Ashley Welter | The Young Leader

June 8, 2022 by Ashley Welter

Spain: Spanish in the Land of Don Quixote (Sessions Starting July 2, 2022)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

This blog is for the Spain split session starting July 2, 2022, which includes both the 14-day and the 21-day student group.

Here are a few things you can expect:

We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Cell Phone Policy: The GLA cell phone policy is currently in place this summer to help foster meaningful connections between students. This means your student’s phone will be collected every day and returned to them throughout the program during designated spaces of time we call ‘tech time’. Actual tech times and regularity will vary greatly by program location. During designated ‘tech time’, your student may use their phones as they wish. Please note that your student may not always choose to use this time to get a hold of their parents. If you are not hearing directly from your student each day, you can assume that no news is good news! We strongly recommend you follow the blog to follow your students’ experience without talking to them every day. If you are a parent and would like to get in touch with your student directly, you can call us at +1-619-758-3031 and we can set up a formal time for you to connect with your student.

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

Hello Families!

Today our GLA students arrived safely in Madrid! We are so excited to finally have them here after so many months of planning. Many of them are expectedly jet-lagged, but they are all really looking forward to all of the activities we have prepared.

Just a note to look out for: Following our cell phone policy, we have given students two free times in the afternoons and evenings: Tomorrow the phone time is from 4:30pm-6:00pm and 9:30pm-10:30pm Spain time.

Here is a photo from orientation!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

Hola from Toledo!

After a full day of orientation activities, students spent an afternoon in the city center of Toledo! They participated in a scavenger hunt, and used their Spanish skills to solve clues, finding different historical spots in the city. Despite the nearly 100 degree heat, everyone was in high spirits, and can’t wait to return!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Hello families!

We know you have all been eagerly awaiting to hear about our students weekend in Madrid! Saturday and Sunday were full of activities, including a paella class and visits to the Prado and Real Madrid stadium. We concluded our weekend back in Toledo to enjoy the views of the city!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

We said goodbye to our students in our 2 week program, but we still wanted to share these photos from some of the amazing times we all shared! Next stop, Barcelona, for the remainder of the program!

June 8, 2022 by Ashley Welter

Peru: Service in the Sacred Valley (Sessions Starting July 1, 2022)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

This blog is for the Peru split session starting July 1, 2022, which includes both the 14-day and the 21-day student group.

Here are a few things you can expect:

We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

After two full days of arrivals, our community is finally all here at The Garden Lodge in Ollantaytambo!

The fourteen all accounted for this morning (July 2) shared a breakfast at home base before setting off for a sturdy hike up above the town to some ancient granaries. Afterwards, we visited an artisan’s shop and took some time to explore the Plaza de Armas before taking a quick look at our service site at Sacred Valley Project before returning to Home Base for lunch.

Finally, the last six of our crew arrived and we did an orientation, where we learned about the local culture, language and some Spanish phrases before sitting down to dinner. Afterwards, we joined in a discussion to arrive at our Community Agreements before a bit more free time and well-earned night’s sleep. We’re excited for our first day of service tomorrow and to see what else the day may bring!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Written by Zach and Makena

Day 3 started with a delicious breakfast, our first as a whole group. Everyone is finally settled in. Following breakfast, we walked to the Sacred Valley Project site to start our first day of service work. With extra sunscreen and lots of water, we were tasked with digging the new compost hole as well as preparing their field for planting in the fall. Using pickaxes, shovels, and rakes we broke up and redistributed the soil. Carlos led the group to dig the hole almost a meter deep. After, Carmencita and Gabi prepared us a fantastic lunch that led us into our last hour of service work for the day.

After much-needed showers and an action-packed soccer game, we were introduced to Lino, a shaman from the Q’ero nation. He taught us about coca leaves and how to offer them to mother earth. He then blessed each of us for our studies, health, and families. We then created an offering to burn for mother earth under the beautiful stars. Following the ceremony, we had another excellent meal with lively conversation. After dinner, we learned about constructive debate and worked in groups to build cases for potentially realistic situations having to do with the local communities. We talked a lot about the GLA core values and how we used them or could have used them better in our debate.
We finished off the day with card games and lots of laughs, excited for what comes tomorrow.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

Written by Aria and Sebastian

We started off the day with more service at the dormitory for girls who live far away and came here to study. Some jobs that we had were once again removing grassroots from the dirt, continuing to pickaxe the human-sized whole for compost, and prepping the area for a greenhouse that will be built.

We had a lunch cooked locally which was a delicious corn soup, mashed potatoes, and beef. Before we left, we were able to meet the girls that attend the building and connect with their situation. The conversation was filled with intriguing questions on both sides.

After getting back, some of us were able to see the town for the first time, and others played soccer on the nice turf field in town. After a quick break, we hiked up a neighboring mountain to visit an Incan reservoir/pool. On the hike back, the sunset was beginning and was very nice and full of energy. This was followed by a delicious dinner again of rice, vegetables, and beef. Before bed we had our first mentor group meeting to dicuss how to take responsible photography for social media. Today was a great day and we are very excited to do one more day of service at the school.

Sincerely,
Aria and Sebi

BLOG POST FOR JULY 5

Written by Ava and Neil

Hello GLA parents! Today was our fifth day here in Ollantaytambo, Peru. We had an extra early start to our day this morning, eating breakfast at 7:30 rather than 8:00, so as to have time for our trek briefing before our service work. We continued to dig a compost pile, leveled out the terrain, and fixed up the fence before lunch. After a delicious meal of rice soup and chicken salad, we headed back out for our final hour of service work at this location. We separated our pile of rocks into a bigger and smaller pile, then said goodbye to this location.

