Blog
Much Ado About Dirt
Much Ado About Dirt
Our week as a playbook at Deep Dirt Farm & Institute
Written by Rachel, Jacob, and Freya
Monday, Nov. 12
Scene: The Carpe Diem van and Jeep arrive at the Deep Dirt Institute with Kate T
(Owner of Deep Dirt) waving at the welcome center. After brief hellos, the group follows her to a spiral rock structure where they introduce one another and converse. Kate explains … Read More
A Trek to Remember
Written By, Elsie, Petar, and Eli
Hi family and friends!!
I’m Elsie, one of our captains of the week along with Eli and Petar. I’m excited to let you all in on what’s been going on here in Arizona. What a week it has been!! After lots of preparation and anticipation, we finally packed up our bags Monday morning and dove into a 6-day backpacking adventure. For many of us,… Read More
Native Plant Party!
Written By, Lily
Hello family and friends!
We finally arrived in the small border town of Patagonia, Arizona last Wednesday. Following the cold nights we spent in the Grand Canyon, the group is loving the warm weather down here. Once we settled into our accommodations at the old elementary school in town, we were anxious to start working with Borderlands Restoration Network (BRN). I’m Lily, one of the team captions… Read More
Epic Canyon Moment (and hello from Arizona!)
The group jumping after setting up our tents in Tucson. Super excited!
Written By Kerri, Jacob, and Leila
Greetings from sunny Arizona!
We have been spending this first week camping at two different sites, exploring, and bonding. Our first site was based in Tucson, where we set up after arriving and had a nice dinner of pizza. We spent the first four days getting to know each other, and getting… Read More
Arrival In Tucson
Greetings, Friends and Family!
The Borderlands group has safely arrived in Tucson, and have met with their group leaders, Kate and Adam. They have arrived at camp and are setting up tents before a first-night dinner of pizza and salad. They are in a beautiful setting; pictures to come tomorrow. Until then, be assured that the group is together and have already enjoyed an epic Arizona sunset.
You’ll hear from… Read More
Arizona Here We Come!
Hello Borderlands Crew and all who will be following and supporting us on this journey!
With the excitement of our semester just around the corner, we are so excited to be writing this first blog. Although the students will be the usual voice on the majority of the blogs throughout our adventure, you will be hearing from us periodically too.
So, who are we?
enter Adam and Kate, the Carpe… Read More
Staying Engaged In The COVID Era
Written By, James Simmons
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in drastic changes on an individual, community, and global level. Each of us has experienced at least some degree of change to our social and familial relationships, as well as having to make adjustments to our educational and/or career options. Many have personally experienced the effects of COVID-19 firsthand; others have loved ones who have suffered due to the pandemic. We… Read More
Reflections On Life As An Overseas Educator
Written By, Doug Zaideman
Learning To Trip Lead
Becoming an Overseas Educator (OE) with Carpe Diem wasn’t something that I always knew I wanted to do, in fact, I hadn’t even heard of formal gap year education programs until after I had already made my way through school and had the opportunity to travel internationally for the first time. During a trip to Southeast Asia, I would meet student groups… Read More
How To Make The Most Out Of Your Latitudes Year Placement
Written By, Doug Zaideman
Taking a Latitudes Year with Carpe Diem allows you to build upon experiences you had during your group semester, carrying those skills and lessons learned over to an independent gap semester spent volunteering for an international organization, a Focused Volunteer Placement (FVP). In addition to where Carpe travels during group semesters, our Latitudes Year programs partners with organizations in over 20 countries worldwide.
Finding A… Read More
Exploring In Bilbao
Written By Maya, Latitudes ’20 Spain
My time in Spain was spent either at my language school, cooking school or tasting the numerous delicious foods around my city -Bilbao. Spanish cuisine is Morrocan cuisine with a touch of France and a splash of the big bad ocean. Spanish food can’t truly be understood without understanding the history of Spain. So much of the influence in their dishes comes from the… Read More
How To Make Your Gap Year More Sustainable
Thinking about the impact your gap year abroad has on the planet? We are too. From international flights, to travel gear, to the types of activities you do, the products you consume, the businesses you support, and the places you visit while taking a gap year… the choices you make have an impact on communities, environments and economies. There is a lot to consider!
Is it possible to take a… Read More
Experiences In South Africa
Written By Tor, Latitudes Year ’20 South Africa
“In South Africa, Poverty Alleviation Programs Show r-Eel Results”
Everybody in this area knows and loves Anthea Rossouw, the woman who runs Dreamcatcher. She’s been at it for a long time, I gather, possibly since the days of apartheid. She gave up her status as a prominent community member in the white seaside town of Stilbaai (where her late husband was the… Read More
Black Lives Matter
Like many of you, we are experiencing immense anger and sadness for the suffering of Black people due to the systemic, institutional racism that continues to occur in our country. We condemn the racist policies, systemic racism and police brutality that led to the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, and countless others.
We stand in solidarity with those who are protesting and those… Read More
Green Building In Guatemala
Written By Hayden, Latitudes ’20 Guatemala
To say the least it has been an incredibly eventful two months.
56 days, 25 cold showers, 432 tortillas (probably), 84 tire bricks, and one global pandemic later, I have returned home. While watching the world attempt to cope with a disaster of epic proportions, it can be hard to think of all the things that are going right. But luckily I have a… Read More
My Gap Year In The South Pacific
Written By Sophie, Latitudes ’20 New Zealand
Taking a Gap Year was one of the best decisions I have ever made, I learned so much about myself that I would never have learned if it wasn’t for Carpe Diem. During my group semester I was able to learn communication skills and I pushed my limits and grew so much as an individual and created long-lasting bonds with the members of… Read More
Wildlife Rehabilitation In Belize
Written By Celia, Latitudes ’20 Belize
My last day in Belize was unlike any of the others. I woke up in the morning, grabbed my bags, said goodbye to my new friends, and jumped on a water taxi to the island Ambergris Caye, a popular tourist destination. For the first time since I arrived, I was surrounded by the sparkling turquoise caribbean sea I had been living so close to… Read More
A Weekend With Dragons
Written By Lucas, Latitudes Year ’20 Indonesia
Sydney and I had planned to travel to Komodo during our time volunteering with the North Bali Reef Conservation, so we had the idea to ask Kyle, our coordinator, if he had ever been, and if he had any recommendations. He said that he hadn’t been, but that in a few weeks, he and the founder of the organization, Ketut, were going to… Read More
HONGI 2020: Reflections on our return to the States
Huge thanks to Claire for her work compiling these reflections and photos from her Spring 2020 South Pacific group!
“I asked the group to share a few pictures, their favorite memory, and how they experienced the evacuation and return. I hope this sheds some light on what we as students were feeling during the evacuation time and also to share some great memories we made even though the time was… Read More
Wildlife Conservation
Written By Sierra, Latitudes Year ’20 Costa Rica
Hello everyone! I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to volunteer at Kids Saving the Rainforest which is located in Quepos, Costa Rica. I visited Costa Rica when I was much younger, but going back and being able to give back changed my perspective and increased my appreciation for the beautiful country.
Kids Saving the Rainforest is a nonprofit organization that… Read More