TESTIMONIALS

 

I know I don't post in here that often, but that doesn't mean I don't read and smile along to everything, remembering who we each were and who we are becoming. The trip changed my life in every way. I don't have the words to describe my appreciation for what I considered and still do consider a miracle that swooped in and saved me from all the things I never would have been.

All I can do, all we can do really, to show that it meant something, to remember that it was real, is to take what we learned, what we saw, and run with it.

Carpe diem, because what other option do we have?

- Graduate of a CD program - one year ago

 

 

Hello Ethan!

How can I begin this in any other way than, THANK YOU! My experiences abroad in India with the Carpe Diem program changed my perspective on what I value and cherish in my life, what I want from our world, and what I want to give and share. Through this, I feel I am becoming a more centered, honest being. How did I learn all this? I think it was the perfect balance the Carpe Diem Program offered throughout the trip, the combination of experiencing the true beautiful yet intense Indian culture, religion and tradition, with adventure and exploration, as well as having our Carpe Family to have discussions and learn from one another, as well as become family, and be there with you throughout your journey, but almost most importantly; giving us the ability to be independent, experiencing so much on our own, and take things out of this trip much more than "remember that time with Haley", but more so, take things with us that only we know, things that are within ourselves, and will shape our lives forever.

Before fall of 2010, I had thought about taking a gap year, but I just didn't know what I wanted to do. Maybe WWOOF? Travel? There were so many options, but all became clear when my best friend Ryan went to a gap year fair, and told me about Carpe Diem. Ethan, you have an incredible program. I met other gap year programs through my travels in India, two to be exact, and I realized not all programs are created equal. Choosing a a country, but more importantly a program, is like choosing a college, one that fits you, who you are now, and who you want to become. I am so grateful I chose Carpe, because of the perfect balance I stated above, as well as providing us with down to earth, smart, engaging leaders....this truly was the perfect program for me.

I'm gonna jump to now. My experiences abroad have truly shifted my life, from a day-to-day sense, as well as in the long wrong. My friends Ryan, and Avery who also participated in Carpe this fall, have talked and want to share your program with our old High School to open the eyes of so many, and hopefully inspire others to travel abroad, with Carpe, or with other programs that maybe fit who they are. We will hopefully be setting up a time through the Guidance office to meet up with some students. So, let us know if you have any pointers, or things you would specifically like us to say. Also, let me know if there is anything I could do! I think every young adult should experience an overseas program like Carpe Diem.

Thank you Ethan,
Your program has changed my life,

- Stephanie Broido, India Fall 2011

 

 

Along the way we've met other student-travel groups, and from those brief experiences alone I feel that Carpe Diem handles situations - between each other and external (outside the group) situations - with maturity and progressive thinking. Since the orientation in Delhi, step upon step of unexpected difficulties have arisen and with each wall that was in our path, the group dealt with them with a calm, collected attitude".
- Olivia Awbrey, INDIA Fall 2009

 

 

Hey Ethan,

First of all let me just start of by saying how much of an amazing time i had these past 3 months. They were by far, with out a doubt, the best 3 months of my life! I just wanted to express my appreciation and gratitude to you, Amy, and Nannette for everything that you guys have done with Carpe Diem (and everything you've personally helped me out with). Since i've gotten home i just can not stop telling everyone about my experience and also how great of a program Carpe Diem is. I just feel so happy and excited for what i am going to do in my life, and it is a feeling i have never felt before, or at least never felt anywhere close to this degree of it.

One thing big that i have noticed since i got home (and i noticed it almost immediately) is that everything i had had planned for this next coming year i no longer want to do anymore. I feel like my life is going in one direction, and now i really want it to go in this other direction, so i'm currently in the process of moving that around which has been a little uncomfortable, very exciting, and somewhat time consuming haha! But i feel so in control and so confident that i am going to love every aspect of my future life, and i credit much/all of this feeling to these past 3 months.

So thank you Ethan, Amy, and Nannette, thank you thank you thank you! You guys really are the most wonderful people!
- Tyler Barker, FANZ Spring 2009

 

 

I always go to Publix to get my meat and groceries at home... Well, on Friday, I helped kill and butcher a cow before purchasing an entire beef tenderloin for 100 Q, or 13 dollars. When the cow arrived, it was hog-tied, but still mooing. With one jab to the jugular, it started to lose blood in massive amounts. I pushed on its stomach to squeeze out the remaining blood as it took its last breathes. I held its legs while it was skinned and became food for the pueblo of San Andres. When I left, the cow was completely butchered, my feet bloody and I walked up the hill with a bag full of warm beef tenderloin as a gift to my homestay family. Maybe it's a bit strange that it felt exhilarating, but I find it important to understand and see the process of where our food comes from. I'm thankful for that cows life and the experience to share its last moments before it became dinner. Sacrifice has always been crucial to the world and coming closer to it gives me a stronger connection to life.

