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Erin Welker

@erin_adventures

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My gap year adventures!

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Summer 2023

Better late than never! I had a fun and joy-filled end to my gap year. Many wonderful people made this summer so so amazing and I am eternally grateful to my friends and family. From weekend trips, concerts, birthdays, weekly music, and everything and anything else. I feel lucky to miss home.
Massive amounts of gratitude for the people who made my gap year possible and safe and fun. My parents, grandma, and extended family, my friends, the families that took me in, the friends I made, and the people who spotted me a few euros for the bus. It means the world.
Xoxo, Erin taken in The Pacific Northwest by @erin_adventures

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3 years ago

SW Colorado. May 16-June 7.

I left Japan to visit my aunt and uncle in Colorado! I had a great time with the horses, going on hikes and to the gym, grocery shopping, and exploring the area from farms to thrift stores. I was able to volunteer on Fozzie’s Farm, visit Southwest Seed, and make some friends along the way. I’m so grateful for my family’s hospitality as a final away-from-home gap year hurrah and to know that I will definitely be back here! taken in Colorado, USA by @erin_adventures

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3 years ago

Osaka and Tokyo. May 8-16.

I spent my last week in Japan traveling on my own, exploring Osaka and Tokyo. From gardens to temples and shrines to busy streets, I experienced the larger city aspect of Japan. Kindness and curiosity are so accessible here, and I appreciated all the connections made and people I met and talked to throughout the entire trip. by @erin_adventures

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3 years ago

Shikoku, Japan. April 22-May 8.

I came to Shikoku to visit my dad, who walked the 88 temple Shikoku Henro (pilgrimage), for a few weeks. We walked the first 11 temples of the pilgrimage from Tokushima together then spent Golden Week in Koshi and Takamatsu. It was so special to share this experience with my dad and see how he has been operating during his months in Japan. taken in Shikoku, Japan by @erin_adventures

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3 years ago

Home! January 28-April 21.

With a few special trips to Belfair, Orcas, and California, I was home in Bellingham. taken in Bellingham, Washington by @erin_adventures

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3 years ago

La Ventana pt. 2 January 7-28 taken in La Ventana, Baja California Sur, Mexico by @erin_adventures

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4 years ago

La Ventana pt. 1 January 7-28

I flew down to Baja to see my best friend Grace and join her family in this wonderful town in a windy corner of the world. We had so much fun! I had the best time making friends of both the human and canine varieties. Returning home filled with love and gratitude, I feel so fortunate to have experienced such a special place and energy. taken in La Ventana, Baja California Sur, Mexico by @erin_adventures

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4 years ago

Bellingham! December 29-January 7

I came home for a week, spent time with some of my favorite people, and wrote some essays before heading back out and down to Mexico. taken in Bellingham, Washington by @erin_adventures

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4 years ago

Dareda & Moshi. December 21-28

For Christmas we were in Dareda, a small village in a northern region of Tanzania. We visited the village of another family member and met cousins and aunts and babies. I accidentally got married, we got new clothes and dresses, and it was finally cold at night. I spent my last night back in Moshi and was able to meet a long time friend of my grandfathers before departing to return to the US.
This was an overall unforgettable experience. Making friends with Joy, Antie, Abeli, Ollie, Angel, and Rosie was a great joy and so was connecting with Lina and others that I met. So much cannot be contained in photographs and words and I look forward to returning one day. My Tanzanian family <3 taken in Dareda by @erin_adventures

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4 years ago

Safari! December 18-21

We went on safari for a few days as well! Traveling to Moshi by bus (Kilimanjaro peeked out but I didn’t get a picture) we continued to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater, and Terengire to see lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, elephants, wildebeest, water buffalo, and of course a wide variety of gazelles, antelopes, and birds. by @erin_adventures

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4 years ago

Ifakara, Tanzania pt. 2 November 24 - December 18 by @erin_adventures

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4 years ago

Ifakara, Tanzania pt. 1 November 24 - December 18

I spent 5 wonderful and amazing weeks in Tanzania with the Finda family. I have needed time to sort through all the photos from Ifakara to Serengeti National Park to Dareda. Here are the ones that made the cut.
For 3 weeks, I stayed in Ifakara in a southern region of Tanzania and spent time with the family celebrating graduations and end of school years and exam results. I also was able to tour the Ifakara Health Insitute where Lina (my host mother) works and also King Collins English Medium School where Ollie, Angel, and Rosie (the 3 youngest) go to school. I spent a week at St Laurence’s Orphanage with Joy (the eldest) and got to play soccer, ride a motorcycle to church, and learn with the kids there. taken in Ifakara by @erin_adventures

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4 years ago