PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

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Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

Hello from Thailand!

We are very excited to have everyone on board for our last arrival day this summer. We had most people checking in late in the morning while we finished picking up more people from the airport, everyone had a sumptuous meal in a beautiful cafe by the lake just outside Chiang Mai city. We then rested for a bit and most students finished their swim test before dinner. After that we played an ice breaking game and socialized for a bit before bed. Stay tuned for updates!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

We kicked things off with a camp orientation where we dove into the student handbook and got familiar with what to expect for the days. We got to meet the amazing staff who would be guiding us through this experience.

From there, we headed out into the heart of Thai culture with a visit to several Buddhist temples. The peaceful surroundings and stunning architecture gave us a window into local traditions and the highlight was definitely getting blessed by a monk. We learned about mindfulness, meditation and the values that shape everyday life in Thailand. After soaking in the culture, we had our first local Thai dinner at a restaurant in Chiang Mai.

After we also visited the inspiring Elephant Parade — an art and conservation project that raises funds for elephant care through beautifully painted ceramic elephants. We got the chance to create our own personalised elephants, painting them with unique designs.

Back at the hotel, we gathered for our very first Chow Circle — a nightly tradition where we reflect, share gratitude and wind down as a group.

We wrapped up the evening with some relaxation at the hotel pool.

By LoD Breydan and Carson

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

Today we went to a very beautiful temple. We met a Monk named KK and we were able to ask him questions about his daily life, activities and certain rules they have to follow, as well as the history of the temple and buddhism. We were able to tour a Monk university and talk to the students, asking questions and answering any that they had for us. We then went to a Muay Thai gym and were taught the basics of Muay Thai martial arts, as well as the customs and traditions they follow during a fight. We went to 7/11 and we purchased local snacks. After, we headed back to the hotel and had our first mentor group session.

-LoD Joel and Kenna

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Today was the third full day in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We headed to the elephant sanctuary at 9am which is where we will be staying for the next few days. We made a pit stop at 7/11 and also a small market where some of us bought souvenirs and Thai clothes like elephant pants. Shortly after getting to the sanctuary we ate lunch and got to feed elephants their lunch too. We then learned about Asian elephants and their comparison to African elephants from a local vet. We got to do some hands-on observations of three different elephants, taking notes on their physical health. We used these notes to present one of our three elephants to the other two groups. After we said bye to the elephants we went back to “home base” and ate some food, then played games together in our mentor groups and chow circle. We have a very busy day for tomorrow so we all got ready for bed and talked a little before lights out

-LoD Owen and Matthew

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Today was a true immersion in nature- filled with purpose. We started off our day with us planting Napier grass- an energetic fast growing forage into fresh soil; in between planting we pulled weeds, it was meditative work. Afterwards, we hiked down to the elephant camp where we had lunch and made lunch for the elephants which consisted of Napier grass, bananas, rice and tamarind which is essential in their diet and health. We observed them in their daily activities such as bathing in mud and eating. We then went back to our home base and had a debate about the ethical treatment of elephants.

By LoD Griffin and Orla

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Today was a packed with adventure, learning, laughter, and just a little bit of mud.

We kicked things off at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, where we reunited with our gentle giant friends. But today was extra special — we met I-oon, the baby elephant! It was our first time seeing her, and she completely stole our hearts. With tiny (but still really big) trunks reaching for the treats, we fed her and the rest of the herd their morning snacks.

Thanks to everything we’d learned over the last couple of days at camp, we were ready to go next-level with our elephant care. We got our hands dirty (in the best way) making medicine balls out of fruits, grains, and herbs. These nutrient-packed treats help keep the elephants healthy, and we loved hand-feeding each one.

After snack time, we set out on a trail walk with the elephants. Walking beside them through the forest, we got a glimpse of how these majestic animals behave in the wild: pulling leaves, tossing dirt, and staying close to each other in that calm, gentle way only elephants can.

By lunchtime, we were more than ready for a feast. We devoured a delicious spread of Thai food: Pad Thai, fried rice, and dumplings that hit just right after a morning in the sun.

Then came the moment we had all been waiting for… mud bath time! 🛁🐘 Covered in smiles (and mud), we joined the elephants in the bath, learning how this messy activity actually protects them from sunburn and insects. Slathering mud on a 2-ton animal is a wild, unforgettable experience — and one we’ll definitely be talking about for years.

We wrapped up our sanctuary adventure with a much-needed café run for sweet treats and cold drinks. After dinner, we turned the energy up with a game of musical chairs (hosted by yours truly!)

To wind down, we joined our mentor groups for some reflection and connection. But the night wasn’t over just yet! Before curfew, we relaxed and watched Happy Gilmore 2, shared some delicious snacks and ended the night helping two adorable kids (at the camp) practice addition problems.
It was a day full of heart, mud, and unforgettable moments. Grateful for every second.

Yours truly,

Avery & Veronica 💚

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

Sadly, today was the last morning at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. We started off the day with a filling breakfast of toast, eggs and tropical fruit.

After breakfast we headed into the vans and drove to a new elephant camp we hadn’t previously gone to. Here we found 3 new elephants. One was pregnant, one was a 3 year old baby, and the last was a full grown female. We were able to feed them bananas and watermelon for the last time before picking up some to-go lunch and hitting the road back to the city of Chiang Mai.
We made sure to include a quick pit stop at 7-11 gas station to grab snacks and drinks to try and share among ourselves. Once we arrived at the Hotel, we grabbed our luggage and settled back into our same rooms. We then were given laundry bags to put all our dirty close in.

Finally, we ended the day by adventuring to a Thai cooking class where we were taught the basics of cooking and the background of Thai ingredients. The instructors were firm but very thoughtful as they guided us through a flavoured adventure. A few favorite dishes were mango sticky rice, Thai curry and rice dishes. We left with full stomachs and happy memories as we were given cool pan-flips of the recipes to share with our families when we return home. Overall, it was a fun day with lots of Thai culture sprinkled in everywhere.

We can’t wait to see what’s to come with the remainder of the trip!

By Leaders of the Day – Rubi & Kate

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Today was our first day preparing to teach English at the local elementary school. After a quick breakfast (with a few of us sleeping in too late), we met as a group to learn about teaching and to write our lesson plans. We practiced projected speaking, learned about the thai school system and planned our lessons for the week.

Our plans to visit the local night market were temporarily postponed due to heavy rain, but we made the most of it— some of us played in the rain then jumping into the pool. The rain eventually passed and we headed to the market.

The market was full of colorful lights, delicious food, and great souvenirs. We wandered around in small groups trying new snacks and picking out gifts. It was a great way to wrap up a fun and productive day.

So exited to meet these kids!

Lots of love

LOD Sierra and June

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

We started the day by waking up at 8 and having breakfast, then set off on a two-hour drive to the highest point in Thailand. After enjoying the views there, we stopped by a few temples and a waterfall on the way back, where we also grabbed some lunch. Once we returned, we relaxed for a bit before heading out again to have dinner and that was our day.

