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
Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 20
Hello from Spain. We arrived at 11 20 am at the Madrid airport and the GLA staff was waiting for us with two big buses. We were organized in 4 pods and followed our mentors to the bus located in a big parking lot. The drive to the hotel was short. We unloaded the bus and brought our suitcases to the hotel, but first lunch. It was a buffet lunch with a lot of different food. We ate a lot!
After lunch we had the orientation and our mentors gave us our bedroom keys. We were able to go upstairs and our rooms, brought our luggage and got ready for the second activity of the day. One group of students when to downtown for a great city tour of Madrid and the other group went to the “Bull Ring” to learn a lot about this Spanish tradition that has some followers and some opponents.
We had a very sunny day and we were able to see how Spanish people like to sit on coffee shops and restaurants to have their lunch or coffee outside on parks and sidewalks. It is a very friendly city, lots of signs and broad streets.
We hope you enjoy our pictures! Tomorrow we will have a busy day visiting Museo del Prado and the Royal Palace.
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 22
Written by Aurelis, Andrea and Amber
On March 22nd, some of the groups were on walking tours while others were exploring the bull fighters arena, Las Ventas bull ring. After breakfast, pods 3 and 4 went to The Prado museum, and we looked through different historical artistic pieces. We learned about the backgrounds of famous artists from Spain and the historical meaning behind the paintings. After the museum, we arrived at Plaza Mayor. We had a walking tour and learned about the history behind it. For lunch we ate at a restaurant near Plaza Mayor with meals that are generally named “Tapas”. After lunch we visited to the Royal Palace of Madrid and learned about the rooms that the royal families lived in and the unique materials in each room, such as gold, silver, and unique Spanish marble. Afterwards, we went souvenir shopping and got some original pieces from Spain. Lastly we headed back to the hotel,had dinner, contacted our parents and went to bed to get ready for the next day.
Pods 1 and 2 started their day with a tour around the Prado Museum, learning about famous pieces by renowned Spanish artists, such as “Las Meninas” by Diego Velázquez. The groups learned the different meanings about some different pieces of art. We then continued our day with another tour around the Royal Palace and learned not only about the people who resided there, but also about how they lived their lives, what each room was for, and even about the creators of different kinds of art found around the Palace. After the tour, the groups went for lunch and tried different cuisines from a local restaurant. Lastly we experienced another tour at the Las Ventas Bullring, learned about different bullfighters and the process of bullfighting. A few students even got to experience the virtual reality version of bullfighting. Tomorrow we will leave Madrid, take a walking tour in Toledo and drive all the way to our next destination, Granada.
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 23
Rise and shine Atmosphere!- was the overall expression students all heard today. On this beautiful, sunny morning of March 23rd 2023, Atmosphere scholars on the international Spain trip were expected to call in their willpower and pack their suitcases and say goodbye to Madrid. Upon eating an amazing assorted breakfast composed of eggs, fruits, pancakes, and etc; students got some time to reflect on the time they shared together in the Capital of this glamorous country, then moving on into their designated pods and buses to go to Toledo for a day tour. There, students were given the opportunity to walk around Toledo and visit historial monuments as well as the chance to learn about all the co-existing religions.
In the afternoon, after lunch we had an extremely long bus ride. This ride was up to five hours long. But it was very fun. Me and my group were singing, and listening to music and trying to have as much fun as possible. not only that, but we try to enjoy the view and look out the windows at the trees and hills. The Gla staff told us that the trees on the hills were olive trees. There are 3 trees for each person living in Granada. We arrived to hotel and ate food and went to sleep. Good night!
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 24
Written by Jaydee and Marleni
Today pods A and B went to the Alhambra which is a very special place that had palaces in which Muslims and Christians used to live in long ago. We entered different palaces and saw the elements of Christianity and Muslim through the walls of the palace. We took many photos and enjoyed the views of Granda. Our tour guide informed us of how the Christians respected the Muslim elements. We walked through the beautiful gardens and appreciated nature.
After visiting the Alhambra we went to a restaurant that served dishes from Venezuela. The food was very nice and dishes such as Arepas and pupusas were tasted. At the end of our meal, we got dessert which was a bread stick with warm Nutella filling. Shortly after our visit to the restaurant pods A and B went to the park for some fun activities. We played games that improved our teamwork and made everyone participate in some way. At the end of the day, our pods were able to reflect on our activities and how we felt during the day. This trip so far has created very meaningful connections that had brought us closer as a pod and I look forward to many more adventurous memories over the next few days.
