Before we begin…

By Overseas Educators Pete and Rachel

Jambo!

Rachel and Pete here at the Carpe Diem HQ in Portland! In just a few short days, we will be hopping on a plane to San Francisco (2 hours), then to Dubai (16 hours!), and finally to Entebbe (5 more hours!). We’ve been scheming and planning away here for the past week, and we are eager to meet you all and begin our semester.

As we reflect on the momentous journey before us, with a mixture of nervousness and imagination, we are called to remember the words of Annie Dillard, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” We are about to fill our days with exploration, deep friendship, full-belly laughs, cramped bus rides, new foods, and so many wonderful and as-of-yet unimaginable experiences. We can’t wait to share this portion of our lives with you all.

A few last minute reminders: we will be meeting up at the Emirates check-in counter in San Francisco Airport at 11:30 a.m. on February 14th (don’t check in without us! We will all check-in as a group). You will be able to find James from the Carpe Diem HQ staff in an orange Carpe Diem shirt. Make sure you have all valuables, medications, and items you will need for our overnight in Dubai in your carry-on bags. (Tosca, we’ll meet you in Dubai!).

Soak up your final few days before our semester begins by enjoying the creature comforts of home and make sure you leave some room in your pack for all of the items we find along the way.

See you at SFO!