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Saturday June 30, 2018

Greetings from Bali! WE MADE IT!!

What an adventurous start to the program! Students were diverted all around the world because of the volcano on the island of Bali, Mount Agung, erupted! Rest assured that the alert level for the volcano has not been elevated and we are safe to stay on the island of Bali.

After tireless travels, most students spent the day catching up on sleep or making their way home from the airport. Together we ate a traditional Balinese dinner at the home base, but not before we ate we sat down together to share stories of our crazy travels to get here and to pay gratitude to all those who helped us along the way.

HUGE shout out to all the families and our GLA staff members that worked endlessly to make sure everyone got to where they needed to be safely. With everyone safely here, we are now ready to start the program and have some fun! Stay tuned for more updates 🙂

Please note, the end date for the program is still the same. We will be losing a day in the mist of the eruption, but the students’ community service hours will not be affected.

Photo 1: Group photo after dinner at home base!
Photo 2: Director Allie picking up the last student at the airport!

Written by: Mentor Lauren

Om Swastyastu from your Bali Global Health Initiative “Blog Squad!”

Sunday July 1, 2018

Seven a.m breakfast led to a short but sweet yoga session thanks to our international director Allie! Of course, before we could start our adventures, we had our orientation regarding house rules and cultural norms for our next three weeks in Bali. Satisfying our hunger with a delicious lunch, we prepared ourselves for “The Amazing Race Ubud…” “The world is waiting for you, good luck, travel safe, GO” was our motto for the next few hours of our competitive hunt through our newfound lands. As the groups split off, team-building skills became stronger and unbreakable bonds formed between students. Throughout the scavenger hunt, we had to search for temple art forms, perform dances, and talk to locals in our best native tongue. Returning back to homestead, we had a wonderful evening full of travel stories, laughs, and delicious food. Finally, to conclude the day, we met in our mentor groups and called it a night.

Monday July 2, 2018

Early morning wake up call had us all ready-to-go on our adventurous day planned. We began with an Herbal Walk through the Magical Rice Fields of Ubud, which felt like a fairytale story come to life. We learned about how local famers have effective sustainability practices; for example, Did you know that the coconut tree can provide a farmer with water, oil, sugar, wine, bowls, meat, and endless other possibilities? After completing our Herbal Walk, we were off to the beautiful Water Temple of Ubud. The aura of the temple was mesmerizing, with many fountains cascading water into the sacred pool. Then, we were given the opportunity to present an offering and receive a water blessing in the main temple. After leaving, we drove to an amazing restaurant that provided an all-you-can-eat-buffet, leaving everyone feeling as full as a volcano ready to erupt! Returning back to homestead with a little free time, we left to eat dinner at the Fair Future Foundation restaurant, learning about the program and how they provide free medical treatment to the very rural and poor areas of Bali. To conclude the day, we met in our mentor groups and reflected on our time spent in Bali so far!

Selamat tidur!

Written by: Savannah, Sara

Tuesday July 3, 2018

This morning we woke up and had a later breakfast time from 8 to 9 am. After breakfast we went to a Disabilities Clinic, which aided local peoples with disabilities to help live a normal and healthy life. After enjoying our time singing and dancing along with them, we had a delicious lunch and proceeded to head back to homestead. For most of the afternoon we had free time to pack our things and prepare to head to our next homebase in Singaraja on the North side of Bali. Finally to conclude our day, we had the privilege of touring the Royal Palace, as well as meeting and eating with the Prince, Kris.

Dinner was very spicy!! Before leaving the palace, we were presented with the traditional Legong dance; the dancers entranced us with their eyes and beautiful dress, while the music only emphasized their dance and the story. Finally, we spent our last night at the Madra Homestead.

Wednesday July 4, 2018

Today, we had a delicious breakfast of homemade apple crapes, and sadly said goodbye to the Madra Homestead. We then stopped, on our way to Singaraja, at the Bumi Sehat International Natural Birth Clinic. It is world re-knowned for natural and holistic care for expecting mothers; the facility was amazing. Leaving the birth clinic, we stopped in the mountains at a wonderful buffet restaurant, and then proceeded to go to another Water Temple alongside a lake. The temple was absolutely gorgeous, and so many amazing photos were taken. Each buddy group was swarmed by other visitors wanting photos; like bees to flowers, and everyone had a great time.

Around late afternoon we arrived at our new homestead and before dinner, we met our medical student mentors for service week! They showed us how to take blood pressure and explained what we would be doing during service. After the meet and greet, our group was surprised for the 4thof July with dinner on the beach, a bonfire, singing, dancing, and a small fireworks show! After dancing our feet off, we came back to the homestead and crashed for the night!

Thursday July 5, 2018

Today was our first day of service!! Everyone was very excited this morning, and we had a warm welcome at the local village by small, smiling children and wise elders. After the briefing, we split into our service groups and walked throughout the small village, taking blood pressure of the adults, checking the cleanliness of the homes and eradicating any mosquito larvae. We did this both morning and afternoon, and finally ended the day at the beautiful Lovina beach; swimming and laughing were at an all time high this afternoon. After dinner at homestead, we had a speaker come and discuss his foundation on HIV/AIDs, and the day ended very happily.

Friday July 6, and Saturday July 7, 2018

Everyone was up and ready to go for our second and third day of service, excited to reunite with the children and people of the village. For the second day of service, we once again toured the local homes and took blood pressure and asked questionnaires in Balinese language.

Towards the end of service time, we also picked up trash on the streets. Touring morning and early afternoon, we wrapped up our volunteering time and headed to a local children’s home in Singaraja. There, they showed us around their home, led us in a meditation session, and gave us several performances (during which we joined in one dance)! Sadly leaving after dinner, we returned to home base for mentor group meetings and wrapped up the day. During our third day, our service involved a pop-up clinic in the same village. There, the med students aided us in providing local residents with health information such as blood pressure, blood sugar, height, and weight; we also served food and played with the children.

After completing the pop-up clinic, and saying sad goodbyes to the children, we had a wonderful treat of spending the rest of the afternoon shopping, swimming, and tanning at the beach. Our dinner consisted of delicious pizza while sitting and stargazing on the beach. We finally drove home and called it a night.

Thursday July 12, 2018

These past few days since our last blog post have been filled with hard work, laughs, excitement, and adventure! After completing our first 3 days of service touring through the villages, our next task was to teach Physical Exercise, Nutrition, and Hygiene at two different local schools, with each of our groups teaching a different subject everyday. This proved to be a tedious task due to the language barrier between GLA students and the loc students, but through creativity, laughs, songs, posters, and “charade-like” styles of teaching, we all took away our own valuable lesson from the experience.

However, our days were not just service, as we had many other exciting and beneficial activities planned! We visited a local nursing home that was free for elderly residents; our students even performed for them, we took a small hike to a gorgeous waterfall and went swimming below it in the chilly yet refreshing waters, and finally after our last day of service, we took a sunset boat ride off the coast, swimming and playing in the crystal clear waters while watching the colors of the sun dance in the sky. A delicious dinner, a bonfire, and singing was a high note of our last day in Singaraja!

