By Charlie Koloms
Namaste to friends and family back home.
This week for the Shiva group has been drastically different than our previous weeks in India. Instead of staying in a busy city like before, we have moved on campus to a school called SECMOL, just 30 minutes from the city of Leh in Ladakh. SECMOL is a school for 10th and 12th graders located at the foothills of the… Read More
By Ellie and PJPhotos courtest of Anna Parker
Greetings.
This is your latest correspondence from ya girl Ellie and PJ, aka El Jefe.
Our week began this past Sunday with a summit up the nearby volcano Maderas. While it is the shorter volcano on Ometepe Island, the hike proved to be no easy feat. Katie and Anna were both not feeling too great health-wise, so, unfortunately, by the time… Read More
By Shai, Sophie, Nico, and Elliot
Hi Hongi fans!! Shai, Sophie, Nico and Elliot here giving you the deets of our latest adventures in New Zealand. Our week started off spending two nights at Manu-Wairua Retreat, a Marae in Raglan. Here we endured an intensive healing process that utilized a sweat lodge. A sweat lodge is a small enclosed dome used in many indigenous purification ceremonies. Inside, there is someone… Read More
By Quincy Hirt Lexie Drew“Welcome to El Paredon”
These four words, spoken in a kind British accent, greeted us as we stepped off the bus. It was immediately clear that this place was unlike our recent destinations as the salty, humid, and hot air washed over us. Alex (kind British voice) and Lexi (a volunteer at Surf Camp, our hostel) greeted us warmly as we settled into our palm… Read More
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
