Carpe Diem Education

Dear Amy, Nann and Ethan - Just wanted to share some of what Alana wrote to me earlier today: hey dad!...Yes we did get to vote&I am at a state of mind of complete peace within myself, and no more( stress. Only now good stress of what I will buy at the food market, or( little things. Best thing I've ever done for myself. First, thank you for making the vote possible. I know it took considerable research and planning. It will pay dividends! Second, thanks for creating Carpe Diem. Lives are changing for the better. And of course Holly... thank you for suggesting Carpe Diem to Alana.

Why hello amigos y famila! My regards to you all the way from Cusco, Peru. We arrived here early this morning after a long all-night buss ride from Arequipa. This city is absolutely beautiful and our hostel is in the Artisan Barrio where all the streets are cobbled stoned with whitewashed walls and royal blue painted window frames. The markets are a bustle with all the Easter and Semana Santa holiday festivities. We will be here until Tuesday where upon we will take off to the jungle to do lord knows what. It's really quite horrible how I never actually have an idea as to what we are doing until moment of. Oh well, god bless group leaders! These past two weeks I have been living with the most incredible family in the entirety of Peru. My abulelos, Doris and Beca took such good care of me, feeding me sweet milk and torta every night for dinner and really trying to understand my ever broken Spanish. Another girl in the group, Tessa was staying with Doris´s son Cezar and his novia Isabella, and last Tuesday, they got married and invited us to the wedding! Talk about interesting! The both of us had to go and rent some of the most hideous dresses, and heels and pretend to pull ourselves together. The only thing that the family was able to say to us in English was how well we clean up and how lovely we looked. It was one of the most bizarre experiences putting on a dress, heels and makeup after almost two months of looking like a total grung-wank. Talk about upsetting, I had actually forgotten what it was like to be a girl and how perfect it actually is. Any who, the wedding was so elegant and peachy, but once the ceremony was over, pisco sour, piña coladas, and passion fruit drinks-of-the-heavens came out and the music began to blast. So many of the random extended family of Doris felt it their personal duty to tell me that "though I look like a Gringa, I dance like a Latina." It could have been an entirely awkward situation but my delightful wit and Spanish charm diffused all potential tension. Any way, my final run of Spanish classes are done and I really do feel 100% better now then I did two months ago. I was actually able to give a clear and assertive justification to one of my professors as to why I could not drink jugo de rena i.e. juice of the frog...live frog that is anyway. Furthermore, I can now throw out enough vocab and local slang to sound mildly reasonable. I just have this feeling that some how, some way all is possible and that someone is bound to understand me. Also it would seem that something in the air of Peru gives me the courage to keep on keeping on and that all is well. I miss you all and send my love and good juju. Wish me luck for the jungle and hope that I don't get eaten by mondo bugs, crazed dogs, cannibals, or... those big plants that eat people. Todo es seguro y te amo ustedes muchisimo! Ciao -Karen

Ethan. Thank you for being the organizing force behind this wonderful journey. This is a fantastic program. Anjali has gone through a transformation. I hear her commitment to positivity (oh, yes yes yes!). I've enjoyed reading about the physical challenges that right from the start Anjali was challenged to summer sault into and through (and how in the heck did the course leaders do that?). And, I am thankful and amazed at how much appreciation Anjali has expressed for each over the top challenging experience. Most importantly ~ I thank this program for such a strong dose of emotional strengthening. It has really taken hold in Anjali and I am feeling that I want to do all that I can to support this emerged growth. Do you have any words of wisdom for parentals of returning Carpe Diem graduates? I also wanted to thank you for putting up with all of our questions and input and for so promptly responding to us and supporting Anjali to join the program. If this program ever needs a recommendation (perhaps parent to parent?) I am happy to give a glowing recommendation. If you have a moment could you send the addresses of Nick and Amanda? I would like to send off my appreciation to them as well. If there is anyone else behind the scenes that I might like to thank please feel free to let me know. Again, Thank YOU PS. AND, the blogs! Loved them. And so did our extended family. We appreciated being part of the journey.

My life right now is amazing. A few days ago a bunch of freshmen came to the Costa Rica center- and I am a senior - so they all look up to me and are asking me all these questions about traveling, and they all think I am really interesting. There is this one girl who is new and she is kind of self-conscious, awkward, and is having a really hard time adjusting. I feel that I can relate to her so much because that was ME when I was a freshman- and I was like 'wow, look where I am right now, look who I am right now.' I feel like I have everything I could possibly want or need in my life- so many cool friends, so many amazing adventures, a great family, and even a relationship to boot. I think you wouldn't recognize me if you saw me - I have changed quite a lot, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I suppose I am just saying all of this because I am so happy with my life and where I'm going, and I am well aware that Carpe Diem was the spark that changed all of it. I look back on my friends at CalArts and see what their lives are - updating their Facebook statuses about commercials on TV - and I have realized that I am everything now that I wished I could be when I sat on that couch two years ago, incredibly depressed, overweight, and unsure of myself in every way. During that time I always wished this future self of me could appear- this amazing, interesting person I imagined in my head- who would tell me everything was going to be okay. And I can't believe it, because I am actually that person now that I imagined in my head and fervently wished to be. Thank you so much for being such an important factor in helping me change to be that person. I love you so much!!!!!! -Brittany