⁃ LoD Milo and David

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

We started our first day teaching with an early start. We left for the school assembly at 7:40 and arrived just before 8. After watching the local schools morning assembly for a while, we got our materials ready and began our three periods of the day, teaching fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students. Our in depth lesson plans made the teaching go quite smoothly, and before we knew it we were in the vans on our way to a restaurant.

After we ate, we went to a huge indoor/outdoor market with tons of snacks, clothes and souvenirs. We had an hour and a half to walk around and buy things. Once we got back, we had some down time and decided to swim, we played our usual games and got ready for dinner.

Dinner tonight included a fruit party! We had mangosteen, lychee, rambutan, and Thai plum. After our dinner we played Ninja for chow circle, had an extensive karaoke session and ended the day with a few card games.

By LoD Noah and Breydan

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 30

Today was another rewarding day of teaching and bonding with the kids at the local elementary school. We spent the morning working with students from grades 4 through 6, guiding them through activities and lessons until around noon. Afterward we shared a lunch at the school, where the kids introduced us to a fun local Thai game and the whole school joined in. It was a perfect opportunity for everyone to relax, laugh and connect on a more personal level.

In the afternoon we returned to the hotel to unwind, spent some time in the pool to cool off and recharge. As the day wound down, we gathered for a delicious Thai dinner at the hotel. The evening concluded with our final mentor group session of the program. Then we all joined together and relaxed to play cards. Altogether today was a very fun and impactful day and we can’t wait to do it again tomorrow.

By LoD Carson and Griffin

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

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Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Hello from the land of smiles! We’re happy to share that everyone has landed safely today and we just finished our last airport pickup for the night! All the students have successfully checked in to home base, got their health checks done, ate some hearty meals and most people got their deserved rest. Lunch was at a beautiful cafe by the lake just outside Chiang Mai city. We are looking forward to having you here with us, Emma and Pierce!! Photos will also be uploaded tomorrow, stay tuned!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

Sawadee Ka (hello)!

Today we woke up at 7:30 and were down at breakfast from 8-9. We had eggs, toast, fresh watermelon and cereal! After breakfast, we made our way to orientation, where we played ice breaker games, introduced ourselves and went over GLA code of conduct. We also learned some Thai words! We then had a delicious lunch at home base which consisted of stir fried vegetables, rice and chicken.

After lunch, we went to see two historic Buddhist temples and saw Monks. Then, on the way home we were really excited to go to a Thai 7/11! We tried a variety of snacks such as Matcha Pokki, Seaweed Lay’s Chips and Gummy Bears. We also bought skincare collagen drinks, which we will try tonight! After stopping at the 7/11, we made our way back home and headed down to the pool. We also passed our swim tests (yay!)

After swimming, we had some chill time and then did some group activities before dinner. Dinner was at the home base and consisted of miso soup, rice, beef and vegetable rolls. As leaders of the day, we were responsible for chow circle, so with the rest of the group, we shared our highs and lows of the day. After that, we met with our mentor groups for some deep reflection.

Now, we are getting ready for the night and the adventurous day tomorrow, visiting a national park, and going to the highest point in Thailand!

Sawadee Ka (it means both hello and goodbye).

By your leaders of the day: Rayanne and Alina

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 5

On our third day in Chiang Mai, we woke up at 7:00 and had breakfast before leaving for our first activity at 8:00. We rode buses over to a Buddhist temple where a monk taught us more about his culture and guided us through some meditation techniques. After stopping by a 7/11 we took a long and chatty bus ride up the tallest mountain and took a picture by the tallest point in Thailand. We also visited some more Buddhist temples in the pouring rain (we were in the clouds) and after an exhausting afternoon we took the long ride home and ate dinner and did some more guided meditation and wrote our goals for the trip.

By LoD Owen and Gamble

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

We started off the day by grabbing breakfast at the hotel, then meeting with Todd, a member of the local staff here in Thailand. He works at an international school; and taught us how we teach English as a second language as well as giving us background information on the level of the Thai students and their grades (We also munched on some delicious snacks and not so delicious durian candies.) After our session with Todd, we split up into our assigned teaching groups and started lesson planning. After that around 2:00 we went to eat lunch at a cafe with a beautiful garden and koi ponds surrounding it. Later, we went to the Sunday night walking market and splurged on all types of clothes and items, notably, 5 Rolexes! We ended the night at Burger King, which was delicious.

Written by LoD Sebastian and Miles

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

The morning started with a nice breakfast at home base. After that, we headed to the elementary school where we got to teach P4, P5, and P6 level students. The students were full of energy, and it was a fun challenge keeping them engaged. It felt good knowing that we were helping them practice their English and seeing them excited to learn. We also got to see a traditional performance by the children of the school!

Later in the day, we visited a local food market, which was really cool. There were so many interesting sights and smells, and we got to try some snacks we had never seen before. After that, we went to a cafe in a mall to relax and cool off for a bit. When we got back to home base, people swam, worked on lesson plans for tomorrow, and started planning our cultural exchange activity. After dinner, we had chow circle and mentor groups, which gave us a chance to reflect on the day. We ended the night by hanging out and then going to bed. It was a very long but rewarding day!

By LoD Olivia and Keller

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

This morning kicked off with a fantastic breakfast that got everyone energised for a big day ahead. We headed off to the school and jumped right into teaching our classes. Each group took a different approach—some used printouts and word searches to get students engaged, while others focused on writing activities. One group even pulled off the impressive task of teaching compound sentences!

After a fun and productive morning, we enjoyed a great lunch and were then assigned classes to return to for afternoon games. Musical chairs and red light, green light were huge hits, with lots of laughter and friendly competition.

Later in the afternoon, we had the amazing opportunity to join a cultural procession to a local temple. We took part in a special Buddhist ceremony, giving offerings to a monk in honor of a version of Lent celebrated here. It was a peaceful and meaningful moment for many of us.

We returned to the school for more games and field time with the kids—tag, red light green light (round two!), and sharks and minnows were crowd favorites. By the end, everyone was sweaty, smiling, and completely worn out.

In the evening, we visited a nearby mall to try some new local dishes and pick up snacks for the students as a special treat for our final day tomorrow. Once we got back to the hotel, some of us swam, others hopped on bikes for a quick ride, and then we all gathered for dinner before calling it a night.

Each day here keeps surprising us—in the best ways. We can’t believe tomorrow’s our last full day at the school, but we’re ready to make it count.

Until then,

– The GLA Thailand Team

By LoD Pierce and Danielle

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

This morning started bright and early as we prepared for what would be our last day of teaching at the local school.

We arrived with big smiles and bags full of candies, ready to make our final lessons special for the kids we’ve grown so close to over the past few days. Our classrooms quickly filled with energy and laughter as we dove into our final English lessons. It was amazing to see how far the students had come, and we felt so proud to be part of their journey, even if only for a short time.

