Banteay Chmar and Siem Reap by Kayla
Hey everyone, we’ve been in Cambodia for nearly three weeks now. Behind the Yak scenes we’ve been busy exploring, learning, and adapting to the weather (all over again). As we approach the end of our eight-week journey in southeast Asia we thought we’d give a little recap of what we’ve done in Cambodia between the posts!
Bye Peoples! By Nevaeh
For the last 8 weeks me, the girls, and the honorary divas have been exploring Thailand and Cambodia. We’ve been doing all types of activities that I never would have thought I was capable of doing. So, for the last few days in preparation for going home, we’ve been doing some transference activities and just trying to enjoy each other company while we’re still here together. Today we made lunch with our instructor Seavyi, then we made our other instructor Andrew watch White Chicks. We finished the day by having a surprise party for Anabelle on a boat that we had dinner on while singing karaoke. Our dear sweet Anabelle, I can’t wait to dress up as a Shrek character for your birthday party at home!
Thank everyone who kept up with our yak and supported us throughout our journey! We appreciate it!
Goodbye Aiquile, hello Toro Toro! By Instructors
Hola familia and friends of our dragoncitxs!
We’re writing to you from the small town of Toro Toro, where we’ve recently returned after four days scampering around Toro Toro National Park. We timed our return from the trek to coincide with a satisfying burrito lunch where we gave our gratitude and said our goodbyes to our wonderful guides Hector, Emilio and Timoteo! By day, they shepherded us through the incredible desert scenery of Toro Toro, teaching us about the myths and legends of the land, showed us the real footprints left behind by dinosaurs and how we can differentiate them by their prints, and kept us safe as they guided us through a cave for several hours – which proved to a bit scary but mostly exhilarating for our dragoncitxs! By night, they regaled our ears from afar with the beautiful, lively tunes from the charango and zampona, both traditional Bolivian instruments as we prepared dinner for the group.
Reflection on our homestay by Ruam Cohort
Hello (Suesodie)!
During the end of March, the Carpe Mundi Ruam cohort stayed in Banteay Chhmar, our first homestay experience. Ever had a sleep over? Ever had a sleepover in another country you’ve never been to with a family you don’t know and a possible language barrier for seven days? No? Well we did!
Although the first couple days were nerve racking. We felt like our homestay families showed us nothing but love, compassion and treated us like one of their own. The experience was one that won’t ever be forgotten as we move forward. We developed deep connections, and new deep understandings of the world we live in. All while being loved by people who barely knew us. Here are some of our reflections after our homestays.
My Stone Classroom by Anabelle
History class is a lot different when you’re touching it. When your desk is the stone walls, the learning materials are the headless Buddha’s and the carvings in the stone.
Long ago, I promised myself my classroom would be more than paper. More than Google drive. More than starred emails. More than the same campus everyday. And more than just books, articles, and lectures.
I stood in my book. I stood in the history book I love so much. I felt its stone underneath my fingertips, and the ghost of its rich history possess me. My desk was the dance halls of Ta Prohm. My school hallways was the maze like structure of Bayon. My learning, my being, my lectures, my articles, was Ankor Wat.
I think about the girl long ago who believed she could not achieve more than paper and pencil. Who doodled in history books. Who looked at the basic stock imagines of things I believed I’d never see. The girl who wanted more than just a classroom. More than just Google docs. More than slide templates and Cornell notes.
She is proud. She is happy. She enjoys this classroom. History is so much deeper when you touch it, when you live it, when you feel it. When it’s more then just then classroom.
Slowing down in Cochabamba & Aiquile by The Instructor Team
Hello families and friends!
As I write this, soft rain peppers the rooftop of our bougainvillea-adorned housing nestled in the back corner of our program house here in Aiquile. We’ve been lucky thus far that, for the most part, we have left the heavy rain behind in Peru and our group has been able to enjoy the warmer climate and sunnier weather of this part of the highlands of Bolivia.
Our group left La Paz having really enjoyed it but also feeling relatively exhausted. Knowing this, our I-team planned a few days of rest for us in Cochabamba, staying at the beautiful and tranquil grounds of one of our Dragons community members, Henry, about forty minutes from the Cochabamba city center. There, we enjoyed some of the most delicious meals of the semester so far, prepared lovingly by Olga and Elly; celebrated Lauren’s birthday with lots of ice cream; said goodbye to Gabriela to the sounds of Bad Bunny (or “Bugs Bunny” as Jose likes to say); and began training for the trail running race that we’ll be participating in after our Toro Toro trek!
SE Asia Group is Safe and Unimpacted by SE Asia Earthquake
Hello friends and families! We wanted to share a quick update that our Carpe Mundi group is safe and unimpacted by the earthquake that hit Myanmar, Thailand and other parts of SE Asia today. We are currently in Banteaychmar Cambodia and have not felt the earthquake or seen any impacts locally. Our thoughts go out to anyone affected.
Last week in Thailand
By Ruby
For our last week in Thailand we went to Bangkok we found ourselves exploring the ways and doing some shopping. Very interesting and memorable. Then we had a fun old camping trip. She saw deer, porcupines, turtles, and other wildlife. And we had endless nights of uno games. Ended our time nicely and memorably.
Phare Ponleu Selpak
By Andrea
At the end of our first week in Cambodia, Seavyi and the other instructors gave us a surprise by taking us to Phare Ponleu Selpak, the Art school in Battambang.
The student performers did such a great job. I loved the circus show!!! I liked the sound of the music, the atmosphere, and the message. The show was called “Never Give Up” and is a representation of COVID-19.
Many students had to leave school and work in construction, cleaning and other jobs. Eventually, majority of the students were able to comeback and continue working on their art.
It’s beautiful to see so many talented artists in Battambang. Their performance made me want to also express my creativity and gratitude through my own art, writing.