The Young Leader

by

Guatemala: Global Health in the Land of the Maya (July 18 – July 31, 2025)

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

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Welcome to the first blog post of the Guatemala: Global Health in the land of Maya program!

Today, your students arrived safely at the airport and were greeted with a warm welcome from our team. We then made our way to Antigua, where we are staying tonight. After getting settled and unpacking, we took a walk to the main plaza to take in the beautiful colonial architecture and vibrant colors of the city.

For dinner, we visited a restaurant built in 1650, giving everyone a taste of history alongside their meal. Some students had dinner close to the airport and joined us later, just in time to say good night! We are waiting for the last 3 students on later flights. Now everyone is resting, and excited for first full day tomorrow as we begin our journey together in Guatemala!

We look forward to sharing more updates with you throughout the program.

Best your Guatemala team,

Magdalena/Mag (international director), Alexa (mentor) and Nayo (local director)

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

We are finally all together! Travel day was tiring and we today we went from Antigua to our homebase. Our home away from home is located in Quetzaltenango which is also called Xela. On the way we stopped for an amazing lunch at a grill restaurant that has a farm and we saw some bunnies, ducks, chickens and a cow. Many people loved the flor de Jamaica drink which is hibiscus tea served with ice.

When we arrived to our homebase we started with a tour around to orient ourselves then played some games and it was time to rest!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

Today was pretty much a “foundation” day. We stayed at home base, doing group activities and had the special privilege to have a local doctor come and speak with the group.

Although breakfast usually starts at around 7:15, but we decided to start a little later today at around 8:00. Everyone seemed to agree that the pancakes, watermelon bites, and freshly squeezed orange juice was the perfect start to the day. Post breakfast we started to get ready for our “orientation” where we did group and team bonding activities and discussed values, morals, and goals for the group. We also reviewed Code of Conduct and the expectations of a student attending GLA.

At around 3:00, our guest speaker, Dr. Arturo, came to home base. He gave us training, which was learning to take blood pressure and using a weighting scale. Afterwards, we had a discussion about diet and nutrition in Guatemala, and some of the challenges the people have with the medical system, and assess to nutritional foods.

Dinner rolled around at 6:30 and we had some of the best stir fry and for many of us a new dish: Magdelena cake. We then closed the night with discussing highlights, group shoutouts, and discussion with our question of the day “How are we going to resolve the challenges of learning about the medical field with a language barrier?”. After our question of the day we broke into mentor groups and talked about our “SMART” goals durning this trip.

Love,
Alex and Aidan

BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

This morning, we had our first day of service, working with kids at a local school. We paired up and rotated through different stations, each contributing to a health check for the students. The kids were adorable and excited to interact with us! Many even gave us hugs! We had the opportunity to practice a lot of Spanish, and many of us picked up new words along the way.

After we completed the health checks for the first grade, we returned to home base and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Shortly after, we boarded the bus to visit a family-owned chocolate business where we learned about the rich Mayan culture surrounding cacao. At the museum, we explored that history and traditional process of making chocolate. The Mayans have long used cacao to create delicious drinks, and we got to try three variations. We also enjoyed a chocolate fountain served with fresh fruit. We then went to a salsa class, where we learned the fundamental steps of the dance. Afterward, we returned to home base for dinner and time to unwind. If was a full, fun, and rewarding day!

Love,

Catherine and Sabrina

BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

We woke up at 7:15 in the morning and we went on a hike to a sacred lagoon- Chicabal. We learned more about the Mayan culture and their beliefs- how their beliefs are not founded in religion, but a practice that is connected to the elements and the universe.

The next part of the day we had a short break and some of us played soccer in our free time. Then we went to learn about weaving—the culture and ancient techniques and how the practice had changed throughout time. We learned how to weave a scarf- we each tried this hands-on.

