Written by Tara and Ariana, Overseas Educators wrapping up their Italy Greece semester closing week with pizza in Naples, a day trip to Capri, and a final ceremony in Rome.
We embarked on our student direct travel pizza mission in Napoli! Eating pizza, island hopping, and visiting mystical ruins. We maxed our selves out with pizza and pastries. Clocking 30,000 steps a day trying to soak in the most… Read More
Written by Sophie N., this Costa Rica scuba diving semester recap covers the group’s final week in Drake Bay, from open water certification to Friendsgiving and Corcovado wildlife.
This was our last full week as a group, we spent it in Drake Bay mostly scuba diving. We met great directors that guided us along the way and met our needs while diving. On Thursday, since we wouldn’t be spending Thanksgiving… Read More
Written by Soumya and Forrest, Overseas Educators, this gap year Australia New Zealand farewell closes out a 70-day SoPac semester full of unforgettable moments.
To my beloved superpoopers,
We came together like the Daintree River and parted ways many moons later like its many tributaries. Along the way, we lived and laughed through seventy beautiful, challenging, sweaty, hilarious, eye-opening, wild and wonderful days.
There are so many moments I look… Read More
Written by Meg and Mary, Overseas Educators on the Carpe Diem gap year Italy Greece Terra semester closing at ReGreen in Akrata
And that’s a wrap! The Terra group has officially come to the end of its journey. This past week we stayed at Re-green, an amazing village nestled in the mountains of Akrata. The volunteers and village members that live there practice and promote permaculture principles, and were… Read More
Written by Lily and Matilda, students on the Carpe Diem gap year Costa Rica permaculture farm program at Mastatal Ranch
This last week we rode, climbed and scrambled up the steep Permacultures farm sides of Maztatal Ranch!
From herbal tours to chocolate adventures, night walks, and even cooking with our host family, it really feels like we did it all!
But that’s so broad, so what did we get yo… Read More
Written by Madeleine N. and Treavor O., this South Pacific gap year kayaking recap covers nine days of caving, hiking, and sea kayaking at Whenua Iti in New Zealand with leaders Joe and Michael.
Our group traveled to our last contact, Whenua Iti. We spent the next 9 days caving, hiking and sea kayaking. With our leaders Joe and Michael, we participated in many group bonding activities; we learned more… Read More
South Pacific student directed travel heads from Raglan to Wellington with caving, a trapeze jump, and a cultural museum stop before the South Island.
We drove from Raglan down to Wellington over a few days while doing a practice run of our student directed travel. We spent a day in a very culturally significant museum in Wellington before we departed towards the South Island.
What have been the three highlights… Read More
Written by Katie M. and Conrad I., this Italy Greece farm Matera update covers a week of olive harvesting, school visits, cave exploration, and a group Thanksgiving celebration with B-link volunteers.
Since the last blog we’ve moved away from the city of Rome and have been staying at a farm right outside of the city of Matera. For the past week we’ve been working with volunteers from the organization… Read More
Written by Macey T., this gap year Greece Aegina island update covers a week of sailing, swimming, pistachio tasting, and island life on the Carpe Diem Italy and Greece semester.
This past week our group got to spend time on the beautiful island of Aegina!🌴Our wonderful group leaders on Crete, Elizabeth and Liam, booked a picturesque 3 story house, right on the ocean. The weather was on our side… Read More
Written by Iris and Rob, this Italy Greece Panta Rei Rome update covers their final week at the sustainable community before exploring Vatican City and heading south to Matera.
Since last week, we have finished our stay in Panta Rei. Doing day trips into town and learning Italian by a very patient Chiara. We got to explore the surrounding area and learned about sustainable living, such as water conservation,… Read More
Written by Talia M. and Madeleine N., this South Pacific Maori culture immersion update covers their final week in Raglan with Tiaki, Madisyn, Rob, and Rangi Marie.
Over the past week we had our final stretch outside of Raglan with the Māori. We spent time with knowledgeable Māori community members, Tiaki and Madisyn. We also spent two days at the home Rob and Rangi Marie who combine many Native American… Read More
Written by Elizabeth R. and Liam S., this gap year Greece Crete update covers ten days on eastern Crete with Greek lessons, Minoan history tours, pottery classes, and daily beach swims before heading to Athens.
We arrived on Crete! Over the past ten days, we spent time in a small village on Eastern Crete! We started off the week with Greek language and culture lessons from our teacher Manolis.… Read More
Written by Lily and Anantya, students on the Carpe Diem gap year Guatemala Dia de los Santos celebration program in San Juan
We continued our second week in San Juan, a small town on Lake Atitlán. We continued our Spanish classes at Eco Spanish school, and also enjoyed several new events and cultural activities. We ended the month of October with a very personal archaeology tour. On the tour, we… Read More
Written by Stella K. and Asa P., this New Zealand Maori culture Raglan update covers waterfall hikes in Tongariro National Park, marae visits, traditional instrument making, and a Halloween celebration before student directed travel.
Post Hart Farm, we got back on the road and headed to Tangariro National Park for a waterfall hike, mini golf, and a wide view of Mount Doom. Next up: Raglan! We found our way to… Read More
Written by Kate T. and Lillian A., this Italy Greece semester Matera update covers recycled book fridges, an Italian family Sunday lunch, a Halloween party, and the group’s transition to Greece.
Since the last update, the Terra group has completed our time in Matera and travelled to Greece! In a farm outside of Matera we were tasked with designing and painting recycled fridges to turn them into “book fridges”… Read More
Written by Matilda and Leila, this Guatemala Spanish school San Juan update covers one on one classes at the Eco School, art projects, a coffee tour, and community life in San Juan La Laguna.
This week we pushed off the shores of San Marcos and landed ourselves on the opposite side of the lake in a small welcoming town with the name of San Juan.
Here, we began our Spanish… Read More
Written by Rob and Josie, this Italy Via Francigena Panta Rei update traces their cobbled steps through medieval history before settling into the Umbrian eco-community for ravioli, Italian lessons, and a Halloween movie night.
Roads knotted and paths forked, the rebellious stature of hundred-year-old cypress trees, and the subtle sound of bushes on our path whispering out the name of the wind. This is the picture we would like… Read More
Written by Zane and Justin, this gap year Rome Vatican update covers a walking tour of ancient architecture, a visit to the Sistine Chapel, and the best gelato spots in the city before heading to Matera.
We arrived in Rome after a four-hour FlixBus ride from Siena and split off into two groups after sending our bags to the monastery we’re staying at by taxi. One group walked an… Read More
Written by Marielle M. and Katie M., this Italy Via Francigena Paladini update covers a week of sustainable farm camping, chestnut harvesting, and trekking the ancient Canterbury to Rome pilgrimage route through Tuscany.
After our time in Florence, our group travelled to Paladini to spend the week camping. This provided us the opportunity to spend time in nature within a community that focuses on living sustainably and is open to… Read More
Written by Andy and Kyla, this New Zealand farm volunteer update covers a week of cattle herding, forest maintenance, flamethrower weeding, and group dinners at the Hart family farm.
We arrived at the Hart family farm in New Zealand. This is where we met Greg and Rachel, the amazing hosts that run the cattle farm we worked on. Every morning, part of the group would go with Greg and do… Read More
