Each day should be the best day of your life!

Sometimes humans are called monkeys! I wonder why? Because a monkey will never kill the mother that feeds him!

No mountain too high, only dreams too small.
 

Don't look for the problem where it is not. You will never be able to correct it!

Blog written by Nadja Vukasinovic, of Kraljevo, Serbia:

It seems so unreal! This weekend, 16 Young Explorers from all over the world will finally meet Mike Horn’s team in Switzerland! The preparations for this venture and the camp invitation itself represent an amazing experience which I intend to make the most of. Anyone who applied to the PANGAEA Program can tell you how much work and effort you need to put into your application. The worst part of applying was waiting for the results. The time between sending in my application, until the moment reading the word 'Congratulations!' seemed like the longest month of all-time. But as soon as you read that life-changing E mail, time starts flying!

The past month has filled completely with activities. Managing school assignments, the national physics competition, physical fitness preparations, and South Africa research hasn’t been easy, but I enjoyed every moment of it. My physical preparations consisted of jogging, cycling, going to the gym, and speleology [cave] practices. Other then that, I did a lot of researching about Africa. Did you know that one in three Africans lives without any kind of toilet facility? Additionally, half the population relies on only the most basic latrines that provide very minimal sanitary protection. The things that I found out are really disturbing and hopefully I will manage to help inhabitants of Africa in some way, whether I am chosen to go with Mike on the expedition in July, or not.

My friends like to tease me how I became a TV celebrity. I gave a couple of interviews for our national and local TV channels. These interviews really gave me an opportunity to promote PANGAEA and it’s message and I look forward to doing a couple more of them after selection camp.

Looking forward to meeting to on Sunday! Greetings from Serbia.

– Nadja 🙂

Dirty hands and fatigue is the difference between dreams and reality.

Blog written by Kate Wootton of Napier, New Zealand:

About a year and a half ago I was procrastinating studying and reading National Geographic when I stumbled upon an article about a programme that seemed far too good to be true! It was called the PANGAEA Young Explorers Program — and I wanted to be a part of it!

I never thought I’d have a chance, but this was NOT an opportunity I was going to pass up! Finally, on my last opportunity to apply (the 12th of 12 Expeditions between 2008-2012), the dates worked out for me to apply to the Africa Expedition in July of 2012 and I was able to go for it. I put a video together and sent it off hoping for the best. A few weeks after it left my hands I finally heard back from Mike Horn's team and I had been successful– shortlisted to the 16 candidates for Africa!!! I’m sure everyone else who received the same letter can appreciate my excitement!

There’s been plenty of work to fit in and around an already jam-packed schedule of camp preparations, but it’s all been so interesting — I can't complain! Although I have found that doing research for this has been far more exciting than studying which probably isn’t the best thing. I’m so excited to get to Switzerland for selection camp and see what we’re doing and what I’m capable of, although I also have to confess that I’m a little nervous too!

This selection camp falls at the end of an era for me, and I hope, will mark the beginning of a new one. I have been on exchange in Canada for the year, but the semester has just ended, and as I write this I am sitting in my empty room surrounded by boxes prepared to leave. It’s been heart-breaking saying goodbye to the life I have set up here, so I’m glad to have the selection camp to look forward to and new friends to make from all over the world. Skyping with Nora and Trevor — two of my project mates — has made me even more excited to get to camp and meet everyone! Well now my bags are packed and I’m just about ready for departure. I’m sending this early as I leave tomorrow for a short bike trip and when I return I’ll be heading off to the airport and jetting my way across the world to meet 15 other inspired and passionate people! I can’t wait to meet you all in Château-d'Oex and begin our 10 days of adventure together. I wish you all a safe journey!

-Kate

Life is not all about what you know – It's about what you do not know and have to discover!

Fear can never be controlled! It can only be managed!

Pangaea makes fantastic progress as she sails down the south east coast of Brazil. Pleasant breezes, calm seas and great company make the journey a memorable one.