Dharma Cohort 

Dharma is Hindu/Buddhist term, which means "right living." It is our hope that this year will help you figure out what that means for you.

Travon Braswell

Braswell is currently attending Portland Community College. He is in his final year of completing his associates in Art. After completion of his associates, he plans on transferring to Portland State University to major in Business Management.

“Carpe Mundi has taught me to become more independent and confident. I have learned a lot of communication skills through networking and the skills I have learned has allowed me to have a deeper and more personal conversation with my peers. Carpe has also taught me, there is more to life than what's on my cell phone. I have been more active since my travels abroad and would like to keep traveling.” 
Travon lives in Portland, OR; with his mother, younger brother and cousins. After completing his Bachelors, He plans on opening up a barber shop within his community. He also plans on doing a backpacking trip to Central America within the next year.

Peyton Nguyen 

"My trip have validated and strengthen my motivation to pursue my goals to become an international relief and aid worker. I want to contribute my time and energy in giving back to those in need in developing countries. I feel that I can best do this through pediatric nursing. There is much demand for nurses in developing countries, and I plan to finish my school in the U.S. and after I have acquire enough experience, I want to apply for the Peace Corps or other international aid programs so that I can share my expertise and education and use it to make a difference and help others in need." Peyton is studying at Portland Community College to finish her associate transfer degree in science. She plans to transfer to a four-year university for Nursing, and apply for internships and job shadows with careers in international relations and nursing. "Since Carpe Mundi, I have gained a new awareness of my roles in my relationship with others and myself. I learned to be more patient and empathetic to ideas and viewpoints that are different from me, along with staying true to my values and instincts." Carpe Mundi has inspired her to continue her education in the medical field and given her the confidence to seek out her passions and interests in both in school and in her life. Peyton currently resides in Oregon, but plans to travel and work abroad after she acquires her degree and work experience.

Blanca Alvarez-Lopez

Hi all this is Blanca and I traveled to India a year ago with Carpe Mundi. I just graduated from Mt. Hood Community College with my Associates Degree in Mental Health, Social Service and Addiction Counseling! I'm looking forward to transferring to PSU in the fall and applying for the Children and Family Studies Program. I'm currently just enjoying my summer and working retail for now. Carpe has showed me how much I am capeable of traveling alone so I booked a trip to go to New York by myself and it was incredible! I'm also traveling to California with my boyfriend this summer for a week and have learned how to save up, budget and make it happen! Still challenging myself and learning new things everyday.

Kervencia Limage

Kervencia is 23 years old and was born in Haiti. She is currently taking classes at Portland Community College to receive her Associates in Science. Her hobbies include exercising, reading, cooking, spending time with family and friends, painting, and going hiking. Kervencia loves to volunteer whenever she can and enjoys being apart of a community. She has volunteered with the Portland Public School program to encourage students who have dropped out of school to return. Through this experience she was able to share her own experiences and struggles. She hopes that through this program she will be able to affect the lives of others, build socialization and communication skills, and give her a chance to grow outside of the classroom. Kervencia hopes to study in Central America, South America, or East Africa. 

George Ruiz-Chi

George Ruiz is attending Portland Community College, in which he will obtain an Associate's degree to transfer to Portland State University. He plans on pursuing Criminal Justice at Portland State University because of his interests in Law enforcement.

Next year he will be attending PCC (Portland Community College) to finish his associate's degree. With the money he’s saved, he plans on traveling down to Mexico or South America during the summer. “Carpe Mundi has been life changing. I have learned more about myself and what my goals are. I have learned to be more present and to enjoy every minute of life because it’s a precious thing. I have become more active and love to go dancing, hiking and exploring cities.”

George resides in Portland, Oregon with his finance and loves portland so much he never plans on moving. His plans for the future are to continue his education in Criminal justice, get married, and travel the world with his partner. He would like to finish his bachelor’s degree before getting married and start his career. “All of this is going to take time but the time will soon come.”

Kenya Hall

Hi! My name is Kenya! And no, I am not from there.  I was born and raised in good ol' Portland Oregon! I am 21 and currently attending Portland State University as a psychology and foreign language major. If the world works in my favor, I plan on going into psychiatry (fingers crossed) and interpreting for Spanish speakers and those who use sign language; breaking the language barrier, but who knows what the future holds. When I am not in school or working, I am volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters! I have a new found love for hiking. I enjoy getting lost within my surroundings and the adventure of finding my way back home. I enjoy getting lost in a book. I look forward to losing myself while abroad, and to the journey of finding myself and rediscovering who I am, and who I have the potential to be.  I live for the nights of bonding with friends over cheesy jokes, random fun facts, and meeting new people. I hope that studying abroad with Carpe Mundi will help me step far out of my comfort zone. I have hope that I will be able to become a more independent, humble, and creative individual. What I want to take from this journey is to experience a different culture, a different take on life. And make a difference in someone else's. I am hoping to study abroad to either India or east Africa.