Then afterwards we went to our home base and ate a delicious dinner. Right after dinner we again had our daily “Ring of fire” group circle which is where we give shoutouts, say our highlights, and answer a question that the leaders of the day choose. Today our question was, “how was the sacred lagoon today peaceful for you?”. After our ring of fire we went over the schedule for tomorrow, played more soccer, and will soon be going to bed!

From,

Angelo y River

BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Greetings from gorgeous Guatemala!

Today was our second day of service! We each cc got new partners and a new medical station. We during recess, we joined we played with all the local students. It was really enjoyable to draw, dance, run, and play games with all the kids! We felt like celebrities as many of the kids came up to us asking for our signatures!

Back at home base we had an intellectually stimulating debate regarding the uses of traditional and modern medicine in Guatemalan healthcare. There were four groups, each representing a different Guatemalan perspective, and two moderators who guided the discussion on these issues. In the end, we all left with broadened horizons and a new view of approaching controversial conversations.

Despite the daunting rain, we decided to go on an excursion to the Xela Plaza. Here we learned about the fascinating history of Xela and enjoyed some delicious ice cream!

– Miri and Clara

BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Hello again from beautiful Guatemala,

Today we started our service bright and early at the school. Our confidence in our Spanish abilities has definitely improved and we’ve enjoyed immersing ourselves in different stations each day. Again, we had fun learning new games from the students during recess and playing lots of soccer.

After lunch, we journeyed up to high altitudes to enjoy the relaxing hot springs. During our time at the hot springs and on our drive back we were encompassed by clouds creating a beautiful scene.

After dinner, we did shoutouts, highlights, and a leadership activity. This activity made us silently reflect on the importance of our phones on this trip and in our lives. As we’ve reached the halfway point, we’ve recognized that by minimizing our phone usage, we’ve allowed ourselves to connect with each other in a way that we aren’t used to back at home, and we learned to be more productive during our free time. We had another amazing day at Guatemala, and we’re so excited to see where our adventure takes us next.

Best,

Sameena and Kacie

BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Hey! Today we started off the day with breakfast at 7 am and then headed to the bus to have our activity of the morning: ZIPLINING! Everyone was so excited and the bus ride was full of singalong songs as we drove to the course. When we got there, we split into our mentor groups to go up to the zip lines and both groups did 10 zip lines. It was so fun and had amazing views of mountains to look over.

We then headed back down to the bus and off to home base! After lunch and a break we headed back out to go to the supermarket. We got in groups of three to shop and found so many Guatemalan snacks that we had never tried before! Then we headed back to home base, had dinner, and went to sleep.

Love,

Orli and Maya

BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

Hey guys!

Today we started off with a 7 am breakfast that buzzed with the excitement of a weekend trip. After we all finished last minute packing of our small bags, we headed onto the bus and started traveling. The views were spectacular as we drove through towns, cities, forests, and finally around the lake. Lake Atitlan was expansive and beautiful, and we all admired it as we drove.

We reached our hotel and started walking to the dock to board our boat. As we sped across Lake Atitlan we admired the view of the volcanos in the distance and the villages dotting the side of the lake. When we arrived at the town of San Juan we walked around and did some souvenir and snack shopping. We then headed back to the hotel for lunch. After we took a quick rest before heading out again to explore the area by our hotel.

We stopped for frozen yogurt and walked more around the lake during sunset. Then we returned to the hotel where we ate dinner, played cards, and relaxed before heading to bed.

Love,

Noa and Kaiden

BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Hi from Guatemala!

Today we woke up in a beautiful hotel in Lake Atitlan and traveled to the Chichicastenango market. We spent time exploring the stalls filled with local goods, from fruits to handmade bags. We visited two local churches, which bordered the market that had a fusion of Christian and Mayan religion. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and talked to some gorgeous parrots.

We traveled back to home base and switched roommates, to continue to get to know more people. We then played some Guatemalan trivia in our mentor groups: “Hey, Alexa” and “Mag’s Minions”. We ended the night with shoutouts and highlights, reflecting on our time at the lake and market. Overall, today was a day full of novelty!

