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
By Ella
Our last days in Uganda were spent on the gorgeous Lake Bunyoni. One dala dala ride from SNEC and we were at Edirisa (“The Window” in Rakiga, the language of southern Uganda), a hostel right on the lake. A set of stairs carved into the dirt, and marked “Staff Only,” led us down to the hostel, which featured tents for us to share (and to continue sharing for… Read More
Ella and Mali move into a traditional hut in Huye.Matt conducting a business meeting from his office.Rafting on the Nile River.Nile River madness!Enjoying the beauty of Rwanda.Medical bike for an ankle sprain. Don’t worry…she’ll be ok!… Read More
By James StewartThere is a certain sense of emotional and spiritual fulfillment that can only be obtained by walking barefoot along a rural, mud-covered road.
It lies in the softness of the sand and muck beneath your feet. It dances in the chorus of birdsong that mingles with the singing of crickets and the constant tittering of chickens. To you, it is new, it is exciting, and you breathe… Read More
By Hadley HobbsHike day to the dams with some of the children (watoto) from Mudindi.Working in the garden.Back in the beginning of the trip when we went to the rocky garden.Snack time back at Swahili school.… Read More
Photos courtesy of Overseas Educators Kate Abraham & Julian Hartmann-Russell
Miki enjoys the swing atop the mountain at Casa del Árbol.
Sunset at Casa del Árbol.
The main square of town, featuring a beautiful church, a park, and Kate.
Beginning of class activity with all the students and teachers, led by our main contact Lorena who runs the school.
Karaoke night for Naomi’s birthday!
Feliz Cumpleaños, Naomi! 18!
Josh, Julian,… Read More
By Tavish and Eli
The week began in Xela, and with Spanish classes complete, we are all eager to explore the city of Xela. Some students decided to climb the famous Santa Maria volcano, one of Guatemala’s tallest and most formidable climbs. Others decided to hang back and spend the day in Xela. With a volcano conquered and Xela thoroughly explored, the group decided to attend a superchivas soccer game… Read More
By Lia and Hadley
Just two weeks ago, we arrived at Mufindi Children’s Village not knowing what to expect and maybe a little apprehensive about what was to come. Now we find ourselves reflecting on an amazing adventure.
During our first week, our days started at 4:45 am to help our house mamas get kids ready for school and eat breakfast with them. From there, the group split into two… Read More
By Overseas Educators Kate Abraham & Julian Hartmann-Russell
This week was our week in Baños de Agua Santa, a tourism-based town in the Sierra region of Ecuador. After a nine-hour bus ride, we arrived on Saturday night at Raíces Spanish School, where we would spend much of our time in the coming days. We were escorted to our temporary homes by our respective host families, in groups of two and… Read More
By Maggie Otal and Jillian Doyle (the NoVa girls)
Photos courtesy of Anna Parker
Our week began with a ferry ride to the island of Ometepe. The boat ride didn’t seem too long but by the look of the sunburns and chaco’s tan lines you would think we sat in the sun for hours. When we made it to the island, all 15 of us decided to have lunch at… Read More
By Shaiyena and Juan
Hello fans of group HONGI 2017! We’re here to bring you the latest updates of our past week in New Zealand.
This past week was filled to the brim with adventures consisting of hot water beaches, hiking Mount Doom (kind of), and visiting Cathedral Cove. We started our STD (Student Travel Directed) in Wellington, a big city filled with museums, street art, and Tim Tams. After… Read More
By Max Morrish
The past week of volunteering at the Mother Teresa homes in Kolkata has been an incredibly humanizing experience for every member of the Shiva Crew. The crew members were spread among several different homes, each of which specialized in housing and caring for patients with different needs ranging from mental illness to physical disabilities. Although each of the homes was tailored to a select type of patient,… Read More
By Yina Chen
We are three weeks into our trip now; this Saturday we will only have two months left. This past week our group drove from Kampala to Kabale. We went to a yoga class, as well as roamed around the streets of the small city before heading up the mountains for five days helping SNEC (Special Needs Education Center). It was an amazing experience as we taught classes,… Read More
By Katherine Lord
We have just returned to Chiang Mai after an incredible three-day long trek through the Thai mountains and jungles. Though very physically demanding, it was an incredible experience. On the first day, we drove two and a half hours in the back of pickup trucks to a national park north of Chiang Mai, where we began the trek. That day, we walked nine miles through the mountains,… Read More
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
By Dillan Crovo
On Wednesday, we finished up the bathroom construction in the morning. After lunch, I took a short, but much needed, nap. The group broke roughly in half; some chose to make soup, either driven by an enthusiastic appreciation for the culinary arts and how it pertains to soups and broths or perhaps more likely deterred by the looming storm clouds and the promise of rain. Others—spurred on… Read More
