Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

1. Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
2. We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
3. Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
4. Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
5. Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

COMING SOON!

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

1. Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
2. We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
3. Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
4. Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
5. Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25

Hola GLA families and friends,

We are very excited to welcome our interns and get this amazing adventure started. ¡Bienvenidos chicos y chicas!

Everyone arrived safely to Cusco airport, and now we are just missing Sean, Quentin and Mackenzie, who will get here tomorrow.

After we arrived and interns settled in their new rooms, we had our introductions, followed by a delicious dinner and some time to get to know each other. Hopefully everyone gets a great rest tonight, to recharge their batteries for the wonderful adventures ahead!

In this program students will dive deep in the Peruvian culture and connect with the local communities through our engineering project and lots of fun activities, so keep on following this blog to learn about our leaders’ amazing adventures!

Your GLA Team,
Hector, Maggie, Mark and Caleb

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26

Qué tal?

In the morning we had a great Peruvian breakfast filled with pancakes, bacon, fruits, and pulpy orange juice that tasted delicious. Later, when the food settled, we had an initiative brief about the plan for this trip. Before lunch we went shopping to try some Peruvian treats like canchita and introduce ourselves to the market environment. For lunch we had fried fish and mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables and purple corn juice.

After lunch we went on a forty-minute ride through the project area and discussed crop irrigation and sustainable water to places like Chauaiatiri. During the ride there, we blasted a few classic rock hits such as Queen and Linkin Park. During the trip we learned how profitable strawberries are in high altitude areas like the community we visited. During the free time, we decided to pass around a notebook and write all our phone numbers to connect with each other.

When we got back, we ate dinner and met the remaining three interns who arrived during the day. Last but not least, we met up in mentor groups and set goals for the trip.

Anton Lavrenov & Brian Chuang

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27

We started the day off with a seven-o’clock breakfast, followed by a cheerful introduction to the day’s events and an overview of some engineering concepts which we will use over the course of the trip – specifically surveying, marking, and stakeposting. Afterwards, we drove directly to the worksite, and began marking out a path for trenches to be dug by locals who will help us along the way. Though the work was grueling, the brilliant views and strength of the community helped us push through. At midday, our hosts from Chaska Pisac drove out to meet us at the worksite and deliver us food, displaying incredible hospitality. Once everyone was finished with their food, we drove back to the homebase, whilst indulging ourselves with some 2010’s karaoke.

Upon arrival at the HQ, most of the group left for the central plaza and main market. While some of the group abstained from purchasing anything, several members bought glassware and bracelets and other items. Few of us got matching t-shirts and ponchos whilst bartering with the locals.

Soon after, we had a shaman come over to perform a Pago a la Tierra – a ceremony involving offerings to the mother earth and mountains, cleansing our bodies and minds, and blessing our futures. This was also, in part, a lesson on Inca culture and religious beliefs regarding mountains and mother Earth.

After the Pago a la Tierra, we had free time, which many of us spent playing football and listening to music in the courtyard. We also spent a great deal of time with the in-house Alpaca (whom we have affectionately dubbed Paka).

After dinner, we engaged in a group debate surrounding the effect of social media and technology on society and human interaction. During the discussion, we spoke with each other about the relationship between increasing social media presence and its impact on people in general.

Even as we write this blog, the rest of the group have gathered around the gazebo in the center of the courtyard, playing music, and joking around. Creating a more-than-pleasant end to what seems to us is a perfect day.

– Josh and Ash

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28

Today was the fourth day of the Peru STEM Internship trip. Our breakfast of the day consisted of fresh fruits, soft scrambled eggs, two varieties of sausages and a new selection of pastries. After we all filled up, the Medlife representative and lead engineer came over to show us the impacts of past service trips.