Love,

Sameena and Maya

BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

Today was our second to last day of service! We figured out how to maximize our efficiency and got through 8 classes today! After service we went back to home base where we bagged oatmeal to give to students at the school. The lovely kitchen staff taught us how to make to tortillas from scratch! We started with raw corn and ended with delicious quesadillas. Later, Mag guided us in a yoga class which left all of us extremely relaxed. To top off the day we enjoyed dulce de leche ice cream and mango sorbet!

Love,

Clara and Alex!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

Today was the very last day of service! After we finished up with all of the classes, they surprised us with a dance that involved them each pulling us up to go dance with them. They also gave us adorable decorated pens as a parting gift. Afterwards, we handed out medicine and nutritious gummy’s for the underweight children. When we arrived back at home base we typed up all of the children’s names, height, and weight so the school could have a records of our visits and each students health records. We then had a quick and informational CPR course where we all got certified by the Red Cross.

Love,

Aiden and Miriam

by

Guatemala: Children of the Maya (July 1 – July 14, 2025)

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

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

Welcome to the first blog post of the Guatemala: Children of the Maya program!

Today, your students arrived safely at the airport and were greeted with a warm welcome from our team. We then made our way to Antigua, where we are staying tonight. After getting settled and unpacking, we took a walk to the main plaza to take in the beautiful colonial architecture and vibrant colors of the city.

For dinner, we visited a restaurant built in 1650, giving everyone a taste of history alongside their meal. Now everyone is resting, and excited for first full day tomorrow as we begin our journey together in Guatemala! We are waiting for our last student Audrey whose flight was delayed and once she arrives we are

We look forward to sharing more updates with you throughout the program.

Best your Guatemala team,

Magdalena/Mag (international director), Alexa (mentor) and Nayo (local director)

BLOG POST FOR JULY 2 & 3

July 2nd

Today was a traveling day. We started our trip at Antigua, for the first night. After enjoying a desayuno delicioso with breathtaking views of the volcanos “Fuego” and “Agua”, we packed our bags and headed over to our Home Base in Xela. We stopped after 2 hours in a beautiful “Don Roberto Rancho”, where we ate lunch and saw cute conejos(rabbits), gallos(roosters), gallinas(chickens), y patos(ducks). We finally arrived to the Home Base in Xela, we’re Nayo, Mag, and Alexa gave us an informational tour of the Home Base. We discovered our rooms and our new roomies, and after some leadership activities and orientation, we got ready for bed, and adventures for the next day!

July 3rd

Today we woke up in our favorite old style way, bells at 6am sharp! We ate breakfast, and participated in an activity where we located our conform zones, learning zones, and panic zones.

Then we headed to the school we will be doing our service work this week, and we met the sweetest students ever! They talked, played, and took pictures with us- Que genial! We then started renovating their play area outside; scratching old paint, and re painting designs from older GLA programs. Then, 2 of our GLA students (Emily and Pepe) helped to teach a 6th grade English class!

After service, we headed to a chocolate museum, where we learned about the history of cacao, the procedure to make chocolate, and we tried chocolate tea, pumpkin spice chocolate, hot chocolate, and a chocolate fountain with fruits! Then, we took to a salsa dance class. We came back to the Home Base and we had our daily “Tea Time” afternoon meeting reflection. Then our last leadership group activity, and we got ready for an exciting day ahead!

Yours truly,
First Leaders of the Day: Ellie and Pepe

BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

We started off the day with homemade pancakes. Then went straight to our second day of community service at the school. We got to play many games with the kids including duck duck goose, soccer, hopscotch, and etc. Then we began painting the steps of the school after we sanded off the old paint.

Back at home base, we had time after lunch to go to the garden and work on our letter to future selves before a group meeting.

