Written by Cece and Jackie, students on the Carpe Diem gap year Guatemala Spanish classes program at PLQ in Xela Quetzaltenango
This week was the first of 2 weeks in Xela, aka Quetzaltenango! Our first morning here was a Sunday. We spent most of it trying unsuccessfully to find an open lavanderia to wash our clothes that had been covered in mud from Comalapa. Turns out most of them are… Read More
Written by Eva and Ben, students on the Carpe Diem gap year Italy trek through Tuscany on the Via Francigena
Since leaving Centro Panta Rei, we have embarked on a four day trek on the Via Francigena through Tuscany! We got to stay in small towns and the city of Siena. During the trek we had amazing views and beautiful scenery. We got to make bread, see a medieval village,… Read More
Written by Lauren and Lucina, students on the Carpe Diem gap year Guatemala Comalapa program at Long Way Home sustainable school
This past week has been nothing short of transformative. As we arrived in Comalapa, we were greeted by the city’s beautiful mountains, art, and an array of friendly locals. “Long Way Home” , the NGO we worked with, housed us all in one room which made the week feel… Read More
Written by Aidan and Sage, students on the Carpe Diem gap year Italy Umbria semester at Centro Panta Rei learning sustainable practices near Perugia
We have come a long way in our stay at Centro Panta Rei. We have learned a plethora of sustainable practices that have greatly impacted our perspective on how we as humans use the natural world, as well as participated in culturally significant activities such as… Read More
Written by Aisha and Malcolm, Overseas Educators on the Carpe Diem gap year Italy Panta Rei orientation program starting at Lake Trasimeno
After a looong travel day from our various homes to JFK to Rome to our home for the first week of the program, Centro Panta Rei, we enjoyed our first delicious Italian dinner and collapsed in bed for a good night’s sleep. The next few days we split… Read More
Written by Abby and Mara, Overseas Educators on the Carpe Diem gap year Guatemala Antigua orientation program transitioning to Comalapa
Woweeee! What an incredible welcome to Guatemala it has been! We dove straight into getting to know each other, the program, and the incredible country that will be our home for the next 8 weeks!
Our orientation activities have allowed the group to reflect on their intentions for being here,… Read More
Written by Aisha and Malcolm, Overseas Educators on the Carpe Diem gap year Italy Greece orientation for the Terra Fall 2025 semester
We are passionate travelers, inspired educators and global citizens, excited to embark upon this adventure together with all of you!
Here are a few pro tips before we embark:
Pack layers, and consider comfort!
Keep an open mind, be ready to try new foods!
Learn how to say… Read More
Written by Julia Kate Thompson, a Carpe Diem gap year Thailand Koh Tao diving Latitudes student interning in reef conservationDiving Into Conservation on Koh Tao
This semester abroad, I’ve been interning with a dive shop on the island of Koh Tao, working on their Reef Conservation Team. I’ve been a part of several projects such as environmental monitoring, shark snorkels, measuring key species, water testing, turtle rescues, artificial reef… Read More
Written by Summer Sorensen, a Carpe Diem gap year Spain marine biology Latitudes student diving in Tenerife and living in BilbaoDiving into a New World: My Internship in Tenerife
There’s so much I could say about my experience so far! I was nervous about traveling to an unknown place on my own for the first time—especially to islands I hadn’t even heard of four months ago.
At the start… Read More
Gap year Senegal volunteering student Ava teaches English and French at Maison de la Gare, supporting Talibe children on her Latitudes Year.Living and Volunteering in Saint-Louis
I can’t help but think back to my first day here—stepping out of the DSS airport after 20 minutes of sleep, carrying an (expensively) overweight suitcase, a backpack, and my guitar. I spotted a man holding a sign: “AVA MENDLER – Maison de… Read More
Written by Nina Rafaela Shear Quitiguiña, a Carpe Diem gap year Guatemala IMAP volunteer Latitudes student at San Lucas Toliman on Lake Atitlan
Hello, my name is Nina I’ve been volunteering at a project called IMAP (Mesoamerican Permaculture Institute) in Guatemala for more than a month, and I’ve loved it.
One of my first impressions of Guatemala was how kind and welcoming people are. I arrived in Guatemala City on… Read More
Written by Alexandra “Ally” R. Olejniczak, a Carpe Diem gap year South Africa Latitudes student volunteering in Melkhoutfontein
Before coming to Melkhoutfontein, I experienced a three-day orientation in Johannesburg where I visited multiple historical sites like Soweto, Nelson Mandela’s house, Prison Four, and Maropeng. I also visited the Apartheid Museum.
When I first got off the plane at George Airport, I was taken to the beach in Stillbaai where we… Read More
Written by Nora Thomas, a Carpe Diem gap year Namibia wildlife volunteering Latitudes student traveling across five projects in Namibia
So far this semester, I’ve spent my time traveling about the whole of Namibia!! I started my time by flying into Windhoek to be transferred to the main volunteer site at Na/ankuse. I spent two weeks are the main camp and got to participate in Anti Poaching Unit sleep out,… Read More
Written by Malcolm Reid, a Carpe Diem gap year Australia wildlife Latitudes student learning independence and working with animals in Australia
From beachside strolls to working hands-on with wildlife, my semester in Australia has been full of new experiences, challenges, and personal growth. Here’s a look at what this journey has meant to me so far.
Challenges Along the Journey
Adjusting to life in a new country comes with its… Read More
Written by Maggie and Chelsea, Overseas Educators on the Carpe Diem gap year Italy Greece semester, Fall 2024Lovely students, what a wild and wonderful 70-day journey we’ve been on. You all have absolutely rocked it every second, and we cannot express how proud and honored we are to have spent the most precious resource we have together: our time.
From meeting you at JFK, we traveled from Panta… Read More
Written by JB and Andy, Overseas Educators on the Carpe Diem gap year Central America semesterWhat’s New?
And just like that, three months of adventure, growth, and connection have come to an end. It’s hard to believe how quickly time has flown since our journey began. As we wrapped up our Central American program, our final days were filled with moments that felt both bittersweet and deeply meaningful.… Read More
Written by Izzy, Peter, and Malcolm, students on the Carpe Diem gap year Italy Greece permaculture semester, Terra 24
What’s New in Our Journey?
After an amazing week of student-directed travel on Aegina, the group took a train two hours outside of Athens to Akrata. The week was spent at Re-Green, a permaculture community dedicated to the regeneration of Earth. Each day, the group participated in learning activities like garden… Read More
Written by Tara and Anand, Overseas Educators on the Carpe Diem gap year India Nepal semester closing out their journey together
Eight Wild Women and Anand! This wild journey went through Nepal and India encountering all that it had to offer. We began as a group of 9 individuals but slowly made our way to forming a group of people who were ready to take on this world. We… Read More
Written by Mary and Sushi, Overseas Educators on the Carpe Diem gap year Australia New Zealand South Pacific semester 2024Our beloved belayers, queens of the Daintree, goddesses of Aotearoa, BBs. Our dearest SOPAC ’24,
Wow, what an incredible, magical journey we have embarked on together through the South Pacific. We are so proud of each and every one of you for the leadership, the growth, the openness, the… Read More
Written by JT and Gabe, students on the Carpe Diem gap year New Zealand adventure South Pacific semester at Whenua Iti
What’s New in Our Journey?
So many things happened this week, as Whenua Iti was packed with incredible experiences. We got to sea kayak in a fierce rainstorm and treacherous waters, participated in a high ropes course, walked 12 miles in Able Tasman National Park, spent time caving… Read More
