Blog

Kolkata!

Shiva Overseas Educators India- SHIVA
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

Village Trekking near Chiang Mai

Sabai Overseas Educators Southeast Asia- SABAI
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

Maori Language and Cultural Immersion

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

From Primary to Secondary Forest: A Harrowing Tale

Quetzal Overseas Educators Central America- QUETZAL
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

Nelson, Adventure Week & Wellington

Hongi Overseas Educators South Pacific- HONGI
By Lucas and Nicolas After leaving the Maori, we continued on to the city of Nelson where we wandered and explored. Eventually, we came across our next adventure, Whenua Iti Outdoors. We were led by our courageous, cunning, and more-than-slightly crazy guides, Joe and Callum. They had us crawling like spiders through caves, paddling our waka through the treacherous surf, and hiking through dense forests and mountains of the Abel… Read More

Volunteering at the Peñas Blancas Co-Op

Quetzal Overseas Educators Central America- QUETZAL
By Jon Frey We arrived at the cooperative in Peñas Blancas on Sunday, unpacked, and immediately dove into meetings, and then painting murals. Our new member, Jake, joined us during the meeting of the community and he was instantly part of the family. These murals, once finished, were to go to families in the community to signify that those families are open to house tourists in homestays. At the “art… Read More

Permaculture Volunteering at la Finca Mono Verde

Inti Overseas Educators South America- INTI
By Renee Noordzij Hello friends, family, and other random readers! This past week our Inti family has been lodging, learning, and volunteering at la Finca Mono Verde (The Green Monkey Farm), in the small coastal town of Tobuga. We arrived at the farm Saturday evening after an eventful day at the beach. After a tearful goodbye to Juan Carlos and his wife Chari, we settled into our new home. That… Read More

The Sad, Mad, and Beautiful of India

Shanti Overseas Educators India- SHANTI
By Emma Clements Our past two weeks have been filled with incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experiences; it is too hard to just pick one thing to write about. So, instead of writing about WHAT we did, I will tell you the feelings and thoughts of what went into it. It is the sad, mad, and beautiful of India. We have all seen the madness, especially in Dehli, with all the cars and… Read More

Homestays, Spanish, and Exploring Xela!

Maya Overseas Educators Central America- MAYA
By Emma Wagner Hola from the cozy computer lab at PLQ (Proyecto Lingüistico Quetzal Educativo)! We have taken a break from the delicious cinnamon tea and bread we’ve grown to know and love over the past few days, to give you a glimpse into our lives in Xela—and hopefully, some pointers on Xela’s best offerings if you ever find yourself here with some time to kill. Some highlights of the… Read More

“Enough,” “Traveler,” and “Privilege”: A Reflection

Shiva Overseas Educators India- SHIVA
By Shira “Varanasi is ancient, by human civilization standards. It is commonly thought to have lived through 5,000 years of continuous habitation. Through the passage of time, the city accumulated layers, preserving countless generations of culture within its fabric. The Ganga herself is the thread that winds through the ages and binds the city into one living entity.” During our time in Varanasi, we saw a few of the many… Read More