We are at the beach, so the pictures are loading really slow! We will send more soon 🙂

Sunday July 15, 2018

Our recent stay in Amed was out of this world!! Arriving Thursday, our new homestead consisted of beachfront, bamboo bungalows outfitted with a front porch, hammocks, an outdoor bed, a small upstairs area, and a gorgeous communal infinity pool! We were all in awe and so excited to spend the next 3 days there! Our time in Amed was spent playing in the water, both pool and ocean, making eco bricks, and of course, SCUBA diving! 19 of our students decided to take the Discover Scuba course with Bali Reef Divers.

They learned the basics of SCUBA, completed a pool dive, and then were able to participate in a shallow water dive off the beach of the resort! 2 of the GLA students and staff Allie were already SCUBA certified and went to Tulamben, just north of Amed, to dive a much deeper dive, exploring a sunken shipwreck as well as dive a vertical coral shelf dropoff. Many amazing photos were taken by both SCUBA excursions! The remainder of students who didn’t dive were able to relax, go snorkeling, and take another sunset boat ride!

Each morning, many students woke up early and sat together on the beach to the beautiful sunrise over the east horizons; Our last night at the bungalows consisted of a picnic on the grass, eating delicious burgers and we finished our stay in Amed around a beach bonfire!

Thursday July 19, 2018

This is by far the saddest blog post to be written, as the end of our 3 week trip is here. Our last few days in Ubud have been filled by entertaining market shopping, laughing yoga, visiting a sacred beach temple, having a karaoke night in Denpasar, and last but not least, an epic morning of surfing! As we are about to leave our separate ways, we have all formed amazing lifelong friendships and experiences that will last a lifetime. Over and out from your June 29 to July 19 GLA Global Health Initiative Program!

Blogs written by: Savannah

Note from director and mentors: the student have all been dropped off at the airport and are on their way home! What an amazing group, we will miss you so much!!!

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Thursday August 2, 2018

Om swastiastu!

Our session 4 globe trotters arrived to Bali safe and sound and the GLA staff and our local Bali Institute partners have welcomed them to the island and also into our leadership family! A delicious Balinese feast and hydrating coconuts (with reusable bamboo straws!) were the perfect end to a long voyage.

Flight delays and traffic meant that most students got in later than expected, but as of today the students have met each other, learned a little bit about the staff and their peers, and have settled into our home-base, Kaya House. Everyone is looking forward to the next two weeks where we will dive head first into the culture, language, and scenery of this magical island-Let the journey begin!

We are still waiting on a couple students to join our crew, but they will be here soon!

*not pictured- Abigail, Sarah L., and Cierra

Friday August 3, 2018

Today was our first full day in Bali, and although we were all a little jet-lagged we still made the most of it! We started out the day with orientation and getting to know each other. We also got into our mentor groups and continued to make deeper connections with each other.

After learning about the Balinese language, we headed out into our local village of Mas in groups for a Bali culture scavenger hunt. The prize of a massage on the beach was clearly on our minds. Following a great dinner we had health checks and made envelopes that will later be filled with messages from the other students. Time to sleep and recharge for another day filled of adventures tomorrow!

~Megan E. & Izzy

Saturday August 4, 2018

Om Swastyastu!

Today started off with a 5:45 wake up call, which was way too early for many of us. After a delicious meal of green, banana pancakes, fresh fruit, and black coffee we set off in a caravan of buses to a herbal walk. We were led by Westie, a splendid Balinese herbal entrepreneur. He led us on a walk through the beautiful rice fields of Ubud. We learned about the family and financial value (1 rice field straight is approximately 10 Lamborghinis) the rice fields hold. We stopped at a warung and had coconuts and nasi kuning (Turmeric rice, veggies, noodles, chicken, and LOTS OF SPICE). We finished the walk by looking through Westie’s herbal shop and bought a variety of products used for good health and well-being. Although some of us may have stepped in rice field canals (Ayden), the trek was worth it in the end.

We then walked back to our busses, turned the music up to 11, and drove to the Pura Tirta Empul. This location is one of the oldest water temples in the world and was said to appear in the 10thcentury. Before entering the temple we all put on a sorang, which is needed to appropriately walk into the temple. While at the temple, we gave an offering in the traditional Balinese-Hindu method. After our offering we visited the “Instagram Pond” and observed many large Koi fish. We also saw the bathing areas which are used to cleanse the soul.

After meandering through a market of clothes and other items, we left and went to lunch by a volcano and, as usual, had delicious Balinese food. Then, we drove an hour and a half filled with bad music remixes back to home base. We had an hour to relax and hang out before we welcomed the medical students we will be working alongside for the remainder of the trip. We split up into six groups and went through the necessary steps for a successful home visit including taking one’s weight, height (which is more complicated than it sounds) and blood pressure. Directly after our medical lesson we had yet another scrumptious dinner. After finishing dinner we learned how to travel more sustainably from Kelsey. As many of us were still jet lagged from the flight over from the distant USA, we made our way to our rooms and went to sleep, ready for the following day.

Livin’ the dream from Bali! Selemat Malam (Goodnight)!

Yours truly,

Steven Lin and Ayden Sabharwal

Sunday August 5, 2018

It was a very eventful day filled with many activities and we were able to immerse ourselves into the Balinese culture. We went into a local banjar, a small community, and took part in a workshop that involved us learning how to dance a traditional Balinese dance, make music, carve our names into a wood plaque, and make offerings which are used by Balinese people during prayer!

We had some lunch and then went to a local market to stock up on some munchies! We then split into smaller groups and went with local medical students into the community and offered free medical checkups to different families who don’t usually see a doctor.

After, we came back to home base and ate some dinner and participated in a personality test which showed the type of leader you are! We learned how each personality type interacts and how we all are different but still able to lead effectively! Overall today was a 10/10 and we can not wait for the rest of our adventures in Bali!

– Lindsey, Alaina, Victoria

*A note from the Bali Program Staff:  As you may have heard, tonight we experienced an earthquake. We just want you to know that we are all safe here!! There was no damage near our home base and everyone is calm and in good spirits! Also, we are inland in Bali and far from the coast so there was no risk of a tsunami here!

*A note from the GLA Bali Program Staff 8/5/18:  As you may have heard, tonight we experienced an earthquake. We just want you to know that we are all safe here!! There was no damage near our home base and everyone is calm and in good spirits! Also, we are inland in Bali and far from the coast so there was no risk of a tsunami here!

*Update from the GLA Bali Program Staff 8/6/18: This evening, there was a moderate aftershock off the coast of Lombok island. There were very minor tremors experienced in Bali for a few seconds. We’d like to reassure you all that the students are safe, secure and sleeping at the home base now. There has been no damage reported in Bali and there is no danger of a tsunami. Staff will continue to monitor the situation and provide you with updates.

Monday August 6, 2018

The students were given a brief break from writing the evening blog since Day 5 was such a busy day and a late night, but I thought everyone would still appreciate a recap and some pictures from the eventful day!

The morning consisted of a session of ever-hilarious, but also rejuvenating “laughing yoga” at Ambar Ashram. This practice combines dancing, traditional yoga poses, and you guessed it-lots of laughter- to heal the body and spirit. We all left feeling great! Laughter truly may be the best medicine.