Following this we had an hour of free time, where we took a trip into town and checked out some local shops, then walked back to the Garden Lodge in time for an enlightening experience with Jorge from Xapiri Ground. Before teaching us about the many different indigenous groups that live in the currently threatened wildlife of the Amazon, he taught us how to make a popular ceremonial cacao beverage from those indigenous groups. It comprised of 85% dark chocolate, water, orange juice, and a hint of spice. Obviously these ingredients paled in comparison to the actual ceremonial drinks prepared in the Amazon rainforest, especially the comparatively miniscule amount of spice we put into our drinks. After we finished making the drinks, we sat down with them to watch a presentation on the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest, as well as the indigenous cultures put at risk by the constant need for resources coming from the Rainforest. It really changed our perspectives on the products derived from these regions, and we will continue to research and educate ourselves on sustainable living.

After saying thank you and goodbye to Jorge, many of us played in a game of fútbol with a local team in the area. After winning by means of them taking pity on our skillset, we headed back to have dinner. Today we had pesto pasta and chicken, a wonderful meal prepared for us by Pancha. After this we had our first student-led activity, a game of spoons. After a long and difficult game, Jamie reigned supreme. What a day! We´re excited to see what tomorrow has in store for us, but until then, goodnight Peru!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

Written by Geneva S. and Natalie G.

Today our group woke up at 7 for breakfast. We then got ready and got on a bus to go explore other areas in Cusco. Our first stop was the salt mines, where we learned about the history and resources of the area. The group took lots of pictures together and stopped by small shops on our way back to the bus. Many people bought cooking Incan cooking salts to take home with them. We then traveled to our next destination, Moray archaeology site, where we viewed the ancient farmlands and learned about its history. We were shown how the ancient people used the area to grow corn and crops for cultivation.

Next we traveled to Andean colored alpaca farm where we sat at a beautiful table setting and enjoyed a delicious meal of chicken, potatoes, rice, and guinea pig for the brave ones. We got to pet all of the cute alpacas and llamas as well as feed them shoots of grass. The owners showed us how to weave bracelets and let us keep our finished projects. Then we were taken inside and shown hundreds of the guinea pigs we just ate. The owners then showed us how they make string and dye it with a presentation. Finally, we got to walk through the gift shop with many beautiful alpaca items and bought our items for 20 percent off! Very tired from all the excursions, we came home and went to bed.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

Note to families: We added a new post for July 11 shortly after the posts for July 7-10 were published. We sent a second email notification, but we are leaving the jump-link here for for anyone who hasn’t read July 7-10 yet. Scroll down to read July 11. Happy reading 🙂 -GLA HQ

Written by Hayden and Louis

Day seven started with an early wake up. Vans headed to Lares Trek departed at 6 am with breakfast on the road. A quick pit stop was made in Calca to purchase coca leaves and toys for the peoples living in rural communities that we would pass on the trek. We arrived at the trail head close to 11am and filled our bags with snacks and bottles of water to prepare for the upcoming journey. Many of us were introduced to the ¨Inca toilet¨ for the first time as well as options were limited. We hiked for 2 hours followed by an amazing lunch. From there we carried on to the campsite with a few extra friends (Ronato) we met at lunch. After two-ish more hours we arrived at our beautiful campsite. We had a nice dinner with hot chocolate and other warm drinks that filled our hearts and stomachs. We concluded the day cuddled up in our tents with layers upon layers.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Written by Lia and Jamie

We woke up to a frost covered campsite early in the day. Shortly after we began packing and headed over to our breakfast which fueled us for the remainder of the hike. We set out for an hour and a half of hiking to the peak of the mountain. We learned about the stacking of rocks at the top of mountains. After we reached the peaked we began our descent down the mountain where we celebrated Rupert´s birthday. Then we got back into the vans and headed back to home base where we packed overnight bags for the trip to Machu Picchu. After packing, we went to a nice dinner in Ollantaytambo. Then we set off to a two-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes. There we arrived at a nice hotel with the perk of hot showers.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

Written by Jett and Leo

Today was the day! Machu Picchu!! We had breakfast at 6 and hopped on the bus shortly thereafter. The 30-minute switchback bus ride was breathtaking as we climbed higher and higher up the mountain. When we got to the top, we walked for a little and arrived at the most scenic spot to take all of our pictures. From there, we split up into groups with the tour guides and they gave us the grand tour of the stunning ancient Incan city. We learned all there is to know about why the site was built, and what it was used for. Afterwards, we made our way back down to Aguas Calientes and had an amazing lunch. Weighed down by chocolate covered pancakes, we headed to the local market and did some shopping before our train. The rest of the night was for well-deserved winding down time and an early sleep.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Written by Mae and Aryan

We started the day off later than usual at 8:30am. After breakfast we headed over one of the local’s homes to learn about native foods. There we made smoothies using grains from the mountains around us. After our lesson we went around town shopping and getting ice cream. After that we returned to home base for lunch and shortly after began a salsa dance lesson from one of our mentors. After that we had some free time where people either played soccer or relaxed at home base. After the free time ended, we had our official Peruvian dance lesson that everyone enjoyed and embraced. Following that we had a delicious dinner and refreshed our memory on the code of conduct. Once everyone had finished eating we decided to play a few rounds of a game. After that we all headed back to our rooms and had a relaxing night.