Before leaving, we spent time writing autographs and taking lots of photos to remember the experience; let’s give a huge shoutout to Pierce for capturing so many great moments.

Saying our final goodbyes were emotional hugs we shared, promises to stay in touch were made and a few tears were shed. As we boarded the bus to head to our next destination for cultural immersion, we carried with us not just memories, but genuine connections that made a lasting impact.

As a group, we visited a local Thai high school where we got to dive into the heart of Thai culture through four interactive stations. We split into smaller groups and rotated between each activity, learning something new at every stop.

Our first station introduced us to traditional Thai dance. With guidance from the students, we learned graceful movements and tried our best to keep up—it was harder than it looked, but so much fun! Next, we had the chance to play Thai musical instruments, experimenting with the different sounds and rhythms.

At the third station, we got a taste of Thai cuisine—literally! We learned how to make a delicious Thai dessert. It was so cool to be hands-on in the kitchen, and of course, sampling our creations was the best part. Finally, we did a craft project alongside the Thai students, giving us the chance to slow down, connect, and get creative together.

As our visit wrapped up, we decided to dance the Macarena for the students. The best part? We got them to join us! Seeing everyone laughing, dancing, and enjoying the moment together was truly special. The Thai students were so kind and welcoming, it felt like we were making new friends with every activity.

To top it all off, we ended the evening with pizza back at our place, tired but happy.

By LoD Jenna and Nevaeh

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Today was an exciting and enriching day filled with a mix of physical activity, reflection, and cultural immersion. We kicked off with a lively Muay Thai boxing lesson, where we learned various moves and techniques, culminating in a fun competition to see who could kick the punching bag the most times in 20 seconds—our camp mentor Charlie won impressively with 51 kicks! After a short break, we participated in a “pulse check” activity, sharing our feedback with GLA and the staff about the camp experience so far. The day wrapped up with a traditional Thai cooking class, where we discovered the unique spices and vegetables essential to Thai cuisine and prepared a delicious five-course meal ourselves. It was a perfect blend of learning, teamwork, and cultural appreciation!

By LoD Elle and Jordan

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Today was a calm but really cool day. We started off with breakfast at the hotel, then hit the road and drove up into the mountains. Our first stop was a Buddhist temple—quiet, peaceful, and surrounded by greenery. We got to see the temple grounds, and some of us had our fortunes read by a monk. A few people even received blessings, which felt pretty special.

Afterward, we had a little time to walk around and shop before heading higher up the mountain. We stopped at a small café for snacks and views, then explored a quiet village with more shops and local crafts.

Later in the afternoon, we visited Elephant Parade, an organization that supports elephant conservation. We each painted our own mini white elephant statues to take home—everyone got really into it, and each design was super different.

We wrapped up the day with dinner at a chill little café, then headed back to the hotel to pack for our next adventure: elephant camp tomorrow. Everyone’s excited.

By LoD Emma and Ryan

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

We excitedly and groggily got out of bed early in the morning for breakfast. With full stomachs and newfound energy we departed in the trunk of a few pickup trucks. After a bumpy ride, we soon arrived at a large and empty field where we would work together to plant shoots of Napier Grass that would grow into a meal for the elephants. After approximately 2 hours of community service, we took a hike through the woods, where we encountered interesting bugs and lizards before reaching a waterfall where we drank smoothies, took pictures and relaxed.

Eventually we trekked to a new elephant sanctuary where we had a tasty lunch of chicken, rice and watermelon. We also ground up ingredients like rice, bananas, salt, probiotics and other necessary ingredients into nutritious balls for the elephants to eat after we fed them a ton of bananas and watermelon. We learned more about the elephants and watched them play and bathe in a nearby river. On our way home we stopped by a cafe where we got more drinks and then winded down with dinner and group activities and games before eventually going to bed at 10.

By LoD Owen and Gamble

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Today we started off our day with breakfast and then made our way to the elephant camp. We started out there by feeding the elephants watermelon and bananas, as well as meeting/ feeding the baby elephant who is one year old. We went on a quick walk with the elephants where we observed them eating grass and cooling off in the water. After our walk, we made our way back to eat lunch which was Pad Thai and fresh fruit. Then, we created vitamin balls for elephants and fed them their nutrient supplements. We later hopped in a mud bath with the elephants, covering them in mud to protect them from mosquito bites. After that we headed back to home base and stopped at a delicious cafe before. Once we were back, we showered and made our way to a leadership activity: debating on the future of Thailand’s elephants. After some games, we ate dinner and then ended the night with a bonfire.

By LoD Rayanne and Ryan

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

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Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 16

Hello, we are all very excited to be finally having everyone in Thailand. It’s been a long journey for most people and they all got their deserved rest. They met some old friends from GLA, some of them came with their friends from home and some of them made new friends especially in the shared rooms. Lunch was at a beautiful cafe by the lake right outside Chiang Mai city. The group then played a few games together at the home base and some people took the swim test so they can go in the pool. Dinner was delicious food boxes filled with Thai green curry and an option of macaroni and cheese. Everyone is fast asleep and we can’t wait to have you with us tomorrow, Paloma!

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17

Today we woke up and had a yummy breakfast and did some icebreakers before meeting for orientation! At orientation we went over the rules we must follow for the next 2 weeks and learned about the program! We also learned some basic Thai vocabulary, like thank you and how are you.

Then it was temple time! We hopped in the vans headed off to the temple. We visited three temples in total. We even got to see the first temple ever built in Thailand. We enjoyed seeing lots of monks and the beautiful temples. We got to learn about which buddha corresponded with the day of the week we were born. We also got to explore beautiful gardens and architecture!

Later we got to cook a 5 course meal at the Asia Scenic Cooking School and enjoy some traditional Thai meals like mango sticky rice, pad thai, red curry, tom ka soup, spring rolls, and many more. For each course we were given 3 dish options to choose from. It was really fun to engage and build connections with the cooking instructors.

They showed us interesting cooking styles and made the food in front of us before we got to try making it ourselves! They even brought us to a nearby market where we got to buy some souvenirs, and their garden with the cool ingredients and spices which we then cooked with.

After expanding our tastebuds, we ended the night by reflecting with a fun chow circle, where we talked about our highlights and takeaways for the day.

-By Sydney and Amina (Leaders of the Day)

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18

We started off with an early morning breakfast at 7:00 am to head to the Doi Inthanon which is the highest peak in Thailand! The fog up in the mountains gave us a much needed break from the heat!

After this we were able to visit a beautiful temple. There, some people got some baked goods from a cafe, while others walked around the temples and gardens. We also got to enjoy a lunch with lots friendly faces (dogs and cats). We ate 3 different Thai dishes.

We then got to see a gorgeous waterfall. The mist was very refreshing after a long day.

After our visit at the waterfall, we had the opportunity to meet and chat with a monk. We learned to take care of not only our physical health, but mental too. It is importantly to keep a balance in life and we learned we can do so by being respectful, loving, compassionate, having sympathy, and equanimity. We ended our chat with mediation centered around peace and happiness, and we took a moment of silence to reflect for our loved ones!