On the contrary, pods C and D went on a walking tour. We got to see some of the small towns in Granada, Spain. We learned about the history and things such as the Islamic rule, the Christian takeover, and many treaties that came along with it. We learned how the country (kingdom a few centuries ago) sustained itself and how people also protected themselves against other rival kingdoms and dynasties. Afterward, we went to a Moroccan restaurant where they served tajin chicken over qinua and an herbal tea. Later, we went on a shopping/free time and to the hotel. Finally, we had free time and dinner and ended our night. This trip has shown us how we can work together and form partnerships like never before and we hope to keep up the good work and vibes.
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 25
We woke up and ate breakfast before going on our 3 hour bus ride. While we’re at the bus ride we stopped for some snacks and then went back on the bus for another 3 hour trip to Valencia. When we arrived to Valencia we went to the city of arts and science. This place was very beautiful with an amazing modern architectural style. We were able to walk around for about an hour or so and saw all the amazing things this place had to offer. After the time was done we all met up at the same spot to which Mr. Pah basically introduced what we were going to do for the next day.
Mr.Pah introduced a thing in which we will compete against a school to see who can come up with the best idea for a company chosen for them. There were 4 studies including Fashion,Sports,Business, and Technology. After we were introduced to the topic Mr.Pah made us break up into groups of 4-5 in which we were able to create ideas for ourselves amongst our groups to have an idea of what to do for the next day. After that was done for about 15-25 minutes we all met up at the same place to circle around and get back up on the bus.
The bus ride home was about 15 minutes. Once we arrived we unpacked to our hotels and went back downstairs after 20 minutes. The elevators take super long so it took a while. Once we all met up at the same spot we went down the elevator to which a mall was there right below our hotel. We turned the corner and inside was a restaurant in which we ate a salad, pasta, pizza, and for dessert was cake and ice cream. After we ate we went back to our hotels and went to bed to prepare for the next day.
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 26
Today we woke up at 6: 30 am and we went to breakfast at 7: 30 am. After that, we left at 8: 00 am to go to the college named the ESIC and we split into 4 different groups: Sports, Technology, Fashion, and Business. and there, we split into groups of 5 and came up with different ideas to make products that the certain companies can sell. After this, we presented our products in front of everyone. Then, we went downstairs to eat lunch in the cafe and we ate “paella” with chicken and it wasn´t bad at all.
During the afternoon, we drove to Albufera, outside of Valencia. We rode on a boat for half an hour. After, we got off the boat, we went on a tour of a museum to learn about how they caught the fish and ducks. When we left the museum, we went on a tour of the city. After the tour was finished, we went into a restaurant and saw how they made the food that they were preparing for us. All of the pods sat down and we had four dishes that were called:
1. Salad with fish
2. Papas Bravas (Spanish style potatoes)
3. Fish croquettes
4. Paella
For dessert, we had ice cream. When everyone was finished, we all left on the bus to the hotel to do a GLA activity. Tomorrow, we are driving to Barcelona.
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 28
Note to families: We’ve also added in a blog post for March 25th. Scroll up to read 🙂
Written by students Jonah del Toro and Cassey
To start off the day we had a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Shortly after we got all of our things and headed into the bus on our way to BARCELONA!!
2 hours later we stopped at Tarragona to eat lunch and look at the nice view of the Mediterranean Sea. Once we ate lunch we took a look at a place where gladiators fought lions and where they also did public executions.
When we finally got back to the hotel we made it to the park where we had the GLA OLYMPICS!! In the Olympics we had to use teamwork and communication to succeed and get the win. That teaches us how to have patience and work with people that we don’t usually associate with to get the job done.
For dinner we had Spanish/Mediterranean food where we can get a taste of different and diverse foods.
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 29
Written by Miguel, Gabriel and Ethier
After waking up and eating a good breakfast, a part of the group visited El Parque Güell to observe its unique architecture, filled with amazing designs, shapes and curves to fit in with nature. There, we saw where Gaudi, the famous Catalan architect, worked on and lived, having one of the best views of Barcelona. After that, half of the students received around 45 minutes of free time to shop around for souvenirs while the other group visited the Barcelona cathedral.
After each group finished, they swapped places, doing what the other group previously did. The famous Sagrada Família students visited is the largest in Spain, and has been under construction for 140 years. Construction is still ongoing and when finished is going to be the highest Cathedral in the entire world. When both groups finished their second activity, they hopped back on the bus to go to a burger place where we ate cheese burgers and fries for lunch, and a cheesecake with fruit for dessert.
In the afternoon, the group went for a walking tour in the ancient quarter of the town, the Barrio Gótico, where we could see Roman ruins and other medieval buildings. To end the day half of the group had dinner at a Italian restaurant while the other half went to a Spanish restaurant.