The afternoon was filled with another day of successful home visits where the GLA students continued to assist the local medical students to provide medical services and check-ups to Balinese families. It’s always a treat to see the students in action and to witness the gratitude and smiles of the patients!

The evening was a royal affair as the students were invited to the Peliatan Palace to enjoy a dinner hosted by the prince and to watch a private Legong dance performance. They got dressed up in their sarong and sashes and looked their best for the outing. At the palace, everyone learned about the historical roles and the current day-to-day lives of Balinese royalty and were wowed by the art and skill of the dancers. Balinese dancing is all about calculated eye and hand movements and each Legong performance portrays fables of the gods. Some of the students were even invited on stage to show off their moves!

What a day!

Om santi santi santi om,
Kelsey Stone (GLA Mentor)

Wednesday August 8 through Friday August 10, 2018

We are back in Ubud after fun couple of days in Amed, the local beach town. Before heading to amed we stocked up on snacks at the indomart and hit the road. On our journey through the windy mountain roads we stopped at a majestic water palace and took in the scenic views. We walked on water, admired large koi fish, and enjoyed a traditional balinese buffet styled lunch

After arriving at amed we all passed a swim test and were ready for some much needed free time. we spent the day in the pool and exploring the black sand beaches. At night we enjoyed a close to American style dinner and played some pool games before and after dinner. On the next morning we woke up bright and early at 5 am to head out on our sunrise boat tour. we watched the sun rise over the horizon as we headed towards a Japanese shipwreck to snorkel among beautiful fish and coral reefs. It was an awesome experience to see eye to eye with the bio-luminescent plankton.

(We even saw the cast of finding nemo!) After snorkeling we enjoyed our breakfast and then had the rest of our day to relax. Some enjoyed a massage while others enjoyed a nice dip in the pool. Later that day we visited a recycling NGO hat works with trash clean up in the area and other towns. we also learned how to make eco-bricks which are an efficient way to recycle a ton of trash! later that night we bonded over a bonfire on the beach while roasting some marshmallows and having a great time.

The next day we headed back to home base to relax after being tired from our beach trip. Later that night we visited another NGO which offers free and cheap medical insurance and visits areas in need of medical assistance. The food we ate was money we donated to the organization so they can continue to build upon their organization and help hem continue what they do. We then prepared for our next round of service when we returned to home base.

-Sonia, Lucas, Abby, Rose, Sophia

Saturday August 11, 2018

We started off the day living the dream with some delicious banana pancakes and fruit, then headed to Bumi Sehat, a clinic which offers free medical services with an emphasis on natural birth. We were treated to an interactive tour, informational and tear jerking videos, and a snack. After a spicy pork lunch served in banana leaves, we headed out for our first day of leading health workshops at the local elementary schools. We were divided into 6 groups; each group was teaching either hygiene, nutrition or fitness.

The main challenge was the language barrier, but we overcame that with laughter, games and of course chocolate. The happiness and enthusiasm from the kids kept us all smiling and excited for our future service days. We came back and headed to Indomaret to pick up some snacks and came back to Mama’s pasta, chicken nuggets, and French fries- it was a nice surprise after a lot of chicken and rice. We then went to play futsol (soccer) at a local center. We split into four teams and everyone was super competitive but we had a lot of fun (blue team for the win!!). It was a long night and we are all excited for a good night’s rest.

Selamat Malam from Bali!

-Sara, Emily, and Kaiya

Monday August 13, 2018

Our day started at 7am in the morning where we at pancakes with chocolate for breakfast. We soon drove for an hour for

Along the way, we stopped by at an Balinese coffee shop where they allowed us to taste all the coffee for free and buy their products. Our personal favorite was the vanilla coffee and the lemon honey tea. They were also selling the world famous lawak cat coffee which is actually made of their poop.

After another 30 minute drive, we finally arrived at our final destination where we water rafted for two hours. We all got super wet but it was so fun and refreshing since today was so hot. After rafting, we ate lunch and then drove back to our house to change and get ready for our last day of the Children workshop. We taught the children about hygiene, exercise and nutrition. At the end of the workshop we gave the kids a certificate, book, pen, pencil and a snack.

After dinner we celebrated John’s birthday with chocolate cake.

-Stephanie and Kate

Tuesday August 14, 2018

Our last couple days in Bali together were packed with final service, karaoke, ceremony, traditional healing, soccer (futsal!), and fun in the sun!

Our last full day together was spent in Legian Beach where students shopped, lounged, and caught some waves! After surfing and chilling beach-side, the evening was spent reflecting on our 2 weeks of adventure, cultural immersion, and service. Students shared their goals for the future, made one final offering, and watched a slide show of special moments from the trip. A mini “graduation” ceremony closed the night where student’s received a wooden Balinese carving of their name and an Indonesian flag.

This afternoon, everyone headed off to the airport to depart from Bali. Tears were shed, hugs were given, and wishes of safe travels filled the air. The GLA and local Bali Institute staff were so glad to meet the session four students and live and learn alongside the 25 leaders and future world changers! True relationships formed and we have no doubt that these awesome individuals will be lifelong friends! While our time together in Bali is complete, our memories and GLA bond are forever <3

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Tuesday July 17, 2018

Om swastiastu!

Most of our globe trotters arrived to Bali safe and sound and the GLA staff and our local Bali Institute partners welcomed them to the island and also into our leadership family! The students met each other, learned a little bit about the staff and their peers, and settled into our home-base, Kaya House.

A delicious Balinese feast was the perfect end to a long voyage and a much needed night of sleep will prep the wary travelers for their first full day in Bali. Tomorrow we will dive head first into the culture, language, and scenery of this magical island-Let the journey begin!

-The Bali: Global Health Initiative Crew

Not pictured due to late arrival: Gal, Jackson, Eva, Caroline, Logan, and Mackenna

We’ll be sure to update soon with a full group photo!

Wednesday July 18, 2018

We began our day to the unique sounds of Hindu prayer. Gongs, music and prayer echoed throughout the village of Ubud. Fog rolled over the peaceful sunrise, as the residents of Kaya Culture House slowly woke up.

After breakfast we did a quick 2 hour orientation followed by Soto Ayam (Chicken Soup with rice noodles, sprouts, potatoes, and eggs). Afterwards, we separated into groups of 3 to 4 and began on our scavenger hunt around Ubud. On one particular route, we passed by a Balinese wedding and they invited us inside to celebrate and meet the newly-weds. We ate these amazing solid jelly cakes, and roasted nuts. The bride was beautifully dressed in vibrant colors and lavish jewelry. Absolutely everyone we met along the scavenger hunt was friendly and willing to point us to where ever we needed to go.

It’s crazy how one could be half-way across the world, and people are still considerate enough to know your language. School children all knew basic greetings in English, and all said hello as we walked by. Due to the unique culture of Ubud, it was common for the groups to go inside the homes of locals and speak to them. Some locals didn’t speak English well so it was a fun experience to try and understand Bahasa Indonesia and communicate back. The scavenger hunt overall was wonderful and we ended up buying smelly fruits called Salak.