Here are photos from July 7-10!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Written by Noel and Alok

Today we started the second half of service at Calca. The group worked at the girls dormitory helping to build a wall by moving rocks and digging trenches. After we returned from service, we painted ceramic bulls, toristos, which are commonly places of roofs. We were given an hour to walk around town and pick up snacks and nachos. To complete the day we had mentor groups, which was just to check up on how everyone was feeling.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Written by Rae and Rupert

Our last service day in Calca! With only two days left, a lot of motivation was present and our hard work prevailed. After our service, we spent an extra hour engaging in cultural exchange with the girls living at the dormitories. Sharing music tastes on the ride home prepped us for the capstone project in order to set up goals to continue service while at home. Students decided on two people to hold everyone accountable for this.
A quick white water rafting briefing led right into dinner, ending with a surprise birthday cake for Sebastian! For an extra dessert, a large group had a walk in town for some ice cream, followed by a relaxing night in and an early bedtime for most.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 13 & 14

Written by Sebastian

Day 13 started off bright and early once again with a 6 AM breakfast and then drove 3 hours to Cusipata. There, we started our white water rafting adventure. We learned from our tour guide Juan Carlos how to safely raft with the five basic commands and then set off into the river for two hours going through rapids and having lots of fun.

The freezing water from the river made for an amazing sauna session once we got back to the lodge. Lunch was then served, and after that we went on two nice little zip lines across the river, which was quite fun. Finally, we said goodbye to the two-week students who left Cusipata while the three-week students stayed for the night.

Day 14 was the earliest wake-up so far, at 4:30 in order to leave to go to rainbow mountain and beat the crowd. Once there we hiked up in two hours to reach the top with a lovely view. Some of us did handstands at the top! And took great photos as well. After getting back to the lodge we ate lunch and then headed back to Ollantaytambo and then walked around town for a bit while eating some crepes.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Written by Sebastian and Louis

Starting off the day with some fresh eggs cooked up by Saulo we left at 8:30 to Cusco and arrived two hours later. We met our tour guide Smith who wore a fedora and guided us through an Incan archeological site on the hill of Cusco called Sacsayhuaman. He explained in detail how the Incas were able to move rocks weighing up to 130 tons using techniques similar to how the Egyptians’ built the great pyramids. Indeed this site was a temple and aslo the location where the Incas held their last stand against the spanish conquistadors in Cusco in 1537, which is why it is referred to as a fort even though its original purpose was to worship the sun god.

As it is built on a hill overlooking Cusco we had a great opportunity to see the city and see the different forms of architecture throughout the years, from Incan to colonial and now modern. Following this we walked for 45 minutes through the beautiful streets of Cusco, which was accompanied by the explanations of the guide, until we reached the lunch spot in the Plaza de Armas, the beating heart of Cusco. There we had a great three course meal where some us had alpaca meat again.

The guide then led us to the Xapiri Grounds coffee shop and museum. You may remember from a previous blog that a man called Jorge gave us a presentation on Xapiri Grounds who work on protecting the Amazon rainforest and also gave us a wonderful chocolate experience. In this museum/cafe of theirs, we were able to have some wonderful cacao and coffee drinks that were stunnding and rich, as well as delicious pastries in a relaxing enviroment. The museum also included a sound-proof room that was pitch black and that simulated the sounds of the rainforest which served as a great place for reflection where many of us spent a large chunk of the afternoon. We also explored the streets and shops in the neighborhood. Indeed we were in the artsy district of Cusco, and therefore there were many beautiful galleries and shops that we were able to explore.

The bus picked us up around 3h30 and after arriving home two hours later, we freshened up and then ate spaghetti bolognese. After dinner we did a leadership workshop and had a little movie night watching Paddington Bear, we thought it was suitable given Paddington is from the Peruvian jungle.We then went to bed and had a good sleep as we need to be well rested for tomorrow given service resumes.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Written by Lia and Jett

Back to service! We woke up today later than usual at 8 and headed out to the Ollanta dorms where we continued our service. We made progress on digging a hole to place a water tank and helped patch holes in the fencing. We ate a great Peruvian lunch, ´Causa´, and kept working for an additional hour. We then walked across town to visit a local archaeological site, where we discovered huge rocks and water systems moved and created hundreds of years ago. It began to rain so we headed back to home base early and started our mentor group discussion. We all learned something new about each other and created our own quotes to live by every day. We finished the day with a great dinner and ¨Pachamama¨, a short animated film about an ancient Andean village.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Written by Neil

Hello GLA parents! We started our day this morning with a couple hours of service with the Sacred Valley Project right here in Ollantaytambo. Following this we had an amazing lunch with the Sacred Valley Project, which consisted of vegetable soup, trout, beans, and rice. We continued with our service after this, meeting another GLA group on the way. This group was an older age range, from seventeen to twenty year olds.

After we had finished service in Ollantaytambo, we drove to Pumamarka archeological site, where we hiked up to the actual site, a place you can´t get to by car alone.
Pumamarka was beautiful, and as Manuel explained to us, it is the only archeological site in the Cusco region with three story buildings.

After that, we began our hike down the mountain back to Ollantaytambo. Though the trek was mostly downhill from Pumamarka, it was long, and took a while for us to complete! Through it all, the incredible scenery made it worth it.

