Follow the Journey

Hi Everybody, We last left off in Otavalo and so much has happened since then. Last time we blogged we were about to go to Cuicoche (thats how you actually spell it) a crater lake right outside of Otavalo. To hike around the whole thing it takes a number of hours so we only hiked a portion of it to get spectacular views. After hiking for an hour or so… Read More

Hi Everybody, Greetings from your new bloggers, Mia and Anna. Be prepared for the best blogs ever. Our second week in Agualongo was easier and went by so quickly. We all became more comfortable with our families and grew to love the community. The groups switched and everybody had new roles in the clinic and spanish classes.Our weekend in Agualongo was very interesting. There was a wedding in the… Read More

Hola Todos, We have been in a small Andean, rural community for the past week, each in our own homestay families. Living conditions have been intense but varied. We´ve all learned to appreciate comfort and convenience which we experience at home. However, it is an incredible experience regardless-there is no better way to learn about a language and culture than living with the families and in their reality.Our living conditions… Read More

Hey folks, Quick update. After an 11 hour bus ride, we have arrived safely in Otovalo. We are about 1 hour north of the capital, Quito. We arrived at about 6:30 and had an hour to kill before breakfast at a friendly hostel called La Valle de Amanecer (Valley of the Dawn). We then took a little walk around a local artisans market, which had plentiful amounts of alpaca goods.… Read More

Hola Los Extranejeros We have been in Cuenca, a colonial city in the south of the Ecuadorian Andes, for 5 days and have learned absurd amounts of glorious Español. Our mornings have consisted of 5 hours of one-on-one Spanish study with afternoons of various group activies including but not limited to: a city tour, Salsa lessons, a guided visit through a museum with a historical and present representation of different… Read More

Dear family and friends, Another update from the Carpe home office – we’ve been in touch with the group and wanted to let you all know their plans over the next few days. The situation on the ground in Cuenca has been calm. While the group has been taking precautions, they haven’t felt at all unsafe where they are. They are planning on doing some hiking on Friday in Cajas… Read More

This blog is coming to you from the Carpe Diem Home Office. We want to assure you that we are monitoring closely the ‘coup’ situation that is taking place currently in the northern capital city of Quito. The group is well where they are in Cuenca, which is far away from any trouble and Cuenca hasn’t, in fact, felt or experienced any of the consequences from Quito. This type of… Read More

Hey family and friends,It´s your bloggers for the week, Claire and Natalie. We are here in Canoa, after a busy week at the organic farm Rio Muchacho. All week we woke up for farm activities at 5:30 am! We fed horses, pigs, chickens, and guinea pigs, watered plants, flowers and vegetables, cleaned up animal manure…and helped make breakfast with the senoras in the kitchen! Some of our other afternoon chores… Read More

we are also working on getting some pictures up. we are encountering some difficulties, but eventually (hopefully) they will be up at http://photobucket.com/samcarpediem… Read More

Hey everyone! We made it to the blog WAHOO! Carpediem is da bomb. Scavenger hunt is going well, we only have a few more things to complete and we are done! Tomorrow we will leave for Rio Muchacho to stay on the organic farm. WE ARE SUPER PUMPED 😀 We have been staying at Siandana, a simple farm/resort/hostel/awesome place with lots of animals. There is a box of puppies that… Read More

Hello everybody back home! To get to Bahia de Caraquez (where we are now) we had to ride in a super crowded bus (Claire is to the right of Anna, not pictured) for six hours. It fostered some bonding that is for sure! Especially after the van broke down and our driver Miguel had to bang on it with a rock and somehow made it move again. Magic! Today is… Read More

We tried to upload this before, but had no luck. This is a picture of our tour of Saianda.… Read More

!Hola! We just finished arroz con pollo at a local restaurant in Bahia de Caraquez. We have a long list of items to scavenger. Yesterday we had a lovely tour of Saianda. There were tons of animals to see, especially the loud donkey who lives outside our room. We are enjoying our orientation and getting to know each other. Time to continue our scavenger hunt. Does anyone know why Bahia… Read More

Hola, Currently on a scavenger hunt. Already found the banco y hostal y clinico. Awaiting us at the retreat we have many animal friends including puppies, a white peacock, donkey, and a sloth named macgyver. Having a great time, off to get some food.… Read More

Hola padres y amigos,Somos en la ciudad de Bahia de Caraquez por este tarde para una scavenger hunt. Somos muy emocionada y feliz de los dos dias pasado y muy emocionada por los meses en el futuro. Nuestro español no es muy buena, pero estamos tratando. Saianda es muy bonita y las personas alli han sido tan bueno. no podemos mostrar nuestras fotos, pero los otros estudiantes mostraran ustedes fotos.… Read More

The entire SAM group has gathered effortlessly, and is now through security and on their way to the earthy realm of Ecuador where they will meet their final group member, Megan, in Bahia de Caraquez. Go Team SAM! Look for more from the group itself in a couple of days!… Read More

Dear Emma, Megan, Austin, Austin, Joe, Jim, Catherine, Claire, Mia, David, Anna, and Natalie! Saludos! Buenos dias amigos! Esperemos que ustedes esten emocionados por nuestro viaje. Ready to fly with the help of some great leaders and an awesome student group? Either way, we are here to support you. We have spoken to most of you by now. It was a pleasure to hear your voices, know a little more… Read More

Holy Salt! We boarded a night bus bound for Uyuni listo para nuestro horah final. 7pm to 1am was ok, we slept somewhat. However, come one o´clock the lights burst on, blinding us out of our slumbers, for the bus had stopped for a bathroom break. The toilets were worse than usual…. One in particular had a sloaping ceiling that forced Jandro to pee in the upward dog position, while… Read More

And the journey continues… across borders. BOLIVIA!! But first, we had to attend to our patient, Diegito, a sick young pup. Left pale and skeletal in the airport, the Diego missed his flight with the rest of the group on their departure to the Estatos. It was not a pretty sight, the tears that put Niagra Falls to shame, left us wandering the streets of Cusco like blinded dogs, lost… Read More

Over the past two weeks we have partaken in many activities. We spent three days at a wonderful yoga retreat eating gourmet vegetarian food, and learning to bend our bodies in questionable ways. We also learned about making energy balls through Reiki, about crazy things called chakras, and Vedic Astrology (your star signs are not what you think they are). Last but not least we spent 5 grueling days hiking… Read More