch while the agile & pademelon wallabies curiously come up for food. One rambunctious wallaby (River) will even come up and sit in our students’ laps.

The group getting to know one another. Soumya and Forrest have been so impressed with how fast everyone in the group has integrated with one another. It’s the beginning of week 2, but it feels like week 4.

Despite the stress of missing a flight the group was so thrilled to make a surprise stop in Sydney. Seeing the Sydney Opera House was a particular highlight for everyone in the group.

Growth comes with challenge – what are some of the challenges you’re overcoming this week?

The missed flight and jetlag were challenges for the group this week. Missing a flight is no fun for anyone but everyone was so patient with the plan scramble and really made the best of the situation. These challenges really helped everyone bond super quickly. Naps and high energy tasks really helped with the jetlag.

How is the group bonding together?

The group dynamic is absolutely crazy in a beautiful way. Everyone is so high energy and there are so many dynamic relationships developing. Forrest and Soumya are so impressed at how well the group entertains themselves. Any time the OEs turn their backs, the group will start some game or activity on their own. Group members wake up early and are always struggling to go to bed because they are so excited to be with each other.

Note from HQ: We’re eagerly awaiting more photos and videos from this group as they return to wifi access. More to come! 

The post Sydney to Cairns! appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written By Ryan and Lauren

Our last goodbyes have been said. The murmurs of our laughs and celebrations and banter have faded into the surroundings. And the world has continued to turn even as most of us flew half a world away to return to the strange world of familiar things. The story of our journey together has ended. As we re-enter spaces of individual living and storytelling, we’ll each find ways to make sense of what we’ve experienced to ourselves and to others — take up the final and most difficult challenge of the adventure: giving it meaning.

But before that, a thank you. It’s been a truly transformative time made so by the contribution of each and every person in our community. We’ll hold memories of this time together dearly. Big skies friends.

The post A Closing Karakia appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written By Ben

Throughout the last 2 1/2 months I was thinking of the perfect way to conclude this blog post. Our group has been through the highs of going caving and exploring the Great Barrier Reef, and the lows of sorting trash in the pouring rain and everything in between. Instead of describing the last week of student directed travel, I decided to bring our adventure to a close by summarizing my favorite quotes and most common things said by everybody in the group. To an outsider, this may seem like a random jumble of words and phrases, but to us, it describes the ways in which 14 strangers became family. Thank you to the Carpe Diem South Pacific family for making the most meaningful gap year experience I could ever imagine. – Ben

Lauren
“Hey Team”
“Anybody want this delicious mix of seeds and nuts?”
“Guys look at my toe socks”

Ryan
“Yeahhhhhhh buddy”
“**awkward chuckle**”
“Guys we should have a floating contest”

Bailor
“I have a question”
“Malk”
“My balls”

Raj
“Zam sonic”
“I’m just a little guy in a little world
“smiles… widely”

River
“Wow Raj”
“guys listen guys” **tilts head**
“My children”

Talia H.
“Personally”
“Can I read someone’s book?”
“I’m going to bed”

Eden
“Waittt what does that mean?”
“Can I please get a iced mocha”
“Interesting”

Ben
“Who dravin dis buszzz”
“Yuhhhhh get into it”
“You need to leave”

Talia G.
“I love you so much but…”
“To be honest…”
“So true”

Jenson
“Should I play house music”
“No No No”
“It’s just a joke, calm down”

Bridget
“Delish”
“F it we ball”
“Fur real”

Charlie
“Perfect”
“Ooooooo Is that candy I see”
“**evil winning laugh**”

Jade
“Dog crap”
“Rat”
“Where is my mother”

Cole
“Hmmmmmmm”
“I agree”
“I’ll eat it”

The post A Strange Family appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written By Baylor and Jensen

The week of the 6th we left the comfort of the Hart farm and headed for the South Island. The ferry ride was 4h and it mostly consisted of sleeping, eating and playing cards. The landscape around was beautiful and nothing we had ever seen before. After getting off the ferry we meet one of our guides, And The week of the 6th we left the comfort of the Hart farm and headed for the South Island. The ferry ride was 4h and it mostly consisted of sleeping, eating, and playing cards. The landscape around was beautiful and nothing we had ever seen before. After getting off the ferry we meet one of our guides, Andrew. He took us to where we were staying that night and, then left us to ourselves for the rest of the night. After we woke he took us 5 min down the road to the home base of Whenuate It, where we meet our other guide, Joe. With Andrew and Joe, we played some games got our gear ready, and then packed up and left to go caving. We went to a cave system one group went into the mouth of the system and the other group when into the butt of the cave system. Caving. After we got back on the bus and headed for where we would stay the next two nights which was a house in the middle of nowhere near the place we were backpacking and kayaking. While we were there we threw a party on the beach and went running down some sand dunes, got to learn more about Joe and Andrew, and learned what we’re doing the next 7 days. When we left that lovely home we headed to the beginning of the trail and started the hike, the first day was an easy 6k. We got to the campsite after about 2 hours-ish, set up tents, ate the food then feel asleep. We woke up early to get a good start on the 15k we had to do that day, the day was gorgeous, bright, sunny, and a wee bit windy. We saw some amazing sites and some animals most of us had never seen in the wild like seals and penguins. After that strenuous day of hiking, we all decided to set up camp and then collapse.

We woke up at 5 AM to a loud BOOM from the lighting hitting the ground and we got up and started packing the kayaks. Once we realized we don’t know how to pack we played a 30-minute game of Tetris to manage to fit all of our gear. We got our kayaks in the water the rain did not stop and we kept getting wetter and wetter and wetter and the discomfort kept increasing but the morals tried staying high and then the discomfort overcame us and the morals were a little low but we kept pushing and kept pushing until we got to a beautiful lagoon. This lagoon had seals playing in the calm water. We had a little snack break so we could stop the hangryness that was growing upon us. The sun finally started to come out and the day slowly got better. We got to camp and everyone was exhausted but still managed to have a good attitude towards the day. Woke up the next morning and it wasn’t raining so instantly it was a lot better. We stopped at Cleopatra’s pools and It was stunning. There were big boulders everywhere and water flowing all around them creating a natural slide. So instinctively we slid down it even though the water was frigid. Later we kayaked to our new campsite and it was stunning. This was a good day.
On the final day of kayaking, we woke up at 4:30 am and got out on the water by 5:30 am so we could watch the sun slowly come over the horizon. It was amazing. this day we took multiple beach stops to re-energize. At one of these stops, there was a huge rock split right in half and a cave right off the beach. After kayaking for another 13km we made it to the bus and loaded up the kayaks and left.

After a night of some good comfortable sleep it was time to say goodbye to Joe and Andrew. We preformed the Haka for them as a sign of respect and then gave out thanks and final goodbyes.

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Written By Charlie

October 31, 2022. A Halloween like none other. I arrived at the Hart family farm exhausted but excited for a change of scenery. An intense couple of days had tired me out, but the beauty of the farm lifted my spirits. Opening the door to our new home, I was greeted by a scene that was best described as a painting. Rolling green hills, grazing sheep and best of of all, the spectacular lake welcomed us. I was taken aback by the view that I would consistently find myself gazing at for the next week. Dinner that night was special. We met some fellow guests and devoured what I can easily I say were the best burgers I have ever had. Some of you might not know, but the Hart family farm is a cattle farm. It felt really good knowing where our food came from and that we were eating as sustainably as possible.
The true highlight of the night goes to Ryan’s murder mystery party. Sticking with the Māori themes of the prior week, we acted out our the story of Maui – a mischievous Demi-god. We did the best we could with costumes and brought our best acting skills to the party. It was one of the most fun nights of the trip, even with the murderer getting away.

I woke up the next morning bright and early to milk cows. I haven’t spent much time around farm animals and I was genuinely intimidated by the size of them. Some of them had their own plans, but with a little bit of luck, we corralled them into position ready to be milked. Putting the suction cups on their utters may be one of the stranger things I did on the trip, but I can now say that is something I have done. We collected the milk and got to feed the pigs, which were my favorite animals. They were so excited to get food and just had funny personalities.

The rest of the week included tree trimming, bush walks, swimming, fishing, volleyball, dance parties and so much more. There were definitely ups and downs but I was impressed by our groups ability to preserve and have deep conversations. There is something grounding about living on a farm; Eating food grown there and building things from scratch. It is a lifestyle that I haven’t had much exposure too and I am very grateful for the opportunity to have experienced it. I really enjoyed listening to the Hart family’s outlook on life – the importance of sustainability and our interconnectedness. I will take those lessons with me and most importantly always, always remember to shut the sink off.

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Written By Eden & Cole

“The largest journey in life is from the heart to the head.” -Terangimarie
This week we let go of some of the things delaying that journey, and did some self reflection to find what fuels it.

October 23rd. Spirits were low. More than half our group was sick. Many competed to be the last healthy one standing, some even trying to play it off as allergies. Eventually the many days of traveling and late nights had wore us all down, and together we had succumb to the illness.