We ended our day with a fun game of futbol with the other GLA group at a field in Ollantaytambo. Until next time, see you later GLA parents! Hasta luego!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

Written by Sebi and Louis

We started the day with an 8 AM breakfast to leave for service again at 9. Once there, we greeted girls who were staying there from a different dormitory in Paucartambo as, due to the festivities over there, they vacated their dormitory for a few days to ensure their safety, as these festivities can get quite lively. A large chunk of the morning was spent covering the outdoor wood fence in petroleum oil to prevent any insects from deteriorating the fence. Obviously, we wore heavy duty face masks and gloves to ensure protection and to avoid inhaling any of the fumes. Unfortunately, we ran out of oil, so Lia, Jett and Sebi (me) spent the rest of the service time continuing to dig the hole for a backup water tank, while Alok, Louis (dude next writing with me), Neil, and Aryan spent that time sanding and varnishing wooden chairs.

For lunch, we had delicious fried chicken wings that were scrumptious, as well as a soup (as usual). After that, we returned to the Garden Lodge and freshened up before two guest speakers from an organization called Mosqoy, which means ¨dream¨ in Quechua, the native language of the Sacred Valley. We learned that this organization helps students from rural communities achieve higher forms of education in the Cusco region. Indeed, they lodge 10 students every year in Cusco. We also reflected on education as a whole and its different forms. We then had dinner consisting of pasta and a beef steak, or eggs for the vegetarians in our group. We are now headed into town for an ice cream, or crepe in my (Sebi) case. It feels good to have finished service, and it´s crazy to think that we only have a couple more days with each other.

This concludes our blog writing for this wonderful trip. We appreciate everyone who has been reading and commenting on them throughout our journey. Shoutout to Claude (Louis´ mum) who I (Louis) found out reads these.

Sincerely, Sebi, Louis, and Neil, who helped edit this masterpiece.

June 8, 2022 by Ashley Welter

Peru: Service in the Sacred Valley (June 15 – June 28, 2022)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 15

We are thrilled to be here all together at the Garden Lodge in Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of Peru. Our intrepid students have come to us from all over the United States and despite some missed connections, lost luggage, and a twisty ride to our lovely Home Base, all are here, well, and about to enjoy their first Peruvian meal in Peru! The students are settled into their rooms with their new friends and enjoying some of the common spaces and stunning mountain views available here at the Garden Lodge.

Tomorrow we will be exploring a bit of the town, taking it easy, and doing an orientation in the afternoon to get prepared and excited for all of the adventures to come. As for tonight, we all hope to rest well and acclimate our bodies to this new altitude of just about 9,000 feet. Viva Peru!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 16

Today we explored the grainers across from Ollantaytambo archaelogical site. We had a view to the whole town. We had our program orientation where we learned a lot about our service work, GLA, our team members, and spanish. We had time to explore Ollantaytambo and map hotspots. We created the community values rules in teams, and approved a whole one as a GLA Sacred Valley community! Today, we are thankful

By Grace (GLA Mentor)

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17

by Nick Blair and Stephanie Dong

Today was a great day in Peru! Our first day of service went very well! After an early drive to Calca, we met with Logan, Carlos, and Gabbie who directed our work as we helped improve the grounds of dormitories for girls from rural areas to aid in their education. We spent time moving rocks to help level the area, and clearing logs from the site. We ate lunch at Calca, and continued some work after, before heading back to home base.

After some free time to clean up after our service, we met the shaman and his son, who led us in a ritual to connect ourselves spiritually and protect us throughout our adventure. He blessed us with family, education, and abundance. We finished our ceremony by burning our offering and giving thanks to the Mother Earth. It was a great experience giving us insight into the maestro’s life and culture. We finished our day with a gratitude circle, dinner and mentor groups to break down what we are enjoying and want to change about our journey. Another great day in Peru, as we enjoy our time learning and helping others.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18

Written by Jonathan and Kiana

Hi GLA families! We started the day with an early breakfast and immediately headed off to the Maras Salt Mines. We met up with a local tour guide who told us about the history and the process behind the mines. We were able to take some good pictures and buy souvenirs!

After that we headed off to the Moray Archeological Site, reaching altitudes of up to 10,000 feet on the way. Our guide informed us on how the circular site was used by the Incas to test growing different crops in different conditions. He told us that the site was only recently restored in the 1900s and protected by the Peruvian government and UNESCO.

For lunch we drove to Andean Colors, a local business that set up a picnic for us. Along with a spectacular meal, we enjoyed hanging out with the Alpacas while we ate. We got to feed them and hold the very cute baby Alpaca!

After lunch, the people at Andean Colors showed us how to weave traditional bracelets, and we all got one to take home with us. They told us about the history of their company and showed us how they made their textiles. Afterwards, we were able to buy some of their products which helped support single mothers in the area.

Lastly, we drove back to home base and enjoyed a lovely dinner, which lead into a role playing discussion about tourism and the impact it has on local communities, specifically the Laras Trail that we will eventually trek to get to Machu Picchu. It was a spirited but fun conversation, and we all learned a lot. See you tomorrow for another adventure!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

Written by Yarrow & Sherry

Hola GLA family!