At night, we ended the day with card games like Uno and board games like bananagrams at the Kaya House. It was a good opportunity to get to know each other better and ended a successful first day in Ubud.

-by Amy, Henry, Riley

Thursday July 19, 2018

The morning began, once again, to the sound of chanting. Today, however, instead of going immediately back to sleep, we trudged down the stairs. Our disappointment quickly dissipated due to the wafting smell of cane sugar and green banana-pancakes. After sitting down to breakfast, cards, and conversation, we rallied to the vans and started our long, but fun, day of travel. We arrived at our first cultural experience of the day, the herbal walk. We split into two teams and explored the unknown culture of Balinese traditional lifestyle and all-natural medicine. We discussed the various facets of herbal medicine with our extremely intelligent guide.

After sharing snacks and visiting his herbal shop, we parted ways and began our adventure to the temple. Due to our separation into three buses and the language barrier between chaperones and our local Balinese drivers, we were unable to communicate directions and subsequently realized that we had taken a wrong turn. Our three authors for the night, Jackson, Haley, and Henry, who were conveniently located in the back of one of our buses, noticed the familiar site of the housing construction and the scented vaporizer shop we had already passed. This led the group to suspect the possibility of a wrong turn. After an additional 45 minutes of travel, the buses finally reached the destination and met up with the original group that had correctly navigated the winding Balinese roads and had waited for nearly a half hour.

Wearing our sarongs, we gave offerings to the gods and had a firsthand experience with the power of healing water. We then departed from the temple and made our way towards the mountainside buffet where we would enjoy lunch with the stunning view of volcanoes in the distance. After taking pictures with the scenic view, we headed back to home base where we greeted the Balinese medical students. They informed us of the various activities we would be performing for the days to come, and ate dinner in the common room with us.

As the medical students silently departed, we celebrated Caroline’s 17th birthday with chocolate cake and more games. We also had a bit of free time before we participated in the evening activity on sustainable travel with Kelsey. We eventually grew tired after enjoying activities such as card games, hangman, and soccer with the dog, and retired for the night.

Authors: Haley Inzunza, Jackson Tahmoush, Henry Huang

Friday July 20, 2018

We woke up to an egg and toast breakfast one hour before we left on our first excursion to the banjar 15 minutes away. During this 3 hour activity we had the privilege of being immersed in day to day Balinese culture consisting of wood carving, traditional dance and song, and the crafting of canang offerings. During our first activity, each student was introduced to the different tools used for the Balinese art of wood carving.

We were all able to carve our name into a block of wood held by our feet. In the next activity, we were taught by an instructor the unique art of puspanjali, which is a dance that focuses on the hips, eyes, and hands. Activity three was lead by a local musician within the Banjar who took on the role of teaching each student to melodize in order to come together in a song-like ritual. During the last activity we learned first-hand the technique of turning a local plant into a base used in the daily rituals of offerings. This outing was topped off by a fun bus ride to the Home Base.

After lunch provided by the local staff, we got ready to head out to meet up with the medical students, and begin our very first service hours. We broke up into our pre-assigned groups and took off to the houses of the locals. The medical students showed us how to take blood pressure, weigh, and measure the height of the patients. Each of the GLA students got the opportunity to interact in a genuine capacity with the locals. After a long afternoon of fulfilling we returned to the home base. We finished off the night with a presentation on stereotypes and an insightful discussion of the positive and negative effects of your words. A great third day of our Bali trip!

Love, Logan, Gal, Cella, and Jarom

Saturday July 21, 2018

In the morning we went to laughing yoga. It was kind of awkward at first but really fun once everyone got into it. We had to shake each others hand and just start laughing. We also did a few dances where we had to laugh the whole time. We had to pass around a microphone and do different types of laughs that were suppose to heal different parts of your body. At the end we did sun salutation. After we got ice-cream and T-shirts.

After lunch we went back to the banjars with the medical students to continue service. Each group had different experiences while walking around the banjars. Sam, Abbey, Riley, and Gal found really cute puppies at one of the houses and got the pick them up and play with them. Olivia, Cella, Mackenna, and Anna met a man who spoke 5 different languages and he attempted to teach them Bahasa. On the bus back, Fika did the In My Feelings Challenge which is where she got out of the bus and did a dance to the song In My Feelings by Drake along the side of the bus as it was moving. There was a group of Balinese kids watching her and they waved to us afterwards. There have been many funny moments like this throughout the trip.

We went on a tour of the Peliatan Royal Palace and ate dinner with the Prince of Peliatan. We got to talk with him and ask him questions about the culture of Bali and his views about it. After dinner we watched the Legong Dance at the Palace. The colors during the dance were bright and the costumes they performed in were very elaborate. The dance lasted about an hour and a half. Overall it was a really great day and experience.

-Abbey, Olivia, and Sam

Sunday July 22, 2018

Today was yet another great day! Our morning began with a trip to a local community center for the disabled. We were lucky enough to be able to tour the facilities and to meet some of the residents. In the Balinese culture it is often viewed as black magic to be disabled, but the NGO center offers nothing but great opportunity for its residents (English classes, sewing classes, and a sense of belonging).

After our tour, we played the drums along with our new friends and ate lunch with them. Lunch consisted of a variety of Balinese delicacies that we have come to love including rice, chicken, and tempeh.

After lunch we headed back to Kaya Culture house for a quick break before service. It was our third and final day of home visits with the Balinese medical students. Service was very enlightening yet again. Every family we visited was extremely welcoming and grateful for our help. Meeting them was an incredible privilege and a wonderful lesson— to appreciate what we have and to always be kind to others.

Saying goodbye to the medical students was sad, but don’t worry, many instagrams were exchanged.

After service, we headed back to home base and were surprised with the thing we have all been missing the most— PIZZA! (we miss our families too of course). After dinner, we had a relaxing night and we packed our bags for our beach trip to Amed tomorrow. We can’t wait to explore more of this beautiful island!

-Jordyn & Anna & Julia

Wednesday July 25, 2018

This Monday and Tuesday we traveled to Amed for some down time from service. Throughout these two days, we spent time at the infinity pool and at the beach, where we all learned was not like a normal beach in America. The beach was full of coral and beautiful sea life. After we settled into our bungalows, we ate dinner at the resort restaurant and enjoyed fresh fish and chocolate milkshakes. We woke up bright and early the next morning where “spider boats” took us to watch the sunrise.

On the way back, we stopped to snorkel over the Japanese ship wreck where we saw lots of fish, coral, and the underwater history. Afterwards, we made our way back to the resort where we ate chocolate crepes, cheesy omelets, and freshly made banana smoothies. Some of us got massages while the rest relaxed on the beach and by the pool. In the afternoon, we ate lunch then took a small hike to learn about a company that makes recycling bins and Eco bricks.

Eco bricks are bottles stuffed with different plastics to lower the pollution in and around the ocean. Overall, these two days were a relaxing break from the service we have been doing, and we’re eager to get back to Ubud and learn about our next project.