October 24th. Our day started off slow and somber. Many struggled to leave bed and some decided today was best used as a rest day. When we left our hostel we travelled to met our local contact Rob. He had lived a life doing the things he loved and was very knowledgeable. Many of the things he talked about included survival living and innate human skills. This went so much beyond hunting, foraging or making a fire however. Throughout our time with him we played different games and activities to understand our human connection to the environment and how powerful human intuition is. First we started by searching the nearby forest for herbs we believed were medicine. We then put each of our leaves in a boiling pot over the fire and made a delicious tea. After that we played the stone game that taught us to leave our ego behind and used instinctual cooperation to work towards a goal. We also played more directly competitive games such as Jedi Tag where we snuck around in the grass trying to silently tag your opponent. After learning many lessons about living how you want and doing what we love, we said our farewells and left.

October 25th. We began our day by visiting
Ngaronoa who graciously welcomed us into her home and showed us her garden and living space. Her Maōri connections in both lineage and family had given her much wisdom and she had dedicated her life to natural medicine. Before we began our lesson, she laid out various teas, coffee and even cake. We conversed for a while about our plans for the future and why we had decided to come along on the Carpe Diem adventure. After we had all fully woken up, we began to pick the leaves and fruit off the stems of a medicine plant. Later she would grant a small portion of the collection to our group in hopes of curing our runny noses and sore throats. Before we left however, she taught us the many uses for Flax in Maōri culture. We then got the opportunity to weave flax that we harvested straight from her front yard. After making a school of woven fishes, we thanked her for her many stories and teachings and took off.

October 26th. After learning about the many ancient and modern uses for flax, we visited Liz and Rick’s farm to help replant the flax that had been harvested. In Maōri culture it is a long practiced tradition to preserve the Child and Parent stalks so that the plant could regrow properly. The Child stalk is in the very center while the Parent stalks are the ones directly next to it. When the flax was prepared for planting, we began to dig holes in a swampy marsh that swallowed us in muddy water up to our knees. Only after finishing the job we were told that people often fall all the way through to the underground body of water that was filled with massive freshwater eels. Finally we finished up the day by eating some fresh grown Tangelos and giving gratitude to our hosts.

October 27th. We started the day with one last, long walk on the beach with Tiaki. As we walked, we talked about different characteristics of childhood. And as each was discussed, it was discarded and left to the memory of childhood- with the intention of making way for adulthood. We ended the walk with hand in hand, with our feet in the ocean, and a blessing from Tiaki. We also performed the Haka for Tiaki, as a way to show our gratitude for the past two weeks he’s spent working with us. We ended the day at Manu Wairua, our final destination with Tiaki.

October 28th. 6:30 AM- time to build a sweat lodge. We dressed what looked like a jungle gym made from sticks in blankets and mats until no light could find it’s way in. This process is called, “Dressing the grandmother.” We each grabbed a large stone, and said individual blessings as we placed them at the base of a fire. Those stones are referred to as, “Grandfather rocks.” Each rock was placed in the middle of the lodge, and water was poured over to create steam. As the air surrounding us grew hotter and hotter, we each shared things we felt were holding us back from our highest selves, and something we hoped to achieve. As time passed, more rocks were added, more water was added to the rocks, and the air grew hotter. We sang songs and gave thanks to the things and people in our lives inspiring us to bear the heat. The rest of the day was spent outside in reflection; some of us even chose to spend the rest of the day reflecting in solitude.

October 28th. The morning was spent in the sweat lodge, while the rest of the day was spent preparing a dinner for all the people that have helped us along our journey in New Zealand. We prepared a veggie curry, fresh bread from a Raglan bakery, and a salad straight from Tiaki’s home garden. We ended the night at hot pools, where we played games, relaxed, and joined hands for one final blessing and goodbye with Tiaki.

Though we might be forever searching for what fuels the journey from our hearts to our heads, if we’ve learned anything from these past two weeks and indigenous culture, it’s that taking care of our community, the people around us, is the best place to start.

“What gives life meaning, it is the people, it is the people.” (Māori proverb)

The post Retreat Week appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written By Jade and Bridget

Maori Cultural Immersion
Kia Ora
Ko Catskills ngā maunga
Ko Hudson te awa
Nō Ironi nō Italia me New York ahau
Ko Jade Marsigliano ahau
Tīhei Mauri Ora!!

Kia Ora
Ko Shenandoah ngā maunga
Ko Potomac te awa
Nō Oui Oui me D.C. ahua
Ko Bridget Scully ahua
Tīhei Mauri Ora

Oct. 17
After a long day of travel to Auckland, we finally make our way to our home for the next five days in Whaīngaroa at the Kokiri. Upon arrival we must be officially welcomed to stay on the land. We entered through ,a gateway carved with honored faces assessing us. We then walk towards our host Tiaki, Madison and their whanau (family) with the women leading the walk, later the men are seated in front of the women. Tiaki then greeted us in the tradition Maori language. Cole, our male leader of the week, represented our group through an intention speech. After his words Eden, our female leader of the week, lead us in a verse of Stand By Me. Finally presented a bouquet of flowers to our hosts, by placing it between our group and the Moari present. Graciously they accepted our gift and we were welcome onto the land. The final tradition of the ceremony was to share food with our new community.

Oct. 18
Together we stand hand in hand at the base of Wairenga watching and listening to our surroundings, a sacred place for Moari people. We had the honor to participate in a ceremony led by Tiaki and Madison. At first we were only aware of the numbing feeling of the water on our feet, we quickly realized it was much more than that. We dove deeper into our hiwa-i-te-rangi, part of te Tuakiri, where we could reflect on the entirety of our selves and surroundings, te Tuakiri. Our connections within ourselves and our surroundings were brought to the surface. Our journey did not start at the base of Wairenga, but from our first steps onto the land. The power of Wairenga led many to be moved emotionally. The walk down pushed everyone to think beyond themselves. After 261 steps down we continued our experience in the water. Once we opened our eyes, we silently made our way out of the water and shared a life breath together.

Our afternoon was spent learning our mehi, how to introduce ourselves in Maori. We learned through a technique that bans speaking English. You can only speak Maori and there were pictures that represented the sound of the word. Bridget and Jade wrote this blog and we wrote our mehi at the top. By the end of the session we were all able to say our mehi and shared it with the group.

Oct. 19
The Maori peoples have sacrificed and fought for their land and culture. There is no greater honor than to learn about their history, as we did today. We had the privilege of meeting Angeline, daughter of ?. Angeline has continued her mothers work and fought for the rights back to their land and way of life, that was wrongfully taken from them. In the afternoon we helped load a transport truck with whakairo. They are traveling to a museum were they will represent Maori culture. After the truck left we headed to a field and planted native trees together. This experience has been another way for us to connect to our surroundings. We got some energy out by going to a kickboxing class with our teacher, Jade (not the student).

Oct. 20
After a day full of meaningful discussions with our hosts. We had breakfast for dinner, followed by learning a traditional Maori dance, the Haka. We met our teachers for the night, Kimo and Maraina. They started by explaining the origins of the Haka, and its importance of it in Aotearoa. First we learned the lyrics which were powerful and brought us together as a group. To learn our parts we separated into two groups, boys with Kimo and girls with Madison and Maraina, full of laughs and haka lyrics we practiced over and over until we got it down. We performed for each other, girls going first and boys following loudly. Once we stopped our laughter and applause, we joined together for the full experience of dancing a haka. The night was full of laughter and excitement, Kimo and Maraina were knowledgeable and so ecstatic to teach us about their culture.

Oct. 21
We started the day by saying goodbye to Kokiri, and drove the short distance to the Institute of Awesome. We got a brief background of the Institute and how it has been built into what it is today. After a crazy lunch of finding whatever leftover food we had, we drove to Karioi. The mountain, Karioi, was once used for rites of passage by the Maori. Before starting the climb we stop at a overlook of a beautiful gorge with a sad history. From the viewpoint you can see the ocean, Whangaroa. The history of this place has deep roots for the Maori people and is being used for rites of passages again after years of no rights. The climb was steep and slippery from the mud, however we are in good moods and enjoying the fresh air. Once we reach a spot Tiaki likes we have a short talk about reindigeonizing people not just here in Aotearoa but all over the world. At the end of our talk on the mountain we all head off to find a space where we can be alone and connect with our surrounding and ourselves. The time spent on Karioi was peaceful and a beautiful moment to spend with each other, ourselves and the world around us. On the way down the peaceful mood is lifted to a goofy mood, the trail was slippery on the way up, going down was a whole different experience. Half of us wound up on our asses, but some where able to make it down without taking a bath in the mud.

To wrap up the day we were divided into groups by our Oversea Educators and sent into town, with money, to get dinner. Every group found their own restaurant and had a great evening with people they may not talk to as much. We are close and our time in Aotearoa, so far has built the group relations further.

Oct 22.
The week was long and full of excitement, so Saturday was a calmer day. We headed over to Tiaki’s home to spend the day with him and his whanau. We also met Timoti, a friend of Tiaki’s. Tim taught us how to start a fire with a spindle and a flat piece of wood, after many tries Ben and Charlie were able to start our fire which would burn for the rest of the day. It was a day to relax, but not for the whole day. In the afternoon we worked alongside our hosts, in their garden. Some of us planted potato’s while others made a beautiful lasagna, out of compost. After working for a couple hours we played games and enjoyed spending time together. We also had a snack of sausage and sweet potatoes roasted over the fire. It was a much needed day of relaxation and beautiful views.

