Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures Custom Group 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 MARCH 12
¡Bienvenidos a Madrid!
Hello Atmosphere families and friends! This is your GLA staff team reporting in that the 9th graders of Atmosphere Academy have officially arrived in Madrid, Spain! We are thrilled to have everyone here and have an action-packed 11 days ahead of us.
The first half of the group arrived and we played some get-to-know you games in the beautiful warm weather, then had a big lunch (the big hits were the mushroom sauce pasta and tiramisu!)
Students were then assigned rooms and had a rest while some of us picked up the other arriving groups.
We then had some more group activities and the final group arrived during dinner. Everyone was really excited to see them. This led to more introductions, some orientation, and then the first mentor/pod group meetings. Then off to bed and lights out to be ready for an early start to explore Madrid.
On the agenda: the Prado Museum, the Royal Palace, and a tour of the historic Las Ventas Bull Ring. ¡Ole!
The GLA staff – Ila, Mag, André, Jonathan, Ester, Rudy, Clint, Luismi, and Marta
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 13
Today was a rather long first day held in the beautiful city of Madrid. It held a visit to the Prado Museum, and we saw various well-known artists like ones from Italy, Spain, and even Germany. Next, we got to see the heart of Madrid, although packed with people, which was a beautiful and very interesting sight.
After the well-made tour from our kind guide, we went to a Buffet where we had a very pleasant experience; although the place was smaller than hoped for seeing our large group, the staff was kind, and the food was overall well made; after this break we took a bus ride to the Royal palace where we not only got to watch the Royal Guards go on duty but got an excellent tour of the Palace rooms we were allowed to see, the palace was honestly breathtaking and gorgeous, we got a tour of about 25 out of over 3000 rooms.
Others also experienced seeing an actual Bull ring, after asking my friends who went, them and there pod agreed it was a beautiful place and was well made, although there was no live fight just seeing the Matador’s Arena was incredible. We all look forward to dinner and tomorrow’s adventures in the extreme and amazing zip lines we get to visit.
Written by day 1’s Leads Fraily Hernandez and Justin Angel Morales
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 14
Day 3 in Spain by Alexander Mensah and Manuel Clariot
Hello Atmosphere families and friends! This is day 3 of our trip in Spain and we are heading to Toledo! When we arrived, we were amazed and mesmerized by the grand and beautiful architecture. We took many photos to remember and show others the beauty of Spain.
While crossing a bridge over the river surrounding the city we saw other groups taking the zip line. We watched them go while waiting for our turn. Many were nervous, even the ones that said the opposite. People shook like rattlesnakes, and they held on to their lives with grips so hard they could break the metal.
After this activity, we went to eat lunch at a restaurant called 10 Santo Tome. Everyone went to sit at a table with their friends, and the waiter brought out plates with fries, sunny-side-up eggs, and a huge piece of meat on the side. Everyone really enjoyed the food and was satisfied.
After that, a guide took us on a walking tour of the city. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the city.
We walked throughout Toledo and saw the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo, the city hall, the second-largest cathedral in Spain, and even where an archbishop used to reside! We also visited what looked like a hidden basement. It was, in fact, an old Roman structure called “termas.” We learned about the layers of gravel and the airflow needed to withhold and maintain a moderately heated temperature through the ground. There were also rows of pillars within each room that were able to keep the floors.
After we finished the tour, we went back to our bus since today’s end goal was to reach Granada, where we would be staying at our second hotel. POD C and D rode together for three hours, with people falling asleep in the craziest places and positions and even drooling, but after said two hours, we stopped at a supermarket where we bought food, which most people were unable to finish before we got back on the road for two more hours. On the way we could see the landscape of Spain very different from New York. Fewer buildings and a lot of wildlife consisted of horses, cows, and more.
In Granada, we were amazed at how modern and varied it was with the stores, and there were apartments everywhere, which made us think of New York. The food was nice, especially the pasta and flan, which were very sweet and left a great taste in the mouth.
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 15
Today was the first official day we had gotten to Granada, and it was the first of all wake-up time and breakfast that we had; the breakfast was very good and had a variety of foods that I hadn’t tried before, so that was the first time for me. I really enjoyed it. Then it was a departure for the tour we had for Granada, and it was a 45-minute ride, which wasn’t bad for the distance we had to go; my group had finally arrived at the tour of Granada, and it was a lot of walking with beautiful scenery such as the side villages on the mountain and many open areas where you could see the mountains and beautiful views that awaited. My personal favorite view of the tour was definitely when we were all the way to the bordering walls of the village, as it was the highest point, and you could see all of Granada from there. It was just a breathtaking view that was like no other.