Authors: Kaity King, Peyton White, William Hawkins

Thursday July 26, 2018

This morning, we visited Bumi Sehat, a clinic specialized in childbirth. Bumi Sehat provides free health care services to patients that cannot afford large hospital bills, which can sometimes cost as much as a family’s annual income. We walked past the reception area, emergency room, office spaces, birthing rooms, and recovery rooms where we were given brief explanations about what rooms were for and how they contributed to the functionality of the clinic. After taking a short tour, we watched several films about the history of the clinic and how the founder was able to raise enough funds to build the establishment.

This afternoon we were surprised with a special treat from the cooking staff, fried chicken and spaghetti! Everyone was delighted with the change of cuisines because it reminded them of food at home. Also, it was great to eat something other than the usual chicken, rice and noodles. After lunch we split up into three groups (each led by a mentor) to compete in a series of challenging activities for a special prize, donuts! We participated in three activities which required team-building characteristics such as communication, strategy, and patience. For example, the first activity was a relay race with a very unique twist; we had to pass a ring off to each other using the pens in our mouths! This required an extreme amount of patience and strategy because we needed to figure out the most efficient way to pass the ring. Out of the three activities we participated in, John and his group decimated the other two mentor groups with three victories; however they are not the champions yet because there are still more games to be played.

Next, we continued our service portion of the trip. On today’s agenda we had to educate fourth, fifth, and sixth graders on hygiene, nutrition, and exercise with a half-hour lesson, something the Balinese schools do not offer. This is very vital to children because it encourages them to lead a healthy lifestyle. While preparing for service, some groups felt a little nervous about working around the language barrier, however the young students were very attentive and cooperative, a great aspect which turned out to be fun and a little relieving. Also, the kids were very cute and gave us hugs and goodbyes while we were on our way out from the school. Finally, we went back to Kaya House in a great mood, prepared for the last upcoming days of service.

-Antonios and Alex

Saturday July 28, 2018

Today was an early start. We woke up and had some delicious pancakes before heading out to white water rafting. On the way, we made a quick stop at a coffee plantation where we were given some samples of the different coffees and teas. They were all delicious- even the one made from cat poop!

At white water rafting, we split into groups of four and got dressed in our life-vests and helmets before heading out on the boats. The water was rough and at times a little scary, but the beautiful view made it hard to be afraid. Afterwards, we had lunch and dried off with towels before piling back on the busses and heading home to get ready for service.

We again taught the students at the schools about nutrition, hygiene, and exercise through lesson plans that our groups created and delivered in Balinese. The kids were even more excited to see us again, and did not want us to leave.

After service, we had dinner of chicken and rice and prepared our lesson plans for tomorrow’s service. After which, John led an eye-opening activity about privilege that left us all feeling very thankful.

Authors: Jordyn, Caroline, and Eva

P.s. Shoutout to Eva’s Dad, Giuseppe. Happy Birthday!!

 

Monday July 30, 2018

Our last couple days in Bali together were packed with final service, ceremony, traditional healing, soccer (futsal!), and fun in the sun!

Our last full day together was spent in Legian Beach where students shopped, lounged, and caught some waves! After surfing and chilling beach-side, the evening was spent reflecting on our 2 weeks of adventure, cultural immersion, and service. Students shared their goals for the future, made one final offering, and watched a slide show of special moments from the trip. A mini “graduation” ceremony closed the night where student’s received a wooden Balinese carving of their name and an Indonesian flag.

This afternoon, everyone headed off to the airport to depart from Bali. Tears were shed, hugs were given, and wishes of safe travels filled the air. The GLA and local Bali Institute staff were so glad to meet the session three students and live and learn alongside the 25 leaders and future world changers! True relationships formed and we have no doubt that these awesome individuals will be lifelong friends! While our time together in Bali is complete, our memories and GLA bond are forever <3

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Sunday July 1, 2018

Om swastiastu!

All 8 globe trotters arrived to Bali safe and sound and the GLA staff and our local Bali Institute partners welcomed them to the island and also into our leadership family! A delicious Balinese feast and hydrating coconuts (with reusable bamboo straws!) were the perfect end to a long voyage. Everyone met each other, learned a little bit about the staff and their peers, and settled into our home-base, Kaya House. A much needed night of sleep will prep the wary travelers for their first full day in Bali. Tomorrow we will dive head first into the culture, language, and scenery of this magical island-Let the journey begin!

Monday July 2, 2018

Our first day here in Bali, we got to sleep in to help get over jet lag. After breakfast, we had an orientation, where we learned many things about the island of Bali and its culture. For example, life is mostly about the relationships and the community. Along with that the Balinese people live off of rice according to Beni and Fika, “Rice is life!” Then we went over the basic rules of GLA. Afterward we played some games to get to know each other.

Then we had lunch. After lunch, Beni taught us some of the Indonesian language. Just simple phrases like, Suksma means thank you and Apa means What. Then, we set out on the Amazing Race. There were two teams, Team Coconut Sisters and Team Pork Blood. We each had a long list of things to find or do around the village, it was a great opportunity to talk with locals and get to know the area. In Bali, the people are super friendly and helpful. During this game we learned a lot about the culture and the way of life. The Coconut Sisters spent time playing with local kids in the family compound, while Team Pork Blood spoke with locals about religious offering. Both teams had students that picked a coconut off the tree. We learned the legong dance which is dance style special to Bali. We came back to home base and relaxed a little before dinner.

After dinner, we had some free time before Rudy set up the evening activity, so we all hung out and got to know each other. Our evening activity was a model UN set up, where we did roll play discussing the issues that came up after the 2014 World Cup hosted in Rio. At the end we discussed our personal views on the topic. Once we finished our evening activities we headed to bed.

-by Paige and Addie

Tuesday July 3, 2018

Today started off with an early morning, we had to leave by 7:00 in order to make it to the herbal walk on time! The walk was really interesting and we got to learn about a variety of different herbs and flowers and their purposes in traditional medicine. In the middle of the walk we took a break and got enormous coconuts, they were bigger than most of our heads.

After that we kept walking and then at the end we went to a store where we drank tea and shopped for some natural beauty and health products. After that we took the bus to the water temple, tirta enpul, changed into our sarongs and sashes, and went to see the thirteen water fountains/spouts. After the morning full of activities we all went out to a buffet lunch with a beautiful view of the mountains and surrounding area.

After a full belly we loaded back up onto the bus and headed to the rice fields. Trekking up the high and uneven steps on a full belly wasn’t ideal but the view and experience was worth it. Luckily we had a hour ride back to home base to rest up before meeting the medical school students. Right before they arrived Rudy gave an informational presentation on what global health is and what it really means. Flying through the formal introductions we jumped straight into learning about what we would be doing for the next three days.

We broke off into small groups and got to know the medical students better. We learned how to take blood pressures and whatnot. Afterwards they joined us for dinner. On a full belly of chicken and potatoes, Kelsey filled our brains with information on sustainable travel and how we can work together to create an overall greener footprint. I guess could say we had a great day. Tiring, but overall great.