So far our Maori experience has been something none of us will forget anytime soon. It has brought us closer together and connected us to ourselves and our surroundings. Tiaki and Madison sharing their experience and culture with us has been an honor, along with Angeline, Kimo, Maraina and everyone we got to know and learn from. We are very excited for the week ahead of us and for the rest of our time in Aotearoa.

Haka:
Kia rite! Kia rite! Kia Mau!
Hī!

Ringa ringa pakia!
Waewae takahia kia kino nei hoki

Kia kino nei hoki

Kia mate, Kia mate
Kia ora, Kia ora

Kia mate, Kia mate
Kia ora, Kia ora

Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru
Nāna I tiki mai whakawhiti te rā
A Upane! Ka Upane!
A Upane Kaupune!
Whiti te rā!

Hī!

The post Maori Cultural Immersion appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Written By Raj

I wake up to the sound of the air conditioning unit. It makes a sound- tick, tick, tick, tick. I am aware of the sound, yet also not. It fades in, and out, and in, like a tide. But today is the start of another day, and that is what matters most at the current moment. Not an air conditioning unit. No, in fact, today was extra special. We were going to the great barrier reef.

The Great Barrier reef is the world’s largest organism, a giant, living habitat, stuffed full of life. The moment I saw it in the distance, I began to think. What separates me from this reef? I am certainly more intelligent than it. I can do algebra, and write essays to some extent. But that does not make me better than it. Later, I float in the current, trying to focus on the sky. The ocean acts like a kaleidoscope, and every time my view shifts underwater, the clouds shatter into a million different shapes. Sometimes I see spaceships. Sometimes I see the twisted faces of people. Sometimes the shapes make no sense at all. But the fact is, if aliens came down from space and told me that I was to be farmed, just because they were smarter, better animals, and that we were tasty to the aliens, that really wouldn’t seem right. And yet, fish are tasty. So I will eat them, aliens or no. And I suppose the sky will watch me do it.

The post Reflections On A Reef appeared first on International Gap Year Programs | Carpe Diem Education.

Total weight of trash collected: 522.56kgs from 4 beaches.

Jilji & Kunjurra, Yarrabah: 71.86kgs (11.25 bags)

• 19 Plastic Cups
• 57 Plastic Drink Bottles
• 270 Plastic Bottle Tops/Lids
• 757 Hard Plastic Remnants
• 300 Foam Packaging Remnants

Cape Kimberley, Daintree: 323.6kgs (32.25 bags)

• 613 Plastic Bottle Tops/Lids
• 62m Rope
• 1219 Hard Plastic Remnants
• 49 Rubber Thongs/Soles

South Thornton, Daintree: 127.1kgs (20.5 bags)

• 22 Cigarette Lighters
• 384 Plastic Bottle Tops/Lids
• 71m Rope
• 1178 Hard Plastic Remnants
• 204 Foam Packaging Remnants
• 149 Rubber Thongs/Soles

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monday, september 26, 2022
platypus sighting:

after many early mornings of going down to various creeks and ponds in search of a platypus, the long wait was finally over. a small group of four went down to the water’s edge with claire, sitting in motionless silence, transfixed by the water. at last, 10 minutes before all hope was given up, a small brown creature surfaced, ripples echoing from around it. a platypus had appeared! it had surfaced to eat its food, grinding an invertebrate between its beak. celebratory screaming and pumping of fists occurred in utter quietness with as little movement as possible, so not to frighten the platypus away. and as quickly as it had appeared, the platypus sank beneath the murky brown water again. another five minutes went by in anticipation for it to show itself again during a feeding, but no luck. the disappointment in not seeing the platypus twice was outweighed by it’s initial appearance, and the group trekked back to breakfast walking on clouds.

tuesday, september 27, 2022
fig tree & volcanic lake

the first free day off at sheoak ridge was spent visiting a nearby town and it’s attractions. our group leaders of the week planned a day full of adventure. during the drive around rural queensland, we first visited the curtain fig tree. as the name suggests, it was a huge compilation of fig trees that had grown together and fused overtime, creating a curtain-like appearance. the perfect tree for climbing as many people noted. it looked as if dozens of ropes were hanging down and were just inviting people to repel the tree. after the brief stop, was the main event of the day: lake eacham. a volcanic lake a kilometer across—that’s about two thirds of a mile for my americans— which was a beautiful clear blue with a crocodile that inhabited it. not to worry, though, we never saw it! we all ate some sandwiches for lunch, before the fun truly began. lots of swimming occurred, including a diving competition which got increasingly competitive. and after hours of fun in the water, some people laid out in the sun to dry off and relax, while others walked the trail around the lake, even going for a second loop!

wednesday, september 28, 2022
planting trees & pizza:

our afternoon work for claire and marcus consisted of clearing out guinea grass around the perimeter of a billabong in wallaby wetlands. post weeding, marcus offered us saplings to plant at the edge of the water, either palm trees or fig trees. we dug a hole, pulled out and placed a strand of hair into the ground where our tree would grow, and planted our trees. that way a piece of us would always be in australia and at sheoak ridge. additionally, we each wrote a message for our trees on a piece of bamboo to encourage them to flourish. that afternoon’s quote can be encapsulated as “wherever we go, our roots will forever be intertwined” in reference to the trees we planted which were all planted together. after a hard day of work was passion class number two: pizza making. everyone made their own individual pizzas, stretching them out by hand before preparing their pies with toppings of their choice. then they were thrown into a handcrafted pizza brick oven, cooked to perfection: crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside. a great way to end a hard days work.

thursday, september 29, 2022
davies creek & talent show:

for our second free day at sheoak ridge, swimming was on the agenda again, of course. this time we visited davies creek, out in the bush of queensland, australia. climbing to the top of some falls there was a small pool to swim in, and large flat rocks to lay out in the sun in or play card games. on our return trip, we stopped at the only ice cream shop in mareeba and got our first australian ice cream. later that night, we hosted a talent show for our hosts claire and marcus, since it was our last night with them. solo, duo, and group performances were made with a variety of skills and abilities on show—from art, to dancing, to singing, to photography, and even fire twirling! it was a night filled with many laughs and memorable moments.

friday, september 30, 2022
goodbye sheoak ridge, hello cairns:

waking up to our last morning at sheoak ridge was a bittersweet moment. it was disheartening to say goodbye to our first connections in australia, but we had cairns, city life, and wifi to reconnect again to look forward to. after our final breakfast, we packed down our tents and belongings to leave for the city of cairns. right outside of the city we stopped at the grocery store for our first supermarket trip as a group and to stock up on food. after arriving at the hostel, we discovered we did not in-fact have a booking, and joked we’d be “sleeping on the streets” for the night. very fortunately, the hostel was able to split us between two rooms, eight in one and six in another. once we had settled into the hostel, the group was given free time to do as they wished. many people reconnected with their family and friends back in the states. after that, many explored the hostel and the city of cairns. soon it was dinner time, which meant our first home cooked meal together: stir fry. all of us took on the role of sous chef for the evening, given various tasks around the kitchen to contribute to meal prep. and at the end of it all, everything turned out just fine, some might even say better than fine!

saturday, september 31, 2022
exploring cairns:

the group’s first full day in cairns was spent exploring its attractions. we first stopped at the city’s botanic gardens, splitting off into smaller groups and finding our own little beautiful pieces of nature. some of us recognized plants that we had in our own yards back home in the states, while we also saw plants we had never seen anything like before. continuing our adventure, we walked to a nearby art exhibit with pieces created by local high school students. individuals even younger than us, creating art that forced us to pause for self-reflection. at the end we finished the day with some classic ben and jerry’s ice cream.

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Written By Talia

The land we seek to restore belongs to nobody but itself. We can’t own the spiders or the flies, the barking owls disturbing our rest. We can’t contain the wallabies hopping from bags into freedom, or the trees towering over it all. We spend our days attempting to restore land that will never, and can never belong to us. For the sake of our children, and our children’s children, we sow our sweat for the sheoaks and goannas.

We spend our days in the dirt, but the nights by the fire crackling into a sky opposite from our own. We share the stories of the lives we lived before a plane ride changed it all. School and family, jobs and stress, but then a wallaby hops near, reminding us of our insignificance in this un-ownable land.

We are reminded of how small we are, specks amongst the vast expanse of jungle and bush, owing our lives to those, generations before, that protected the places we now stand.

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Written By OEs, Ryan & Lauren

Standing in a semi-circle on top of a small hill half a world away from the country where we first met, the 14 of us gazed out into the milieu of yellow, orange, pink, purple, white, and blue permeating the skies and our faces alike. The setting sun’s rays hit us, and we forgot to think of the distant lands that sun was heading towards — forgot to think of the different lives we were each in 5 days ago, forgot to think about the pasts of our individual journeys that brought each of us here. Soaked in the aura of the scene and the serenity of a small corner of the world that has marked the start of countless other Carpe semesters — we breathed in unison the foreign air that now connected us as one group in one moment in the great history of so many other past and future humans who have walked and will walk this same journey that we now embark on.

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Dear South Pacific Families,

We are excited to share that the group has all met up at LAX.  I know the past few days and weeks have likely been busy for all of you prepping for this moment.  

Now just the journey and the semester of a lifetime remains.  The group is looking forward to getting to know one another and our friends in Australia and New Zealand are ready to meet them.    We will post another blog when we’ve received word they have arrived safely in Cairns.

