Blog

Inti 2015: El Fin

To all of the families and friends awaiting our ten beloved chicos, We’ve just bid the sleepy, smiling faces of our wacky and wonderful group ‘hasta luego’ at the Lima airport, where they’ve started their long journey home to you. As a few guys mentioned in previous posts, we conquered many a mountain on our Salkantay trek, which rewarded us with spectacular vistas, sore legs, and a final treat of… Read More

Safari Njema, Kifaru!

We just got word from Alison and Simon, our extraordinary Overseas Educators, that the entire group is safely on their flight and currently in the air on their way home. The semester is officially over, and to all of the friends and families of the Kifaru students – a huge thank you for your ongoing support. It’s been an honor working with each of you, with the students, and with… Read More

Nkula Fall 2015 Recap: A Final Goodbye

Nkula is on the way home! Brooke and Jonathan just let me know that the group passed smoothly through security and are about to board their outbound flights. Here at HQ we are so grateful to the families and friends of the Nkula students for their ongoing support, and especially grateful to Brooke, Jonathan, and each of the students for such a successful semester. Please enjoy this final note from… Read More

Thank You, India

Thank you, India, for letting me squeeze into your overcrowded population for the past 3 months. You have taught me more than I dreamed possible when I landed in Delhi. You have opened my eyes to new cultures, new beliefs, and new perspectives. Thank you for teaching me that life never goes as planned and that an open mind and flexible attitude can get one through almost anything. You taught… Read More

Gratitude

This morning I feel grateful for opportunity. My parents, who worked hard to be where they are at, have provided me with the opportunity to pay for this trip, and the support and encouragement to take a different path then most. My anthropology teacher, Mr. Lopilato, who introduced me to the possibility of a gap year, and the wonders of India. My leaders and my group, who gave me the… Read More

Thank you

Until we humans reach a certain age (which all of us Carpe students have yet to reach), we are essentially leaches siphoning society’s resources and offering nothing in return. The more and more clearly I begin to see this, the greater sense of duty I feel towards my species, which has come incredibly far to provide me with the comforts and opportunities I take for granted every day. The nozzle… Read More

Grateful

The last day of latitudes orientation in Portland, the day we left for India, these words were swirling around in my head: I am grateful to be Heart beating, lungs breathing So joyus and free And even though the hard times are all around me, I am grateful to be. Like the birds in the sky Like a dragonfly And even like the trees all shimmering and free, I am… Read More
Wow. I’m sitting here trying to find the words. There aren’t enough words I can possibly use to explain this experience, this feeling, this love that I’ve gained through this trip. Whenever I read back through my journal entries I’m so baffled at everything I’ve done and who I was when I did them. I know the saying is so cliche but I honestly feel that I’ve come such a… Read More

Machu Picchu and final farewells

Inti´s South America semester´s days have come to a rich end. After all the learning, growing, and experiencing that we´ve done, a hike to Machu Picchu was poised as the cap to our 3 months. After all, the site is a wonder of the world. We began our 5 day trek at the trailhead of the Salkantay path. While most tourists head through the famous Incan Trail, we followed the… Read More

Grand Finale

The group was all packed up that night and ready for an early 5:00 am wake up when we got the news that a city wide transportation strike would delay our departure 24 hours. So one day after our intended departure we boarded a bus and rode two hours to the head of the Salkantay Trail and began hiking. Salkantay means ”Wild Mountain” in Quechua and on the first leg… Read More

I will be home for Christmas

Dear Family and Friends, This past week, we have been on Zanzibar in Stonetown. When we arrived here, we went to see the historic slave market. That was very tough because the slaves were kept in horrible conditions. They were kept in this small room, waiting to be auctioned off. The same day, we went on a spice tour as well! Everything we touched was edible. It was a kid’s… Read More

Enjoying good PHUd around the QUOC

Hey guys! This past week consisted mainly of getting scuba certified and group travel. It was extremely rewarding and a ton of fun! We have finished our time one the beautiful Phu Quoc island with tan complexions and peeling skin. You might wonder how we might have gotten ourselves in such a predicament, well it all started when our group got open water scuba certified. After a six hour safety… Read More

Grateful

Carpe crew, I have no negative feedback for the time we’ve shared over here, only appreciations. I am humbled to know that there are organizations out there that can get a group of 7 18-20 year-olds into, and through this place. India in a word is “dense,” I don’t know how else to put it without whipping out my camera to show off some pics and vids. I have full… Read More

Gratitude!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart- Mom and Dad: yogi and musician; Beautiful athletic woman and beautiful balding man; disciplinary/mercy-giver and mercy-giver/disciplinary; Role model and Role model. Ben and Carly: Grizzly bear and Tiger; Homie and Homie; 6’3″ rock climber and slightly shorter rock climber; Leader and Leader; Role model and Role model. My Carpe Group: Friends; Brothers and Sisters; Travelling buddies; Spankin’ beautiful people who i’ll never… Read More

The King’s Indian Sacrifice

Our trip is coming to a close, and I’ve been thinking of an appropriate way to conclude these series of updates. There are many ways to go about this, and I’m not even sure if I can put to words the emotions I’m feeling. Nevertheless, I’ll try and summarize how I feel using a different method. So grab some reading glasses and/ or a chess board; whatever you need to… Read More

One Week Left to Make the Best

How does time fly by so quickly? Our last big project this semester was a week spent at the Baobab Home, just outside the beach town of Bagamoyo. We got the opportunity to help build a new classroom for the primary school there and we enjoyed our time going in to read and teach with different grade levels. One of the most memorable days we had was our Tanzanian Thanksgiving.… Read More