Testimonial from Spring '08 Student in Guatemala on CAM Program

 

 

As of 365 days ago we were all drifting far above the Asian continent, very much separate but somehow connected by gossamer threads of what destiny had in store for us... Connected by the simple fact that we threw our unharnessed faith in the Carpe Diem boat bound for India. I remember seeing the lights of Delhi waver into sight, a pit in my stomach of rumbling excitement and question- a brimming cesspool cauldron of emotion and anticipation that spilled everywhere in my head once the aircraft wheels hit foreign soil.

And so it began- walking into the Delhi night- pungent air and the unabashed use of horn and shout. Bumping down the road with Becca on my right, Ben in front, my eyes glued to the window- I remember thinking: This is going to be a wild ride.

And so it was. A wild ride of meeting a world anew. A wildly beautiful ride of spending time with us as a group while seeing and feeling a country that seeped into our souls. From street meandering with Luke, to laughter and smiles over breakfast with our group in full, to experience after experience, I found myself smiling and contented in my sleeping bag as I drifted to sleep each night. Between that first exploration of the Lotus Temple in Delhi, to that last supper atop the roof in the city where it all began, there sits a bucket of memories, feelings, and experiences which embody beauty, trial, tribulation, growth, laughter, connection, and imagery of both outlandish sweetness and sorrow. The elastic ebb and flow of our trip, our group, and our connections, are feelings stored in that personal box of treasures hidden and protected in the tissue and bones of our bodies.

With the horizon of a new year stretching ahead- the possibilities and excitements of young life are grand and enticing. As I find myself looking forward, I pause to reflect on the visage of a year past that has both given and changed me so much. I hope that the crazy ball of light and connection, that was rolling around in India in different forms for all of us, has fragmented its way into your lives to make them richer and fuller away from our Indian home.

In some ways I'm at a loss for words to adequately describe how I feel at the bottom of all this. But you all know this feeling, this moment, that bubbled up in lieu of the significant date today. A love attack: Where I want so badly to see all the faces in front of me and know everything about them and share a part of their feelings and energy. I miss y'all (Thank you Maddi). I love y'all. 365 days ago I hadn't ever seen your faces. 365 days ago I didn't imagine 3 months could have meant so much.

Tomorrow we wake up in separate beds, separate realities, separate worlds. Very much separate but somehow connected by the gossamer threads that destiny, luck, for sakes christ, Ganesh? had in store for us. We wake up connected by the simple fact that we threw our unharnessed faith in the Carpe Diem boat bound for India. Tomorrow we wake up connected by gossamer threads of conversations, belly laughs, stargazing, yoga on the rooftops, dancing on bridges, piling in rickshaws, singing on train rides, and seeing one another every sunrise for 3 months. My body sighs, my mind clears, I am a happy boy tomorrow as I was 365 days ago. The same happy boy with a different bodily perspective.

Sending love and connection- may the gossamers keep us close, Noah

India student, Spring 2011

 

 

Thank you Ethan,

I can't express how delighted we are to have Amelia back, safe and sound!

But I am writing to you to express my appreciation for the positive impact this Carpe Diem Trip had on Amelia's life. When she arrived last night, she exclaimed "Mom, you've got to tell everyone about Carpe Diem, it was so amazing."

Which I will do!

I also want to communicate my gratitude regarding Heather and Marshall's (aka Papa's) skilled leadership. They were so encouraging, warm, and solidly there for the group while not being domineering or authoritarian. They nurtured her through tough times, spread joy and made her laugh, and also gave her the chance to grow. She returned with great confidence in herself as a traveler. Being around Marshall and Heather was one of the highlights of the trip.

Muchisimas Gracias,

Testimonial from Spring '08 CAM parent

 

 

Dear Ethan,
Im going away today for two months to start work at a summer camp in Morgantown, WV. I went to the camp for 5 years and i actually was offered a job there this summer so i am going to be out of contact for a while. The reason that i am writing you this email is to tell you about Babs and Drew, my coleaders from my semester. I just had the best three months of my life in the south pacific. I wanted to let you know that Andrew and Barbara were the best leaders that i could have asked for. They were extremely supportive, always a riot, and provided me with the kind of leadership and organization to make a trip like that run smoothly. I mean it is hard to put it into words how much they meant to me on the trip. I mean they were totally awesome. I love them to death. I'm not sure how much feedback you receive from students about their previous leaders, but i felt obligated to let you know how amazing they were. They were super organized and other than a couple of incidents, which i wont get into because it isn't very important in the grand scheme of my email, they were extremely diligent about budgeting and staying on top of everyone's needs. They always put our group before themselves and ALWAYS went out of their way to take us to much needed doctor's appointments and if personal issues needed to be resolved. They made it very clear the guidelines of the trip and they left the decision up to us whether to abide by the rules and regulations. They didn't tell us what we can and cant do, they simply left all the decision making and responsibilities up to us. This made the environment of the group and the whole trip go very well. There was NO drama among our group which was extremely pleasant. All the work and the people that we met along the way were extremely nice and they all treated us soo well. I could just tell that Andrew and Babs loved us and would do anything for us. It was really sad seeing them leave the airport and probably won't see them again for a while if ever. I took so many pictures and i tell EVERYONE about my trip. The trip was life changing for me and i want to thank you for everything. Id also really like to thank you for picking the two best leaders possible. I could go on and on and on and on about how great the trip and everyone was on the trip, but again i just want to let you know that i am soo thankful for everything. Well you enjoy your summer and I look forward to keeping in touch. Thank you again, Ethan.