With our newfound knowledge and determination, we hopped on the bus towards Chahuaytire where we continued the staking and marking of the roads from where we left off the previous day. The students split up into two groups for the working day, and we hastily finished marking the whole 1.6 miles worth of path. Later, after our hard work, the GLA team took us to a nearby cliff where we enjoyed a hearty lunch. The cliffside was actually the location of ancient Incan drawings of llamas and alpacas.

In the nighttime, we visited the nearby market again, where there was a traditional celebration happening. At the markets, we also became friends with a local Peruvian kid. Finally, once everyone was satisfied with their purchases, we tried cantaloupe pancakes with pumpkin soup. At the end, we wrote letters for ourselves three weeks in the future.

Anton Lavrenov & Brian Chuang

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29

We awoke this morning to the brisk Peruvian air. With our bags packed and breakfast eaten, we embarked on our journey to Cusco. Along the way we had several stops to learn more about Peruvian culture from Hector. We also stopped at a llama and alpaca petting zoo, thankfully only Porter was spat at by the llama. There, we learned the critical difference between real and fake llama fur when shopping at markets.

Then, we went to an inspirational buffet where you could eat whatever you want with chicken, beef, pork and endless deserts which some people have seven of.

Then we went to the famous Cusco market where we took part in a breathtaking scavenger hunt. Afterwards we all bought bracelets. Finally, we went back to the restaurant for dinner and dessert.

Logan and Aiden

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

In the early morning, we woke up from our comfortable beds at Hotel Urpi in Cusco. We ate breakfast in the hotel lobby and then embarked on our trek to a Peruvian lake embedded in an Andes valley. Along the way we played our homemade playlist that we collaboratively made a couple nights before.

After greeting the multitude of dogs at Piuray, the outdoor kayaking center, we suited up with neoprene boots and changed into our swim clothes. The guides divided us into kayaking, canoeing, and paddle-boarding groups. While the guides prepared the boats we tanned on the warm bean bags by the water. Some even played chess on a handcrafted wooden board. We explored the lake and playfully splashed and tried to capsize each other, resulting in several falling into the water. After taking a group picture and chasing each other in the water, we returned to shore, dried off, did some more tanning, and had a delicious grilled chicken lunch with a mysterious fruit named “granadilla”.

Our bus, filled with lively music, then took us to an ancient Peruvian salt farm in the town Maras. Hector, our local director, even informed us that they dated back to the Incan empire. After taking plenty of pictures, we headed to a local store where we bought many exotic chocolates and salts.

We finished our day by heading back to Pisac and doing a routine “Pulse Check” that consisted of answering several questions about our wellbeing. Dinner was eventful with one member accidentally dumping half a bottle of honey into his tea. Finally, we learned and played a new card game to complete another fulfilling day of our Peru STEM internship

– Hugo and Sean

BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

Hello everyone!

Today we went back to our project site for the first time in three days. We were divided into two groups, one digging trenches to place water lines, and the other filling in walls to support a dam upstream. We worked hard in the hot sun over the course of 4 hours and felt well rewarded for the progress we made. After a long, and delayed, bus ride home, we had free time until dinner where we had the opportunity to go out into the town. We spent time shopping, playing card games, and chatting with peers. While we didn’t have a set afternoon activity, we still had lots of fun and had time to rejuvenate for our next day of work tomorrow. We are tremendously grateful for the locals who helped us dig the trenches and fill in the dam. It was nice to get to know people in the community to directly see who we are helping. We can’t wait to work with them again tomorrow and we are waiting to see the end result of our hard work and dedication!

-Mackenzie and Decker

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

1. Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
2. We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
3. Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
4. Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
5. Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

We’re finally in the game reserve!!

It feels like we’ve already done so much despite arriving just a day ago in chilly Johannesburg. We’ve had great meals, played a round of football (soccer) as a group, gone on a half-day road trip and sat around a fire to get to know one another better.

We’re looking forward to a game drive in the morning and can’t wait to see the resident animals within Nambiti. Follow along with us as we discover the wild spaces and learn more about conservation.