Susan Vang

Susan wants to become a psychiatrist for younger children. She plans to major in psychology and minor in environmental studies. Next year, Susan will be finishing her associates degree at PCC, and plans to transfer to either PSU or U of O. From her trip, Susan learned the skills to be a responsible consumer and mindful of her privileges from the scarcity that she witnessed in South America. The trip has given her a new perspective of coming from a developed country to a developing country, she saw the different values in people and plans to incorporate those values in her life back in Oregon. She learned to be more aware of how she travels and her interaction with other travelers. Susan currently resides in Gresham with her parents and cannot wait to travel more after she saves up some money. The quote, "anything is possible but nothing is for sure", from her trek guide in Machu Picchu, made her realize of all the possibilities she has and encourages her that nothing is for sure, so she must try her best. 

Monet Ezra

Monet Exra is finishing up classes at Portland Community College. After receiving her associates she will transfer to Portland State University next fall. Monet will be pursuing a bachelors degree in Journalism. Next year, Monet will be attending PSU. She believes working and schooling will take up most of her time, but also plans of adventuring on the weekends she is free.

"After Carpe Mundi and returning to the states, my motivation has been boosted immensely. I am enthusiastic and aware of all the options and places the world has to offer. I feel accomplished and replenished."

Monet currently resides in Portland,OR. Her future plans are to complete her degree in Journalism and to find a job overseas, where she can continue to travel.

Andrea Eckert

Since my semester abroad I have been finding ways to be happy in this society. I have found myself terribly homesick from my home of Bona Fide farm (Ometepe island, lake Nicaragua). I find myself disgusted with the lack of concern, over phone use, and rude people. I took a year off of school to mostly work but also get lost in the mix of it all. I have since decided to pursue schooling in the agriculture field and or nutrition. I no longer have the desire to be a nurse as I did before my trip and I think that is all the better and more aligned with Who I Really Am. Since my trip, I noticed I'm more open to talk to people. I have experienced things that people only dream to experience and I still don't know where I can go with my experiences. Overall I have a feeling of lost and despair and homesickness. Accompanied by a new and broader perspective on the world and its people. And I think I've only scratched the surface.

Alexander Cruz

Alex is doing good. He is still enrolled at Portland Community College and hopes to graduate next year. He just started at New Seasons as a prep cook. He stays in contact with his cohort quite a bit and will hopefully be moving in with one of his friends from the trip to India by January. He got the opportunity to build a tiny house with a sustainability class he took at PCC and is looking into going into environmental sustainability/science as a major. Potentially he would like to go to Portland State University or Lewis & Clark College to achieve his goals. He finally got a license. After his trip with Carpe he went to Honduras for a month to meet his family and to him that was incredible. Anyways, life for him has been cruising along and he is trying to enjoy it as much as he can.

Alondra Flores Avina 

I will be going back to Portland Community College to finish my Oregon arts transfer degree then transferring to a university to earn a bachelor's degree, than a masters. I'm looking forward to finishing up my associates degree and once I transfer to earn a degree in international studies/ global development in a university. After my experience with Carpe Mundi I have learned to live in the present and appreciate what I have in life. Also, through my experiences abroad I was able to get out of my comfort zone, it's surreal to be in another country and feel confidence within yourself. Not only have I gained self growth, but my passion for helping people in need has grown. This is why I hope to travel to developing countries especially Latin America and aid communities/ schools in need. I reside in Portland, Oregon for the time being. I plan to travel more! And hope to live in other countries as well. I would like to expose myself to new culture, and travel to Europe and Latin America, and explore more of Asia.

Phong Kyaw

"Life has been a wild ride since my time abroad. Haha just kidding. Quite opposite actually. I've just been hitting the books at Portland Community College. I should be done next year." Phone is finishing up his last year at Portland Community College for his Assicate Degree and is planning to go to a four year university. This summer (2017), he is so excited to fulfill his summer of traveling to his home country(Burma, Myanmar) and is going to stop in Thailand where he traveled when he was in Carpe Mundi. " I'll also be going back to Thailand because no trip would be complete without Thailand. " He has also decided to become a Youtube Vlogger to share his life and travel experiences with the world. This has been something he has been wanting to do for awhile now; he is so proud to annouce that he will start this summer (2017). "So please subscribe to my channel and if you guys can put in my bio how to subscribe to my channel I would greatly appreciate that." --How to subscribe? Type in the search box on YouTube my name and you'll see my channel. (Phong Kyaw) Be sure to tell your friends.