Dear families out there, In case you haven't heard, we're in Kolkata this week! Each day, we've been getting up at 6 am and splitting up to go spend the mornings doing service at our chosen Mother Theresa home– some of us are working with physically or developmentally disabled kids, some of us are working with older mentally disabled women, and some of us (including me!) are working in the… Read More
This week has been our student directed travel. We started in Tena and stayed for two extra days to go see the Jumandi Caves. We had a great time there in the dark. After that day in Tena we bought our tickets to Otalavo. After a long bus ride it was really relieving to get to a nice hostal, but figuring out who was going to stay in wich room… Read More
I have been in Sri Lanka for a month now and it has been nothing short of an adventure. When I told people where I was going to be spending the next three months, most of the responses I got went something like this, "Isn't that in Africa?" or, "You know that elephants are really big, right?" I politely responded with a bit of a geography lesson and a… Read More
"Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning." ~Gloria Steinem The Vision I work amongst dreamers. We believe in possibilities, in saying yes, and in all of the infinite potential of this world and of each other. We believe in the extraordinary, and we believe in the power of "what if…" We value growth and transformation, and … Read More
Our group arrived at "Blue Mountain Adventure Center" and the first day we got to canoe across a lake to the island where we camped under a tarp listening to the rain. We learned how not to leave a trace in the outdoors and shared personal stories as the sun went down. The next day we went caving after we canoed back from the island. We all thought it was… Read More
Our month in New Zealand was most definitely one to remember. From our scavenger hunt in the city of Wellington on the first day, to celebrating our last night in NZ by going out to dinner in Auckland, It was Awesome! Here are some pictures highlighting our time spent in New Zealand:… Read More
So it seems I am back abroad, in the heart of Southern India. I am volunteering in Prema Vasam, a home for children both disabled and not. After my twenty hours of plane rides and a scary taxi ride to my hotel (it was nighttime), I finally got to bed. When I got into my room I immediately began sobbing and wondering what was the quickest way to go home.… Read More
Greetings fellow latitudes students and other readers! I am Maddy Karsten from Michigan, and I was a part of the Nkula East Africa fall semester! After much deliberation, I decided to go to Cusco, Peru for my FVP and live and work at the Healing House- a holistic living community that offers yoga and meditation classes all day long. I have been here just over two weeks. To be honest,… Read More
Hope this post finds you all well and happy wherever you may be out there!
After a two day trek through the Northern hills of Thailand we have found ourselves back in our near and dear city of Chiang Mai- a place we've grown increasingly familiar with over the past few weeks. Each day has felt so much longer here and it's hard to believe that our trek was just… Read More
After a bittersweet farewell to the children at SNEC, we headed to Bukinda primary school for four more days of home-cooked meals (Mexican food galore!) and goofing around with kids. It wasn't all just fun and games; however, as we helped construct a play structure and tire swing using fresh lumber and assisted in teaching a few lessons. While the workload wasn't super heavy, our abundant free time allowed us… Read More
I just got word that the group landed and is safe and sound in Fiji. They are soaking up the sun and preparing for their student directed travel this week!… Read More
Greetings to my family, friends, fellow gap year goers, and future latitudes students who are stalking blogs to decide where they will eventually end up… To be completely transparent, I have been in Cusco, Peru for five and a half weeks, and I am just now starting to truly enjoy my time here. It is an absolutely beautiful city with a tremendous amount of history and has loads to offer,… Read More
Sawatdeeka, a few short days ago, we left the hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai and ventured out further north towards the hill tribes. Our 3 day trek entailed hiking for 15km, staying with both Koren and a Lahoo hill tribes and spending our final day bamboo rafting. But that doesn't even begin to explain the things we saw and experiences we shared on this leg of our journey. As… Read More
The hustle and bustle of Old Chiang Mai has become a familiar homestead for me. It's the constant place we come back to after new experiences with home-stays, farms, long treks and elephants. Void of my family it has me feeling a bit homesick. Dodging the cars, motorcycles and tuk tuks has become second nature to me, and I surely am going to miss this city. The long alleyways that… Read More
After having witnessed the world famous beauty of the Taj Mahal, or the "monument of love" according to Samuel Kessler, the group set off to Varanasi, the city of lights. Straight upon arrival with the overnight train on fell in love with Varanasi, being the oldest city in the world. Straight away one felt at ease with the relaxing and spiritual vibe of the city. You want to know what… Read More
In a few short days I will have officially been in Ollantaytambo for two months. The time has flown by, yet I feel like I’ve done too much to have only been here for that long. Here in the Sacred Valley of Peru, Ollanta is a small pass through town for the millions of tourists that go to Macchu Picchu each year. It is an interesting mixture of rural and… Read More
We have just arrived in Tena after a short, but adventure-filled week in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
On Monday, we were welcomed by Eduardo (the owner of the land we stayed on), and Lorena and company (the family that had been traveling with us the previous two weeks) as we settled into our cabins and accustomed ourselves to the abnormally sized insects. We spent our day exploring the jungle with Eduardo… Read More
HEY all! Sorry this might be a little late it´s been very busy for us all.
Kesia of the Carpe Diem group wishing everyone´s friends and families and loved ones nothing but the best.
Things have been crazy, wonderful and beautiful!
It all started with some heavy duty spanish classes back in the amazing and busy city of Xela. Our spanish classes were 5 hours each with private tutors- so… Read More
Hiya!
Rachel here. I've officially been in Tasmania a little over a month and what a month it's been. I am staying at Pindari Herb Farm, a family owned and operated herbal farm and dispensary just outside of Launceston Tas. It is absolutely beautiful here. I wake up each morning and head to the kitchen located in the main house just a minute walk away from my cottage. There I… Read More
Namaste! It is currently 3 AM and I am writing to you from the Mountain View Eco Farm in Begnas, Nepal. My sleep for tonight has been compromised by huge hailstones on a tin roof (courtesy of monsoon season), but it’s okay because I know this storm will make for a clear sky and superb views in the morning. Every few days you can look out past the farm and… Read More