Then it was time to shop, which was one of the most exciting parts of the day this was due to me being able to buy what I wanted to buy for my family so I could bring it back to New York and this also gave me time to buy what I also wanted and spending quality time with my friends who I hadn’t talked to. Then, later in the evening, we all went to the park and played a game, which was a agree or disagree on what we thought of certain topics, for example, how social media influences us, How social media can have an impact on political issues, or even how social media is used for things such as bullying. This was really educational as it informed us how much we use our phones and how it is always good to socialize with others rather than use your phones as it almost takes you away from reality and gives you a false comfort of what it really is. But it also has many benefits as it can give confidence to others and even help with movements like BLM, LGBTQ, or even women’s rights, But mostly the negatives and how one should always take a step back on social media. Overall, the day was really well put together and very educational and fun all around, as it had more positives than negatives.
By Erick P
GLA note: The other half of the students went to the Alhambra! In the afternoon, they enjoyed a Flamenco Class and show. Stay stunned, as we will tell you more about this incredible experience in tomorrow’s blog!
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 16
Hello Atmosphere Academy Families!
Today, we ate breakfast at the hotel in the morning. Around 9, we went to see Alhambra. We saw and learned many beautiful things about the place, which was built between 1238 and 1358. We then had arepas for lunch.
After we returned to the hotel, we rested and had a chance to go to a fancy restaurant and see a flamenco show.
First, we took dance lessons, where we learned a few steps. Then, we ate very good food, like a burger and egg. For dessert, we ate chocolate cake and sang Happy Birthday to Jade-Lynn. After that, we saw an amazing show of professional flamenco dancers.
Keep following our adventures here in the blog!
– Noely
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 17
Buenos días!
Today was another great day in Spain. We were a bit sad because today we are leaving the city of Granada. Granada was so beautiful, and the good news is that we are going to visit a new city called Valencia! This morning was eventful as we had to pack all of our things to prepare for the long bus ride to Valencia. After breakfast, we got onboard, many of us decided to rest, and some stayed up to see the scenery pass by. We arrived at a midway point for lunch but quickly got back on the road. We chatted with each other, and before we knew it, we had arrived in Valencia.
We were informed that there is a huge celebration happening called Las Fallas in the city during our stay, so we hope we can see it. Las Fallas is an event where statues made of wood and paper mache are burned. We were advised that there were also going to be many fireworks happening. We checked in and then had a quick mentor group with our pods. We enjoyed this because we hadn’t seen our pods in two days. We finally headed to dinner and celebrated our classmates’ birthdays. It was a long travel day, and some of us realized our trip was almost done, so we are enjoying it to the fullest! Hasta mañana!
-POD F
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 18
We visited the Museum of Science or the Museu de les Ciències in Valencia, Spain, In Pod A we explored exhibits like the interactive Pixar exhibition, and other areas with a mirror maze, a planetary room and more. Students were asked to learn three facts and present them throughout the day. Personally, I learned that there’s a way to connect your thoughts to reality by moving blocks with your mind, learning about the human body in depth, and more. There were so many impactful things in this museum that I hadn’t seen, so this was a new and interesting experience, too.
After the museum visit, we had some museum souvenir time. Then, the different student pods went off on a photo scavenger hunt. The grounds of the Museum are amazing, and it was a perfect sunny day to enjoy the dazzling architecture and grounds, the pod with the best photos winning a prize. We then headed for lunch, had some time with our groups, and had some rest and free time. Then we went to a town outside of Valencia called El Palmar on the Lago Albufera and went through canals by small boats, into the lake, and back. This part of Spain grows rice, and we went and had the famous paella of the region.
Calvo –
That afternoon, students were taken on a boat ride. For me, it was an interesting and unforgettable experience, and we were able to connect with our peers. The views from the boat may not have been as expected, but they certainly allowed me to see a different scenery than I’m used to in the big city. After the boat ride, students were taken to dinner. This meal was something new to me as we were given patatas with hot sauce drizzled on them and a dollop of mayo on top. At first, I was hesitant, but Clint, a GLA staff member, came around and said it would be better if we mixed it, so we did just that. And it actually tasted 10 times better. Students were also given paella. Personally, it wasn’t my favorite, but I still ate it, allowing me to step out of my comfort zone. After dinner, students returned to the bus parking area, listening to the firecrackers popping on the street. The walk and bus ride back were when students connected most. This day is midway for new experiences, connections, and bonds between students and staff.
Mia Peralta –
Note from GLA: Students took many pictures for the Photo Challenge today, which we wanted to post here. We will announce the winners tomorrow; stay tuned!
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 19
Hello Atmosphere families and friendsss, we had another amazing day in Spain: we traveled from Valencia to Barcelona.
