Walkabout Overseas Educators, Author at International Gap Year Programs

North Island Updates

10/16/201710/18/2017 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

By David Bleecker The group’s spirits are high as we leave the North Island (Te Ika a Maui) of New Zealand, en route to the South Island (Te Wai Pounamu) via the Interislander ferry. Our last week was mostly spent trekking, caving, biking, and camping through National Park, a large area of protected wilderness in the heart of the North Island. Our five-day excursion was led by Blue Mountain Adventure… Read More

Respect and Gratitude

10/16/201710/16/2017 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

By Daisy Katelyn Osowski Last week we wrapped up our time with Tiaki at the marae in Whaingaroa and spent two nights with Rangimarie and Rob, a Maori/Native American couple that welcomed us into their home in Manu Wairua (means Bird Spirit). We got to participate in a Lakota sweat lodge ceremony and drum in a drum circle while singing traditional, and not so traditional, songs. Our time with Rangimarie, … Read More

Maori Language and Cultural Immersion

10/03/201710/03/2017 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

By Overseas Educators Lolly Beck-Pancer and Eric Strickler Arriving at the marae, Tiaki, our host and guide for the week, Tawhai, his three-year-old son, and Matewai, our warm language and song teacher, welcomed us to the grounds. In accordance with tradition, we had to wait at the ceremonial gate to be called into the marae by one of the elders. During the week we frequently practiced te reo Maori, the… Read More

Scavenger Hunting and WWOOFing in Raglan

09/22/201709/22/2017 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

By Curtis and Jenny Friday the 15th was the start of our journey together as a Carpe Diem group. The first three days of orientation were spent getting to know everybody. We shared personal details about our lives to understand everybody’s motivation for coming on this trip. After agreeing on the rules we wanted to abide by and the skills that we all wanted to work on, we made a… Read More

Good Agreements and Flag-Making

09/19/201709/19/2017 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

Our students turned their good agreements into an amazing flag they all learned to machine sew and make, while Eric cooked a local fish stew. Each patch represents an agreement: neon represents radical honesty and the turtle symbolizes jumping outside of your comfort zone.… Read More

Kia Ora! Bula! G’day!

09/09/201609/10/2016 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

Kia Ora! Bula! G’day! (That’s hello in Maori, Fijian, and Australian!) First things first- we want to take this opportunity and tell you guys how EXCITED we are to be going on this trip with you! There’s so many incredible things we’re going to experience together this fall, so many amazing people and places we’ll get to encounter and explore- we can hardly contain ourselves! After we meet at the… Read More

This is the end, my sweetest friend

05/05/2016 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

How can we begin to describe this journey? Challenging, wonderful, hard, beautiful, it is a weighty task to try and put the past three months into words that can possibly convey its different shapes and forms. Our group has changed and shifted throughout these three months, and every single student has created their path and growth in many different ways. As we hugged our dear friends Carly and Anna goodbye,… Read More

Bula From Fiji!

03/23/2016 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

We’ve made it to Fiji! After a few hiccups (missing bags etc.) we finally arrived in Nadi and boy was it HOT! After a brief ride through the streets, and checking in at Bamboo Backpackers, we were eager to find a way to escape the heat. Fortunately for us, there was a pool, right on the beach, and it naturally ended up being where we spent most of our down… Read More

Walkabout is ready for a Walkabout!

09/16/201506/16/2020 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

That’s right, the crew has all gathered in LAX and proceeded through security. Based on this photo we can safely assume that they are already practicing the Haka, a traditional warriors greeting of the Maori. What an appropriate way to enter into Aotearoa, The Land of the Long White Cloud, more commonly referred to as New Zealand. We wish this team the best of luck on the road ahead. Stay… Read More

Five Day Countdown!

