TRIP BLOGS

Kenya/Tanzania

Groton School, Kenya/Tanzania Climate Change 2009
“Last week, Madeleine, Julia, Laurie, and I spent three nights living in a boma with a Masai family. This was an incredible visit, as it was nothing like I had ever experienced before. The children of the boma could not stop dancing and singing —even when we got tired, they continued to sing into the night. . . “ http://groton-kenya-09.blogspot.com/

Ensworth School, Faculty Development Trip, Kenya/Tanzania Climate Change 2009
“The solar panel team had tested the lights and shown off their handwork to the Oloika teachers and our team earlier in the afternoon, but the real celebration began when the girls arrived in the dorms! The girls squealed with delight and there were the customary thank you’s, but it didn’t stop there. The girls enthusiastically began a series of call and response songs, punctuated by the remarkable Masai jumping. . . .” http://ensworth-kenya-09.blogspot.com/

Peru

Groton School, Andes Education 2009
“As I write today from inside a classroom of the elementary school, our students’ host families are preparing a pachamanca—a feast of pork, beef, and chicken mixed with a variety of vegetables and cooked together over heated stones in a hole in the ground—to celebrate the near completion of the building project. . . .” http://groton-peru-09.blogspot.com/

Ensworth School, Andes Education 2009
“Everyone seems to love their host family, and the kids in each family are adorable. It is amazing how each family makes each of us feel like we are at home. Last night we had a great dinner when we got home from the hike. It was delicious, many of us had llama steak, others had pasta, and for desert we had ice cream and brownies, DELICIOUS! Now off to work!!! . . .” http://ensworth-peru-09.blogspot.com/

Lake Forest Academy, Andes Education 2009
“En Patacancha, Isabelle y yo estábamos con un família bastante simpática. Basilio es el papa y era el presidente de la comunidad. Victoria es la mama y casi no habla español. Melequedes es el hijo mayor y habla mucho español. . . . Finalmente, Ayde; Ayde tiene tres años y era super mona. Era un poco timida hasta tomé su mano . . .” http://lakeforest-peru-09.blogspot.com/

Casady School, Andes Education 2009
“¡Hola! Hoy trabajamos en la ¨tierra de niños¨. Nosotros hicimos muchas cosas en la escuela. Yo, Sr. Peña, Srta. Bornhoft, y Jason movimos la tierra. Will y Felipe cavaron hoyos, Craig, Louisa y Megan pelaron la cáscara de los árboles y Kendall y Natasha pintaron madera para la cerca. Fue un día de mucho trabajo. . . .” http://casady-peru-09.blogspot.com/

Casady School, Peru Andes Education 2008
“We finished the project and had a tasty pachamanca (earth oven meal) to celebrate. It served about 45 people who included all the volunteers from Ollantaytambo and Casady School, the Manco Inca School children and adults, the carpenters, their families and few dogs. The kids sanded the playground and when it was partially finished, we saw how happy the children were . . .”
For more information, click here: http://casady-school-peru08.blogspot.com/

Groton School, Andes Education, 2008
“During one of the many splash battles a fellow crew member was hoisted right out of the boat and taken hostage on the foreign vessel. After some negotiations we managed to retrieve her. One particular boat got so into the mood that they hung seaweed from their helmets and painted their faces with mud . . .”
To read more, click http://groton-andes-08.blogspot.com/

The Ensworth School, Andes Education, 2008
“Living with a Peruvian family that speaks absolutely zero English and hauling adobe bricks to build our guinea pig farm has been a huge struggle, but is also the reason that this trip will be remembered forever . . . We adopted a boy named Daniel, who goes with us everywhere and is our little amigo. We all love him so much and are trying to find a way to pack him in our bag to come home with us . . .”
To read more, click http://ensworth-andes.blogspot.com/

Landon School, Andes Education, 2008
“Sergio, a slightly crazy but very funny 14-year-old friend of Alex’s, stopped me as I passed his house to invite me to fish that night with his cousin and uncle. I returned to his house well after dark and we set out with headlamps and a cast-net. Turns out Sergio’s uncle, Beltrán, is the man: because of the darkness, the fish could not see him or his large net . . .”
To read more, click http://landon-andes08.blogspot.com/

Costa Rica

Potomac School, Costa Rica Biodiversity 2009
“After eight days of hard work, we've finally completed a sidewalk that connects two parts of the schools. We had tons of fun in an English class today reviewing vocab in creative ways such as song like 'the hokey pokey', 'head-shoulders-knees-and-toes' and playing 'simon says'. . . ” http://potomacschoolcosta.blogspot.com/

Dalton School, Costa Rica Biodiversity 2009
“After a 20 minute boat ride through the Canales de Tortuga, we arrived at the Pacuare Turtle Reserve, a scientific station situated right on an amazing beach. . . . Through nest excavation and miles-long treks along the beach at ungodly hours, we got to know these incredible creatures in a way most people will never experience. . . .” http://daltoncostarica.blogspot.com/

Belize

St. John’s Episcopal, Belize Climate Change 2009
“After Carrie Bow Caye, we snorkeled on the great Barrier Reef. Students remarked about the visible signs of coral bleaching, and were stunned at the variety of sea life they observed. We then stopped on a small island for lunch, after which we turned over rocks to see what kinds of shallow-water creatures we could find lurking beneath . . .” http://belizeus.pbworks.com/

Bullis School, Belize Climate Change 2009
“Our cabin is located on a hillside overlooking the Privassion Creek. The sound of the rushing water below is relaxing and the temperature is quite a bit cooler than down in the savannah. After settling into the cabin, we went to pools of Rio On to swim. The pools are carved into solid reddish colored granite. Water cascades down short waterfalls to the pools below. . .” http://bullis-belize-09.blogspot.com/

Stanley Clark School, Belize Climate Change 2009
“We had a great time canoeing down the Sibun River on Saturday. We saw iquanas, egrets, king fishers, many, many tetras, fig trees, etc. We actually had a fig war between canoes on our way down the river. . . .” http://stanleyclark-belize-09.blogspot.com/

Graland Country Day School, Belize Climate Change 2009
“Before snorkeling, we visited the Smithsonian Institute field station on one of the neighboring audience.  Snorkeling was like going into a whole new world under the waves.  There were many exotic sea creatures and coral kingdoms. . .” http://graland-belize-09.blogspot.com/

Belize Teacher Site Visit 2008
“On Saturday night the ocean waves were delightful as I lay on the bottom bunk of my cabin at Tobacco Caye. The cabin was right near the water so the sound was intense . . . How special to be in paradise with special new people. It’s rewarding to be part of a group whose members share an amazing experience and, in the process, reveal themselves to each other. We may never be together again but, at this time, there is no one closer . . .”
For more information, click here: http://teachers-belize-2008.blogspot.com/

Guadeloupe

International High School, Guadeloupe Education 2009
“This morning we left at 6 a.m. to head to the other island, Basse-Terre, for a hike to the top of the volcano, La Soufrière. . . our guide, named Jean-Pierre, amazed us by scaling the steep rocky slopes with bare feet - he said he feels closer to nature when he walks on the earth with his feet bare. . . .” http://international-guadeloupe-09.blogspot.com/