It’s Yarrow and Sherry checking in after our beautiful Lares Trek adventure. We started off the day with a very early morning followed by a gorgeous 3 hour bus ride, the pictures we all took will never be able to compare to the raw beauty of the rugged mountains around us. When we arrived to the start of the trail, we were around 12,000 ft in altitude.

As we continued hiking, we saw lots of alpaca and lamas. The guides on our trip explain to us how to tell the difference between the two. Alpacas are usually fluffier with shorter necks and lamas are smaller, have longer necks, and upturned ears. As we ventured on we also ran into lots of local women and children. We bought lots of different textiles, bracelets, gloves, hats, and other souvenirs from the women and handed out bells and marbles to the children we passed. The guides told us that all the men were gone because they were guiding and packing for the people hiking the Inca trail, which is the main trail to Machu Picchu. The higher up we got, the harder it got to breathe. By the end of our trek we had gained 3,000 ft in elevation and us, sea level people, were struggling. The guides were amazing though and we took lots of breaks and we were fed great food!

We finally arrived at camp, earlier than expected after having to send a few members of our group home due to recent sicknesses and altitude issues. The day ended with another amazing meal and view of the stars from over 14,000 ft. We all cozied up in our tents before the temperature dropped below freezing and fell asleep after our longest but best day yet.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Written by Katie Meyers

We woke up to frost outside of our tents and enjoyed cups of coco tea brought by “room service”. After an energizing breakfast, we finished the uphill portion of the trek and reached the high pass at 14,800 ft. The views were incredible! Thankfully it was all downhill from there. We had a great lunch in Patacancha and went back to the Garden Lodge to prepare for the next portion of our trek. We had a delicious dinner near the train station and some students had alpaca. After dinner we caught the train to Aguas Calientes where we got a good night sleep in preparation for Machu Picchu the next day.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

Written by Emerson S.

After waking up in very comfortable beds in El Tambo Inn on our day at Machu Picchu, we ate breakfast (some delicious bread, jam, and fruit) and set off towards the Machu Picchu buses. We rode up, up, up through pretty woods and along the sides of cliffs with incredible views of the Andes mountain range. When we arrived at one of the seven world wonders (I’m still very excited to say) we gathered into a line to enter the site.

After hiking up to the “postcard picture” spot above Machu Picchu, we took some breathtaking photos both individually and as a group. Then, our guides gave us an overview about the Lost City of the Incas and we learned that Machu Picchu means “old mountain” in Quechua. Our guides split us up into three groups to explore the site, so we walked down and got to see the agricultural history as well as the religious and astronomical history. We saw cocoa plants, avocado trees, the sun dial, and how the religious buildings were built like a puzzle.

Overall, it was amazing to listen to our guides because they were so knowledgable and we were sad to take the bus back down. From the bus, we walked to a restaurant called Hot Springs 1 and feasted on grilled chicken, pizza, and more. We were all very excited for our dessert of chocolate-covered pancakes and following that we headed straight for the train station.

Around the station, there was a huge market and our mentors allowed us to wander around and purchase souvenirs in groups of three or more. Students bought items from ponchos to snacks and were satisfied once we boarded the train for our two hour ride back into Ollantaytambo. Our group took naps and were glad to return “home” to the Garden Lodge and have a bit of free time before a yummy chicken, rice, and potato dinner. Wrapping up, we bid farewell to a fellow student who wasn’t feeling well and wished him the best. Good night and happy dreams!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24

Written by Gus and Lili

This morning we started by doing community service in Ollantaytambo for 3 hours. We had different jobs such as sanding and painting doors as well as digging holes in order to put up a tent for the girls. We had lunch at the service site and had the opportunity to meet the founder, Alex Ball, of the service project that provides girls with the chance of going to school and gaining an education. After a delicious lunch of fried chicken, quinoa soup, potatoes and more, we went back to ‘home base’ where we had tech time, then got to have a cocoa workshop; where we learned about Amazonian cultures and how they are being preserved by the organization that visited us today.

Later in the evening, we got to walk around the town and get ice cream, where we ironically saw Alex Ball again, (founder of the Sacred Valley Project) while we were getting ice cream and other pastries. Additionally we said goodbye to Titouan a student on the trip as he left due to personal causes. Later, we came back, had dinner and went into mentor groups, with a lesson about responsible photography, and a fun activity revolving around the lesson.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27

Today we enjoyed shopping for chocolate, coffee and other gifts, visiting the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, and enjoying some of last delicious Peruvian meals. Our group was hard at work creating One Meaningful Goals for themselves as individuals and for the group to “be the change” once they return home.

June 8, 2022 by Ashley Welter

Peru: Service Expedition in the Andes (July 24 – August 6, 2022)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

It’s arrival day here in Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley and we have welcomed 18 of our 21 students so far. They come from the US and Belgium, bringing some travel fatigue but also high spirits, open minds, and great energy along with them.

After collecting our Service Expedition in the Andes crew from Cusco airport, we all ended up back at home base to drop bags, stretch our legs, enjoy a meal (or two!) and orient to The Garden Lodge.

Afterwards we got our first look at Ollantaytambo. We walked to the Plaza de Armas to get our bearings, change money, pick up the first of many souvenirs and eat the first of many ice cream cones. We returned to homebase to dive into some icebreakers, which included a name game and a version of speed dating to get to know each other better.