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Kia Ora! (Hello in Maori)

Lauren and Ryan here, writing to you all from Portland, OR, where we are busy getting ready for the incredible adventure we are about to embark on. We are so excited to meet you all in just a few days to start our journey in the Land Down Under! We are looking forward to learning about the flora and fauna in Australia and New Zealand, working on environmental efforts in the Great Barrier Reef, interacting with local people, and getting out of our comfort zones.

We hope you are enjoying wrapping up your summers and preparing to dive into this semester in whatever way feels right to you… spending time with family and friends, visiting your favorite local food spots, pondering your goals and intentions for our journey together, finding a book or two set in Australia or New Zealand to bring with you…

Safe travels to LAX this week, and we look forward to seeing your smiling faces in a few days!

Cheers from your trusty OEs,
Ryan & Lauren

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Thinking back to our time right after Orientation, we all woke up on a blustering cold morning. The sun was just rising as we ran our surf boards out into the ocean, waves chopping at our faces. It was one of our first full days of adventure together. While some of us sat on the beaches, huddled beneath puffy jackets others took to the swells, under layers of neoprene and goosebumps.

Moving forward to Tiaki’s where we all learned more about not only our rich and vibrant group community, but also the culture and people we were sharing it with. Learning alongside the Maori, while we lived in the Kokiri put our adventure in perspective and helped us identify and empathize with the marginalized and resourceful indigenous people of not only NZ, but also Fiji, Australia and first nations in the United States. We shared meals, stories, and manna with them, and through this our community grew.

We then continued south for Student Directed Travel. Here, you all took it upon yourself to pack our days with strenuous hikes, late night singing, and exploration of of NZ’s city centers. During our hike out to the Arches in Kahruangi NP, the group was at first hesitant about such a long hike, and with it came some interpersonal challenges. Yet when we all met up on the final junction of the well worn trail, there was nothing but smiles on our faces and blisters on our feet.

From there we flew over to Fiji where we all got our first taste of living in small rural communities and homestay. While our time in Fiji may not have been everyone’s favorite, for us it may be the area we remember the most. To the children always asking us to play, to the torrential downpours, the hardworking side by side locals, the day at the school, and even the constipation from the much too fried food, Fiji was an adventure and a half. We hope you all get more time exploring communities similar to Nakuku where you can connect with people who may be different from the ones you are most familiar with.

Then came Australia. Australia’s heat and funny saying went by much too fast. To us nothing could have been a better way to close out our trip then spending the days at Sheoak Ridge. Working alongside Marus and Claire provided us with much needed academics and hard, back breaking labor. Learning from some of the most knowledgable scientists when it came to bugs, rocks, and plants was fascinating. Feeding the wallabies at night became a special treat for those who cherished it. Nothing could compare to waking up to the sounds of birds above you, and macropods hoping along right next to your tent. This was Australia at it’s finest.

As you walk around your neighborhood at home, things might not look the same. The trees you thought were just green or brown may now have significance to you. The friends from home that you remembered so well, may have a different outlook or character then you last thought. Remember the meals you cooked for a group of 14. That is no easy task, cooking for your family will now seem easy. Navigating without turn-by-turn directions now may seem like a walk in the park (or track). We empower all of you to get out and explore. Reconnect with loved ones, and find new ones to adventure with. Cherish the time we had together, and remember if you ever feel that loneliness pick up a pen and write.

We want to impart one last piece of wisdom:

“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 Daumal

Your Friends and OE’s,

Nat and Dan

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11/19

On Tuesday we left the Buddhist retreat and and took the train back the Brisbane. The night before we discussed options for activities for our two days in the city before heading to the wallaby reserve so Natalie, Lillie, Jay, Caleb and Maddy decided to visit the Steve Irwin Zoo. So when we left the buddhist retreat, one group enjoyed the best zoo in Australia and the other group headed back to Brisbane for an afternoon of city exploration. The city group went to the Airbnb apartment that Noah booked and it was huge. We went grocery shopping to get food for the next two days while the zoo group made their way back.

11/20

Wednesday was a free day and also our O.E. Dan’s birthday. We all left the apartment before 10:00am and got a full day to explore the city. Most of us went straight to the library to email friends and family and catch up on whats happing in the world. At 1:00pm Dan, Natalie, Nika, Josh and Liz when to the theater to watch the musical Chicago which they all enjoyed. Then we all met back up at the apartment to cook dinner for the birthday celebration. We had cake and ice cream and watched Dan’s favorite show Fixer Upper. Is about people that fix up houses and then sell them, pretty self explanatory.

11/21

Not much happened on Thursday. We woke up, cleaned the place up and packed our bags. We took Maxi Taxis (big taxis) to the airport for our 1:30pm flight to Cairns. The flight was fine and when we landed we got rental cars, went grocery shopping and drove the the new air BnB that Noah booked and this place was super nice. It was right on the beach and had a big pool, a big TV, and a real nice kitchen.

11/22

Friday was a day to explore Cairns and a National park only 20 mins outside of town. We drove to the Bushman’s Gorge and did a short walk to a lookout and then a 30 min hike to this really pretty creek. Then we drove back into Cairns and got per diem for lunch and went to the library to email out families one last time before going home.

11/23

On Saturday morning we drove to Port Douglas and did a beach clean up with this lady Jules. She works for an organization called Tangaroa Blue, which organizes beach clean ups at least once a month with the community and collects scientific data of what trash is washing up on Australia’s shores and where its coming from. We cleaned up Four Mile Beach and collected 45 pounds of trash from the beach. Then after we ate lunch in Port Douglas we walked to the community center to listen to a presentation about the organization and what they do. Then we drove back to our air BnB and went swimming in the pool.

11/24

When Sunday came around we had to clean up and say good bye to the really nice air BnB. It was bitter sweet cause everyone was super excited to meet Clair and Marcus who are the owners of the Sheoak Reserve. We arrived to the reserve around noon and Clair greeted us with chicken, beef and veggie burgers for lunch it was so tasty. Then she gave a presentation about herself along with the place and told us about the wildlife/ rainforest that we’d be living in for the next ten days. Then we took all of our stuff down the where three massive tents were set up for us to stay in. They are set up in this big clearing with a bunch of hammocks and huge trees. That night we watched a documentary about one of the best ALF (Australian League Football) players in history and his struggle of being an aboriginal player in modern day and how racism is still very very alive in Australia.

11/25

Monday we had a guest speaker Duncan and his wife come in and talk to us about what it’s like being an aboriginal in Australia and he’s had a crazy life. He was taken from his family then adopted into a white family. He spent 26 years in the army flighting for a country that still to this day gives his people little to no rights. It was an extremely interesting and engaging talk and he’s a very funny guy. Then at 5:30pm we all went down to Clare and Marcuses house to watch Clare feed the wallabies which was really fun, some of them come right up to you and will eat sweet potato out of your hands.

11/26

On Tuesday morning, before we ate breakfast, Clare took us on a nature walk. She showed us a bunch of native plants and birds, we didn’t see any big animals but we still have plenty of time here for that. Then after breakfast we got to work with Marcus, we helped him clear and cut down trees that were too close to the road or that were dead to help prevent the spread of any fires that may accrue. After that we ate lunch then had some free time before starting to work again, this time we were digging a trench and clearing out rocks and big branches from this spot that Clare and Marcus are building an underground bunker to grow mushrooms. That evening again at 5:30pm half of us walked down to feed the wallabies witch will be a daily thing.

11/27

Wednesday Marcuse made us all pancakes for breakfast before heading out to the outskirts of the 165 acer property to help keep the rainforest away from the neighbors fence. A big tree had fallen on to the fence and the neighbor was not happy about that so we removed it. After an hour and a half of that Marcuse took us down to this small lake with a rope swing and we had a blast there until it was time to head back for lunch. In the afternoon we helped carry big metal rods for the bunker from the bottom of the drive way. After dinner we watched another movie based on a true story about these three aboriginal sisters who were taken from there family and put into a camp to learn how to become a servant. They ended up escaping and walking 1200 miles back home and it talks about their journey. Then years later when one of the sisters has a baby her and the child are taken back to the same camp ad some how escape a second time and walk all the way back home. Then are taken are taken back a third time and yet again escape and walk all the way home. After the movie we all went to bed the end.

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“AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE!……….AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE!”

First week in Australia was CRIKEY! The stoke levels of the group were off the charts heading into this next leg of our journey. We could feel the energy of the outback coursing through our veins obsessing over the dangerous and gnarly environment in our near future. Upon our arrival in Brisbane we stayed our first night at the BBR (Brisbane Backpackers Resort). The place was filled with fun things to do such as a pool with a hot tub, and basketball. But the best part was the very short walk to an amazing boardwalk along the river flowing through Brisbane. The group split up to grab lunch and kill some time at the public pool/artificial beach and playgrounds near the water. We all assembled back at the hostel for a life story (a time our group members share details about their lives) and a relaxing evening. Our first taste of Brisbane was great but we had to keep moving onto our next destination.