The day ended with a chow circle to reflect and share on our experiences of the day. A chow circle normally consists of a highlight, a takeaway, and a shout out to a peer. We also broke off into our mentor groups to learn more about ourselves as leaders.

By Chloe and Gabriella (Leaders of the Day)

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19

Today we had an early morning, leaving our previous hotel to a beautiful home base surrounded by greenery. Focusing on elephants, we made way to an elephant retreat where we learned tons about elephants. At the retreat we did physical examinations and then in groups we presented what we learned. This activity was super fun and led to a very exciting day. We ended with dinner at the home base, and a fun activity where we went over each other’s best memories of the day! Overall, one of the best days yet!

By leaders of the day Luna and Tatum

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20

Written by Mila and Charlotte

We started our day at 8:00 AM with breakfast at our home base. After eating, we headed to one of the elephant sites to plant Napier grass. Once we finished planting, we went on a beautiful hike to a waterfall, where we took time to admire the view and relax in nature.

We then continued our hike to Camp 6, where the elephants awaited us. After arriving, we ate lunch and listened to an elephant doctor who refreshed the information we had learned during yesterday’s session.

Next, we made supplement balls for the elephants and had the fantastic opportunity to feed them. After feeding time, we got into the car and drove to a small café.

We returned to home base for some free time, playing card games and bonding as a group. At 6:00 PM, we gathered for dinner, followed by a special celebration with cake for the three birthdays that all happened to fall on today! After dinner, we continued to Chow Circle, where our activity was the human knot. We also announced our leaders of the day for tomorrow. We headed to bed at 9:30 after a great day!

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

Today we woke up and ate breakfast at the hotel at 8, for breakfast we had toast, eggs, fruit, and sausages.

After breakfast we all went to see the 6 elephants and including a baby one.

We rode in the truck and arrived to elephant camp 3. We went over the rules of the elephants again and learned more about them. We first fed them all watermelon except the baby, who we fed small bananas, and then went to say hi to all of them and take photos. After we had a short break then made tie dye bandanas. While we were waiting to go on the walk the baby elephant got scared and cried which made all the other female elephants run to it and protect it. Once the elephants calmed down we gathered our water bottles and went on a walk to follow and see how the elephants live in the jungle. We stayed close to the sanctuary while on the walk.

After the walk we went to lunch back at the sanctuary were we had rice, chicken, fruit and mini hotdogs. Then we went into the water and bathed the elephants with buckets, and once they were all clean we had a water fight. After we went into a mud bath and rubbed mud on the elephants in order to protect them from the sun. We rinsed off and headed back to the hotel to wind down and get fully clean before dinner. Some people gathered outside and played games and others took naps and rested in their rooms. After we ate dinner and played mafia & card games, then we had a debate and got ready for bed.

By LoD Jacqueline and Michael

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Today was our last day at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. After packing up our bags and loading them into the truck, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast with eggs, sausage, toast, watermelon, and pineapple. We then headed to Camp #4 for a final chance to feed the elephants, including Monsai, an adorable three-year-old baby elephant.

Lunch was a simple Thai meal. Before leaving, we said our goodbyes to Jumbo and the rest of the camp staff who made our stay unforgettable.

On the way to our original hotel—Ratchapruek Lanna Boutique—we stopped at 7-Eleven for snacks and bug spray. Once we arrived, we sorted laundry with bags being passed out.

We then did a “pulse check,” using a poster created by Olivia and Jacqueline reflecting on how we’re feeling emotionally and physically, and gave feedback on the program. In the evening, we visited the Sunday Night Walking Street Market, where we used baht to buy dinner and shop for jewelry, clothes, and teaching attire.

We ended the day with chow circle before heading to our rooms for lights out. We’re excited and ready for our upcoming teaching days!

By LoD Olivia and Blake

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

We had breakfast at 8 and Todd came at 9 to help us and understand how we can teach the children. We split into our 3 teaching groups and came up with lesson plans for our classes. After we went for lunch at a very pretty restaurant with picturesque waterfalls and wonderful food at 12:30.

After finishing lunch we went to the school and visited the students we are going to teach. We got to meet them and we also participated in thai dancing. After saying goodbye to the students we went to an elephant sculpture painting class and we all got to paint are own unique elephant sculptures.

At 5 we headed to a restaurant for dinner and had a lovely time. We ended this great day by having chow circle and announcing the new leaders. This was one of our favourite days so far!

By LoD Alex and Bella

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24

We woke up around 7, to leave for the school where we teach at 8 o’clock. After a short van ride, we arrived at the school at 8:30. We made our way to one of 3 classrooms on the third floor with our pre-planned lessons. After a quick introduction, we got to teach the 3rd graders and swapped around at the end of one hour. We then went back to home base after lunch and reflected on the teaching in our mentor groups. Then prepped for the next teaching day and after we went to 7-11 for snacks. We came back and had a chow circle for shoutouts after dinner and then off to sleep and be ready for tomorrow.

By LoD Nico and Bailey

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25

Today we woke up and went to teach at the Thai public school in the morning. Then we went to a local indoor market. After we went back to the hotel and had a fruit party. We ended the day with a leadership activity.

By LoD Zac and Walker

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26

Today we left home base at 8:00 to go the school. There we learned a Thai dance in the morning with the children and taught two classes before lunch. We ate lunch at the school and then went back to the hotel. In the afternoon we enjoyed some relaxation and pool time. Dinner was a pizza party! We enjoyed fries, pizza, onion rings and more before going upstairs for a chow circle and karaoke.

By LoD Paloma and Eden

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27

Today we woke up and had breakfast at 7 and went to teach at the school for the last time! We arrived and learned a traditional Muay Thai dance which we did with the kids, then we taught two classes. After these two classes we said goodbye to the students for one last time and had lunch, then we headed on over to a Muay Thai boxing studio and got an introduction to Muay Thai boxing. After we learned a few basic kicks, punches, and blocks. We practiced our moves on punching bags in the gym and on the instructors who wore protective pads. The session ended with a kicking competition, who can do the most kicks in twenty seconds. Gabby won this competition with forty seven kicks in twenty seconds. We then headed back to home base where some people spent time in the pool, cafe, and in their rooms. We then had dinner and a chow circle which concluded with an early appreciation circle for those who are leaving a day sooner than most.

By LoD Gemma and Jacqueline

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28

Today marked our final day at Ratchapruek Lanna Hotel, and with it came some goodbyes to a few friends from the program. We started the morning with one last breakfast at the hotel, enjoying a mix of pasta, cereal, fresh fruit, and more.

After packing up, we hopped in the vans and headed up the winding roads to the Hmong Doi Pui Village. There, we explored a vibrant local market and spent our remaining baht on souvenirs before tomorrow’s departure.