We enjoyed a tasty dinner and spent the rest of the evening relaxing, hanging out and settling in. We’re looking forward to meeting the final 3 of our group tomorrow and seeing what the day brings!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

Written by Malcom and Paige

Today we had the incredible opportunity to visit the historic salt flats of the Peruvain mountains, we also were able to work together with a local organization which supports single mothers and women in Peru. Alongside learning about the mountain culture, we were able to partake in a peruvian feast set up by the Andean Colors team and spent time with the llamas, alpacas and guinea pigs on their property. As a group we met two experts on the salt flats and had time to explore the local markets and vendors. From traditional pan flute music to locally prepared Cuey, the group as a whole had new and unique experiences that overall helped immerse ourselves in the culture of this area! We ended the day with gratitude and a wonderful home cooked dinner by our Peruvian hosts; Along with a lively discussion about current events and the importance of celebrating the traditions and culture of Peru.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Written by Alivia and Thomas

Today, we started with our first day of service. It was a tough project, but everyone got to help build a garden and start creating a soccer field and volleyball court for girls. Everyone finished covered in dirt and tired, but we were very proud of what we made. Afterwards, Chaman Toribio performed a ritual from his home community giving blessings to each person for health, study, and love. It was very amazing to get the opportunity to see out offerings to Mamapancha get burned at the point. To finish the day, we got the chance to see the town at night. ¡Hasta manana!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

Written by Amanda and Cannon

Today we started up early with an early morning hike that a few people attended, Machico (our home base dog) leading us in the hike. Then, we went to continue working on the soccer field using different ideas to try to make the work easier. We were able to clear out two truck loads of dirt! After a lunch break and some more work, we went back to home base feeling exhausted but accomplished. We then got to make spicy hot chocolate (orange juice included!) in a chocolate class where we also learned about threats to the Amazon and the multitude of thriving cultures that live in it. Afterward, we ate a delicious dinner of cilantro pasta and chicken, played heads up 7 up, and went to town! Students ate food, purchased souvenirs, and learned a little more about Peru. Tomorrow we start our last hard-working day of service before our trek. Good night!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

Written by Lola and William

Today was final day of service before embarking on our trek! This morning, we enjoyed a healthy breakfast bright and early, and afterwards we made our way to our service site. Our service consisted of spreading dirt and planting grass for a soccer/volleyball field at a girls school/dormitory in Ollantaytambo. At around 2:30 we made our way for an hour of relaxation. After we met our tour guides for our trek, and they informed us of all the content regarding our trek. Afterwords we had the option to go into town and get last minute supplies for our journey ahead. At around 6:00 we enjoyed a delicious dinner with cool rice pyramids. After, we finished our day with a teamwork building exercise, which consisted of cup stacking with a blind folded person.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 30

Written by Lily and Ty

Today we started our day bright and early enjoying a buffet style breakfast at 6 in the morning. We continued on up the mountain to our biking destination. We rode down the mountain dropping 3 thousand meters in elevation. We saw amazing views and took a few breaks to catch our breath. Later on in the day we enjoyed a delicious 3 course lunch at our lodge. After lunch we went white water rafting and rode down the river enjoying the un predictability of the rocks. We ended our day with dinner and desert at the lodge.

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 1

Written by Madison and Spencer

Today we started our day bright and early in Santa Teresa. After we enjoyed some breakfast, we boarded the buses and drove to our starting point for our hike to Aguas Calientes. We walked along the train tracks and then as a group, we decided to take an extra hike to a waterfall. We enjoyed the wonderful view and took lots of pictures. Following, we partook in a commemoration for Pachama Day where we were all given cocoa leaves to bless. Once we reached our destination, we dined at a restaurant in the middle of the town. We went to the hotel from there and had a few hours of relaxation time before we headed back out to embark on a photo scavenger hunt. Next, we went to get dinner and followed that with venturing through the town, buying all sorts of souvenirs. Some of us even played in a game of volleyball and won against the locals. Thanks for reading!

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 2

Written by Marge and Halle

Today, in Aguas Calientes, a select few ambitious students woke up bright and early at 4 am to hike the 2,000 steps up to Machu Picchu. The trek was extremely tiring and painful but we made it!!! Making it to the top was very rewarding and relieving. We met up with the rest of the group at the summit and started our journey into Machu Picchu. The view of the city was breathtaking. To be honest, it was an emotional moment overcome with the surrealness of how much of a privilege it was to be seeing this magnificent view. Our guides taught us about the history of the site and how there are many different theories to its purpose, one being that it was used as a laboratory for genetic experimentation in agriculture. It also may have been used as a brothel for religious women, which we learned was proposed because more than 85% of excavated skeletons were women. After taking a bagillion pictures and exploring the city, we made our trek (race) down the mountain to eat an exquisite meal at a lovely restaurant. Depsùes de comemos, nosotros visitamos los artisenal mercados. Nosotros caminabamos por una hora y comprabamos muchos cosas (we spent A LOT of money). Then, we made our way to the train station to catch our ride back to Ollantaytambo. We were MUY cansado, but also very happy to be back at home base. We had a wonderful dinner back in our comedor, all thanks to Saulo and Pancha. Now, we are watching El Dorado, which is a movie about two explorers. We are all so grateful for the awesome trek to Machu Picchu and can´t wait for more adventure. Buenas Noches!