The next morning we packed up and made our way onto a train taking us north to Eudlo, Australia. Our navigation crew did a stellar job of managing our tickets and train transfers for a quick and easy transition. Upon our arrival we were met with some very nice folks from Chrenrezig Institute named Kieren, Sunni, and Jenny. The three of them would take us to our Buddhist retreat where we would spend our next few days. Driving through the winding roads of forest we arrived at the amazingly beautiful Chenrezig Institute. It was truly breath taking as the entire place sits on top of a giant hill with all of the accommodations, eating areas, and places of worship intertwined in a very cohesive way. Lining the roads and pathways were beautiful lights and prayer flags giving the place a magical feel. Before settling into our rooms Kieren gave us the run down of how the place works and we all felt at home. Meals were on a very timely schedule with dinner being ready at 5:30pm every night. That first meal we had a delicious vegan cream of broccoli soup which would be the trend for the rest of the dinners. Oh, also all the meals were vegetarian! The idea of eating all vegetarian food for an entire week was very daunting for most, but we were all pleasantly surprised to find that chef Rob was on our side. Throughout the entire time we were spoiled with amazing lunches that consisted of stir fry, potatoes, pumpkin, Dahl with rice, and salads that all took out taste buds on a rollercoaster of Enlightenment!

Which brings us to our next chapter of learning the Buddha ways from a true Buddha Masta. The next morning we ate breakfast and got ready for our first session with an amazing lady by the name of Venreble Tsultrim. Tsultrim would go on to expand our minds about life and what it means to be a good person. Twice a day we would meet at the “Gompa” which is a big room of worship where everybody goes to practice Buddhism and meditate. We learned all about Enlightenment and the steps it takes to achieve it. Not an easy task. The teachings Buddhism goes so in depth that it would take a life time to obtain all of the ideas. Which many Buddhas dedicate their lives to doing. But during our time we were able to soak up as much knowledge as we could. A big part of learning and understanding Buddhism is being able to meditate. The first thing Tsultrim instilled in us was how to meditate correctly and the different types that you can practice. The group found that meditating is not an easy task but can be very beneficial for the mind, body, and spirit. Another very interesting part of Chenrezig was the Garden of Enlightenment. This was a place on the reservation where people would go to meditate and be in peace. One day during our stay we did a day of silence. This meant that we were not able to speak at all for 24 hours. It was quite difficult for some but also beneficial for those who took part in it. Overall our stay at Chenrezig was amazing for so many reasons. We took the train back to Brisbane to stay a couple nights there before heading north to Cains. Some stopped at the Australian Zoo, created by the one and only Steve Irwin. It was truly amazing! Keep ya updated soon!

Much Love,

Walkabout

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On day two, we took part of our scuba certification test over the first three chapters of our book. All of us passed this test. For our first dive of the day, we practiced our pool skills in the open water again. On our second dive that day, we went to an even more majestic destination. It was down 60 feet and we got to see a sea turtle, giant clam, giant tuna fish, eel, unicorn fish, and a white tip reef shark. Then we laid out by the resort pool and I got really sunburnt.

At the beginning of our final day of scuba, we went on our last dive. All of us had to be tested on a few more skills underwater such as taking our goggles all the way off underwater, putting them back on, and draining the water out of them again. We saw more sharks, such as a tiger shark. After the dive, we went back to the pool and took our final exam. It was not as bad as I thought it would be at all. Overall, it was a great experience that I am super grateful I got the opportunity to have.

We left Savusavu the following day and set off for Nadi. It was about a 12 hour travel day. It also happened to be one of our group member’s, Noah, birthday. Throughout the day, we celebrated with balloons, cake, and party hats. On our last two days in Fiji, we visited sand dunes, swam at the most beautiful beach, and had a really bizarre mud pool experience. We are now in Brisbane, Australia getting ready for our week at the Buddhist retreat center.

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For the past ten days, we have been staying in home-stays in a rural Fijian village, Nakuku. This has opened our eyes to new ways of life, community engagement, and cultural immersion. Throughout our time here, we have had time to reflect on our past experiences and dive into a something that might be a little harder compared to life in New Zealand. This was the first time on this trip that many people experienced culture shock. By being in engaged with the community, we were able to learn about village life, creating footpaths, living off the land, and Fiji time.

While in the village, we had a daily routine that was dictated by meal times instead of the clock. We would wake up in time for breakfast. Then after we would eat, we would get to work. Our main job was creating footpath, which involved getting gravel from the river, cutting pegs to hold up the frame, creating the frame and rebar structure, mixing concrete, and smoothing/designing the footpath. Some days we had different activities to highlight what life is like in the village on a daily basis – making coconut oil and trying to weave baskets. When we made coconut oil, it was cool to see the whole process from retrieving the coconut to seeing the final product. Another skills that we tried to learn was weaving baskets. We used coconut tree leaves and there were two types of baskets- the grandfather and women baskets. This is very much a learned skill. The chief jokingly said that for a girl to get married they need to know how to weave a mat and a basket. By that measure, none of us will get married any time soon. We also spent time working in a garden to plant beans at the mayors house. For actives that were not considered work, we were going swimming at the river, going to the local school and participating in kava circles. When going to the river, it was a lovely time to relax and cool down after the concrete work. Once they even put up a rope swing and made a bamboo boat for us to use. We had the chance to go to the local school and donate gardening tools and help out in their garden as well. During that experience, we walked for an hour to get to the school and it allowed us to see what it was like before the school bus became free. One thing that is quite important in the village is kava. Kava is used in kava circles and they use the root of the plant. It is something that has been a tradition in the Fijian village for a long time and has many ties to their ancestors. We felt very honored to be part of the circle. For Nakuku, Kava is their biggest export. The plant takes three years to mature until the root can be harvested. To create kava for drinking in the circles, it is pounded and strained with water to create a murky looking drink. Kava circles are used for welcoming and community building. Everyone uses the same coconut shell and it is passed to you from a central bowl. The circle creates community by having open conversation and it helps relieve the stress of the day.

Something that really hit home for a lot of us was the aspect of community. In most of our daily lives, we might not know our neighbor or would feel uncomfortable about borrowing a cup of sugar from our neighbor. That is just not the case here. The community thought it was funny that we would ask to have people over, because in Nakuku everyone is welcome. They really enjoyed having a bustling household full of people, especially when the rugby would come was on. When we were creating the footpaths for the village, many member of the community came out and help us learn how to make the forms and mix concrete. It was truly an exchange in the community. They let us in with open arms to their homes, daily life, and meals. One aspect that is quite important and scared to them is their Christian faith. They were very passionate on letting us attend their church service and had a mini sermon for us in english, which was very thoughtful. We were able to dive deeper in the community though interview some members, weather they were our homestay parents, the chief, the mayor, or some of the younger members of the village. This allowed us to get a great understanding of the workings of the village when we are not here. It was cool to heard how the community bands together on maintaining the village as their home through delegation of jobs weekly and the community meetings.

One major joys of the day were the meals. Many of us agree that this is the best food we have eaten on our trip so far. The village women would take turns cooking the meals and we could have a meal all together, some days we were extra lucky and got afternoon tea. They were so welcoming at meals and encouraged us to eat big and get fat or vinaka kana levu. We would take turns helping to clean up and wash dish and helped in the meal preparation when we could. The village grows most of there own food like breadfruit, cassava, papaya, coconuts, and taro. One of our favorite dishes is taro fritters, which consist of taro leaves, garlic, flour and a few other seasons that is fried together with tomato sauce. A new thing for many people is cassava root, which is another fave favorite. There is a huge importance on meals here. We all eat together and we finish together. That was something that I would like to bring back in my life at home.

Throughout our time here, we are so thankful for the village of Nakuku for accepting us in to their lives which just grace and joy. We cannot thank them enough for their wonderful hospitality, amazing food, and willingness to teach and learn. This is an experience that will be so hard to forget and something that will be cherished long after we are gone.

Vinaka kana levu,
Walkabout

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Welcome back family and friends!

We are happy to say that we are in our Student Directed Travel week, meaning that we students budgeted and planned the whole week. After weeks of planning and excitement building up we were finally able to put our preparation to the test!

Following our week with Whinua Iti we headed off to Nelson to quickly get our groceries for the next couple of days and then began our 6 hour trip to Little Wanganui, where our west coast AirBNB awaited. After such a long day of driving we ate dinner and went straight to bed, everyone excited to venture out on the first day of our week.

Early the next morning, we embarked on our first adventure in Kahurangi National Park. Eager to explore the Oparara Basin, we quickly encountered our first obstacle. Anticipating a brisk three hour hike, the group became aware that the hike was in fact five hours. After a brief discussion we all agreed on taking on the hike, and started off through the rainforest. Along the way we saw some amazing rivers and plants enjoying the scenery. To our surprise, we ended up finishing the hike two hours early (the same time that we initially thought!). After a quick lunch we walked another quick 20 minutes and went to the Oparara arch to see and amazing rock formation. On the drive back we were all even more excited to experience the last 6 days of our week.

That morning we set out with the expectation of another amazing hike. But as we continued our day we soon realized that time was short and we wouldn’t have enough time to do that. Luckily, we got to see some truly amazing views none the less:
The pancake rocks are a geological formation formed over hundreds of thousands of years and now have created a stunning 20 minute scenic walk that also included seeing some blowholes!


After seeing that and having some lunch we headed 5 minutes down the road and went into a cave where we got the chance to do some silent reflection, bringing us back to our insightful time with Tiaki.