During the meeting we got to have a deep discussion about how our phones affect our lives and the adjustment we’ve made with the no phone policy. After, we played mafia as a group and then had extra free time to work on our lesson plans for the students at the school before eating celebratory dinner. This consisted of tamales, a sweet plantain with beans and hot cocoa. To end the day we did a bonfire and made s’mores to celebrate the Fourth of July! 🎇

Your leaders of the day: Ava & Emily

BLOG POST FOR JULY 5

Today, we headed off to Panajachel! When we arrived, we went on a boat tour on Lake Atitlan to San Juan. There, we learned about traditional Mayan weaving techniques with cotton. Every string is dyed naturally! With bugs, plants, seeds, or fruit/fruit skin. Then we had some time to walk around and shop. We headed back to the hotel to have lunch- made my the owner of the hotel herself! Then we played games in our mentor groups and had group conversations on how we are doing individually and as a group. We went to the Pana Market where we had another opportunity to shop before. Then we ate dinner, and worked more on our lesson plans for Monday at service and then – sleep!

Love,
Your leaders of the day
Amelia and Talia

BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

After our overnight in Panajanchel, we had a home cooked breakfast made by the owner of our hotel. We drove two hours to the Chichicastenango market which was bustling with many locals shopping for fruit, kitchen supplies, and more. We then had just enough time to rest and rejuvenate before reuniting with home base and getting straight to work on our lesson plans. As we presented our ideas for our lesson plans we got approved and continued preparing for our first day of teaching. We then had a delicious dinner followed by tea time and more bonding. Overall we felt very emotionally bonded by the end of the night and we really illustrated our love for the community we have built.

Love,
Nina And Niko

BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

Today in the morning we headed straight to the School where we taught our first lessons. We focused on teaching the children adjectives and verbs in English. Although it was tough speaking in front of a class everyone persevered, and did an amazing job! We headed back to home base to a lovely lunch and a surprise. After munching on our surprise ice cream we had a guest speaker from one of the schools here in Xela. She taught us the struggles schools in Guatemala deal with today. We ended the night with a wellness check in our mentor groups!

Love,
Paris and Anneah

BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

We started off the day with a filling breakfast to prepare for the hike. Then we headed towards Chicabal for our hike. It was a very beautiful trail up, with stunning views of the volcano along the way. When we got to the top, Santiagito Volcano started to smoke and we experienced raining ashes. Afterwards, we walked down 600 stairs to the sacred Mayan lagoon. To get back to the top of the mountain, we spilt between the trail and stairs.

In the afternoon, we all hung out and played Guatemala themed trivia with facts we learned throughout the trip. At night, Mags, Alexa and Nayo surprised us with a pizza party and karaoke night. To finish off the night, everyone prepared their lesson plans for tomorrow.

Love Harlie and Audrey
PS. Miss you mom and dad

BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

Today we started off the day by traveling to the school. Each group taught 2 different classes that we had planned the day before. We taught our lesson plans, as well as painted the stairs. After we left the school, we went back to home base for lunch – and got ready for the hot springs. The drive to the hot springs was around 1 1/2 hours, but the drive was very beautiful.

Once we arrived to the hot springs, we got in and relaxed in the warm water. Once we finished swimming, we got back on the bus to headed back to home base. Along the way we stopped to get some snacks, and the rest of the bus ride we listened to music. The other leader of the day, Reid, was not feeling great so she stayed back and rested, which was much needed.

– Abby

BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Yesterday we woke up bright and early ready to celebrate our Ava’s 18th birthday! To make the day special for Ava we ventured to the Zip Line to start the morning. After 7 zip lines through the beautiful Guatemalan forest we started to feel a light drizzle – which quickly became a downpour! As we ended our zip line journey short, we hopped on the back of a pick up truck and truly enjoyed the “go with the flow” moment while singing in the rain- another special bonding moment.

Then on the drive home we made a quick stop at the gas station to prepare our snack bags for our big travel day back to Antigua.