Till next time,
Lisette and the SA student group

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25

To start the day, we warmed up with soccer before breakfast. As we finished, we headed out on a two hour game drive. We didn’t get as lucky as we did on our first game drive, but we were grateful for the chance to see the animals on the Nambiti Game Reserve. Our sightings, or lack of, gave us a good sense of what to expect as the norm, and appreciate what that previous luck brought. Although we didn’t get to see that many animals, we did encounter and once in a life time experience of seeing a rhino dehorning from far away.

After getting back, we headed into the community and shared a warming experience with the children from a local Crèche, making it hard to leave. Playing with them created an enjoyable connection with the community and a broader view on developing global education. From there, we continued into the community and enjoyed the Gogo’s vegan lunch in a local home (Gogo being the Zulu word for Grandma) plus had an opportunity to purchase hats weaved entirely of recycled plastic- a moment that showed the deep passion passed from generation to generation.

After this, our group headed back to home base, and had an introduction to the internship curriculum. Then, for the last activity of the day, we prepped for a soccer match with a local academy team back within the community, and enjoyed the next few hours of fun and engagement. Finally, as we all enjoyed dinner, overlooking the savannah grasslands of Nambiti, we reflected and ended our day.

By Leaders of the day – Chloe and Logan

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26

Today we packed up our bags and started our journey from Nambiti to Howick. During the drive, we enjoyed playing “Guess the middle name” and listening to music together. Once we arrived, we picked up a new member of our team! We ate sandwiches and drank our signature guava juice to welcome our new friend.

Then, we got geared up for our zipline adventure in Karkloof forest, and got to experience not 1, but 10 varieties of ziplines that gave us such a beautiful view of the South African forest horizon. After such an experience, we went ahead to our house at the Old Mushroom Farm which was surrounded by a cinematic view of pine trees, small dams and cows grazing on farmland infront of a magnificent sunset. As we settled in our one night stay, everyone had their moments to enjoy the nature and fresh air. As once said by our International Director Lisette, “Gen Z enjoy nature too”.

After a few hours of enjoying nature, company of friends, and moments of reflection, the sun eventually went down, and we all headed inside for some card games, pizza, and drinks from a nearby restaurant.

By Leaders of the Day – Assata and Henrik

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29

Today we spent most of our time exploring the Snake Pharm where we got to enjoy many new experiences. The reason it is not spelt farm is because they make anti venom like a pharmacy. After the tour we got the opportunity to get hands-on experience with the animals there. These experiences varied from cleaning out mice and snake cages to petting mongooses and guinea pigs. After that we were able to hold a snake and alligator.

Following that we got a lesson on how to deal with snakes and dangerous animal encounters in the wild. Once we headed back to camp we learned how to hand wash our dirty clothes. To end the day we worked on a journaling activity that had us go into groups with people of similar strengths and work together to complete a task.

By Leaders of the Day – Maya and Sawyer

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

1. Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
2. We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
3. Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
4. Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
5. Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

COMING SOON!

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

1. Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
2. We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
3. Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
4. Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
5. Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19

สวัสดีค่ะ! (Sawasdee ka!)

Welcome to the Thailand: Career Exploration in Health & Hospitals Internship Blog

We’re so excited to kick off this journey and share the incredible experiences we’ll have over the next 21 days. Our students will get hands-on insight into the medical field while immersing themselves in Thai culture.

Along the way, we’ll explore Bangkok and Chiang Mai, visit an elephant sanctuary, try our hand at Thai cooking, take a traditional Muay Thai class, and relax on the beaches of Koh Samet. We’ll also spend meaningful time in the local community, learning about healthcare systems, shadowing professionals, and participating in service projects.

Most of our group arrived by 6 PM today. We spent time at our hotel getting to know each other over some games of UNO and a game to learn each other’s names. We are waiting for Terri to arrive within the hour and then our team will be complete. We will be sure to share our first full group photo at orientation tomorrow.