A little further down the road we ended up on a small secluded beach, including a water fall and a warm pebble beach, with some waves that were characteristically wildly west coast. There, we spent some time admiring the ocean, the small waterfall, and also collecting some rocks that had washed up on shore. These activities filled up our day fast so we headed back home and had a relaxing night in.

On our final day in little Wanganui we decided to utilize our last opportunity to hike along the beautiful west coast. The Old Ghost Road was the perfect choice because we could hike for as long as we wanted and then turn around. We ended up hiking for 5 hours that day (with a break for lunch in the middle) seeing some amazing views of the river below along the way. That night we needed to have a meeting to decide what we were going to do the next few days in Christchurch and came to the conclusion that we wanted to split up and have two different choices instead of a full group activity.

Waking up early, we packed and cleaned up our air Bn’B and starter our 7 hour drive to Christchurch. This day was filled with reading, listening to music, and a couple crime podcasts to help fill the time. Arriving at the hostel we spent the afternoon exploring the large hostel grounds and utilizing the game room that was there.

The next day, four of us decided to spend the day on castle hill, where the movie Narnia was filmed and had the chance to clamor around on boulders and explore the landscape. After challenging ourselves on dry land, we headed off to explore a local underground stream.

The other eight people decided to head to Acaroa and take a tour of the Penguin wildlife in New Zealand where we were able to get a first hand view of the endangered white finned penguin and its breeding cycle. After a quick coffee/ tea break we helped take data for the department of conservation on the number of penguins in the area and the amount of eggs that there are during this breeding season.

On our last full day in New Zealand we had a free day to explore the city of Christchurch where we explored the large variety of parks, stores, and street food. Two of us even got tattoos! Meeting up at 6pm we searched for a place to have a final meal before our flight to Fiji where we could use all of the money we didn’t spend during the week. We ate like kings in a Japanese restaurant enjoying each others company and reminiscing on the last 6 weeks and looking forward to the weeks ahead. We then quickly drove home and got right to bed that night in preparation for our 3am wake up time to catch our early flight to Fiji.

This week was a new experience for all of us because we had to budget and plan it all on our own giving us a good idea of what being an independent traveler is really like.

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We have been a busy bunch these past 9 days. We started in Wellington where we got to be in a big city for the first time while being in New Zealand. We got to have time to explore, eat great food and be independent. We had a few options of some things that we got to choose to go see. There was Zelandia, which was a bird sanctuary where you got to see all sorts of native birds. Some of us went onto a cable car and headed towards the botanical garden to see some pretty flowers as well as some native plants to New Zealand. Another option was the Te Papa Museum which had 7 floors of cool history to
see. Others even opted to take part in a coastal hike, the Escarpment trail, which was about 10 kilometers and took a 45 minute train ride to get to. We all freely got to choose where we wanted to go. While in Wellington, many of us were also able to get a hold of our loving parents, which all of us were so thankful to be able to hear or see them.

Then we had to head to a ferry to the south island early in the morning of the 9th. We had to walk and use our navigation skills to know how to get there. It was about 26 minutes and the overall ferry was about 3 hours long. From there, we got on to a bus to pick up our backpacks and met our guides Joni and later Andrew. Then Joni drove us 2 hours to Whenua iti’s main site. We were showed around and told what the next few days would look like. We then slept outside for the first time to help us prepare for the days to come. The next day we head toward a campsite to get ready for the Abel Tasman trail. We stopped a few times along the way to look at some spots such as a short beach hike and a natural fresh water spring that is sacred to the Maori people. The campsite we stayed at was called Wharaiki and we so glad to get there because it had been raining all day. There we had dinner and put up our own tents. That night we ate dinner out of left over bean cans and having minimal cooking materials so that we can learn how to live more simply. The first day of hiking on the Abel Tasman Trail we were going from Wharaiki campsite to Onetahuti bay. Then went to Anchorage and then finally to Morahau. We woke up to find out that Andrew had a stomach bug and wouldn’t be able to join us for the hike. This hike challenged us physically as we had to carry our backpacks while walking all day. It pushed our limits but it only made us stronger. For some of us it was something completely new. We pushed each other to keep going even when our feet and back were killing us. The views were amazing and we were able to start and end every day with a view of a beach. Sleeping on the beach was something that was an amazing experience for all of us. We hit a point where a lot of the group ended up getting sick while on the hike. It was a 24 hour bug that some of us got while at Anchorage and some of us got it a few days later, but we all supported one another. We tried to stay positive and support those people who had gotten it. It is something that we will be able to look back on later and laugh about. Most of us pushed each other to finish the trail of the Abel Tasman. In total we walked around 25 miles from start to finish. It felt so good for us to be able to accomplish something like this.

Then we came back to Whenua Iti and had a chance for some group activities and games. We did low ropes. We had to balance on a rope wire either by yourself or with another person. We also did high ropes as well. We all took turns going up and walking across the ropes and also belaying. We made sure that the person that was walking was safely brought down and went safely across. We played team building games which worked on what we call step forward, step back.

Our original plan for the days following the backpacking trip was to go on an overnight sea kayaking trip but the night before a few more us came down with the stomach bug. So instead, we went mountain biking for those who were well. It was a trail that was hand made and is kept up by people who volunteered to maintain trails. Rob, who accompanied us, had been working on those trails along with a group of volunteers for 9 years. We started off on the easy routes and then eventually went to intermediate which was chosen by people who wanted to do it. It was a fun activity that definitely will leave a mark…literally. Many people fell off the bikes, ran into trees and even fell into some ditches. It was all good physical fun.

We also went sea kayaking. We went in groups of two working together to steer a kayak. It was nice and calming to just be on the ocean. We saw cool birds, a seal pup and even a jellyfish. We kayaked for about an hour and stopped at this small island for lunch. It was also an opportunity for us to have some time to ourselves and just take in the views and the sound of the waves. When we kayaked back the waves got a little more intense. When we got back to land we were told to put all the kayaks and other supplies in silence.

Our last day with Whenua Iti, we woke up early and ended our time with some group activities. We did an activity where one person was attached to a harness to a long rope and everyone else was harnessed and pulled the person up. It was a fun experience for all of us. Then we did skits about our highs, our struggles during and things that we learned during our time with Whenua Iti. We absolutely have loved all our time spent here and have learned a lot about challenging oneself more than we are used to. We’ve had a blast these past 9 days but we are now heading for student directed travel towards Karamea.

P.S. — The group is back to normal health and we are back to our normal selves!

All the love,
Walkabout Crew

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Mana – The intrinsic power where one holds their strength and passion. In essence, it is a representation of who one is and what they are about (all that one has been and all that one is). Tiaki tells us that there are two forms of Mana. The first being our Great Mana which he calls Mana Atua and the other being Mana Tanguta. As Tiaki explained, “One’s Mana Atua is unchanging, it is forever.” It is the idea that everything is exactly how it is supposed to be within you. It is gifted to all at birth by one’s ancestors and remains true for life. Mana Tanguta, on the other hand, is developed by one’s human self. It is the intrinsic power one constructs throughout his or her life.

Mauri – “Mauri. Mauri comes in many different forms. Everything in the universe is composed of Mauri, penetrated by Mauri, and connected by Mauri. This includes all people, creatures, objects, and places. Like a fire, your Mauri can either burn with strength or smolder dimly. It all depends on the fire’s surrounding conditions as well as what you fuel it with. Your Mauri not only represents your state of health, but also your state of mind.”

In other words, Mauri is the energy given off by an individual or thing that represents the current state of its being. It is often regarded to as the vibe, aura, or qi of a room/person. Mauri can be either good or bad as it is ever-changing.

Tapu – The act of placing reverence on a person, place, or thing. It is the concept of placing honor upon which one respects and is sacred to one’s heart. This can refer to a sacred place where one honors its meaning and what it stands for. This is an important ideal as many places are sacred in the eyes of Maori culture.

For the first major exploration into Maori culture and tradition, Tiaki led us on a hike up a sacred mountain named Karioi. As a part of the trekking experience, we all took turns carrying up a twenty-pound rock up the mountain. The rock was very symbolic as it was etched with a Maori design to not only represent its own possession of Mauri but the Mauri of the group as well. Although the hike was quite challenging for most of us with sliding in the mud on steep inclines and carrying the rock, we were all ecstatic to see the view at the top. Tiaki then prompted us to consider what the three values of Mana, Mauri, and Tapu means to each and every one of us. As we all dispersed across the peak of the mountain to have time to self-reflect, Tiaki instructed us to let wind clear our minds in order to escape our thoughts and truly connect with the three values. Focusing on nature and the elements around you is a key aspect into being able to connect with thyself and truly reflect on the values that one holds. During our thirty minutes of solitude, we were all put through a test. Seeing rain clouds looming over the Pacific, we all needed to get in a mind set to weather the storm. This was Tiaki’s message: in Maori culture, young kids would be sent out for five days to face the elements of nature without any food or water. This challenged them to open their minds and discover who they are beyond physical aspects of life. It was as if Tiaki planned the timing of the storm perfectly. As soon as we all settled with the idea of muscling through the rain, a gust of wind broke the clouds allowing the sun to shine through.

