The Three Introductions, A Capstone Project.
Kara Esplin
June 4, 2018
My capstone project was inspired by the personal bio I wrote for Global Citizen Year before program launch. Before I knew anything about brigadero, CaraKura, Ratones, Caroline & Carlos, and far before Ticen, Tisan, Tican, Titri, Tilag, and the forgotten Tirio. My bio reads that I enjoy good friends, the great outdoors, and amazing food. All...
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AMAZING FOOD – AN INTRODUCTION PT. 3
Kara Esplin
April 3, 2018
Like I said, I eat beans and rice everyday. I love it. I could do it forever. My body, however, cannot. Eight months and fifteen pounds later, I will soon be returning to my Utah home. A home full of crisp apples, baby carrots, cold water, peaches, celery, fishy crackers, and fruit snacks. All things I...
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The Great Outdoors – An Introduction Pt.2
Kara Esplin
March 30, 2018
Hello, my names Kara (Or Carol if that’s easier.) I live on a small island (Florianopolis) in the south of Brazil. It’s only 33 miles long, yet it still takes about 3.5 hours to drive from top to bottom. Don’t even ask me how long it’d take with a bus, I tried it once and it was...
Read MoreGood Friends, The Great Outdoors, and Amazing Food – an Introduction. Pt.1
Kara Esplin
March 16, 2018
If you read my official profile on the Global Citizen website you’ll see the line “She [Kara] enjoys good friends, the great outdoors, and amazing food.” Seven months later this statement still stands true, but if I could just change it a bit. “Hello, I am Kara Esplin. I have made incredible friends. I live in a the...
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Is it Safe?
Kara Esplin
March 3, 2018
One of the most frequent questions I get about living in Brazil is that of safety. Though Florianopolis is one of the safest places in Brazil, with some of the lowest crime rates, I have done quite a bit of traveling through Sao Paulo (Brazils mega city) and Rio de Janeiro. And my consensus is, YES!...
Read MoreWhere I am From, Where I am Going.
Kara Esplin
November 9, 2017
Yesterday during our first Regional Reconnect our Team Leader, Belkis, lead us in an interesting exercise. Our task was to write a poem. A poem about where we come from. She provided a few guidelines and told us to pull inspiration from foods, sights, sounds, smells, sayings, and people from our past. Belkis brought up the...
Read MoreFé
Kara Esplin
October 16, 2017
Today I learned the word Fé. Today Fé meant getting on a bus, hoping it was going to the right place, kind of knowing it wasn't, but REALLY hoping it was. Fé meant looking out the window at the terminal I needed to get off at, but the one my bus wasn't stopping at- but Fé meant knowing I'd get there… eventually. (Even if that Fé...
Read MoreTaking Note: SEEN, FELT, DONE…
Kara Esplin
October 2, 2017
It's been a month now since I've left my cozy home tucked in the mouth of the Ogden canyon. At times I find myself reflecting on my year abroad in Germany, and slipping into a mindset of "Oh- I've experienced this before. I've lived with a host family before, I've struggled with a...
Read MoreExpectations vs Reality
Kara Esplin
August 15, 2017
Amidst the rush to obtain our visas, packing, and say our goodbyes to family and friends, there is a mix of mystery and anticipation in the air. Our cohort group chat is bustling with questions, advice, speculations, and the occasional funny video from Trevor. With only a few weeks until departure, this is a time of reflection. Many of...
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