T.N. from the FANZ Semester, Spring, 2007

 

 


They call me Brianala. La is a form of respect. The first two Tibetan words I've learned are Amala and Pala, which mean of course mom and dad. My host family consists of a young mother and father and a two-year-old girl (and god help me if I have a child like her).

The house is no larger than 10 x 10 x 10. Seeing as there is only one room, I share a room with the entire family. We all sleep together and the Father snores like crazy! The "bathroom" is quite a hike...up three flights of stairs. The "bathroom" is shared between the 12 other families living in the area. The distance from town is more than I had expected, probably a 30 minute walk.

My family speaks a little English but if they aren't talking to me they speak Tibetan.

Today I shared a stairwell with two girls as we scampered out of the way of a cow on a mission.

I started taking Tibetan language classes from my pala and the first night he assigned me homework to memorize the whole 30 letter alphabets symbols and pronunciation...haha I think it would take me a month to really do that!

Okay so another fun story. My first bucket shower...who would think something seeming so easy would turn out to be such a disaster? I lugged my bucket of water up the three flights of stairs in a drizzling rain to the communal bathroom. I suppose bathroom is not the correct word to portray the scene accurately. I lugged my bucket of water up three flights of stairs in the drizzling rain to the 2 x 3 foot grimy stall where I would attempt to wash myself. I undressed but could find no place to put my clothing. I settled for wedging them in the crack in the door. I scooped out a cup of water and poured it over my head...OUCH!! Big mistake, the water is extremely hot! What can I do now? I decided to stand around and wait for the water to cool. After about 2 minutes, I realized that this would not be an option because a line for the shower had begun to form. Hurriedly, I began to wet myself with the scalding hot water. In my hurry of washing myself, I somehow managed to stick my foot in the bucket and tip the rest of my water over...what to do, what to do? There I was standing with soapsuds all over, shivering from extreme temperature change with no rinsing water, a line waiting to use the stall and not a single idea to resolve my situation. I settled by using the remaining drips of water and my towel to remove the soap. Reluctantly, I dressed myself and returned downstairs completely unsatisfied with my first bucket shower.

When I re-entered the room, the family was watching George Bush give a speech. My pala looked at me and said "Mr. Bush good president no?" I said "NO! Do you like him?" He said, "My friend like him so yes I like...why no you like?" I briefly replied about big business, war, and the environment and watched his opinion change quite easily.

I've drunken more chai tea this past week than in a whole winter at home. During my Tibetan language class we were served chai. Every morning when I wake up I'm served chai. The merchants on the street push chai at me. When I go into a store, I am handed chai while walking around. Then accompanying dinner is always a tall glass of steaming chai.

My Tibetan language class was great! (I decided to study Tibetan instead of Hindi since my pala is teaching me Tibetan...I would be a bundle of confusion if I were trying to learn both languages at once). I was slightly distracted by the teachers side-to-side constant head wobble (a very common movement among Indians) but was still able to pick up quite a few sentences, which will come in handy.

Tashi Delek = Hello
Ngae ming la Briana yin = my name is briana
kherang ghi tsen la gharae shu ghi yoe = What is your name?

 

 

Dear Ethan,
It's been quiet a few weeks since I got home from South America and I'm finally having a moment to write to you. You gave me a generous scholarship and I could not have gone without it. When I look back on the trip, I feel so lucky. Not everyone gets to go on the trip of their dreams when they are 18 and still exploring this world. South America changed me in more ways than I can articulate, or know. Everyday I think of it and notice the mark it left on me. I also think I could not have hand better leaders than Lannie and Adam. I just want you to know that by helping me financially, you helped to change my life - you, in part, gave me the opportunity to learn about and CHANGE who I am, how I define myself, the way I view this world. I do not think I could describe my gratitude in any amount of words. So, please know that you do much for others.
Thank you for everything, Kelly Stewart