PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM
Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
Here are a few things to know and expect:
- Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
- We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
- Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
- Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.
For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.
-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team
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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30
Buenas tardes from Peru,
All students arrived and we are all together in the Home Base in Pisac. We settled in our rooms and after a few get-to-know-you activities we headed out for a first exploration of the town of Pisac! We visited the main square of the town and the artisanal market. Hector, the Local Director, gave us so much information about the local culture and cannot wait to learn even more from him. Everybody seems very excited about the program but also very tired from their flights! Stay tuned for more updates!
The Staff Team
BLOG POST FOR JULY 1
It was a brisk morning in the hotel, as everyone awakened to eat breakfast. Our group was then enlightened to the past experiences of the Counselors we will be working with. Next we enjoyed the exquisite local chicken dish prepared by the chefs. After we took a windy bus ride to the Chawaityre area where we learned the process of making textiles by hand to make shoes, quilts, and more.
Then we visited the worksite where we would be completing a project for the next days. We came back, and learned about a peaceful ritual which encompassed fire and plants from the earth. This was a great end of the evening as it was very grounding and peaceful for us. We wrapped up the day by playing cards in the common area and went to bed, ready to tackle the challenges that came of tomorrow.
By: John & Tristan
BLOG POST FOR JULY 2
Today my peers and I visited our service site for the first day of work. And let me tell you, when I say it was an invigorating, inspiring, yet also extremely tiring experience, I mean it. We worked alongside about a half dozen native Peruvians who live in Chahuaytire to build our service project, a dam. Chahuaytire has over the past few years experienced about half as much rain as they’re used; While it used to be normal for them to have 6 months of constant rain to help nourish their crops and the grass that their livestock graze on, during recent years that number has dropped to about 3 months of rain.
Our work on the dam is to the great benefit of the Chahuaytirans, since the dam, which is being built on a small river running next to the community, will hold about 1 million liters of water for the Chahuaytirans to use for their crops. While the work of relocating dirt from the area was hard, having a great group of people to socialize with helped make the time pass by way quicker than I initially thought. Even though it’s only been a few days, our group is already developing a great family, and I’m happy to be sharing this trip with every one of them.
Written by: Barrett
BLOG POST FOR JULY 3
Today the students awoke to a very cold morning and after a quick breakfast we were briefed on some of the basics of hydrology and the systems that we would be working with from Alvaro the engineer. We finished early and left for service 30 minutes ahead of schedule. We finished digging on one side of the river and moved to the next which were able to complete by our especially good lunch of pesto pasta and marinated steak.
After service we al-packad our bags and took a short drive and hike to see some cave paintings and ruins. We then left the area and arrived at a place called Sonidos de los Andes where we learned traditional Andean ceramic making and were taught about many of the ceremonial artifacts and instruments used by the Incan people. We returned to base and rested before our dinner, after which our day concluded with stories from our local director, Hector’s, engineering and leadership experiences.
Jacob
BLOG POST FOR JULY 4
This morning was no different from the previous mornings. We ate breakfast at 7:00 and had a guest speaker soon after. Today our guest speaker was Heidi from MED LIFE (Medicine Education and Development for Low Income Families Everywhere) she talked about her previous experiences working for the program. Throughout the hour long talk she emphasized the importance of having a lasting presence in the community that they are working in. This strategy ensures that the community fully understands how to use the help provided by MED LIFE. This help includes, but is not limited to greenhouses, stoves, and corn dryers.
We then took the bus to the Chahuaytire community to do our service for the day. The service for today included: pumping the water out of the trenches that have been dug; moving stones to make it easier to fill the trench; and filling the trench with those same stones and concrete. We then returned to home base and had an hour long session that covered cultural humility. We were then visited by a man from the agency that will be handling our trek for the next 3 days. He explained the path we will take leading up to Machu Picchu, and what we should pack. After we had dinner which consisted of a soup with chicken, potato, and macaroni followed by a bacon cheeseburger. Since today is the fourth of July we decided to go to a local ice-cream parlor to celebrate. Our day starts early tomorrow with a 6:00 breakfast, and the bus takes us to Lares at 7:00 to begin our trek.