Wednesday July 4, 2018

Happy Fourth! Today we started off the day with a very interesting cultural workshop in our local Banjar- a place in Bali where local communities meet. Through dancing, making of offerings, wood carvings, and playing musical instruments, we experienced a whole new set of traditions that really opened our eyes. It was fun to interact with the local people, all of whom were extremely open to sharing their culture with us. Each activity came with its own set of difficulties, but constant encouragement from our friends and the locals really pushed us to do our best.

During our afternoon activity, we visited local homes in order to start our health checks. We met up with medical students and started visiting homes all throughout the local Banjar. It amazed us how open and happy the locals were about receiving the physicals, as such a warm attitude is extremely rare in other parts of the world. The trust the locals had in us was particularly endearing, and made us volunteering even more meaningful. We truly do look forward to continuing the service the next 2 days, as it means meeting even more wonderful families.

For our Fourth of July celebration, we ate our first American meal of the trip, at a local restaurant 10 minutes away from home. Most ordered burgers, and let’s not forget the mouth-watering desert at the end of the meal. A night of laughter and an exchange of stories, today was definitely a good day.

Authors: Erica and Emma

Thursday July 5, 2018

Today, we woke up and came down for breakfast. This morning we had pancakes and an assortment of fruits. We had some time before we left for laughing yoga. Once we were all ready, we hopped on the bus.

Laughing yoga? What’s that? Well that’s what all of us thought. We got there and had a giddy smile on our face from beginning to end. We learned different ways to laugh using our head, throat, chest, and stomach. Between the little sections of laughter there were these dance breaks, these were so much fun. We also were taught about “laugh o’clock”, basically the time of day that you have to try to laugh. You can pretend to make a phone call or look at your watch, just remember, it’s always laugh o’clock somewhere.

Once laughing yoga ended we head back to Kaya House for lunch. Today we had a boxed lunch. We had some free time again before our next activity, so we played games and just hung out. At 1:30 we headed out for our home checks. We did the same thing as yesterday, we went to houses in the local banjar and took some basic data. We took things like height, weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, along with that we asked a few questions. Also we taught some people how to use hand sanitizer. Today we ended early and headed back to Kaya house to change for dinner.

For dinner we went out to a restaurant in Ubud. After dinner we walked into the town to the area where we saw legong dancing. It was beyond amazing. There were three stories each very different, but all beautiful. The most incredible part was the dancers’ ability to dance with their eyes. The amount of coordination they have is astonishing. The music that was played behind the dancing had everyone in a trance, even the dancers that know the music. At the end, we rushed out to head back to the bus, but not without a quick pit stop to get gelato. Everyone got their gelato and we continued our trek back to the bus. After a long day we all went to bed.

Author: Paige

Friday July 6, 2018

The first thing that we did today was go to Yayasan Bhakti Senang Hati, a community of people with disabilities dedicated to demonstrating that they are just as capable as any fully abled person. While we were there we played music in the drum circle with a group of the members there and after that we helped teach them a few common phrases in English. We finished with lunch and a bit of shopping for some of the products they made there like bracelets, book marks, and necklaces.

In the afternoon we finished our last day of home visits with the medical students, we managed to finish almost all the homes in the Banjar we were working in! We finished early and took some pictures before saying goodbye to the students we were working with and getting ice-cream.

At the end of the day we went out to dinner at the palace with Prince Chris who is seventh in line to the throne out of 72 princes! Before dinner we got a tour of the palace whose intricate detailing was stunning. Dinner was surprisingly relaxed, the prince was very chill and our final topic of conversation was mermaids and the apocalypse. After dinner we returned to home base and made yet another stop at the market for snacks.

-by Miranda

Friday July 6 through Sunday July 8, 2018

On Friday morning we left Kaya house around 9 am. On the way to Amed, we stopped at the Water Palace called Tirta Gangga. We saw a lot of koi fish. After lunch we continued our journey to Good Karma Bungalows. At soon as we got there we headed to the pool. Most of us got beach side massages. At night we all had girls night and got to know each other even better.

The next morning we woke up at 5 am. We went out on traditional Balinese fishing boats to watch the sunrise, it was so beautiful. We went snorkeling at an abandoned Japanese Shipwreck as well. The rest of the day we hung out by the beach and pool. Later in the day we visited a well-known Balinese spiritual healer. He told all of us things about ourselves and futures. We had burgers for dinner and then went night swimming.

Today we left Amed around 9 and we stopped at a place that recycles trash and makes it into to cool stuff. Tonight we had dinner at a place that gives health care to people less fortunate. All together it was a great, relaxing weekend. It was SO MUCH FUN!!!!

-by Jada and Addie

Tuesday July 10, 2018

Hi everybody! Today we started off by going to an NGO called Bumi Sehat, which is an all natural birthing center. Mothers from all over Bali come to receive free pregnancy care and other services. We toured the facilities, watched informational videos, and overall it was an amazing experience where we saw people from different economical circumstances receive the same healthcare.

In the afternoon, we went to a local school to meet local balinese children. We conducted workshops about the importance of nutrition, hygiene, and exercise. It was fulfilling to see how much the children were eager to participate and share with us their joy and energy. After a few hours of fun and activities, we are extremely glad that we will be coming back the next few days to continue these services.

Tonight we also met another girl who will be joining us for maybe the rest of the trip due to weather complications. As our trip in Bali winds down to the end we are very excited for the upcoming adventures and new experiences.

Authors: Emma and Erica

Thursday July 12, 2018

This morning we woke up at 6:30 to delicious pancakes. The 9 of us then loaded the bus and headed to a coffee place where we got to taste many teas and coffees. We then were able to purchase whatever we wanted from the wide variety of natural Balinese drinks. After we were buzzing on them beanz, we headed to white water raft. Some of us were nervous but ended up having a lot of fun. Halfway into the river, we encountered a beautiful waterfall where we stopped to admire the view. After rafting, we climbed many flights of stairs to get to a yummy Balinese lunch.

Service day 2 began at 2:30pm with our second round of lessons with the kiddos. We taught the kids about hygiene, exercise, and nutrition. It was so fun to interact with the kids. We then headed home to eat dinner and plan our lessons for the next day.

Friday July 13, 2018

The last couple days in Bali together were packed with final service, ceremony, a birthday, karaoke, and fun in the sun!

Our last full day together was spent in Legian Beach where students shopped, lounged, and caught some waves! After surfing and chilling beach-side, the evening was spent reflecting on our 2 weeks of adventure, cultural immersion, and service. Students shared their goals for the future, made one final offering, and watched a slide show of special moments from the trip. A mini “graduation” ceremony closed the night where student’s received a wooden Balinese carving of their name and an Indonesian flag.

This morning, everyone headed off to the airport to depart from Bali. Tears were shed, hugs were given, and wishes of safe travels filled the air. The GLA and local Bali Institute staff were so glad to meet the session two students and live and learn alongside the 8 leaders and future world changers! Girl power was strong this session and we have no doubt that these awesome ladies will be lifelong friends! While our time together in Bali is complete, our memories and GLA bond are forever <3

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Friday June 15, 2018 

Om swastiastu and greetings from the GLA Bali team!

