Follow the Journey

Considering the amount of time left in the trip, it is natural to begin the whole “reflect on your experience” mindset. So here’s one of my reflection branches on my big-trunked tree of an experience. About a year ago I made the decision to spend my fall of 2015 with Carpe Diem, traveling, seeing the world, and all that jazz; which was quite a monumental decision for a young girl… Read More

There is no way to describe the feeling of travelling besides ecstasy. Driving through a new city on a rickshaw, dodging through crowded streets filled with cars, motorbikes, free-roaming dogs and holy cows. Sitting on an Indian hotel roof, looking at a different side of the same moon that you know so well. The feeling of euphoria I get when I am experiencing something totally new, something completely out of… Read More

This past week we moved out of the central plains of India and into Sikkim (or as we say in the group more often “The Foothills”). I think everyone in this group definitely is relieved to be out of the plains. I personally, am especially excited to be out of the plains again because the amount of car horns, people, air pollution, and trash all over, are all significantly less… Read More

Namaste everyone, Arriving in Kolkata at 3:30am, with no idea of where we’d be sleeping, put many of the Carpe kids on edge. Another contributing factor being that many of us had a stomach bug, which was causing some not so pleasant trips to the bathroom. Aside from all these factors, the Shiva group knew we’d soon be heading to The Mother Teresa House, to start some very rewarding volunteer… Read More

Previous to my arrival in the city of Varanasi I had never seen a dead body in person. My first encounter with a corpse was so blatantly casual, I had to stop and register what had just occurred. It happened quite quickly; as my group struggled up the crowded street, under the flickering lights of the Diwali festival, I saw a group of 4 men, hurriedly carrying (what I thought)… Read More

At the end of Senior year, it seemed as if everyone was figuring out the next four to six years of their life, right off the bat, in a single semester of high school. Of course, being a teenager who had a an average gpa of 2.0 or lower, I found myself only seeing bland, mundane or worst of all, simple yearly lifestyles to come after high school. I was… Read More

As an aspiring engineer, I find the Dev Bala farm and all of its inner workings to be fascinating. At first glance, the rural and laid-back atmosphere of the land would encompass the same industrial and clockwork stereotypes that come with engineering. Yet in more ways than one, it is a self-sustaining machine that surpasses my previous conception of what farming is all about. Every task is carried out with… Read More

To stay in your comfort zone is an incredibly comfortable way to stay incredibly comfortable. To stray from your beloved pillow padded lifestyle is the uncomfortable way to learn and thrive, especially here in India. Our Shiva leader this week, Hank, has requested that we each step out of our comfort zones these upcoming days. “If you see a man singing in the street, ask him why he is singing,”… Read More

Namaste! The Shiva group and I arrived in New Delhi two days ago and have been experiencing lots of unfamiliar aspects of this culture. Within five minutes of leaving the airport, I witnessed an elephant grazing the side of the highway. I am beginning to get used to the gawks and stares of locals and enjoying their spicy food. The Shiva group been happily posing for pictures that the locals… Read More

Namaste! We have now been in India for two days, and we have all seen things unimaginable. Nobody has been sick, although double dragon has been talked about heavily. We all make great use of our Steripens, and all group members get along great! Yesterday the Shiva group went to the Lotus Temple, which was one of the most amazing structures I have ever seen. The locals treat us as… Read More

We have received word that the mighty Shiva group has safely landed in Delhi. They’ve settled into their guest house in the Tibetan colony of Majnu ka Tilla for some much-needed rest after the long journey. Stay tuned for more from they group themselves as they set out to explore India!… Read More

The Shiva group has successfully gathered together at the San Francisco airport. They’ve gone through security and they are off to board their plane. We wish them luck as they get ready to traverse the many landscapes India has to offer… We will update the blog again once they land safely in Delhi, from there stay tuned for updates directly from the crew! – Mike and the HQ team… Read More

Welcome to the Fall 2015 Shiva Blog. We look forward to sharing our thoughts, pictures and experiences with you as our India journey unfolds in the days to come. We have been busy planning our itinerary, connecting with our in country contacts and dreaming of the journey we are about to embark on. All of the overseas educators just returned from a training adventure. We camped by Trillium Lake near… Read More

Shiva group Fall 2014 has safely made it to the airport and are boarding their plane. After some time travel and many miles they will be back home. It’s hard to believe that 12 weeks have past already, it feels like yesterday we were all meeting and playing games and naming our pinkies at SFO. We spent our last day together relaxing in Delhi and all enjoyed one last Bollywood… Read More

There is no way I will ever be able to use words to accurately describe what India was like for me, so I wont even try to give you the whole picture, so instead, I’ll just leave you with a few snapshots that India has left for me. Most of these snapshots could be described as exotic, filthy, ancient, spontaneous, bizarre and sometimes comical, from taking a different route back… Read More

About six months ago (wow) I found out that I would not be able to return to my school, the University of Rochester, for the fall semester. At first I was completely crushed. I was just winding down the hardest period of my life so far so I tried to be brave for my family and friends who were all worried about me, but I was heart-broken. However, this final… Read More

Hi everyone! I am sad to say this is my final blog post for the trip. I didn’t believe three months would ever end, and here I am, finally having to face reality. Looking back three months ago, I would have told you that three months was plenty of time. But now that I have to say goodbye to everyone I consider my family, I am desperate for three months… Read More

FIRST HAPPY BIRTHDAY JORDAN WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! <333 #champagneformyrealfriendsrealpainformyshamfriends Namaste friends and family! It is with a heavy heart that I write the final weekly blog post of Carpe Diem Shiva fall 2014. I’m currently on a sleeper train somewhere between Jaisalmer and Delhi. Quickly, I would like to contrast this scene with the scene of us on a train leaving Delhi about 12 weeks ago. 12 weeks… Read More

Dear Friends and Family, I’m not going to lie to y’all, I am ready to go home. These past three months have been more amazing, eye-opening, and life-altering than I could have asked for. I am so happy that I had the opportunity to come on this trip. But, it’s time to go back to the States. It’s time to see my mom and my sisters who have already bought… Read More

It is slightly unbelievable that I am sitting writing this last blog post a day before I am off to the airport to head home. These past three months have been filled with extremes. Extreme frustration and joy, chaos and understanding. I can’t believe how grateful I am to have this experience in the magical and complex country of India. Thank you Mom and Dad for allowing your baby girl… Read More