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 3

Written by Cameron and Isabella

Today we had a service day in Calca where we jammed out to music while painting and sanding dormitories for young women who come to study. There we enjoyed a delicious lunch of beef and pumpkin soup. After we returned to Ollantaytambo we took part in an art class taught by Noehlia where we painted torritos which are a symbol of protection over one’s household. Since we are traveling to Cusco tomorrow we watched an culturally immersive film and learned about the traditions of the winter solstice and Pachamama. Ending the night we took a nice walk to the town and enjoyed watching a local volleyball match!🏐

Note to families: We received a blog post for your session, and although you all have returned home safe and sound, we still wanted to share the post! Happy reading 🙂

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 5

Written by Charlie Z.and Madison,

To start off our last day, we had breakfast and then discussed our final activities. Some of us decided to wake up extra early to go on a hike and grab coffee and pastries. Then, we drove to Calca to complete our service at The Sacred Valley Project where we scraped and painted the indoor and outdoor walls. Additionally, we cleaned the classrooms to prepare for the girls to come back from break and we watered the nursery. We enjoyed lunch together and then returned to home base to engage in several leadership activities including goal setting and conversations about values. During the evening, we took a trip into town to get our final souvenirs and snacks for our plane rides. We had PIZZA and tequeños for dinner and then went on our final excursion into town. We concluded the night by enjoying each other’s company before we all journey home. Thanks for reading!

Signing off, Madison and Charlie

June 8, 2022 by Ashley Welter

Peru: Service Expedition in the Andes (July 7 – July 20, 2022)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Written by Cara, Ella, and David:

On Friday July 8th we woke up to a beautiful mountain sunrise view with sounds of roosters before having breakfast then doing an orientation with the students, where we went over rules and completed exciting icebreakers. We separated into two groups, where one group went on a walking tour through the historic parts of Ollantaytamba which, after 500 years, still resembles what the city once looked like. Other group stayed at Homebase to do team-building exercises. We participated in the Bucket of Dreams activity where we learned a lot about communicating as a group and The Roosters were our best group (but don’t tell the others)! After lunch we switched and the other group had the walking tour. We busted a move while learning to salsa by a Peruvian dance teacher, then enjoyed the local cuisine for dinner before resting. Also, happy birthday Liz!

Now down to the important part:

Yelp review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Deduct 1/2 a star because oh man it’s harder to breathe!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

Written by Gracie, Neta, and Riley

Our GLA group today woke up with expectations. We knew what our plan was, our outline and our goals, but truly not what we were going to experience and feel on the way.
We learned about a woman named Hilda who fought through a life of domestic violence and abuse to start a company to support local women in her area. She’s upheld her foundation within her community and has refused to expand it in order to keep the profit local.
The excitement leading up to seeing salt flats and alpacas paled in comparison to the vastness of 40,000 salt beds wedged into the mountain side, and nose kisses to friendly furry friends after a beautiful picnic lunch (which included a very interesting side of guinea pig.) Today we worked together as photographers, adventurers, hypemen, and more to make something special of our third day.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Written by Jacinta, Liz, and Sarah

We started the day off with a jolly wake up call which consisted of Pass The Dutchie and a withering look from Reid. Then, we had a delicious cup of THE Peruvian Hot Chocolate and a divine breakfast meal. We then began our journey towards the service site with grandiose views and many dogs both friend and foe. At the service site, we learned more about the group and how they contributed to the education of indigenous women. The service site is a school dormitory where Peruvian girls stayed during the week to access their learning facility. They then sent us out into the field of dirt and rocks to begin its journey into a volleyball court and greenhouse. We used mighty tools of pickaxes, shovels, hammers, wheelbarrows, and sickles to prepare the land for future use. After we ate a delectable lunch, we had the options to either visit the ruins or Plaza De Armas in town. When we returned to home base, we had the privilege of witnessing a ritual performed by a Quechua Shaman. After a dinner that had people going for seconds, we had a team building activity to reflect on the culture of the community before shutting down for the day.

Now for the most important part:

Yelp review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Deduct a star for the obscene amount of dust in every accessible part of our body!

Note to families: Apologies for the delayed blogs! The WiFi has prevented staff from sending daily posts – but rest assured the group is having an amazing time! You can find the posts for July 11-14 below. More to come! Happy reading 🙂 -GLA HQ

BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Written by Ben, Alyssa, and Syd

We started of the day with a delicious breakfast that featured avocado and fruit bowls! Then we started the walk to service where we continued digging a hole for the well and plowing the field for a garden. We started work on the pavilion. We had a fantastic lunch, that consisted of crispy fried chicken, with French fries on the side. We then stopped by the market where people continued to pick up souvenirs. We also purchased the soccer ball which we used at our enthusiastic soccer game later at night. After service we received a presentation about chocolate and tried some hot chocolate that was spicy. After dinner, we played a great game of soccer with even better cheerleaders. It resulted in a 5-1 score.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Written by: Reid, Connor, and Genny

Today we woke up tired but ready for our third service day. We enjoyed our typical Peruvian breakfast and headed out to our service site. While there, one group carried loads of cement to cover the front entrance of the dormitory. Another raked and planted vegetables for the garden. Our third group finished the hole from day one for a water tank. Also we all worked together afterwards to create an irrigation system for the garden.

We also got a special guest visit from a friendly puppy we named choco! Afterwards we visited and learned more about the ollanta ruins over looking the town. From there we split up and got to explore more of the town ! Once back we learned more of our trek to Machu Picchu and prepared for our early morning start tomorrow. We enjoyed another delicious peruvian dinner and overall had another day filled with excitement and adventure!