It’s day one of our amazing two week adventure together and everyone has arrived to Bali safe and sound! The GLA staff and our local Bali Institute partners welcomed the 27 global travelers to the island and also into our leadership family. A delicious Balinese feast and hydrating coconuts (with reusable bamboo straws!) were the perfect end to a long voyage! Everyone settled into our home-base, Kaya House, and a much needed night of sleep will prep the students for their first full day in Bali where they will dive head first into the culture, language, and scenery. Let the journey begin!

*not photographed due to late arrival times: Maria, Katie, and Chloe

-by Kelsey Stone (International Mentor) on behalf of the entire Bali GLA Team

Friday June 15, 2018 

Sending an update with a photo of our late arrivals who weren’t in the original photo (Maria, Katia, and Chloe)!!

Sunday June 17, 2018

Day 3 began at 5:30 this morning with a delicious and familiar breakfast of toast and eggs. We then headed off to our herbal walk. We got to try many exotic plants and learn their holistic properties. We even tried a spicy pepper known for killing bacteria in your mouth, but it felt like breathing fire. We had wonderful guides who explained to us the significance of nature and how it inspires Balinese artwork. Afterwards we went to a shop that sold holistic medicines and all natural products. Many of us bought organic coconut oil, tea, face masks, lotion, and plant-based vitamins.

After that, we visited the Holy Water Temple where we learned how to wear traditional Balinese sarongs and how to pray by presenting offerings. The prayers were concluded with a priest splashing us with holy water and giving us ceremonial rice grains which we placed on our foreheads. On the way home we visited an Indonesian style buffet that had a view of a volcano, lake, and rice paddies.

Once we returned to home base, we prepared lesson plans discussing nutrition, hygiene, and exercise. Tomorrow we will put these plans into action at local primary schools. After dinner we discussed how stereotypes may not be true and are incomplete. We also discussed how not to base your beliefs on “the single story.”

Today was a great day; we learned how Balinese beliefs play an important role in their close-knit communities among farmers, priests, and other locals. Everywhere we went we were greeted with smiles. We are all grateful for the cultural opportunities we had today and we can’t wait for tomorrow!

Selamat malem!

-Rutva, Chloe, and Maguire

Monday June 18, 2018

Today we went to the Banjar. At the Banjar we took time to understand Balinese culture by doing activities such as: wood carving, dancing, playing music, and creating offerings. Offerings are used to thank the spirits for everything in life, they consist of multiple colored flowers in a basket made of bamboo leaves. We split into separate groups and learned a traditional dance. Then the boys learned a dance which is performed when going off to war.

Afterwards, the group split and drove to two separate schools. There we taught 4-6th graders about exercise, nutrition, and hygiene. The kids were excited to learn, but we had minor complications due to language barriers. Luckily, we were able to overcome this challenge through games and hand gestures. All in all, we were surrounded by a wonderful environment and used our obstacles as lessons for the future days on the trip and in our lives.

Authors: Delaney and Olivia

Tuesday June 19, 2018

Today in Bali we started off our day in a very unique, silly way. Laughing yoga is a way to relieve stress and take in some positive energy. At first, it was a little uncomfortable because it was different and awkward, but after a while it became more natural and funny. The best part about the morning was definitely the ice cream that we had the option to buy after.

Later on we were the honored guests of the prince of Bali. We had a chance to ask questions about daily life in Bali and the founding of the Balinese culture. We were eating a traditional Balinese dinner and the prince explained that behind the closed doors we were eating in front of, “his uncle was resting inside”. So we all assumed that was his uncle’s tomb. About 5 minutes later we saw the lock turn and a man walks out of the room. Everyone jumped because we thought we were experiencing paranormal activity but after much confusion the prince explained his uncle was literally just sleeping in the room. The experience was super cool because the prince was outgoing and engaged us in conversation.

So far we have been experiencing new culture traditions and different foods. This trip has changed us for the better and we are excited to see what the upcoming week has to offer!

Authors: Madison and Luca

Wednesday June 20, 2018

Hello!

Today we started off the day with Kaya House’s green pancakes with shredded coconut, banana and syrup. We found out at the herbal walk that the color comes from a plant. They have been long awaited for since the first day of the program when we tried them, and they’re loved by all of GLA’s Bali students. After breakfast, we visited Senang Hati’s building to learn more about and talk to Balinese people with disabilities,then finished up our first week of service at the schools, and finally witnessed a traditional Balinese legong dance at the Palace of Peliatan.

Senang Hati and their people of various disabilities opened our eyes to a valuable lesson. Despite people’s differences in abilities, cultures, environments, religions, languages, and values, the experience of music and smiles can bring everyone together in an instant. Everyone at Senang Hati began by playing a song on several different instruments and singing all together. It was amazing to learn that most of the people performing when first learning the song struggled at being able to hold the instruments or hit a drum. Their stunning act really demonstrated how with practice and determination, those with disabilities and physical differences can achieve anything that anyone else can. We concluded the visit with GLA students playing their own rhythms on the drums and playing alongside the performers, eating a delicious Balinese lunch, and lots of students buying bracelets and shirts to wear and support Senang Hati.

Poem by Lauren:

The rain hit the ground as our feet left the bed
We downed our pancakes and packed into the tiny buses
A long travel we had as we reached Senang Hati
We taught the children to clean, eat, and exercise
We wiped our tears as the children waved goodbye
Our eyes reopened from our naps at the palace
The dancers jigged as we watched in awe
As we headed home and we laughed until our eyes shut in bed

After lunch, we made our way to SD Negeri 3 Kemenuh, Sukawati and SDN 2 Kemenuh Sukawati, the 2 schools we have been volunteering at. All the 6 volunteer groups have now completed each of their lessons on nutrition, hygiene and exercise. As we finished up and ended our service, we gave the kids certificates, pens, pencils and books as gifts for completing our lessons over their break. Tears were shed and hugs were given as we said our goodbyes to the children we taught and loved.

Finally, we completed the day with a legong dance performance at the Royal Palace. It was cool to see all the instruments played and dresses and makeup worn in such a unique dance.

Authors: Annika and Lauren

Saturday June 23, 2018

A collection of blogs from our excursion to Amed, Bali:

Let’s go to the beach, beach. Let’s go get away.

After PULLING ourselves out of bed at 8:15, we took a scenic journey throughout Bali to the fishing town of Amed. This is where we are about to thrive. In the car we bumped to Nicki M and stopped for lunch at a precious, little restaurant. After our wonderful lunch of chicken and rice and an hour more of driving, we arrived at the Good Karma Bungalows. Everybody scrambled into their bathing suits and marched to the beachside pool for an intense swim test. It consisted of jumping in a 5 foot pool and then standing up, swimming across the pool, treading water for 30 seconds, and floating on our back for 30 seconds with the sun glaring into our poor eyes. It was fantastic.

When the mentors learned that we all were able to swim, we were free to venture and swim about as long as we had adult supervision, aka babysitters. Most of us took advantage of the Balinese sea and ran in, others chilled by the pool or lounged in their hammock. We all survived the coral attacks with battle wounds to prove it. No pain, no gain. To conclude this fine day, we enjoyed a dinner of Japanese food at the beachside café followed by chocolate crepes and fried bananas.