09/12/2015 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

Dear Walkabout Students, Parents, and Public at Large, Ryan and Cheridyn here reaching out to you from the infamous Carpe HQ in Portland, Oregon. We’ve begun the official countdown and are eagerly excited to be departing for New Zealand in a wee five days. We feel like two hobbits about to embark on an incredible adventure and can’t wait to meet you in person (our students) at the airport in… Read More

Fiji Finale

04/02/201504/02/2015 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

Fiji, What an amazing country. We started out in Nadi, staying at Bamboo Beach. Serving as a baby step by teaching a few cultural traditions and Fijian phrases, Bamboo Beach was lots of fun. Nadi was very chaotic, with the food markets, lots of kava and loads of souvenirs. Free travel begins. We stayed at this beautiful resort called the Beach House. The best way to describe it was 4… Read More

Nasolo Village

03/30/2015 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

Bula Friends and Family, Greetings from Nasolo Village on Vatu Levu Island in Fiji. We have spent the last week immersing ourselves in a Fijian village. We have spent the week constructing sidewalks and a driveway. It was definitely an interesting experience making concrete using sand and rocks and mixing it in a barrel that was cut in half with a hand saw. Our hard work paid off though because… Read More

Fiji Fun

03/15/2015 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

Greetings family and friends, After many great experiences in New Zealand it was time to embark on a new journey; Fiji. After a short and much anticipated 3 hour flight, we arrived in Fiji! We started our time at the Bamboo Beach hostel outside of Nadi. Highlighted by kava ceremonies and picking out sulus in the city of Nadi, many group members got a taste of Fijian traditions. After a… Read More

All Is Well in Wellington

02/15/2015 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

Hey everyone, we've decided to express everything we've done so far through song. (the first verse of Party in the USA) we hopped on a plane from LAX with strangers we haven't met said goodbye to all of our loved ones we'll see you in the end. jumped in our seats, soared over the pacific looked at the date, February 12th is missing this is all so crazy we're in… Read More

Walkabout is off on a walkabout!

02/11/201506/16/2020 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

Good evening family and friends, The Walkabout group has all arrived safely to LAX and they are about to proceed through security and begin their adventure together. We wish them all the best as they traverse across South Pacific! Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud awaits! -Drew Edwards, Executive Director… Read More

Kia Ora Walkabouters

02/05/2015 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

! Official Countdown: 7 days! Nina & Brian here, writing from Carpe's home – Portland Oregon. We are in the midst of preparing the last details of our journey together & took some time to appreciate what Portlandia has to offer. We also want to take some time to send a few tips to prepare you for our upcoming adventure! Spend Quality Time: take the time to have one last… Read More

One last Bula

12/11/2014 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

One last Bula, Although we are no longer traveling as a pack of 13, the journey is hardly over. Many of us are still discovering the treasures of Australia, soaking up a few last rays and catching one more wave. Some have made the long journey home together, shared hugs and tears, and are relishing in the comforts of home. Fairly soon we will all be on our separate paths… Read More

Makin’ Moves

09/28/201409/28/2014 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

Walkabout crew is back and ready to attack! This past week was spent at the Blue Mountain Adventure Center where our days were jam packed with epic-ness. We started off by meeting Reggie the friendly pet goat. Then we jumped head first into a week of mountain biking, repelling, hiking, caving and river rafting. Some of us even formed a fellowship and attempted to summit Mount Doom! All in… Read More

Walkabout has arrived

09/18/201409/18/2014 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

Greetings from New Zealand or perhaps we should say kia ora, The Walkabout group has arrived safely after our 15+ hours of travel. We spent our first day getting to know each other while exploring the outskirts of Wellington. The group is getting along great; it looks like we are going to have an amazing time together. We ended the day with a completely student led dinner and already our… Read More

Team Walkabout is ready to go on a walkabout!

09/16/201406/16/2020 Walkabout Overseas Educators South Pacific- WALKABOUT

Good evening family and friends! The Walkabout crew has all rendezvoused in LAX and are clearly feeling calm and ready as they prep to depart for the upcoming adventure. Amidst a lot of smiles, handshakes, and hugs, these precocious young travelers are eagerly anticipating the journey ahead! Stay tuned to the blog as we will update it when they arrive safely in Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud,… Read More