When we arrived at the Ilunion Hotel, we settled all our things down, we had lunch at the same place, and amazing employees accompanied us with an amazing lunch & we were able to get the chance to interact with our peers.
After lunch, we walked a little to the beach/park for our GLA OLYMPICS; it was an amazing competition between pods A to F. We played 6 games including telephone, balancing a stick as a group, untie the knot, reaching the bottle from a distance, charades, and guess the drawing. Throughout these games, we collaborated to earn the most points, having only 10 minutes for completion. In the end when the GLA members gather the points they announce the winners, congratulations to Pod A for winning the GLA OLYMPICS, as well as Pod D for winning the picture challenge.
After that, we returned to our hotels and had about 2 hours of rest time to prepare for dinner and relax. We ate dinner at a pizzeria and finally concluded our day with a couple of minutes of mentor group with our specific pod leader from GLA and informing our parents for the night for another exciting day tomorrow.
-Elsie Frimpong
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 20
By Eva and Gya, pod C.
Today, we visited three main places. Following our hotel breakfast, we boarded a bus to the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona. After learning about the local team, we boarded a bus to the Barcelona Soccer Museum. After a delicious lunch, we headed to the Sagrada Familia. At last, we enjoyed a delectable supper at L’Aliança.
During our walking tour of the Olympic stadium, our tour guide explained to us the meaning of the Barcelona team flag. The bottom part represents the team colors, the top right represents the colors of Spain, and the top left represents the patron saint of Catalonia, Saint George/Jordi.
Once we arrived at the soccer museum, we were immediately immersed in a world of community. We observed many artifacts, such as jerseys, cleats, gloves, balls, statues, trophies, and medals. The most prominent event was the 360 video. We watched how teams worked together to achieve goals, we saw how they communicated to succeed, and specifically, we could appreciate the sport’s beauty. It was an empowering experience of emotion and community.
We took in the stunning outside of the Sagrada Familia before entering. We learned about Antoni Gaudi, the architect. A group of St. Joseph’s followers contributed to constructing a temple dedicated to him. Gaudi ensured that its ultimate height would be precisely 172.5 meters, or 565.9 feet before he passed away. Since March 19, 1882, it has been under construction; however, there have been several delays, particularly during the COVID-19 epidemic. This building fully embodies Catholicism and features majestic columns, sun-kissed stained glass windows that illuminate its whole interior, and more.
All in all, we had a very fun day. The highlights were the soccer museum and Sagrada Familia, but we had fun anyway, from our walks to our delicious meals.
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 21
Today was our last day here in Spain, and it was full of excitement! In the morning, the groups were divided into different activities: some discovered Montjuic and the PobleNou stadium, others discovered the Sagrada Familia and the Gothic Quarter, and others strolled through the beautiful Park Güell. After this interesting morning, all groups met for lunch at a restaurant where there was also live music in addition to the exquisite cuisine to welcome them. Some students took the stage to sing and gave us chilling emotions with their voices. It was a very fun time that we would have made last forever, but we agreed to leave because of the idea of all of us moving to the beach to do the closing GLA activity. It was great to share memories and emotions; many of us were moved. The day ended with a nice dinner at the hotel, lots of hugs, emotions and a few tears. The Little Prince says that you risk crying a little when you let yourself be tamed by someone, but in return, you gain the color of the wheat field.
From Brianna, pod D
This trip opened my eyes in many ways and allowed me to make so many new friends. It’s honestly so hard to just let this trip go. I want to thank GLA and Atmosphere Academy for letting all of us students experience this and let us attend this trip. It allowed all of us to better ourselves in many different ways and appreciate the little things in life. Not only did this trip allow us to make new friends but it allowed us to travel with them. We are all so grateful for this trip. THANK YOU GLA!
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 22
Hello Atmosphere Academy friends and families,
Today we reached the end of our amazing program. After yesterday’s emotional dinner, this morning we got ready to say our last goodbyes at the airport. Some of us got up before the crack of down, while others were able to see their last sunrise in Spain.
Hopefully by now, everyone made it to their homes back in the United States, and finally got their well deserved rest. It was an incredible program, and we still can’t believe we did so much and created so many beautiful memories in 11 days!
The GLA staff team wants to thank each and every one of our students and Atmosphere Academy Chaperones. It was an absolute pleasure to share this experience with you, and we admire you for taking this challenge with open-mindness and a positive attitude. We hope you cherish this memories for a long time!
We wish you all the best for your future endeavours and we hope to see you again one day – who knows, maybe in Spain?
Your GLA staff team – Ila, Luismi, Marta, Clint, Jonathan, André, Ester, Maggie and Rudy
