Here we find ourselves in the midst of winter, spending time with all of the amazing people who comprise the Carpe Diem community and staff, and enjoying all that Portland has to offer.
It’s hard to imagine that in less than two week’s time we will all be enjoying the warm, tropical nights and hot sun of Ecuador! If it doesn’t feel real yet, don’t worry- it will soon! We are so excited for this trip of a lifetime, and are already filling our brains with amazing info and facts about South America.
For instance, did you know that Peru has 1625 varieties of orchids, 425 of which can be found growing near Machu Picchu? Or that while there are over a dozen languages spoken in Peru, there are three official languages: Spanish; Aymara; and Quechua. In fact, Quechua was used in one of the Star Wars films as the language of Jabba the Hut (!!) because the creators at that time felt it to be sufficiently “foreign sounding!”
Of course, we will continue learning about and exploring these incredible places together as a group and deepening our knowledge and appreciation for these diverse regions. We are looking forward to meeting each of you in person and getting to know everyone during the course of the semester!
In the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any last minute questions or thoughts that you might have. We are happy to help in any way we can!
Hasta pronto!
Simon and Bria
