Being in the middle of nowhere, with no way to contact those I left behind, created a space for growth. I found it both exhilarating and challenging—being disconnected from the world I was used to felt like flipping a coin. On one side was the thrill of living entirely in the moment, unattached to the steady ping of messages or the urgency of news. On the other side was the gnawing awareness that those I loved were still living their lives without me, and I couldn’t instantly be part of their moments or share my own. This experience, however, taught me something profound: there is beauty in this disconnection, a freedom that opens space for the unexpected and the new.
By: Alex DiChiara, University of Virginia
Robin Wall Kimmerer writes that a gift carries an obligation to give back. Maybe that’s the balance I keep coming back to: the busy days and the quiet ones, taking and returning the favor.
By: Cedar Greve, Bowdoin College
I keep finding myself, standing out from everything else, full of immense gratitude. Not simply for this unbelievably beautiful place or the amazing people I get to be here with, but for this experience, of disorientation and new familiarity, of austral adaptations.
By: Owen Wilson, Westminster University
For myself, I wanted just one win; looking back, I probably should’ve prayed more to Tenger before signing up. Local teachers and others sang and introduced the proceedings, and as Jamie and I watched the wrestlers filter in, it became clear that this was going to be a serious challenge and that it was time to get set.
By: Tyler Hartman, Roanoke College
Along the way, we saw bits of elk fluff stuck to a branch, and we even saw some wolverine scat! We could tell it was mustelid, and Dave was the first to suggest wolverine. We took pictures and consulted with an expert after returning, and sure enough, it was from a wolverine.
By: Jacob Filipkowski, University of Vermont
Kaziikini was an unforgettable first chapter in Botswana. In just two short weeks, the learning curve has been steep, rewarding, and packed with once-in-a-lifetime moments. Watching a pride of lions dialed in for a hunt, catching a rare glimpse of a caracal vanishing into the grass, and navigating the Delta’s backwaters in a mokoro are memories that will stick with me for good. It set an incredible foundation for the rest of our season in the field.