Kia Ora. Hello everyone, it’s Jackson and Trish and we are so excited to have the opportunity to blog for you all again. Tonight we have the official changing of the guards which means that tomorrow we will have new jobs and will no longer be the group bloggers. I know we only had the opportunity to blog twice but I am so happy we have been able to give… Read More
Bula and Hello!
My name is Jackson Tahmoush, and my name is Trish Pizzica. Today we are sitting in an amazing hostel in Nelson, New Zealand but this is the recap of our past weeks with Hongi Fall 2019. After a beautiful and sunny orientation in the Tubakula Beachside Bungalows right outside Sigatoka, we made our way to Suva for a day and eventually all the way up to a… Read More
Rasheed and I are writing from an internet cafe in Sigatoka whilst on a scavenger hunt exploring the city. Our group has thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each other in our own mini paradise at the Tubakula Beach Bungalows as well as doing orientation and getting excited for the next three months. We have got to go check off the rest of our list, but all is well from the… Read More
Hey everyone! We are Sarah and Nathan, and we are so excited to lead this Hongi group in the South Pacific this fall! This trip is bursting with all sorts of adventures and growth opportunities. In anticipation and preparation for the semester, we have spent the last week training with other Carpe Diem Overseas Educators.
Before we get to what we have done this week, we want to tell you… Read More
Written By OEs, Bria & Dave
Greetings from the Other Side!
Here we are, writing the final dispatch from Bilbo Bloggins, as we look out over the nearby cloud-capped peak of Mt. Doom. Here at the One Bean to Rule Them All Cafe, the guy at the table next to me sports a familiarly flowing white beard, and the guy in line had hairy bare feet… but that might just… Read More
Written By Ryan
Our last week was just like so many others in that it was memorable, adventurous, and exhausting. I’m going to miss being on the constant go, traveling somewhere new and different every few days, but I think everyone is also ready to depart, return home, and slow down.
After our retreat at Chenrezig, the group including myself enjoyed our night out in Brisbane watching and later singing… Read More
Written By Laura
G’day, mates!
Our adventures this week began with a couple of very long travel days as we made our way from Fiji to Australia. This included a layover in Auckland, New Zealand, which gave us one day where we were in three different countries! We also had the opportunity to spend a night in our most luxurious accommodation yet: The Brisbane Airport. Sleeping in an airport, as… Read More
Written By Lydia
After a sad farewell to Nakuku, we piled in the truck to head back to Savusavu, where we went scuba diving for a few days. For most of us, it was our first time diving, and the experience was surreal. We saw so many cool fish and beautiful coral, and we learned many skills to get our open water certifications. While we were diving we stayed at… Read More
Written By Lydia
Bula from Fiji! Lydia here, reporting to you from the shores of Savusavu on Vanua Levu, the smaller of the two big islands that are a part of the 300 plus islands that make up Fiji as a whole. We’re soaking up the sun and have been thoroughly enjoying our time thus far. Once we left Auckland on the 27th, we traveled to Nadi, which we soon… Read More
Written By Savannah
At the beginning of this week we helped garden one more time at Solscape and then we packed our things and said goodbye to our awesome little tipis, as well as everyone we met there. We then met up with Tiaki and reflected on everything we had learned from him over the past week. To show our gratitude we sang him the song “Imagine” by John Lennon,… Read More
Written By George
At the start of this week we were still at the Hart family farm. We said our goodbyes on the 11th and woke up and headed straight for Ragland after picking up a massive van for the group to travel in over the next two weeks. After our painstakingly long 3 hour drive to Raglan, we ended up at an awesome backpackers hostel right up the road… Read More
Written By Tayva
Our week at the Harts family farm started with an early morning March fourth to catch a ferry from Picton to Wellington, a two hour drive from the cute town of Nelson where we have been staying for a few nights. The ferry ride was long but very pretty, many of us slept, enjoyed the views of the bay between the North and South Island as well… Read More
Written By Noah
This week was a long and interesting week which was for the most part spent with the Whenua Iti organization. To begin his week we started off by going on a caving trip, which was uncomfortable to some and not so much for others. We split up into groups of seven and went into the cave through two separate entrances, where we spent a few hours underground… Read More
Written By Ryan
We arrived in Christchurch after a long flight full of naps and movies. Our time in Christchurch was brief but very helpful, as we mapped and planned out our itinerary week by week. All the while continuing to get to one another through fun group bonding activities.
After a few adventurous days in Christchurch exploring the city, the group set off to Nelson and met up with… Read More
Dear Friends and Family of the Carpe Diem Hongi Group:
The Hongi group has landed safely in Christchurch, New Zealand, and have settled into their new downtown accommodation. They will spend the day exploring their area of the city, finding some local food, and resting from the long journey.
Moving forward, the Hongi group will have the opportunity to update this blog and share their amazing stories with you. Be… Read More
Hongi Friends and Family:
We wanted to let you know that the Hongi group has come together at last, safe and sound in the LAX airport. Once going through security, the group will be diving into a few introduction and orientation activities with their Overseas Educators, Bria and Dave. They will then embark upon the long journey over to Christchurch, New Zealand.
We will update you again once the group… Read More
By Sarah Mckenzie
Hello family and friends and anyone else viewing this blog! Sorry I am writing this a little late, but we just spent the last week doing some pretty awesome stuff. When we first arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand last week we spent two days exploring the city. Then we flew to Nelson which is at the top of the south island and was picked up by a… Read More
By Eric Sale
After we exited Savu Savu we headed the Vuadomo village. As soon as we hopped off the transport we were greeted by dozens of villagers singing, clapping, and showering us with a welcome we will never forget. We were seated (on the ground) inside a shed (it wasn’t really a shed but they called it that for some reason) and were introduced to the village by Kali… Read More
By Mariella
Hi family and friends! We have finished our time in Australia and have been in Fiji for the past week enjoying the sun, water and local hospitality of the islands. Commencing this part of the trip was a bittersweet moment because we had to part ways with one of our beloved members, Justin (aka J-Wade), in Sydney. We have missed his presence from the humorous comments he makes… Read More
