Ghana can be overwhelming to the senses. It is a country of contradictions to ones sight, smell, and taste. During the day, the sun blinds me as I walk to the trotro station and then to school. As dusk falls, the sky darkens and is lit by giant bolts of lightning. If I sit on the porch, it’s like sitting in a theater as I watch the lightning echo throughout… Read More
Well hello you all, I have done it…made the quick transition from the depths of the jungle into the fast paced “real world” to try to remember how to use shoes that aren’t rubber boots, clothes that don’t wreak of mold and sweat, a computer and, oh my, write a blog post! After one month traveling in Costa Rica and another in Ecuador during my winter break I have found… Read More
During my group semester here in India I was very homesick, but between this being my third time in Dharamshala and living in my own apartment this place definitely feels like a home away from home. There is never a dull moment here in India but it’s great being back. Since I’ve been here I have been working with a woman named Elise who started a hand-made, fair trade, kids… Read More
Hey guys! Aden here checking in from Obera, Argentina, where I have been interning at Mama Roja for the past month.
At Mama Roja I, along with six other interns, have been learning about various methodologies to promote a more sustainable lifestyle. So far, there have been workshops on earthen building, seed saving, permaculture design, food and drink fermentations, and more. The other interns range from ages 20 to 28,… Read More
I have been in Bolivia for about 6 weeks now. My experience thus far has been very different than I imagined. It was really hard for me when I first arrived in Cochabamba for my homestay and Spanish lessons. I felt so overwhelmed and lonely, being in a new county by myself where I don’t speak the language. I wanted to jump right back on a plane and come home.… Read More
Three months alone in a foreign country is a long time. It can be intimidating and overwhelming, especially when you go into it alone. When I first got to my placement in Cusco, Peru, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was incredibly lost, and lonely. For the first two weeks I wondered if I had made the right choice by coming here.
At the beginning of my… Read More
Here in Thailand, I am thoroughly exhausted, sunburned, and smiling. Truthfully, I have never been happier. When I first touched down in Chiang Mai, after many requests to stay home while the political unrest blew over but coming anyways, I was delighted and exhausted. Here I was, alone in a country. No friends, no acquaintances, just a name and an organization that would be my home for the next four… Read More
Hello from Sri Lanka! I want to start by saying how amazing it is to read about everyone’s adventures. It is crazy to think about how we all met just a few months ago in Portland, and now everyone is spread out all over the world!
I can’t believe it has already been a month since I arrived at Millennium Elephant Foundation here in Sri Lanka. I remember it like… Read More
When I first started by FVP I was not happy, in fact, I was miserable. When I landed in Cusco, Peru I was frustrated, disorientated, and confused. I had not slept in 24 hours and had insomnia, I had not eaten in about 14 hours but my stomach was so upset I could not force anything down, the altitude was making me sick, it was cold, I was alone, and… Read More
I am loving my time at Kariega Game Reserve. Everyday something new and exciting happens. Since I started on February 17th I have already ran into the elephant herd 5 times and with every encounter they walk so close to our open air truck, I can reach out and touch them if I wished (but that would be insane so I prefer not to). Our group here keeps running into… Read More
I have been in the incredible city of Bilbao for about a month now and it has been a great experience so far. Bilbao is a city located in Northern Spain in a region referred to as “Basque Country”. Basque Country is an especially unique part of Spain; it has it’s own language, in addition to spanish, called Euskara. This language is unlike any other in the world and it… Read More
Greetings wonderful latitudes blog followers!
Megan here, writing from Ollantaytambo, Peru. Ollantaytambo, better known to locals as Ollanta, is a quaint Andean village located about two hours outside of Cusco. The village is surrounded by towering hills, Inca ruins, and when the clouds part, I can see snow capped mountains. I arrived in Ollanta three weeks ago and have been working at an NGO called Awamaki. Awamaki works with five… Read More
This morning the mountains shine through a haze of mist. Later they may burn golden in the sun or vanish behind a veil of clouds, but for now they appear as a soft milky white strip against the pale blue sky. They are a study in gentle shadow and soft light, matched by their blurred reflection in the lake below. But that is just this morning, for everyday a different… Read More
Hello to everyone back home, and to all the other Latitudes students traveling across the world. It’s been a month since I arrived in Cusco, Peru. Upon leaving for Peru I was actually really nervous and scared. I didn’t know what to expect from a country I had never been to before, and one where my 12 years of French prove to be useless. I was already missing the comforts… Read More
About one month ago I arrived in San Juan Comalapa, Guatemala. Comalapa is a Mayan community with a population of 41,000, which includes 19 surrounding villages. Here in Comalapa I am working with an organization called Long Way Home, a non profit that is building a school using sustainable resources while employing local Guatemalans. Because there is such a huge problem with the disposal of garbage in Comalapa, the walls… Read More
It’s Evin here reporting from the charming little island of Koh Tao in the gulf of Thailand. It’s been almost a month since I hopped on a plane and headed for Southeast Asia with my backpack in tow excited for my next adventure. After a wopping 30 hours of traveling via Car, Plane and ferry, I finally arrived on Koh Tao. After arriving I received my SSI Advanced scuba license… Read More
Hola todos! Mi nombre es Angela Merrill y estoy en Nicaragua trabajando con los jovenes de Formaccion Fenix para crear un plan de negocio de joya que es sostenible. Me encanta Nicaragua para la gente, las playas, la comida – no escogería otro lugar para pasar mi segundo semestre con Carpe Diem. Hello everyone! My name is Angela Merrill and I’m in Nicaragua working with the youth of Formaccion Fenix … Read More
Buenas from Cali, Colombia!
Jumping off of Shelby’s blog, I just wanted to let you guys know the good news- We passed our yoga teacher exams! We are now officially certified yoga teachers. Yay! We are both super excited to start teaching yoga at the ashram. It’s definitely going to be a great learning experience.
Shelby and I have been here a little over a month and the time… Read More
Hola todos!
Yesterday officially marks a month since I packed up my internal-frame backpack and left my home in Columbia, South Carolina, for my new second home in Colombia, South America. I’m here taking on Latin America with my bestest pal and fellow southerner, Tia Johnson, in the lovely city of Cali, where we’ll be living, volunteering, and yoga-ing for three months in the Centro Yogendra Ashram.
My first… Read More
I have just completed my, three and a half month long, Latitudes adventure, in Los Angeles. In retrospect it was one of the best experiences that I have ever had. I have been volunteering, Monday through Thursday, for about 7 hours a day at the Childrens Hospital in LA. More specifically I had the privilege to work in the Arts program. So I had the unique opportunity to come… Read More