Tonight, we shared our first meal together—a classic Thai dish that everyone enjoyed. We celebrated Arya’s 16th birthday as she was traveling here on her special day. Happy Birthday, Arya!

The group is already showing great energy and curiosity. We’re looking forward to watching friendships grow and witnessing the impact this experience will have on each student.

Let the adventure begin!

With excitement,
Gina, Jayme, Victor, Wad, Todd, and the Thailand Team

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20

Hello parents! Day 2 in Thailand was interesting and eventful. We started off our day at 7:15 with breakfast that we all got to choose ourselves! After that, we headed straight to an orientation led by the GLA staff. We went over expectations, rules, and most importantly, cultural norms. We also played icebreakers and got to know the whole crew a lot better! Most of this was new to all of us, and the cultural aspect really put into perspective the difference in experiences and norms around the world. After the orientation, we stopped at McDonalds, which in case you were wondering, is just as good as American, and then went to a buffet-style lunch!

In the afternoon, we went to two temples. We learned the appropriate cultural expectations for the temples such as taking our shoes off and learning how to pay respect. We also went on a guided tour and learned that monks can be in school as young as 5 years old!

Before our third temple, the Thailand rainy season kicked in, and it spontaneously started pouring. So, we will visit the last temple with bats tomorrow! Then, we had a delicious dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant. We made our way back home and were introduced to our mentor groups, where we spent some time getting to know our peers on a more personal level.

More adventures await tomorrow! สวัสดี!

~Carly & Jaben

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

Today we got to learn a little about each specialty and discussed what we might experience during our rotations. We even received our white lab coats that we are to wear during rotations. Of course, Todd made sure the orientation wasn’t all business. During our breaks, he brought out an awesome selection of Thai snacks for us to try, which made the whole experience even more fun and unique. We then headed off to lunch before our next big adventure of the day.

After lunch, we visited a beautiful temple in the mountains. We had to climb about 300 steps to get there, but the view of Chiang Mai from the top was amazing. After the temple, we went back to home base for dinner. We played a game of ninja tag for about 10-15 minutes before we came together and had our second lesson about our different types of personalities, and what kind of people we are. Overall it was a really fun and fulfilling day and we got to experience and explore a lot while getting to learn more about the culture.

~Leaders of the Day: Olivia & Adam

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Today was an exciting day filled with activities. After a group breakfast, we visited a Thai culinary school where we were introduced to local ingredients in the market and gardens, and tried our hand at cooking a five-course meal guided by a Thai chef. We were all delighted by the quality of the food. After eating, we went to a few shopping locations to ensure we were properly equipped for hospital services—one of which was a truly gigantic mall, even compared to American malls. We spent time in small groups exploring. Some students even successfully hunted down some labubus! Following this, we had a 90-minute crash course in Muay Thai martial arts. While it was physically demanding and challenging, it was incredibly rewarding and a worthwhile experience. We were very impressed by the skill and enthusiasm of the instructors. To wrap up the evening, we explored a local night market where we found ourselves dinner and souvenirs.

~Leaders of the day: Lucy & James

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

Today started off with our usual breakfast of either a traditional Thai or western meal. Since it was our first day in the hospital, we quickly made our way to a private hospital called Rajavej. We were assigned to four different rotations: lab and physical therapy, radiology and emergency room, labour, and ophthalmology. Our morning was spent observing doctors and patients in these specialties before we broke off for lunch. Various meals were enjoyed at a hotel, and a few students were even able to play with some cats! In the afternoon, we took part in our second round of rotations, which were different from our morning ones. The students in the eye observation were even able to see an eye surgery!