-Rachel and Abbie

Today was our earliest morning yet. We dragged ourselves out of bed at 5 with sore muscles all over from the vigorous swim test the day before. We all gathered on the beach and loaded onto small boats that each fit three people plus the Captain. We departed the beach and headed out to sea. There was a bit of wind and the waves were a good size which added some fun to the voyage. At one point, some of the captains opened the sails and used the wind to propel the boats. We eventually turned around and headed toward a Japanese shipwreck near the shore. After a few minutes, we reached the shipwreck and jumped in the water wearing our snorkeling gear. There was a lot of coral and many cool brightly colored fish along with the degrading ship resting on the sea floor. In addition to the fish there were also some odd looking jelly fish that stung a few people. After snorkeling, we went back to the bungalows where we ate breakfast followed by free time.

At 2:15, the group went on a short hike which ended at a dark cave that led to a pavilion. At the pavilion, we watched a presentation about trash in Bali and then proceeded to make eco-bricks, which are plastic drink bottles filled with non-biodegradable waste such as plastic to the point where it’s as hard as a real brick. We finished this service at 4 and went back to the bungalows where we had some free time until dinner. For dinner, we had burgers which was a nice western surprise. After dinner, at 8, we built a bonfire on the beach where we roasted fruit filled marshmallows and danced to music. When the fun ended, all of us crashed into bed and passed out.

-Nischal and Jordan

For some students, this morning started out early. Many wanted to capture last minute pictures at the beach, while others enjoyed an early morning yoga sesh. Breakfast consisted of chocolate crepes, smoothies, and assorted tropical fruits. Students then made a mad dash to the bungalows and frantically threw their clothes back into their suitcases.

After the three hour scenic ride along the coast of Bali, we finally arrived back at home base. The next two hours gave students the ability to finish their car naps or go wooden mask shopping. Once free time was over, students shuffled downstairs to listen to a presentation on Global health. As we were wrapping up our presentation, the medical students we will be working with for the next few days started rolling in. We learned how to take blood pressure, fill out medical records, and check homes for sanitation. We wrapped up the night with a birthday cake for Maguire.

-Macy and Maria

Sunday June 24, 2018

We all were awakened at 7:00 am to a delicious breakfast, consisting of a banana pancake, along with fruits and corn. After breakfast, we learned about traditional healing and how it can be used to do medical check-ups by watching a video on it. Mangku Kandia, the owner of the Kaya house, gave us medical check-ups using his medical powers, and we all were in good medical condition! He explained to us that with his methods, he can detect rashes and diseases, but he could not detect broken bones. It really impressed us all! We came back shortly after to take some rest before having lunch.

After lunch, we split up into service groups and drove off to different Balinese Banjars (kind of like neighborhood communities). We worked with Balinese medical school students. In each group, consisting of 4-5 GLA students, each person had different roles. The roles were checking the bathrooms for mosquito larva, checking the patient’s height and weight, teaching the people to wash their hands thoroughly. All of us went to at least 2, or maybe 3 houses before leaving. It was a lot of fun, helping these people out!!

We then came back to having a wonderful dinner of rice, chicken, and salad with the medical students before doing an evening activity. All of us had to step into a circle, and one of the staff members would ask personal questions. Every time the question applied to us, we had to step closer into the circle. This activity helped us learn more about each other on a personal level, and it hopefully brought us closer together as a family! It also made us realize that we are not alone, and that we have each other’s backs for anything that comes our way. Now, we are all going to pass out after a long, fun day!

It has been getting close to an end for our trip! We have had so much fun here in Bali, and a lot of us are going to miss it!

-Jaideep

Monday June 25, 2018

Today we departed for our adventure at Bumi Sehat, a NGO focused on providing free maternal care and assistance in natural birth. When we entered, it was as if we’d re-entered America. The architecture was new and bright. We ventured on an exploration through the facilities and experienced two babies. We gazed at a few videos depicting the origination of the foundation and a deeper look into the benefits of a water birth. After a few questions and some merch purchases we left, t-shirts in tow. We thought we were going home, but no! Rain<3 took us on a detour to a Whole Foods-like, americanized, Bali market entitled “Bali Buda”. We went ham (and cheese) on the bread and the baked goodery.

After lunch, we went on our second day of home visits with the medical students. We had a blast saving the world, one visit at a time. Blood pressure. Blood sugar. Height. Weight. It was like an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, even with the hand washing. We returned and encountered a bit of free time before dinner. We napped in preparation for our feast. Dinner was noodles. Smiles were a plenty. We found out there was going to be a surprise.

Excitement was building. What were we going to do? We hopped in buses with the knowledge we were going to venture onto an hour long course to our destination, Denpasar. We snaked through the city, seeing lions, tigers, bears, and a sign for “Happy Puppy”. We shrugged the sign off, thinking it was nothing. Little did we know. A U-turn signaled our liftoff to adventure world. Our spacecraft? Happy Puppy Karaoke. Oh snap. We sang and danced the night away with 80’s bops, 2008 classics, and ending with the iconic Nicki Minaj hit “Starships”. We have our differences. We are from different places. We all love different things. But above all, we love Starships. It tightened our bond as a group. We came back, tired yet gratified with our experience, enticed with the idea of another tomorrow.

-Julia and Grace

 

Tuesday June 26, 2018

We started our day off this morning with a trip to the coffee plantation after a fun night of singing karaoke. At the coffee plantation, we tried a variety of local teas and coffees and learned how they make a delicacy in Bali consisting of the stool from Luwak cats. The coffee comes from the beans that are fed to the cats and then separated from the rest of the waste. Then, we headed to a local Balinese river for some white water rafting!

During the white water rafting, we first met our guide named Made and began our journey on the rapids. The river started off calm and steady, but after a small waterfall, it became a bit rough. The river winded through the Balinese jungle and provided us with many breathtaking views. At the half way point, we had the chance to get out of the boat and look at a giant waterfall sitting in the middle of the jungle!!! After we got back in the boat, there was more twists and turns and we finally made it to the final drop. It was a small waterfall that was 4 meters (1 story) high!!!!

Finally, we finished the day with our last round of service to local families and dinner at an NGO supporting pop up clinics that help less privileged towns that need medical help. Today was our second to last day in Bali and we couldn’t have thought to spend it in a better way. We are excited for some shopping and surfing tomorrow!

-by Hailey and Arriana

Thursday June 28, 2018

The last day was packed with fun in the sun in Legian Beach where students shopped, lounged, and caught some waves! After surfing and chilling beach-side, the evening was spent reflecting on our 2 weeks of adventure, cultural immersion, and service. Students shared their goals for the future, made one final offering, and watched a slide show of special moments from the trip.

A mini “graduation” ceremony closed the night where student’s received a wooden Balinese carving of their name and an Indonesian flag for their peers to sign. This morning, everyone headed off to airport and departed from Bali. Tears were shed, hugs were given, and wishes of safe travels filled the air. The GLA and local Bali Institute staff were so glad to meet the session one students and live and learn alongside the 27 leaders and future world changers! While our time together in Bali is complete, our memories and GLA bond are forever <3