We returned to home base and packed. After, we came together as two mentor groups and shared our OMG (One Meaningful Goal) through powerful and descriptive skits.

Then we enjoyed a lovely dinner and threw a surprise party for Ava! We sang happy birthday in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Basque, French and Russian. After a long dance party we ended the night bonding one last time at home base and then got a good night rest.

Lots of love,
Leaders of the Day: Pepe, Emily (and Nina)

BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Today was our last day full of fun experiences, cultural activities in Guatemala! In the morning we said goodbye to our home base and went to a Mayan ceremony where a shaman created an altar and taught us the steps of a traditional ceremony.

After, we had lunch and toured a local coffe from. Here we learned the life of the coffee fruit, all the way to the ground up beans in your coffee cup.

Then we drove to a local home where we learned the stages to a traditional Mayan ceremony. Some of our friends were involved in the full reenactment of the wedding.

After, we came back to our hotel, freshened up and got ready for our final dinner!

Followed by an appreciation circle, and saying goodbye to some of our friends who were leaving that same night. Time to sleep and prepare for everyone else’s travel day!

– Reid

by

Greece: Turtle & Conservation Adventure (June 30 – July 11, 2025)

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

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

Author – Amanda Mallory, International Director

Greetings from Greece!

We’re so happy to have all these great students here on program with us. 28 of our 30 students have arrived in Greece with two more joining us tomorrow. It’s a packed itinerary with tomorrow’s highlights being a city tour, Acropolis visit, and food tour. Today we had arrivals, naps, delicious meals, and pool time on our hotel roof top overlooking Athens and it’s archeological sites. Expect many more photos to come!

We shared some laughs and got to know each other throughout the day. What a great start to this journey!

Our blogs will start with myself along with Kyle, Oliver, and Sofia (group mentors) as authors then transition to student written narrative.

Students will be busy during the days fostering in-person community and have their phones at night to reach out and connect with home. I recognize this time zone difference might be a challenge when you want to reach your student so we’ll send regular blogs and be available as a staff support team for you and them 24/7.

Thanks for trusting us with your young leaders, it’s a really an honor to work with them.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

By Olivia, Mia, and Kedrick

Hello from Athens!

To start the day, the group had orientation, where we discussed the GLA mission and values, and exciting upcoming events ahead. Shortly after, we rode a bus through the beautiful city of Athens. We passed by the Panathenaic Stadium, drove by the guards of the Greek parliament, and made our way to the Acropolis, learning about the history of Athens along the way.

Once arrived at Acropolis, we stopped above a few flights of stairs and learned about the history of the Greek gods and why the parthenon was built. We walked up the rocky hill above Athens and stopped in front of the building. We heard so much about the history and why the people of Greece find it so important to preserve their past. It was so fun!

After our trip to the Acropolis, we embarked on a food tour around Athens. We walked around the center of town, hopping from restaurants, the meat and fish markets, bakeries, and fruit and vegetable markets. Some of the most delicious foods we tried throughout the day were gyros and kebabs, olives, classical Greek cuisine, loukoumades, and more!

Tomorrow we will be leaving Athens for the island of Kefalonia!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

Today the journey was long; however, the views seen from the bus and ferry made it worth it. The day began at 07:00 with breakfast. After breakfast, we got right on the bus, and in a little more than hour and a half we made it to the turtle visitor center. There, we leaned how turtles can get injured at sea, and also how they get treated for head and stomach injuries!

Firstly, we were an incredibly lucky to see the only green sea turtle conservation which has a history of nearly 30 years operating since 1994, founded by ARCHELON. This unique and insightful excursion provided an educational learning experience, highlighting the footprint of mass fishing and consumeristic culture.

Consequently, we visited the 3 primary species of turtles found in and around the Mediterranean Ocean, and became educated on the migration patterns of each type.

