Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
Here are a few things you can expect:
- We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
- Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
- Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.
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 FEBRUARY 13
Hola from Guatemala!
We are officially underway with the very first GLA Alumni Ambassador Antigua Getaway, and it has already been such a special start.
Our staff team arrived Thursday morning to prepare for this Alumni-only experience. While GLA has been running programs in Guatemala for over a decade, this is our first getaway just for Alumni Ambassadors, which makes it extra meaningful. đź’›
Molly and Delilah got in on Friday a day early, and we kicked things off with dinner at a local favorite. The evening was filled with laughter and stories from past GLA programs. Our Local Director, Nayo, shared about his life growing up in Guatemala, grounding us in the culture and heart of this country. We ended the night with ice cream and a stroll through the cobblestone streets before getting some rest for official arrival day.
The next morning, Jagger, Ryan, Sophie, and Daniella joined us. We enjoyed breakfast with views of Volcán de Agua in the distance, then explored Antigua’s colorful streets. We stopped at artisan shops and visited the iconic yellow Arco de Santa Catalina for photos.
Lunch featured traditional Guatemalan dishes and lively marimba music. After a short siesta, we welcomed the rest of our group Jenna, Cayla, and Adam, completing our Ambassador crew. We gathered for a warm welcome dinner and reviewed plans for Day 2.
Next we head to Lake Atitlán, surrounded by volcanoes and lakeside villages. We are excited to visit a cacao shop and learn about chocolate making, visit a textile cooperative, deepen connections, build community, and continue creating unforgettable memories together.
More soon from Guatemala! đź’™ The GLA Staff: Heather, Hayley, Ethan & Nayo
BLOG POST FOR FEBRUARY 14
We started our morning off bright and early leaving at 6:30 on a bus to Atitlan. Ending up at an adorable breakfast place where we took Valentine’s Day photos, we had a delicious breakfast with some students even having pancake tacos!
After breakfast, we headed up to “Pana” where we took a speed boat to San Juan. In San Juan, we walked through a beautiful marketplace with colorful hanging umbrellas to get to a textile cooperative. We all learned so much about Mayan culture and weaving techniques.
Afterwards we walked through more shops to a chocolate factory, and got to see the process of making chocolate. Everyone then tried 100% cacao bean and most bought more! For lunch we went to a traditional restaurant where we had the freshest guacamole we had ever tasted.
Following our meal, we split up in buddy groups to check out souvenirs. Taking the boat back to Panajachel was a journey, as the ride was beautiful, but bumpy and chaotic in a fun way! Of course, we had to go to the beach to test out the waters! The walk there was so pretty through the town, and we were able to go to a private beach to swim. Even though the water was quite chilly, everyone had a blast.
Our hosts made us dinner with everyone having seconds and thirds before jumping into a leadership activity lead by our GLA mentors. Naturally, we needed dessert and walked back through town to get ice cream.
The day started early, but we made the most of it and ended the day with a dance party on the rooftop terrace! ✨🇬🇹🛥️
From your leaders of the day: Sophie Heyman, Daniella Knapp, and Jagger Jordan