Tristan
BLOG POST FOR JULY 7
We woke up early to drive to the market called Calca and bought marbles, coca leaves, and bread for the children and adults in the communities we were going to pass through on the backpacking trip. We got to the head of the trail and walked ~6 miles of meandering uphill with a few steep sections, and lots of exited kids and adults with the arrival of the gifts we brought them. We got to the camping place and went to bed under the bright stars. The second day after getting coca tea brought to our tents in the morning, we hiked another ~6 miles. The first part was steep and pretty exhausting, but the view was gorgeous. Then it was all downhill from there. We picked up a dog we named Alberto who walked with us for the whole rest of the hike. He was very sweet and a good hiking companion. We finally got to the hotel and we were all very tired. This morning we left at 6 to take the bus up to Machu Piccu. It was beautiful with the morning fog slowly rolling out. We learned a lot from the tours and the Incan buildings were so cool. While waiting for the train in the town, a lot of us had a soccer match with some other kids joining in. We took a train and a bus to get back to Pisac. We are all sleep deprived and will hopefully get some good rest tonight.
xx
BLOG POST FOR JULY 8
Today we had a late breakfast, so we could get more sleep after the hike. Then we got a briefing from Alvaro, the engineer. At the work site we worked on leveling out the dirt so the rain would go to the river. Then we came back to Home base and got a speech from a guest speaker, about prejudices against Andean people in Peru. Then we ate dinner and had free time to play games.
By Clara
BLOG POST FOR JULY 9
The group began our day by waking up to a freshly prepared breakfast prepared by the chefs. We then received a briefing from Alvaro about a retaining wall we will soon work on. The team gathered together on the bus to drive to the worksite, and we completed a difficult but accomplishing task of hauling rocks into a pile to use for the dam. Once we were done, we enjoyed our lunch and then drove to the Potato Park where we learned about the importance of potatoes in the Peruvian community, and how sacred they are to them. Lastly, the group wrapped up the night by playing games and working on our presentations.
Written by: John
BLOG POST FOR JULY 10
After a short morning of service, we visited a local family-run a textile business. The family taught us how they shear wool, spin said wool into yarn, how they make and use dye, and how to weave the yarn into different accessories. It was fascinating to not only learn that a special type of bug produces the red pigment, but also that mixing said bug with salt, lime, or other ingredients produces a myriad of other colors. It was an amazing experience, and we were able to purchase intricately handmade souvenirs afterwards, which we appreciated, since it was obvious the family put a lot of time and effort into the products.
Barrett, Laine
BLOG POST FOR JULY 12
Our day started with taking a bus to the Salt Flats. They were small ponds covered in salt on a mountainside and were beautiful. From there we went to our lakeside lunch starting with herb tea, quinoa, and plantains followed by chicken and potatoes. We then took out canoes and kayaks onto the lake which was freezing cold and many got splashed. Due to this our group then took a break laying in the sun with some dogs. Next, we took the bus once more to our Cuzco hotel and walked through the city down to our three-course dinner while dancers performed tableside.
Our day ended returning to our hotel. Our following day in the city began with an exploration of the city, strolling around plazas and marketplaces buying from the local markets. And then toured a small museum displaying ancient artifacts. Lunch was next at another three-course meal restaurant. After returning we started our journey back to Pisac stopping to travel through pitch black tunnels, go down natural slides, and see rock walls made by the Incas. And the day ended returning to our Pisac hotel and eating soup and spaghetti.
-Dylan
BLOG POST FOR JULY 13
Today the group woke up to a great breakfast and after had a briefing from Alvaro, the engineer. Then we took a bus and went to service and was met with a photographer from GLA who took some head shots for us. We worked on the dam some more and poured a lot of concrete. Then stopped for lunch which was quinoa and chicken but soon got back to work. After we were met by some college students who will soon help to work on the service project some more. When we returned to home base we prepared and presented our presentations. Followed by a filling dinner and a fun group activity.
-Harper
BLOG POST FOR JULY 14
This morning started with a fantastic breakfast from our amazing chefs. After a short briefing from our Engineer Alvaro, we headed to service. We dealt with concrete and leveling many large dirt patches. After our half day of service, we headed back to Pisac to catch the Euro game between England and Spain. Half of us went out to the market and many of us picked up small blankets and sweaters. After we came back, we played a game of poker before eating a wonderfully cooked meal of chicken and fries. After dinner, some of us played mafia together and finished the night with one last game of poker.
Written by Brody
BLOG POST FOR JULY 15
Today we woke up at 7:00am to enjoy the regular breakfast, consisting of pancakes, eggs, and more. At 8:00am, Alvaro, the lead engineer at the work site, came to home-base to brief us on today’s activities and we stopped at the work site’s storage house to discuss how engineers think about the materials they worked with. We learned how cement has to be kept in a cold, dry environment, to why the houses at Chahaytire were made with clay instead of concrete, it was an interesting talk that gave us insight to the job of an engineer. Later, we went to the work site and helped mix clay as well as take measurements with tools Alvaro had taught us to use earlier in the week. Alvaro told us that our measurements showed which areas of land would be flooded after the dam was complete, and he gave us a mini-demonstration of how it would look like using a pile of concrete and water. We then ate a great lunch and said our temporary goodbyes to Alvaro and Medlife as it was our last day helping out, however we will be seeing the dam completed before we leave.