Later on, we visited a rural public community hospital, accessible to the entire community. Many members visit for smaller health issues and are able to receive care free of charge. It was amazing to see how much focus they put on health promotion and making care accessible for everyone. After a long day, we came back and enjoyed a delicious catered Thai dinner. We wrapped up the night with a group discussion on cultural humility, which really helped us reflect on what we’d seen and how important it is to stay respectful and open-minded when learning about different healthcare systems. We can’t wait for the opportunities that lie ahead in the upcoming hospitals.

-Leaders of the day: Dana and Mitchell

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24

Hi! Today we woke up at 7:00 AM so we could take the bus to Sarapee hospital for our second day of hospital rotations. At the hospital we learned about the ER as well as OPD and IPD. We then took a drive to a different building of the hospital to do rotations in rehabilitation. In addition to this, we learned about traditional Chinese medicine such as acupuncture and cupping. Some people were even able to witness a patient stand for the first time in months. For lunch, we ate fried rice and some snacks that our Local Director, Wad generously provided.

After lunch, we visited a clinic, learned how to make herbal compress balls and saw a treatment involving getting massaged by the therapists feet that are placed in hot oil and a fire. After having a little break, we headed out to a restaurant for dinner. We returned and prepared for the cultural exchange tomorrow in a local high school as well as the elementary school health camp. We will teach the elementary students the importance of hand hygiene and perform a dance to the high school. Finally we ended the day with some people going to 7-11 and others going to take a swim in the pool. See you tomorrow!!!

~Leaders of the Day: Julian and Lauren

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25

Today was not a hospital day, but very eventful nonetheless! We started off with breakfast and headed straight to the local elementary school. There, we taught the kids how to wash their hands with a 100% GLA student-taught lesson that started off with a game of tag related to the spreading of germs. Then, we presented our lesson with homemade posters, and had another game where we gave each student paint on their hands, and they ran around high-fiving until everyone’s hands were covered in all different colors, thus representing how quickly germs can spread by contact. We taught them how to properly wash it off by all taking trips to the sink! We ended that visit with a game of duck duck goose and signed many “autographs” for the students.

Our next stop was a restaurant where we ate family-style lunch, and then we went to a smoothie place where many of us got boba!!

We headed to a high school where we exchanged cultures and conversations with the students who were practicing their English! We all bonded with the high schoolers, and many of us got some of their Instagrams. Finally, we headed back to homebase where we had dinner, a lesson from Jayme, and talked in our mentor groups. Off to more hospitals tomorrow!

-Leaders of the Day: Jos and Arya

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26

Today we had a very exciting day where we toured Sankampaeng Hospital. We split up and observed 4 different departments including Thai medicine, mental health, dentistry, and physical therapy. In these departments, we were able to learn a lot about Thai hospital customs as well as the traditional medicine they have been using for centuries. Following this, we explored additional departments such as the ward and emergency room. For lunch, we went to Karin and chose from a variety of Thai and American dishes.

When we got back to home base, a family doctor came and spoke to us about her medical school journey as well as her profession. We learned the ins and outs of family medicine, including both hospital check ins and home visits. We took away that family medicine is a branch of primary care that provides comprehensive healthcare to individuals and families across all ages, genders, and medical conditions. The night ended with some swimming in the pool and a delicious Thai dinner catered to the hotel.

-Leaders of the Day: Maddy and Morgan

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27

Today we woke up at 7:30 and got ready for the day. Then we had breakfast and ironed our lab coats before heading to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai hospital. This hospital works with Chiang Mai University and we got to see some resident students there. Once there, we split into four groups including orthopedics, pediatrics, general medicine, and surgery. We got to meet doctors who specialized in eyes, nose, throat, physical therapy, and kids with learning disabilities. After that, we had lunch at the food court in the hospital. Then it was time for professional photos—individual and group with our lab coats and clipboards. After this we went to the surgical wards and met patients who had heart, brain, and liver surgeries. Then we all headed back to the hotel and went to 7-11 and Lotus. Next was a catered dinner and Gina’s career development lesson, along with a PSA about the elephant sanctuary trip tomorrow. So excited!