After the presentation, some of our peers bought turtle related items from the gift shop. These proceeds went to the conservation center. When we got back on the bus, we took a two hour bus ride to a local Greek restaurant where we had cell phone piles so while we ate we weren’t on our phones. After lunch we had another two hour bus ride to a ferry in Kefilonia where we unloaded our suitcases and ran to the ferry where we played games, buying souvenirs, enjoying the view, and eating snacks.

– Tori, Naomi and Anthony

BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Hi everyone. This is today’s leaders, Summer, Jojo and Cayley. Today we started our morning at 4AM! It was still dark out when we left for our turtle nests survey. We separated into 2 groups and we headed down to different beaches to start surveying for nests. After a long time of searching , one of the groups came across a full nest of 94 eggs! We had to relocate these eggs due to a sand-sweeper that would’ve disrupted the nest.

We learned about the specific types of tracks the turtle make and how the baby turtled memorize where the beach they hatched on is located. After a very long morning, we were rewarded with a beautiful swim in the warm waters of Kefalonia. After all the fun in the sun, we made our way to lunch, where we celebrated Stella’s 18th Birthday! Happy birthday! Then we finally had time to shop. Finally, after our much needed downtime, we will be heading to dinner and then to a turtle conservation talk.

See you tomorrow!

– Summer, Jojo, Cayley

BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

Written by Stella, Annabelle, and Maeve

Today we went to the Kalamia beach to go shore snorkeling to take pictures of the bottom of the sea floor. This helps the Wildlife Sense team in their conservation of seagrass. We went in four teams for around 45 minutes each. Each person on the team has different jobs and obligations. One person was in charge of holding the camera that took the pictures, another held the depth distance stick which was recorded every 1 minute, another kept track of time, and the final team member was in charge of navigation.

As we were snorkeling we went in two teams with each team split in to 4 people for either side of the paddle board we were holding on to. While the first team was snorkeling the second team was on the beach playing volleyball in a circle trying to keep the ball in the air or relaxing in the shade. While snorkeling we saw schools of fish, some octopuses, and one person even saw a sea turtle! Everyone had so much fun and really enjoyed the snorkeling as well as hanging out with our fronds playing volleyball and talking and laughing on the beach.

Once we had lunch at a local Greek restaurant we walked to join our mentor groups and did a fun team building activity. We answered questions to reflect on how we present our leadership skills and the way we interact in our groups and our impact as leaders. We then all came together and decided whether we wanted to get ice cream or head back to the hotel, to wash and get a well-deserved rest after our service day. After getting ice cream and some essentials from a grocery store near the hotel both of the groups met up and went to their rooms to refresh.

After our free time we had a presentation from the Wildlife Sense group about seagrass and fish breeds, which we saw while we were snorkeling in the morning. We learned about all of the benefits of seagrass and how it is threatened, and how different breeds of fish can be differentiated from each other and the ways they’ve adapted to survive.

We ended the day with sunset circle and dinner at an Italian restaurant, where we got salad, pizza, and pasta. Overall it was a great day full of fun activities!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 5

Our names are Carley, Dana and Manon, and we got to be your team leaders for the day! We woke up today for breakfast at 7:00, we then took a bus to the same beach we were at yesterday. We got to participate in a sea grass survey which is important to conserve as it is our sea turtles food. In groups of four we suited up in life jackets, flippers and masks to grab our recording gear. Using a go pro and a depth meter we went out in shifts of an hour and a half to GPS map all the sea grass in the bay. After a few hours we played volleyball on the beach and swam through the beautiful rock arches filled with little fish. Once it was time for lunch we bussed back to our hotel just in time for lunch!

At the hotel the group split in two: one half went on an enriching cooking class, where they were immersed in Greek cuisine, making classic staple dishes like Tzatziki and beetroot hummus. They even made gyros from scratch, all the way down to seasoning the chicken and making the pita bread the gyros were wrapped in.

The other half participated in an intense debate about the pressing water crisis in Greece. The debaters immersed themselves in different roles, becoming familiar with the perspectives of government officials, local farmers, tourist board officials and environmental activists with us group leaders as facilitators.