Our next stop was the stunning Doi Suthep temple. We wandered through its golden grounds, taking in the views and soaking up the peaceful atmosphere.

Around two o’clock, we returned to the hotel to rest and prepare for our final evening together. To wrap up our trip, we went to Riverside restaurant for a delicious dinner followed by a scenic boat ride— the perfect way to end our unforgettable journey.

By LoD Olivia and Michael

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

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Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Dearest blog readers,

Our South Africa program is officially underway. We could not be more excited. We’ve been dreaming about this program for months, and it’s finally happening. The next two weeks have the potential to be some of the best of our lives.

After a long day of travel, students are here and surprisingly energetic. They are quickly adapting to the winter chill in our lodge in Johannesburg. We head out to Nambiti Reserve tomorrow. We are excited to see animals and eat biltong, learn about Zulu culture and take part in conservation efforts.

The program is packed with day after day of activities and fun, and the group is going to make a blast. We’ve already started to bond around the fire and pool table and can’t wait to see what the program has in store for us.

Students will be writing blogs to update you about our adventures. Expect a blog every couple of days. Students will also be able to submit photos to showcase photography skills.

Right now student Lizette is not with us yet because of a delayed flight, but she will be arriving tomorrow. Otherwise, all the students are here and you can see them in this group picture. Our wonderful local director, Graeme, is also present. He was helping shield a light, so we could get the best shot.

Cheers,

John

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Today wake up was at 7:30, but most people woke up at 6:00 to shower. We met for breakfast at 8:00 and had a lovely combination of oatmeals and fruits. We left for our first safari early, hopes high of seeing many of our favorite animals. As we passed through the entrance, we spotted off in the distance a float of hippopotamus. We drove up closer, so that we could take some photos of the hippos.

After the exciting hippo sighting we drove off hoping to see more animals. We eventually saw a dazzle of zebras and a confusion of wildebeest grazing in the field. At one point we saw an elephant off in the distance and a tower of ten giraffes. While we were driving we saw a sounder of warthogs which were pretty cool to see as well. We came back and had sandwiches for lunch at 12:30. After that we went back out at 2:00 for another safari. We saw a crash of rhinos and had a nice reflective drive.

We came back to camp at 4:30 and had some nice hot chocolate to warm up before going back out to do some practical telemetry. Telemetry is the tracking of animals and we got to practice tracking. Thankfully, John, our international director, was willing to wear the collar that the animals wear, and we tracked him through the bush. He tried to trick us by doubling back in himself, but we noticed that, and we were hot on his heels until we finally tracked him down.

After the fun adventure we came back to camp and relaxed a little bit before dinner at 6:30. After we finished dinner we all gathered around the fire for s’mores and the question of the day. The question of the day was “What is your favorite memory of the trip so far?” There were a lot of different and interesting answers, but the main ones were getting to see all of the animals that we don’t normally get to see and riding in the safari cars. After s’mores we were free to do whatever we wanted to do which included going to bed showering or staying by the fire for a little bit longer. At the end of the day it was a really good first full day that we have had and all of us in the camp are looking forward to whats coming next.

– Cam V and Everett

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

We woke up this morning to some light rain. It sounded beautiful on our tents. On our way to breakfast, we all had mud stuck to our shoes that wouldn’t come off as hard as we tried. It was so much fun. We then took a morning game drive through Nambiti Game Reserve on the way to our meeting with a South African community that was a short car ride away from the reserve. On the drive in the rain, we saw wet wildebeest and hartebeest, as well as a mother white rhino with her calf that our guide identified by looking at notches on her ears. It was cold and wet on the way to the community, but we all had a blast looking at the beautiful hats that the Gogos (grannies) made out of plastic, playing keep up with a soccer ball with the kids, and eating the food that they prepared for us. A main highlight was having an all-out soccer game against the kids of the community where John, our director, had a spectacular goal to win the game. We drove back to the reserve and played cards for a while before participating in a leadership opportunity where we discovered what types of leaders we are and discussed about it. We then had dinner and after that went for a night game drive where our guides would shine a light to look out into the savanna for the reflection off of animals’ eyes, and one of our groups saw a jackal, owls, and even a rhino. We’re super excited for what’s to come!

Lizette and Adam

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

We woke up bright and early to start our day of excitement. We ate some delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, baked beans, and banana bread. After we ate the breakfast we packed up to say goodbye to Nambiti. We left around 8:45 a.m. to go to the mushroom farm 2 hours away. Around an hour and a half in to the drive, we stopped at a little rest stop which had a lot of cool memorabilia and some crazy South African delicacies. We arrived at our house and were struck by the openness of it. We have a huge living room to chill in with all of our new found friends.

After we settled in to our cottage, we went zip lining. Before we went zip lining we had a little lunch of sandwiches made for us. We all gathered around one big table and enjoyed our meal together. We rode 12 different zip lines ranging from 40m to 200m. It was so cool to see the scenery as we were flying through it. After the zip line we went back to the mushroom farm to look around the area. We went to all of the shops, and we through a public garden for the residents that are staying there. We then played a bunch of outdoor games as a group, like hide and seek and sharks and minis. We then had a delightful dinner of kudu pie made for us by the locals. It was very tasty. We then went into our mentor groups and had a lot fun talking about some of our goals we want to accomplish. We then ended our day with talking to each other as a group before we were off to bed to get ready for the next day.

Tripp and Lilian

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

Yesterday we transferred from Howick to Bonomanzi Reserve. Most of the day was spent in the car with lots of singing, music, and sleeping. We stopped for lunch and then made it to Bonomanzi. We played some games including Mafia once we were there and got some rest.

Vikram and Elin

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

After a long travel day we had an early wake up and breakfast, then headed to the Snake Pharm. Donald, our guide at the Snake Pharm, showed us all of the snakes like vipers, cobras, rattlesnakes, and more. We then split into two separate groups. One group went to hang out with, feed, and name all of the guinea pigs while the other group stayed behind with Donald to help do some work with the snakes. We climbed into snake enclosures (once they were empty) and helped clean them by scooping poop, cleaning the glass, and cleaning and refilling the water. We also got to hold some of the nonvenomous snakes. The groups switched, so everyone had a chance to help clean the enclosures and hold the guinea pigs. For lunch we made our own sandwiches and then went back to help with moving some monitor lizards. Some students helped dig bigger holes to access the lizards underground and then staff helped actually catch them. Many students were watching, filming, and eating passion fruit from a tree on the property. Then we watched as Donald caught baby crocodiles and moved them into the old monitor lizard enclosure. After our work at the Snake Pharm we followed Donald to snake bridge where he released a forest cobra back into the wild. Many students said that today was their most enjoyable day on the trip so far. The experience was a very highfalutin and enjoyable memory. We went back to camp and did some leadership activities and laundry before dinner, which was chicken soup and rice. After dinner we played a few games of mafia before lights out.