Our next adventure with Tiaki brought us to Wairēinga Falls, a waterfall sacred to Maori culture. He explained that many Maori come here and allow the waterfall to cleanse them of whatever may be bothering them. Tiaki then directed us down the cliff, offering us the opportunity to release any and all burdens that we had been holding onto. At the bottom, after all burdens were released, we gathered in a circle for Tiaki to lead us in a Karakia (a prayer). Again, without fail, the wind picked up just as our group let out a unison “TīHei Mauri Ora!” The gust of wind redirected the free falling mist to hit us head on, and, as our words echoed into the water-carved cliff side, the Father of the Sky brought rain upon us. However, looking over, complete bliss consumed the group. Smiles were wide, eyes were bright, and everyone’s Mauri was high.

Although we are moving onto our next adventure, we can all confidently say that our week immersed in the Maori culture left us inspired to share and continue our look into indigenous cultures, both at home and abroad. We are all eager to deepen our awareness of self and grow with what we discover. A big TīHei Mauri Ora to you all as we embark on our journey to the South Island!

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Greetings from New Zealand,

So far our trip has been amazing! We have all been having a great time exploring the country, getting to know each other, and learning the ins and outs of the Kiwis.

Orientation was jam-packed and we were able to learn a lot about each other and establish a baseline for the coming trip. Being based in Raglan gave us a lot of opportunities to explore the local area. We traveled around town, hiked down to the beach and interacted with the locals. We also learned how to shop for and cook our own meals.

The morning after finishing orientation we all got up and went to the beach for an early morning surf. The waves were rough (but fun) and it was a great way to start out our two day journey to the Hart farm. We spent each day driving a couple hours and then exploring. On the way we hiked up “Rainbow mountain”, went swimming in a hot spring and ventured around the local area. The next morning we began the final stretch of our journey to the Hart farm by visiting a beautiful white water river.

Once we reached the Hart farm we quickly settled into life on a farm. We have learned how the owners of the place, Greg & Rachel, take care of animals in an environmentally regenerative way. We have helped him prune trees, remove weeds, and even learned how to milk cows. His wife, Rachel, has helped us cook food (which has been delicious with all of the fresh meat, eggs, milk and veggies). In the evenings we have been able to kayak on their lake, play frisbee, hackie sack, play cards, have dance parties and watch from Greg’s huge selection of documentaries.

Getting to know everyone so far has been a big treat and it seems like we all are getting along really well. We are all looking forward to the trip ahead and excited to continue exploring and getting to know each other.

– Josh

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It’s Nika and Jesse!

Just checking in from library in downtown raglan. we are getting on our way with our scavenger hunt throughout the town. The first few days have been awesome being in a new place. Can’t wait to wrap up orientation and head to the hart farm and also excited to surf tomorrow with the extra money we have saved!

Have a great day,
Nika and Jesse

Having a great time in Raglan, New Zealand. We are currently completing a scavenger hunt around town and getting to know one another. Looking forward to the next leg of our journey. Here is a photo of us (Maddy and Josh)

What a beautiful day! It is day 4 of our carpe diem south pacific tour and we are finally able to spend our first day in the city of ragland. Today, like the three days previous, we started our day with preparing breakfast and spending the morning doing various group bonding activities in order to build a better sense of community. Today’s activity was a blindfolded/trust activity where we were asked to guide each other through a “landmine” and retrieve a flower. Now we are spending the rest of the day doing a scavenger hunt with partners and meting local kiwis. Can’t wait to see what’s next on our adventure through New Zealand!

Talk to you soon!
Sidney and Jay

We are hanging out and exploring Ragland this afternoon. It is super beautiful and just all around a great place to be. The people are incredibly nice and helpful, and there is a whole bunch of stuff to do around the area. Tomorrow we’re going surfing at the beach nearby the hostel that we are staying at, which will be an amazing experience I am sure.

Best,
Caleb & Lillie

We are currently in Raglan, which is really lovely. The town is very relaxed and everyone is quite friendly. Some things we has done today is eat the most delicious meat pie- every much would recommend. We are currently doing a scavenger hunt and it is really pushing Kai and I out of our comfort zone because we have to talk to local and people we do not know. We are trying to keep an open mind about this and hoping to get more comfortable with reaching out to other throughout our walkabout time! We are loving the beautifully view from our rad hotel, which is located at a top of a hill overlooking the ocean. We are hoping thought out our time to learn about to be better travelers and really embrace the culture in all the places we go.

Peace and Love,
Kai and Liz (aka the raddest Katz around)

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Natalie and Dan here reporting from Portland, Oregon! We just wanted to introduce ourselves and touch base before meeting you all very soon!

We have been hard at work preparing for our upcoming time together this semester! From taking specific training courses, to working with the office crew, to meeting all of the other Overseas Educators, we have fully enjoyed the last week here in Portland. Specifically, we have done some planning on risk management, curriculum and educational outcomes, fun games, and connecting with local contacts. Our semester is shaping up to be an amazing experience with incredible local contacts and we are honored to have the privilege of working with you all so soon!

Natalie’s is especially looking forward to our time on the Hart Family Farm. Coming from a background of working on different farms around the world, she is excited to continue to learn alongside the students about the Hart’s idea of sustainability, community and land regeneration.

Dan is stoked to be working and living in our intentional community of 14 for the upcoming 3 months. Specifically, he is curious and excited for our time spent in rural Fiji living in home-stays. Much of the South Pacific program is in developed countries and he thinks that this aspect of the itinerary will open the eyes of students and himself alike.

We look forward to meeting everyone in the airport!

Natalie and Dan

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Hello everyone, this week on the program we explored Maori culture. We were welcomed by Tiaki our Maori guide for the week. For the first three nights, we stayed at the community center near Rob and Rangimaries home. On the first full day, we took a walk around their beautiful property and reflected on the things we wanted to let go of in life. The next day we participated in a sweat lodge ceremony. Each of the three rounds had a specific purpose. The first round was about gratitude. The second round was about letting go of things that are holding you back. The third round symbolized the rebirth that would occur once we left the sweat lodge. Tiaki introduced us to Matewai another member of the Maori community who happens to be an amazing singer. She taught us a traditional Maori song. The next day we performed the song to Kimo and his family as a sign of respect before entering their home which we would be staying in for the next 5 nights. Later that day we went on a hike to a waterfall and reflected on our friends and family back home. Tiaki and Matewai also taught us how to introduce ourselves in Maori that night. Kimo taught the guys a traditional Maori Hakka which they performed infant of the group. Kimos mother and little sister taught the girls how to make poi and a song with a dance to go with them. Another day we hiked part of Karioi and reflected on the women in our lives thinking of all the ways they have impacted us. Tiaki also taught us about New Zealand’s history focusing on the Maori perspective. The continuous oppression has taken a toll on the Maori community but they have persevered and focused on strengthening their community. Our final day in Ragland we helped make sure the trees the previous Carpe Diem group had planted were getting adequate amounts of sunlight. That evening Tiaki took us to the beach where he introduced us to Reiki, a local who has a passion for music and surf. Together they taught us the surf basics. On our drive to our next destination, we stopped at Extreme Zero Waste a site that gets rid of 85% of the waste that would normally go to landfills.

Taking some intentional time around Bridal Veil Falls thinking about what we would like to let go of and what we would like to bring into our lives.

Group pic with Tiaki and his son.

Windy day on the beach in Raglan.

Beautiful views.

Taking a walk up Mt. Karioi where we took 30 minutes of solo time to think about the incredible women in our lives.

More intentional time around the fire.

Gone surfing!

The girls learned a poi dance and song and then performed it for the rest.

The boys performing the haka they learned.

Learning how to introduce ourselves in Maori!

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]]> https://carpediemeducation.org/davids-bilbo-bloggins-post/ Tue, 06 Nov 2018 21:16:13 +0000 https://www.carpediemeducation.org/?p=32732 By David Chase
Dear family and friends of the 2018-Carpe-Diem-South-Pacific-Walkabout-group,
As you may or may not know this program assigns a role to every member each week; group leader, chef, logistics, etc. During this particular week, I have been tasked with updating the group’s blog with the goings on of the past few days. My specific title (as stated in our official Carpe Diem packet) is “Bilbo Bloggins,” and just… Read More

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]]> By David Chase

Dear family and friends of the 2018-Carpe-Diem-South-Pacific-Walkabout-group,

As you may or may not know this program assigns a role to every member each week; group leader, chef, logistics, etc. During this particular week, I have been tasked with updating the group’s blog with the goings on of the past few days. My specific title (as stated in our official Carpe Diem packet) is “Bilbo Bloggins,” and just in time for the start of our stay in NewZealand. Unfortunately, I have never written a blog post, so I will format this as an informal, open letter to you all. Please excuse all grammar/spelling/punctuation mistakes, and run on sentences going forward.

I will take a deep dive into our scuba experience in Fiji, but first; I’m going to share my observations and opinions of your loved ones, my fellow group members. Don’t worry, it will all be positive, light, and brief.

I’ll start with myself to provide some background. My name is David Chase, I hail from upstate New York, between Ithaca and Syracuse. I’m assuming everyone has seen pictures of the group. I’m the slim, tan one with brown hair that’s too long and probably facial fur depending on the photo. Its impossible to describe one’s own personality without coming off as either self-congratulating or self-deprecating, but I’ll do my best to leave bias out of the picture. I’m definitely the most laid back of the group, probably the funniest, and possibly the most arrogant. I’m almost always being sarcastic or making jokes (see the previous sentence). Also, I can come off as intelligent when I want to, and abrasive if I’m not mindful. I think of myself as a creative who thrives on anything artistic, blog posts included.