And the part you have all been waiting for :
Yelp review ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Written by Maya, Isabela, and Jaden

We started off with biking at 14,000 feet in the Incan Cloud Forest. The biking lasted about three hours. The fact that we all were above cloud level and how cold it was surprised us. We were all so proud of ourselves for making it through the bike ride and being optimistic. Lastly we finished the day off with white water rafting. We all learned that we have good listening skills when paying attention to the guide telling us where to go.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Written by: Genny and Sherry

Today we woke up at 5 am ready for our second day of the trek. Although a bit tired, we enjoyed another great breakfast with a jungle view. Afterwards we began our journey hiking part of the Inca trail. It was a mix of Peruvian flats ( a.k.a lots of ups and downs) and some steep hills. Mid way we got to rest and visit at la casa del mono. Here we learned more about Incan culture and had some snacks.Although sweaty and a bit tired we got to enjoy beautiful views of mountains and rivers. After this, we ate lunch and headed to some natural clear hot springs to soak our bones in after the hike! We also further explored the town of Santa Teresa where we’ll be staying for the night and ate another great dinner.

And for our best part!

Yelp review : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Deduct one star because the hike had some pretty narrow trails on the side of the mountain!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Today we rose with the sun and had an early breakfast, leaving behind Santa Teresa before embarking on a journey to the starting point of our hike. We walked about 13 km down a railroad track, stopping to see a spectacular waterfall on the way. We arrived at Aguas Calientes around lunchtime and had a scrumptious lunch to fuel up before checking in to our nice hotel (it had an elevator). Once we got settled in we discovered an endless marketplace and had time to recuperate from a long trek. After exploring the town we regrouped and went to dinner together, where we listened to an amazing flute ensemble. Then we went back to our home for the night and had a relaxing evening, prepping for our next exhilarating day.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

MACHU PICCHU!! We were all in very high spirits about our long awaited destination. We once again got up with the dawn and had a satisfying breakfast before joining with our favorite muchacho, KJ! Then we rode the bus to our UNESCO World Heritage site of choice. We were very thrilled to be there and see the history in action. We learned about various Incan lore and some of us even voiced alien theories. We especially loved the archaeological wonder that Machu Picchu has to offer as well as the llamas. Then we left its splendor still amazed, heading to lunch. We had some time to look around Aguas Calientes before going to the train station for our final trip back to home base in Ollantaytambo. The ride had stunning views and we stopped for a while to look at them. We were all glad to finally be home once the ride had concluded. Overall, it was a magnificent experience that many of us hope to cherish for our lifetimes!

By,
Sydney and Jaden

BLOG POST FOR JULY 17-18

Written by Sherry and Rachael

Sunday:

We woke up at 8, glad to be back at Home Base where we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of locally baked bread and eggs. Then we set off at 9 for our second to last day of service at the dormitories. We continued working on the hole to hold a water tank, began clearing an area for volleyball and soccer, and painted the gate and some stairs. After we finished service, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the dormitories.

On our way back to home base, we stopped in the market for shopping and snacks. In the afternoon, after arriving back at home base, we all got really serious about painting our ceramic protector bulls. The bulls all turned out incredible and we got to see everyone’s artistic talent. Then we had a delicious dinner to wrap up the day.

Yelp Review: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Deduct 1 star for for lack of energy.

Monday:

Today we woke up at 8 to a slightly rainy morning and got ready for a “walk up the mountain” (which is not a hike according to staff member Matt). It was a beautiful hike with incredible views of the town and surrounding mountains. When we reached the ruins near the top and looked back down on the town, everything seemed to snap into perspective: it’s our second to last day here in Ollantaytambo. We started off by independently meditating and thinking about our surroundings, trying not to take anything for granted. Then we split into our last mentor groups for a reflection of our time here the past couple weeks.

After some further exploration of the ruins and a quick stop at the market, we headed back to home base for an hour before heading out for our last day of service at the dormitories. There we worked on constructing chairs, painting poles, and leveling the area that will become the volleyball court and soccer field. After service, we had the privilege of getting to know the amazing girls who are staying at the dormitories.
We headed back to home base for some free time and time to pack 🙁 Then we set off to eat dinner at the restaurant that has been providing our food at home base- it was delicious. To wrap up the day, we enjoyed a sporting game of fútbol.

Yelp Review: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
All the stars for getting to meet the girls at the dormitories.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

Written by Gracie

I think July 19th came quicker than any of us really expected. In the moments between adventures this journey with GLA was simultaneously 2 weeks, and an entire lifetime spent with a group of almost strangers that quickly became close friends.

To finalize our time together we made the most of a perfect sunny day in Cuzco, eating, seeing, and walking around one of the more infamous Plazas de Armas in this country. We conquered the San Pedro Market for last minute finds (and fourteen chocolate bars later) made our last trek to Home Base for dinner.

The night came to a close with a handful of tears, with surely more to come tomorrow. We danced in the lights of a mini disco ball and sang like we were front row of our favorite concert of all time. There was truly no better way to end our 14 days together than to turn Hotel Tierra Inka into Club Tierra Inka until our 11pm bedtime, and linger in each others company just a little while longer.

As a group we are all so grateful for the GLA staff who went above and beyond when we were sick, scared, anxious, and anything inbetween, and for our homebase guardians Alex and Paola who made our home away from home so comfortable. Until Next Time Ollantaytambo!

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