Elin and Vikram

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

We woke up at 7:30 to have a quick breakfast of frittata. Then we headed to ZAP-Wing, which is the aerial division of the Anti-Poaching-Unit. We learned about both Rhino poaching and the lesser known Vulture poaching, both of which are equally as relevant and concerning to our environment. We were lucky enough to be able to get in the cockpits of their planes and even try and lift them up. Due to their light aluminum material they were easily lifted. Later Brandon let us try on their bullet proof vests they use on patrol as well. We bought stuff from the shop and gave donations to help their cause, you can follow ZAP-Wing on Instagram at @zap_wing, and save the rhinoes at @projectrhinokzn.

After learning about rhino conservation, we drove to a local supermarket where everyone bought snacks, alongside a butcher where we were able to check out and purchase some of the exotic meats. Afterwards we played a game of soccer with the whole group. Many goals were scored in this exhilarating game, and it was won in a nail-biting “last goal wins”. Afterwards some people chose to hand-wash their clothes in buckets. To dry, we hung our clothes on clothing lines.

Afterwards we had to cook our own lunch by participating in a scavenger hunt for our ingredients to make our Poitjie. Potjie is a stew made by boiling meat, vegetables, and seasoning in a pot. After gathering all the ingredients, we elected our best chefs to cook the potjie and have our chef rate them. The venison had a 3/5, and the chicken won with a solid 4/5. Later on before curfew, we practiced a dance routine for our school visit the next day.

Ada and Knox

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Today we got to sleep in a little later, although some of us still got up early to squeeze in a morning workout. For breakfast, we enjoyed a delicious meal of bacon, French toast, fruit, and yogurt.

Right after breakfast, we headed to Hluhluwe High School, where we had the chance to talk with students our age and introduce ourselves. We also got to congratulate the winners of Project Rhino’s rhino art competition.

Next, we visited a crèche school, where we met all the adorable kids who go there. We played and danced with them, and even performed a dance we had choreographed the night before.

After our wonderful time with the little ones, we headed back to camp for a quick lunch of chicken and veggie wraps prepared by our amazing chef. Then we had some chill time to relax and unwind before our evening game drive.

During our break, we were surprised with a short, unexpected game drive to see Cape Buffalo for the first time on our trip! After returning from that sighting, we played a fun (and slightly heated) debate game.

Finally, we set out on our evening game drive, where we saw rhinos, monkeys, and nyala. My favorite moment of the day was when we were pulling back into camp and spotted a white rhino. It was majestic. We watched it for quite a while and took tons of pictures.

Shortly after, we had a tasty supper of spaghetti and meat sauce (there were vegetarian options of course). We ended the night with a lively and suspenseful game of Mafia.

– Mak and Alex

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Today we woke up at 6:30 but some people woke up earlier to workout or watch the sunset. After everybody was up and ready we had an amazing breakfast that consisted of oatmeal, toast, hard boiled eggs and fruit. After breakfast, we washed our dishes and got ready for a pretty long drive to Sodwana Bay Beach where we passed communities and restaurants as well as cattle on the road and we also went through town and saw all of the stores and restaurants and houses, as well as the people whom live in the town.

When we arrived at the beach, we crossed a smaller body of water. Some balances on a log while some went straight through the water and then we all set our stuff down and got sunscreen on and went in the water and went swimming and then we all got lunch at the restaurant on the beach and then headed to the grocery store for some snacks. Then we went back to camp and hung out and then we did chow circle and then for dinner we had delicious burgers and then played poker after dinner and then went to bed.

Noah B. and Cam C.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

We woke up and ate some scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. Today we went to the community to make some bracelets and baskets. We had a group make bracelets and a group weave some baskets. We got to keep the things that we made, and they all look really cool. After we made some bracelets we got to go to the shop and see/buy all the things the kind ladies have made. It all ranged from jewelry to wooden spoons.

After we got done in the community we came back to eat lunch. We had some amagwenya, which is like a donut that you can put lunch meat, cheese, and other sandwich ingredients on. After lunch will had a little bit of chill time. We played some soccer which was really fun. Some people had some really amazing goals. We then went on a game drive and saw some amazing wildlife. We saw a lot of different flowers and other plant life. We saw a lot of monkeys and giraffes this game drive.

We then got some lunch after our game drive and ate some chicken and vegetables. We then split into our mentor groups and had our respectable conversations. After we hung out in the outside community area and then went to bed.

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

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Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

Author: James M. (International Director)

Karibu sana, or welcome, from Tanzania!

It was a smooth start to our program with Chatham lucking out and arriving a couple of days early to home base to rest and relax with the team!

We had an early start to begin picking up the majority of our students on arrival day, us going on various trips to the airport, having some snacks on the drive to our home base in Moshi, near the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro which can be seen on clear days right from town! The rainy season is nearly over so everything is green and the air is cool and fresh! It is avocado season and there are many corn fields that are nearly ready for harvest, but in general there is an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables all around!

The students settled in at home base and ate lunch as a small group before playing some ice-breakers and hanging around the many common areas under shaded fruit trees, or having a warm shower and relaxing! This evening we welcomed our late arrivals, us sitting down to eat dinner together to wrap up our first day in the country!

We’re anxiously awaiting our final arrival, Melvin, to be a full family here in Tanzania!

Kwaheri, or goodbye for now!

-James (International Director)

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Zaha asubuhi, or good morning from Moshi!

We began the day with a later breakfast which allowed students to sleep off some of their jet lag after a long travel day! We then headed straight into a full day of orientation to get acquainted with the entire program!

We had a variety of sessions about cultural norms and customs, a full home base tour, an introduction to Swahili (the local language), and the Tanzanian education system, broken up with fun and engaging ice-breakers and team-building activities to get to know one another.

We tried some Tanzanian dishes for lunch including coconut rice, local greens, and chicken curry, and of course fresh fruit!

Later on we had some relaxing time this evening to play some group games and chill before calling it a night as tomorrow we will head to the school where we will be meeting the students and beginning our service work!

Melvin, our final addition to the Tanzanian group also arrived tonight so we are now a full team, woohoo!

Uwe na siku njema, or have a great day!

James (International Director)

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Authors: Max H. and Lexi S.

Today we woke up to a delicious breakfast cooked by the staff followed by an exciting bus ride to the primary school. We were warmly greeted by the entire school containing songs and introductions from all of the teachers. We then split up and made our way to our different classrooms. The GLA students first met the students and observed how the teacher taught English and how the students learned. There were many songs, dances, and fun activities.

After a short break, it was time for playtime which was moved inside do to the rain. We played many games such as red light, green light and indoor soccer. We said our goodbyes to the children for the day and started our service work consisting of sanding down the walls in two classrooms to prepare to paint them. After this, we got back on the bus and headed back to home base.

Back at home base we had a filling lunch including more local dishes. Then we got back on the bus and went to the local market. There we got to choose fabrics for our custom clothes. Before we headed home, we stopped at the supermarket to see and buy some new snacks.