We returned to home-base at 2:00pm or so and had an hour break before our guest speaker. The guest speaker of the day was Mark Gregory, who directed a documentary called “Chasing Glaciers” and he told us of his life experience and how he had gotten to direct documentaries. It was fascinating to learn of his experiences with international jobs and his unsteady curve into the directing ministry, and we all enjoyed his talk. Afterwards, the group went into the town square to celebrate the Virgin Carmen celebration. The square was full of lively bands and people dancing, as well as horses and fireworks. After an extended stay at the square to enjoy from pizza to chocolate cake, we headed back to homebase to have dinner. Shortly after dinner we discussed the plans for tomorrow and had our seventh session consisting of methods to avoid burn out that students often feel during the school year. Overall today was educational and fun, and we are all excited for the first day of our excursion tomorrow.
Written by Olivia
BLOG POST FOR JULY 18
Our day started bright and early on Tuesday as we took a bus down to Tipon in Cusco after having a quick breakfast. This place was an important place where water was at its main focus. There were many wells and streams flowing with water and is marveled for its interesting usage of water. Afterwards we went down to the Cusipata River Lodge where we went white water rafting. This activity was thrilling as the river and rocks served as a fun challenge to navigate through. After washing off from the rafting we went to have a delectable meal for lunch. Then, we went zip lining over the river Vilcanota where we had act as the breaks for the zip lines. Definitely a first for many of us. Many of us were tired afterwards and spent the rest of the day in our rooms or spending time around the fire. The day ended with a late dinner and an early lights out to prepare for the hike to Rainbow Mountain the next day.
Wednesday morning started even earlier with breakfast at 5 consisting of well scrambled eggs, bread, and butter. Many of us stumbled out of bed and into the bus to get some rest before the hike up Rainbow Mountain. Our guide was energetic and determined and was able to wake us up and get us ready for the hike that we were about to endure. After an hour of fairly flat walking and 40 minutes of steep uphill hiking we were all able to make it to the peak of Rainbow Mountain and take beautiful pictures of the sight before us. The multicolored mountains on the right and low luscious valleys on the right were just a few of the sights to see. Luckily the walk back down the hill was easier and we went down to bus to go to a homestay. Each of us were divided into 3 different homestays where we were able to talk to and interact with the residents living there who cooked an amazing lunch for us after the long hike through Rainbow Mountain. After lunch we all went down to Luciano’s house and watched his masterful craft of pottery. We were able to view his creations and he showed us many of the tools he used to create the amazing pottery items he had. Then many of us wanted to get some exercise and played soccer for a bit at a local court. Coming back we had a delicious dinner followed by an evening activity. We all dressed up in traditional Peruvian clothing provided to us and watched the local people perform a ceremonial ritual which we were all able to partake in and contribute. Then we all danced around the fire, clapped, and sang songs with the residents. This ended the day and we went to bed excited for what was to come next.
Thursday morning we woke up late after getting a good night’s sleep in the comfortable beds provided to us at the homestay. After having our last meal at the homestay, we went for a little walk around the area. We learned about the importance of messengers in the area we were in and the trails that they had used. We also saw the Raqchi Temple from a beautiful viewpoint where we were able to take nice pictures as we learned the importance of the location. Before leaving we were able to say our final goodbyes to the lovely people who had provided the food and place for us to stay the night. We were all gifted a necklace and waved goodbye. Then we went back to the lodge we had stayed at for lunch. Then we finally took the bus back to our hotel in Pisac where we rested for a bit before having the option to go out to the market and explore the city a bit more in our final days here. We got a warm chicken and rice meal followed by a side of chicken soup and quinoa for dinner, ending our day.
Logan
BLOG POST FOR JULY 19
For our final day in Peru, the interns had breakfast at 8 am, breakfast concluded of pancakes, watermelon, bread, egg, etc. At 9 am all of the interns presented their final presentations, each intern had to choose 3 questions from 6 questions in total, reflecting of their experience of learning in the tasks we did here in Peru. 11:45 pm we had a delicious lunch that concluded of milanesa, rice, beans, and passion fruit juice. At 12:30 pm all the interns drove to Chahuaytire to go and look at the finish of group A and group Bs’ project. Each group got to see and learn what they built, both groups gave thank you speeches to the communities and the communities gave thank you speeches as well. Both groups got to have a little celebration by breaking a vase filled with cervesa. Once all the interns returned to home base at 4:30 pm everyone met up on the terrace to do one last final activity called the appreciation circle. Everyone would sit in a circle facing away from each other, our supervisor would then number us off into different groups and each group had to tap a person that they were appreciated of. At 7 pm we threw a pizza party to send everyone a farewell and to celebrate our last night together after being in Peru for 21 days.
-Alex
