Well, as time so often works, it was slow while it was happening, but looking back, it went incredibly fast. Though I savored each moment of my time on Saba, I can’t believe that my two weeks on the island are already over. By the time I left last Saturday morning, I had already promised …
Last week, I boarded a plane to fly to an island I had never heard of until recently. I discovered the island in August on a job listings site – they were looking for an intern for a month-long environmental event in October. Saba? Where on earth is that? The more research I did, the more …
Part 1: The Beginning of Two Weeks on a Tiny Dutch Island Read More »
It’s already dark when Deivid drops the volunteers off on the side of the road and drives away. In fact, it’s pitch black, because we’re in the middle of the Atlantic Rainforest, and there are certainly no streetlights lining the sides of the dirt roads. The six of us laugh nervously, our faces partially visible …
When I was sixteen, my dad bought me a book for Christmas called Anna and the French Kiss. “Dadddd,” I groaned. My name, paired with French kissing, on the cover of a book, given to me by my dad. How embarrassing. But also, sweet. My dad had been raising me without my mom since she …
Explore Paris on a Literary Tour of “Anna and the French Kiss” Read More »
When I chose to study abroad in Denmark, I only knew that it was once ranked the happiest country in the world. I didn’t know its population size, or its cuisine, or its traditions, or even its location. I wasn’t alone in this boat either. The day that I left to study abroad in January …
Note: These packing suggestions are specific to Iracambi Centro in Minas Gerais, Brazil, but many would still be relevant to other rainforest/tropical experiences. Hope travelers find this helpful! Packing is hard. Packing for the rainforest is even harder. What do rainforest-appropriate clothes look like? What do you wear to protect skin from sunburn and bugs …
1. Time passes much faster than expected. Though I initially planned to spend a month at Iracambi, it didn’t work out that way. I bought my flights late, and by then the best-priced round-trip flights were for about two and a half weeks. To be honest, I didn’t mind at the time that it was …
10 Things I Learned From Volunteering in the Rainforest Read More »
Last Saturday was to be my last day in Brazil. I was flying out of Rio de Janeiro at 10:15 that night, and I planned to leave Iracambi as early as possible to make sure I made it there with plenty of time. Three other volunteers decided to split the taxi with me to the …
In the days leading up to Halloween last week, the Americans decided to celebrate – the Americans being me, Ronja (from California), and Nya (from North Carolina). The other three volunteers were from the UK and Japan. But everyone, especially the Brazilian staff at Iracambi, was excited at the prospect of a party. I get …
This was my second – and last – weekend in Brazil. I spent it in a small city called Ouro Preto, which translates to Black Gold. I traveled to the city with three of the other volunteers – Ronja, Riho, and a new volunteer from Switzerland named Alex. Luckily, one of the Iracambi coordinators …