Dear Nanette, Thank you for the "parent packet!" I'll be sharing some of the info with the parents of Olivia's friends. We are all in the same boat. The book list is a good one. I've read a few of them in past years. So far so good at my home front. By the time Olivia left last week we were complete with goodbyes knowing she'll return an entirely new person. I am at peace knowing she is in the very capable hands of Drew and Suzanne and her peers. I entirely trust you and your organization and all the hard work you go through to make these experiences safe, exciting and educational. And lastly, but most importantly, I trust Olivia and her choices. I've definitely gone through the rollercoaster of emotions, but am feeling more settled as time moves forward. My new empty-nest life is ready for exploring. Definitely love getting updates through the blog. Liv and I have exchanged a few emails through Facebook. I know our communications won't be frequent, but they are meaningful when we do. Thanks again to you and Ethan for supporting Liv and I through this journey.

Hello my name is Ryan. I am 19 years old, and have just recently returned from my semester abroad in Southeast Asia with Carpe Diem Education. Right off I'll tell you exactly what I thought of this experience; it was absolutely nothing like I expected it to be, but so much more in so many ways than I could have ever imagine. The Carpe staff is anything but short of amazing. Every staff member that I've personally spoken with, including my two leaders for my program, are basically among the most incredible, and influential people I have ever met. Two of my friends also went traveled with Carpe Diem this past semester, both on separate programs, and both had a similar experience. For me, Southeast Asia has come and gone, but the incredible experiences, friendships, and lessons learned are still with me today. I'm not sure where, or what type of person I would be today if not for this opportunity, I would absolutely do it all over again. There's so much to be said about Carpe Diem and my experience I could fill this entire page. I did my research, and this was the right program for me. Seriously, and I'm not just saying all this for a review. This program has positively made a change in my life, and who knows, maybe it could for you.

Although this is going to be a short email I just wanted to send you a quick update of what life is like in Ecuador. Everyday is such a blessing and filled with new adventures and great stories. Right now I´m at a home stay in the lovely city of Otavalo with NINE new host siblings. I couldn't be happier, each moment is entertaining and I am constantly learning new things from the family that has generously taken me in for the week.  Traveling throughout this country has been so incredible, we are always looking for new things and trying to experience life like a native as much as possible. Just by hiking, walking around, or going to local restaurants has proved to remain beyond interesting. I have truly seen some of the most beautiful things of my life within the last month and can only imagine whats in store for the next two. Amanda and Drew are absolutely incredible along with all other SAMers...everyday we grow as a group, meet interesting new people, and of course get to practice our Spanish. So many times all I can do is just stand, observe, and smile and hope that you´re getting my thank yous that I have been sending telepathically. ¡Thanks again for making this the experience of a lifetime!

Hi Nannette, A month already and I felt I should send you these few words.  Once or twice a week we get a blog from Camille and we even received a post card! I cannot describe how proud and excited we are for her. Twisted ankle, near death experience on the Nile and she is still so, so happy and amazingly excited for what is yet to come!  I have no doubt in my mind that it is all thanks to Carpe diem's team (preparation and all) as well as the counselors amazing job. THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM, MIDDLE AND TOP OF MY HEART. Have a great day!

Thank you so much for everything, I really enjoyed this program. I felt that there was a lot of love and energy that went into creating it and I appreciate it so much. The amount of personal reflection and growth I experienced during these last three months was so beneficial and fabulous. This trip was very special to me.

I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate everything, and how amazing this trip has been for me. Carpe Diem has 100% ben the best experience and best decision of my life- there is so much I have learned about myself and about others, and I really will come away from this trip with a completely different perspective on my life.

Hi Ethan, it's been too long between notes. Sorry! I hope you're better than 'well'. Quick update on Alana. She's transferring to a SUNY school this fall to complete her BA. The campus I like in Oneonta. It's in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Alana says it reminders her of NZ. Years after her CD experience she is in contact with members of her group and has a confidence in self, a gift of the CD experience. If Nanette and Amy are still w. CD please tell them (again, I know....) how grateful I am for the collective Carpe Diem soul. You change lives in wonderful ways.

Thank you so much!!! This has been so helpful, particularly for my husband who is having a very difficult time dealing with his 'little girl' being so far away. Having been an exchange student myself, oh so many years ago, I know what it's like to be on kids' end. I think that all the advice you offered the parents in this packet is right on. I miss Keely terribly - but I hope that she is not wasting a minute missing me. Well, maybe she can miss me a little... but not so that it takes anything away from the experience she is having. I have been googling all the places they are traveling to - what an amazing adventure! I can't wait until the next blog!