Moving on, we’ll go in alphabetical order by the first letter of first names, making Alexandra or “Alex” as she’s known and loved, first. Alex is the tall blonde girl, or woman as she’s almost twenty-one, in the photos. She is a fluorescent, social butterfly. One of the most boisterous, exuberant, personalities in the group, while remaining greatly sensitive and affectionate. Alex has made it her mission during the program, and I think in life as a whole, to affect everyone she comes across positively, leaving them with a warm glow.

Second is Diana, she’s much shorter than Alex, her hair is slightly darker, and she’s always in long sleeves and pants. Diana is quiet most of the time, which garners great respect from me. Some may not suspect it at first, but she is a comedic scorpion, waiting until the perfect time to make the funniest comment. My grandfather told me a quote once from a judge whom he respects greatly- “The longer I have with [a paper] the fewer words I use.” Diana embodies this piece of wisdom, bringing the group intelligence up greatly.

After Diana is Duncan. We, or I, started calling Duncan “Dunk” a few days into the program, just because it was easier and quicker. Never one to disappoint; the pale, blonde, 5’11” soccer player dunked a basketball at a public court in Sydney. Always one to rise to the occasion, Dunk is an outgoing extrovert who had everyone figured out on night one, back in Katoomba. He has possible futures in impersonations and music review, always catching giggles with his Cleveland impression or wowing us with obscure artist references.

Then there’s Elsa; she’s a little vertically challenged, but the size of her heart makes Yao Ming a midget. Elsa has been the designated cuddle buddy of the group since we started out. Her outbursts of laughter have been a big factor in maintaining morale during the more difficult days. Igniting these giggle-fits remains one of my favorite past-times. Elsa is a Care Bear in human form. Somehow she always knows if and when someone needs a hug, and constantly checks in with those in need.

Following Elsa is Emmaline, or Emma as she prefers. She can be picked out in pictures by her auburn hair, although she insists its brown. Emma is the youngest of the group, which you would never guess by listening to her, she’s one the most mature and level-headed of the group. Her smile is bright enough to light up any room or dark mood. She’s selflessly kind, always willing to share and is easy to talk to. Emma is incredibly humble, one of the very best traits one can have, in my not so humble opinion.

Next up is Jacob, or Jake as I decided early on. If Elsa is a human carebear, Jake is a human bear bear. From his size and stature, he’s the tallest and broadest, to his bear hugs, to his tendency to look after his own. I truly believe Jake to be the type of person who, if he’s with you, is with you 100%, 100% of the time. He brings enthusiasm, passion, and love into the group, in a way no one else can. Jake has been a sturdy tree for anyone who needs something to lean on during the trip, a friend who gives without asking in return.

Behind bear boy is Kathleen. She’s the one with all the long dark hair. Kathleen was “Kathleen” until we berated her with “Kathy” so many times she had no choice but except adapt to survive. There have been other nicknames like “Grandma” and “Gramma Kath.” I think it started because she looked after us all like a mom, but evolved to grandma for some reason. Kathleen presents herself as having a prickly outer shell but it just makes one feel all the more privileged when she shows her softer side.

Providing a pause in Americans is Kobbe. He provides so much more, though. An intelligent, considerate, compassionate, voice of reason. A seriously skilled hand which has fixed itself to the guitar. Do yourself a favor and give his band’s new EP a listen through, the band is called 1pm. One of my favorite experiences on the trip so far was drawing in my sketch pad while listening to Kobbe play guitar in the bunk across from me. I guess you can’t see his accent in the pictures, so he’s the one in jeans and a Waldo sweater.

Resuming our American ensemble is Maximus, Maximillion, or Mad Max. It makes no difference, he’s Max to us all. On day one, I mean at the airport, this fit looking, dark-haired kid walks up to the group that had already amassed on the floor just inside the international terminal at LAX and introduced himself. He told us he had arrived early so he could explore LA ahead of time. That is Max; ready to go, always prepared, and willing to bend with the flow. More than that, he’s kind, fun-loving and loyal to a fault.

Last but not even slightly least is Shelby. She’s the pale, dark-haired one, that a little girl at Sheoak nominated “the pretty one.” Shelby and I share in an eye roll when Jake is playing his music for all to hear. She’s a brilliant storyteller, with a contagious laugh. Shelby’s coy smile makes others want to grin with her, for support, and then keep on smiling. She can be quiet and cautious, or vocal and engaging. Shelby is the first, or at least third, to dance when a song she knows comes on, which inspires all to follow suit.

I thought to leave our Overseas Educators out of this list, as their biographies are already on this site, and I meant this mainly for friends and family reading to hear how their loved ones are fairing, but it dawns on me now that Peter and Anya’s friends and family may also read with similar intentions. Also, the biographies provided aren’t written by me.

So I Introduce Anya. During our stay at the resort in Fiji, there were some goats nearby. Anya and I went over to say hi to the benevolent bovine. I watched her interaction with an adolescent goat in quite an awe. She was so loving and gentle with the kid, speaking softly to it, I understood why we had all been looked after so well during the trip. It was clear then that Anya puts the same time, energy, and devotion into all things she begins. We are incredibly lucky to have her as our shepherd.

Anya’s partner in this time is Peter. Peter, Pete, or Petey is constantly trying to amuse or educate the group and rarely fails. He spoon fed a car full of us a podcast on the Mexican border until we were asking for more. He persisted with his goofy-type humor through my straight-faced-raised-eyebrow-stares, and now I can’t wait to chuckle at whatever he comes up with next. Despite being slightly trampled on for stooping to our level, Pete is respected and loved by all.

I could write more about everyone, but with our days brimming with new experiences and activities, there’s no time to do so. Even these few lines have taken all of my available time. So the deep dive I promised about our time under Fiji’s beautiful blue sea has been reduced to a shallow swim. Basically, we are all now certified Scuba Divers, with licenses, besides Kobbe and Elsa who both opted to sit out for various reasons, and Alex who got a modified version for skipping a day due to sickness. Nobody got eaten by sharks, although we did swim with some. And nobody blew up from the pressure, although there were a few bloody noses. All in all an amazing final week in Fiji.

Thanks for reading.

Hanging out with some village pups!

Our families lent us some fancier attire to dress up for Church on Sunday.

Working on foot paths in Nakuku village.

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]]> https://carpediemeducation.org/nakuku-homestay/ Tue, 30 Oct 2018 17:04:16 +0000 https://www.carpediemeducation.org/?p=32611 By Duncan Nofsinger
This past week, we got to spend our time at homestays in the Fijian village of Nakuku, and it’s safe to say that it was everyone’s favorite part of the trip so far. During a few hours of each day, we got to build a footpath through the village. We worked hard on it, and it paid off just in time for rainy season.
For the rest… Read More

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]]> By Duncan Nofsinger

This past week, we got to spend our time at homestays in the Fijian village of Nakuku, and it’s safe to say that it was everyone’s favorite part of the trip so far. During a few hours of each day, we got to build a footpath through the village. We worked hard on it, and it paid off just in time for rainy season.

For the rest of the day, we were able to do tons of other awesome activities in and around Nakuku. Whether it was playing with the puppies, eating wild pineapple, relaxing and drinking kava in the kava circle each night, or playing river rugby, we had a blast no matter what we did. And we did all of these cool things while immersing ourselves in a culture full of love, kindness, and open doors (and great food of course). After songs, laughter, and maybe even some tears, we finally had to say goodbye. We can’t say enough about how much of an impact the people of Nakuku had on us, we miss them already.

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]]> https://carpediemeducation.org/she-oak-ridge-australia/ Fri, 19 Oct 2018 14:48:25 +0000 https://www.carpediemeducation.org/?p=32475 A photo series of She Oak Ridge, where students learn about sustainability and animal rehabilitation.… Read More

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]]> A photo series of She Oak Ridge, where students learn about sustainability and animal rehabilitation.

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]]> https://carpediemeducation.org/wallabies-galore/ Tue, 16 Oct 2018 20:09:46 +0000 https://www.carpediemeducation.org/?p=32396 By Elsa Simonton
Hello Everyone,
This week Walkabout spent a week at Sheoak Nature Reserve. Throughout the week, we helped out around the grounds. Some examples are building a trail to the swimming lagoon, making a small dam to store water in the rainy season, and digging holes for posts for new buildings. The group also learned new information during presentation and workshops. Marcus and Claire, the owners of Sheoak,… Read More

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]]> By Elsa Simonton

Hello Everyone,

This week Walkabout spent a week at Sheoak Nature Reserve. Throughout the week, we helped out around the grounds. Some examples are building a trail to the swimming lagoon, making a small dam to store water in the rainy season, and digging holes for posts for new buildings. The group also learned new information during presentation and workshops. Marcus and Claire, the owners of Sheoak, have a passion for helping rehabilitate wallabies and other wildlife and along with conserving the many ecosystems that are present on their large property. We had the opportunity to sit down with the wallabies and feed them sweet potatoes and we went for a night walk to find nocturnal animals. During this week, we stayed in tents and spent a lot of time talking around the campfire. Thus concluding the last week in Australia. Our next stop is Fiji for a new adventure!

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