Once we got back to home base, we worked with two tailors to get fitted for our new clothes and accessories. The rest of the night was filled with GLA activities and dinner!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Authors: Ciri C. and Ofir W.

Today started with breakfast at home base, followed by preparing our lessons using the plans we received from the local teachers the day before. After finalizing our activities, we took the bus to the school and split into our teaching groups to present our lessons to the students. Once class ended, we had playtime with the kids, joining them in games and dancing. Afterward, we helped sand and prime two classrooms that we’ll be working on throughout the week.

When we returned to home base, we made lunch and then headed out to a local market to shop for ingredients for our cooking class. In the evening, our local staff taught us how to prepare a traditional meal called “pilao”, which we enjoyed together for dinner.

We ended the day by gathering in our mentor groups to reflect on the day’s experiences and play some games!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Authors: Kaya K. and Jackson B.

Today we woke up and were ready for breakfast by 7:30. Lulu, the chef, made a really good meal to start our day. After eating, we had about 30 minutes from 8:00 to 8:30 for some teacher planning before getting our shoes on and hopping on the bus. We arrived at the school by 9:00 AM.

Once we got there, the kids greeted us so sweetly. We dropped our backpacks in the office and headed to our classrooms from 9:00 to 10:00 to teach our grades. After teaching, we had a quick 5–10 minute snack break in the teacher’s lounge before going outside for recess with the kids. We spent around 30 minutes playing soccer, Duck Duck Goose, and other fun games with lots of laughter, photos, and memories.

After recess, we headed into the library and classroom where each mentor group started painting the first layer of oil paint on the walls. We painted for about an hour and a half, then took a break and later got a mini tour of the school with one of the teachers and Tunu. We saw the bathrooms, classrooms, kitchen, and learned more about how the students eat and some of the struggles they’re facing.

After the tour, we went back to home base around 1:00 PM and ate another yummy lunch from Lulu. By 1:55, we were back on the bus and headed to batik painting. From 2:00 to 6:15, we worked on choosing our images and went through the whole 7-step painting process. It was super fun and creative.

We got back to home base, did a quick chow circle, washed up, had dinner, hung out for a bit, and then headed to bed!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Authors: Sheryl P. and Gabriel S.

Today started off on a high note with another delicious breakfast prepared by Chef Lulu, her meals never disappoint!

We then jumped into our first GLA anchor activity, which was a lively and thought-provoking debate. Each of us represented a different party and had to argue our perspectives on the central question: should Tanzania open more public primary schools teaching English as the main language or could this make inequality worse and negatively affect Swahili and local culture? The conversation quickly became passionate and engaging, with everyone bringing strong points to the table.

After the debate, we split into two teams, one led by Agape and the other by Tunu, for an exciting scavenger hunt. We were given a list of items and challenges, such as taking pictures with a chicken or a dog, each worth different point values. At the end, we tallied up the scores, and Tunu’s group, led by Gabriel, came out on top! It was such a fun and interactive way to explore the local culture and landscape.

Following the scavenger hunt, we attended an HIV/AIDS panel where several individuals shared their personal stories. It was a powerful and eye-opening experience. We asked many questions and gained a much deeper understanding of how HIV and AIDS affect individuals and communities, as well as how they are managed.

After a packed and enriching morning, we sat down for lunch: rice and beans, followed by sweet, juicy pineapple for dessert. Everyone was buzzing with excitement because next on the schedule was a shopping trip! We picked out souvenirs to bring home, bracelets, handcrafted items, and even a Tanzanian national football jersey (Cheryl got that one!). We also had the chance to see Tanzanite, a stunning gemstone that’s said to be 1,000 times rarer than diamonds. It was a beautiful and memorable experience.

Later in the afternoon, we visited a local coffee farm. We learned the entire coffee-making process, from roasting and grinding the beans to tasting the final product. What made it even more special was how the farmers integrated singing and dancing into the experience, making it feel joyful and cultural. The coffee was incredible, honestly the best we’ve ever tasted!

Throughout the day, we were met with warmth and hospitality from everyone we encountered. The people of Tanzania are incredibly kind, and the country itself is rich with beauty and tradition.

Dinner was a delicious meal of chicken, potatoes, and fresh salad, another perfect end to a full day.

We are incredibly grateful to be here. This journey has already been unforgettable, and we’re so thankful to GLA for giving us this opportunity. Our first week has been amazing, and we’re excited for everything the last week will bring.

Thank you, GLA!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Authors: Claire B. and Jaq H.

Hello Families! This morning, we woke up bright and early and quickly ate our breakfast. Following this, we stripped our bedsheets for the lovely staff to clean. We then had a mid-experience check-in, marking the halfway point of our experience. After this, we played some fun superlative games which caused a lot of laughter! We next had a dorm-cleaning competition which was judged by some of the local support staff, many students getting quite creative in order to win. Later on we had an amazing talk with the one and only Mama Simba. She shared her life story, taught us about her philosophies of life, and introduced her educational non-profit, the Uweza Foundation.

Following this was a special lunch where we were introduced to our host families. We ate lunch with several local families and got to visit their homes and families. It was truly eye-opening to see the way they live. Children made jump ropes out of plastic water bottles, made balls out of socks, and even made up their very own songs. It was interesting to see how some adults provide for their families. They would harvest their own food and many could only share a single room. After spending a few hours with the host families, it was finally time to say goodbye. After several tearful farewells (literally), we ended the day with a GLA “chow circle”, some delicious dinner, and mentor groups.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Authors: Chatham W. and Cecilia N.

Day 8! Today we woke up bright and early, ready to start the day! For breakfast, we had toast, avocado, eggs, and fruit. After eating, we traveled to the local elementary school where we split into our teaching groups. After teaching the kids, we split into our two service groups where we continued to paint the library and the 6th-grade classroom. After a long two hours of service, we headed back to home base for lunch! For lunch, our amazing chef Lulu made rice, peas in sauce, and spinach, with fresh fruit on the side — it was delicious!

After lunch, we traveled to a local supermarket to stock up on snacks for our upcoming safari later in the week! Then we headed to a different local school to play and spend time with the students. We all had a lot of fun and had a great time!

Later on, we headed into the village to experience a cultural exchange through traditional African dancing and drumming. We watched some professional dancers, and we all had a chance to try some traditional African instruments and learn some dances.

At around 6 p.m., we arrived back at home base and had our chow circle, where our new leaders of the day were named—Jessie and Melvin! For dinner, we had hamburgers and french fries, and some more fresh fruit! A less exotic dish but still extremely delicious. We had some free time after dinner, where we all spent time in the common areas at home base. After a long day, we settled in for the night, ready to seize the brand new day tomorrow!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Authors: Jessica H. and Melvin L.

Today we started the day as a regular school morning, we woke up early for a tasty breakfast prepared by our amazing chef, Lulu. After getting some fuel for the day, we headed over to the school to start teaching our lessons. After teaching and playing with the kids at break time, we picked back up our service work from yesterday, which was finishing off the painting in our designated rooms, a classroom and a new library.