~Leaders of the Day: Annie & Terri

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28

We had such an incredible and full day here in Thailand! Our morning began bright and early with a 7:00 AM breakfast before heading out to an elephant sanctuary, one of the highlights of the program so far.

When we arrived, we got to feed the elephants papaya and bananas and take pictures while they enjoyed munching on grass. It was amazing to be up close with these gentle giants and see how calm and curious they were. Next, we made colorful tie-dye bandanas to keep as souvenirs. Then we walked through the sanctuary alongside the elephants, surrounded by vibrant greenery and peaceful views

After a delicious buffet-style lunch, we learned how to make herbal medicine balls used to support the elephants’ health. Later, we cooled off by swimming and bathing the elephants in the river, which was playful, muddy, and so much fun!

Once back at our home base, we enjoyed a delicious catered dinner. In the evening, we gathered for our daily chow circle to reflect, give shout-outs, and build community. We ended the night by planning our upcoming service projects at the boys’ home. We’re excited for what’s to come!

~Leaders of the Day: Nora & Carly

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29

Today we went to Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand. After a two hour drive, we arrived. When we got there, rain was pouring down on us and the temperature was 12 degrees Celsius.The wind was almost blowing us over. We got ponchos and headed out. Despite the weather, spirits were high as the group found a way to make the most of it. We were led on a walk through a scenic path and it was very peaceful and serene. After that, we were led to a temple and it was very unique and was something I have not seen before. We had lunch at a restaurant on the mountain which consisted of fried trout and fried rice with a side salad. And to top it off, we got smoothies and everything was so good.

After lunch the rain had calmed down as we made our way to a nearby waterfall. There the mist created a breathtaking view. We all took photos and it was something straight out of a movie. We then left and headed back to home base. We had some time to relax and then it was dinner. Afterwards, we had our mentor groups and talked about the trip so far. Today was a relaxing day with lots of fun and we saw lots of beautiful things.

~Leaders of the Day: Arya & Jaben

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

Good morning GLA families!! Today we visited Mae On Hospital, a small public district hospital. In the morning, we received an introduction from one of the doctors about the hospital as well as the region. For the first shift, our groups rotated through pharmacy, wards, the emergency room, and Thai medicine. Our lunch was an assortment of local dishes enjoyed on a nearby farm. We were even able to see some koi fish swimming in a pond!

After lunch, we continued at the hospital with our second shifts, either getting a presentation on emergency medicine, playing games in the pharmacy department, or getting a tour of the inpatient departments. When we got back to the home base, Todd gave us a presentation on the differences between the Thai and American healthcare systems. We were then able to apply our knowledge as we created our own countries with the best perfect healthcare imaginable. For dinner, we enjoyed a pizza night and ended off the day packing for our early flight tomorrow morning!

~Leaders of the Day: Lucy & Adam

BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

We traveled from Chiang Mai to Koh Samet today. Because it was a travel day, we did not have leaders of the day. I am sharing a few of our travel/first night at the beach photos. Tomorrow our leaders of the day will share about a special show we had tonight on the beach and about their Wednesday adventures.

~Gina

BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

Hey GLA! Last night, we finally got to spend some time at the beach, where our highlight was enjoying a fire show put on by some of the locals.Their skills were truly incredible to watch! This morning, we enjoyed a hearty buffet breakfast before heading to a local hospital. Here, we received an engaging presentation on the primary care delivered to both locals and tourists. We then headed to a beautiful beach, but in our excitement, many members of the group forgot to apply sufficient sunscreen.Students and some of the local staff rented a few floaties and spent some time riding them in the ocean. We spent the majority of our day in the sun and returned with slight sunburns and tans. For dinner, we walked to a beachside restaurant that offered both Thai and Western options.The night ended with dessert and some more preparation work for an upcoming service activity.

~Leaders of the Day: Dana & James