Later we headed back to home base and enjoyed a delicious lunch and had some time to play games with each other to have some down time.

After that we headed over to a local market. It was a bustling place, filled with secondhand and new clothing, jewelry and shoes, along with food, fruit, and just about anything else you could imagine. After buying some things to remember the trip by, we headed back to home base and did a GLA activity. This consisted of thinking of ways to improve the community, especially in the school that we are working in currently, both short and long term, like donating used items, sharing our experiences with those back home, and raising money in the future for renovating and expanding the school.

Following that, we met our local hair braiders who used their artistic skills to create beautiful designs of our choice on our hair.

After a filling and yet again delicious meal, we had our safari briefing to prepare us for the next two exciting days in the national parks, like what to bring, who we were traveling with in our safari jeeps, and what our days and accommodation would look like.

Thank you GLA for another unforgettable day, filled with memories we will always cherish!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Authors: Max H. and Ofir W.

The students started off the day with an early morning. We woke up at 5am and were on the road by 5:30am. We split up into three safari cars and began the long drive to Tarangire National Park. Along the way, we stopped a few times for snack breaks.

Just before noon, we finally arrived at the national park for our first safari! Our tour guides first showed us zebras and wildebeests, along with the beautiful landscape. After an hour of driving around, we stopped at a campsite for a quick lunch. We then drove around for another few hours, spotting giraffes, elephants, water buffalos, meerkats, ostriches, among many other animals.

Around 4pm, we departed from the national park and started our drive to the lodge. It was an eventful drive to our home for the night, enjoying a great sunset as the temperature quickly cooled. We arrived at the lodge just before dark, dropping our bags before having a nice, filling dinner at the lodge and then settled in for bed after a long, exciting day!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

Author: Gabe S.

Today started bright and early, we woke up around 5a.m. to a delicious breakfast prepared with love by the nuns. After getting ready, we set off in safari jeeps for our big adventure. We met our drivers and headed for the main gate to Ngorongoro Crater National Park. Our drivers turned out to be incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and well-spoken, teaching us so much about the animals we were about to see.

When we arrived at the national park, the view took our breath away. Driving through the mountains in the soft morning mist felt like a dream. Eventually, we reached the famous crater, and it was absolutely stunning, a vast, natural amphitheater packed with life.

We saw so many animals, mostly wildebeest, zebras, and flamingos. But that wasn’t all. We also spotted lions, elephants, monkeys, buffalo, ostriches, hippos, warthogs, and even a rhino (though very far away and a bit blurry)! One of the highlights was when a large troop of baboons stopped us on the road. The baby baboons were adorable, and it was incredible to see them so close. Not long after, a huge buffalo blocked our path, definitely a bit scary! We also came face-to-face with a massive elephant, just a few feet away.

Although we were lucky to see so much wildlife, we were a little disappointed that we didn’t get to see a cheetah or a male lion up close. Still, the experience was unforgettable.

For lunch, we stopped near a peaceful hippo pool. The nuns had packed a beautiful meal of chicken, fries, fresh fruit, and biscuits. After lunch, we began the journey back home. As we climbed out of the crater, we were treated to one last magical view, an incredible panorama of the entire crater from high on the mountain. The scenery was stunning.

The ride home was long, about four hours, but we made a few stops to get a snack along the way, and the food there was delicious. Totally worth it.

Now we’re on our way home, where we’ll celebrate International Director James’s birthday with a song and a special dinner made by Lulu. Happy birthday James!

All in all, today was amazing, packed with wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, great food, and joyful moments. We’ll never forget it. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Author: Ciri C.

Today we woke up and had breakfast at 7:30a.m. and then we got straight into lesson planning before heading to the school to teach our final lesson.

We were in the classroom with the kids teaching and dancing and playing games for about an hour and then we headed to recess to play with all of the kids, playing indoors due to the rain. After that, we went and finished our service project of painting the classrooms. The rain cleared and the entire school of nearly 400 students gathered for our farewell, having many speeches from students, staff, and teachers.

We drove home and had an amazing lunch and afterwards the tailors returned with our hand-tailored clothes for us to try on!

We later headed to Shah Industry, which is a leather factory, and got a tour, learning that the organization hired handicapped individuals to create a variety of leather goods, us buying some great souvenirs. We made one final stop at the supermarket for snacks before heading back to home base.

There we ate a delicious dinner and had a group activity where we wrote letters to ourselves to receive in the future. We finished with a special activity to appreciate one another’s uniqueness and how much we’ve grown together in such a short time. We had some down time and then headed to bed to prepare for our last full day here!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

Authors: Gabe S. and Ofir W.

This morning, we woke up once again to a delicious breakfast lovingly prepared by Lulu. We had eggs, toast, beans, and fresh fruit, a simple but satisfying way to start the day.

After breakfast, we had a bit of time to ourselves to get ready for our one-hour drive to Marangu Village for the Mount Kilimanjaro slopes walk and waterfall hike. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the local tour guides. They were incredibly welcoming, smart, and knowledgeable. We knew we were in good hands. We began our hike, chatting with the guides and each other, sharing laughs and stories along the way. The hike itself was long and challenging, but the journey was filled with beautiful moments and deep conversations. When we finally reached the waterfall, it was absolutely breathtaking.

We had to cross a river across a bridge of rocks, but thanks to the incredible support from our guides, we all made it safely. Their help and care were deeply appreciated.

After the waterfall, we stopped for lunch near the Kilimanjaro Park Gate at 1,800 meters elevation. And once again, Lulu blew us away with her cooking, she having prepared a flavorful brown rice pilau that hit the spot perfectly. We had a bit of time to browse the local gift shops before continuing our hike. This part of the day became especially memorable. We got to connect more deeply with each other talking, laughing, and learning so much about one another. It was inspiring and unforgettable, a perfect way to end our journey together.

After the hike, we made the one-hour drive back home. Once we returned, we participated in our final GLA activity: setting a One Meaningful Goal. We decided to start a GoFundMe campaign to support the school we had been volunteering at in Moshi. We discussed potential project costs, a target end date, and other key details. A huge thank you to Ofir, Kaya, and Jesse for stepping up and helping Mama Simba and the team bring this idea to life.

Afterward, we had time to get ready for our farewell dinner. Dinner was, once again, incredible Lulu prepared burgers, fries, and avocado. It was absolutely delicious. We all agree: Lulu might just be the best chef in the world!

We ended the night gathered around the table for final celebrations and goodbyes. James and Caroline gave heartfelt speeches, and Mama Simba shared beautiful words that touched all of us. We’re so grateful to the GLA staff for making this journey so meaningful. Your dedication, kindness, and leadership made a lasting impact on all of us.

Today was our last day, and it was everything we could’ve hoped for: fun, emotional, inspiring, and full of love. We want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts to GLA, the mentors, the staff, and our entire group. This experience has been truly unforgettable.

Thank you for the memories. We love you all!