In a couple of days the groups will switch so the debate team will get to go to cooking class and the cooking people will be able to debate.

Once the group reunited and they had some free time, they all set out to have some beef kebabs at dinner with a selection of cakes to top it all off!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

Hello GLA Families and Friends!

We started off our day today by having a delicious breakfast while wearing our volunteer shirts. After we walked to the harbour near our hotel to volunteer and search for sea turtle interactions! Everyone split into groups and many of us saw lots of sea turtles near the fish market. During the sea turtle interactions we completed written surveys to retain the interesting information. Once the volunteering came to an end, all of us quickly stopped at the hotel to grab bags and head for the caves!

After the hour in the bus we arrived to Melissani Cave. The water was amazing and very blue, it looked like gatorade. We split into groups and took boat tours through it. Once done in the caves we took a short drive to a campground and ate a lunch of chicken tenders and pasta. The food was great. After everyone was done we spent an hour or two into the pool and beach. The water there was also gorgeous.

After all the activities we got back on the bus to head back to the hotel, making a pit stop on the road above the most beautiful beach on the island for a group photo. After arriving at the hotel we were given a few hours of free time where we could hang out and get ready for dinner, which we had at a restaurant near our hotel. Once dinner was over we walked back to the hotel where we had a quick GLA activity and sunset circle before we went back to our rooms for bed.

Ari, Isabelle and Kate

BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

By Logan, Sam, & Jagger

Hello from Kefalonia!

We started the day off with breakfast at the hotel, then we got on our bus and started heading to the beach where we completed our last day of snorkeling. We started with half of our group going out and collecting more data for Wildlife Sense. Our first group spotted a turtle and followed it for a few minutes which was very exciting. Shortly after that group returned the second group went out and collected more data. We did a quick beach cleaning, and then got back on the bus to the hotel.

After arriving back at the hotel, we split into two groups, one going to the cooking class and the other going out to lunch and participating in the water conservation debate. In the cooking class, we made delicious gyros, Greek salad, hummus, and other traditional foods and sauces. In the debate, we each took a role of someone who is an active part of the Greek community (government, farmers, environmentalists, etc.) and debated how to solve Greece’s long lasting leaking pipe problem.

After our afternoon activities, we walked as a group to a secluded beach on the other side of the harbor that is commonly used for turtle releases and rescues. There we had a presentation about climate change and its effects, specifically on the island of Kefalonia and other parts of Greece. Then we picked up some trash through a small beach clean up before heading back to the main street in Argostoli and eating dinner.

Overall, this trip has been an incredible and rewarding experience that we will never forget. We’re excited to keep working hard and end the trip strongly.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Today we woke up early to go to the beach service site. We went for a nest survey for the turtles to see if there were any new nests. After we recorded some turtle tracks and lots of digging, we found eggs. Once the team protected the eggs with a barrier, we had some beach time. It was a blast because we got to swim out and then relax on the beach. After that, we took the bus home.

After a bit of free time to freshen up, we took a bit of a trek to a new lunch spot. We all enjoyed lunch in a bit of shade and were excited that a bus came to pick us up. Afterwards, we all had a great hour for shopping, most buying a few souvenirs or a scoop of ice cream, then we had another two hours to de compress and rest to make up for our very early morning and late night.

We had our final talk with Wildlife Sense (our community partners) after our resting hours in which we summarised our knowledge and put on our best accents to answer various questions about sea grass and turtles. We said goodbye to the community team and headed out to dinner at a familiar spot. Everyone dressed up in fancy outfits. We then headed back to quickly pack and get a decent nights rest.

– Elle, Stella O, Coral

BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

In the morning we woke up bright and early to catch a bus. The bus views were breathtaking with the water and hills on either side. Once we got off the bus we hopped on the the ferry to take us back to the Greek mainland. The ferry was about 3 and a half hours and many of us caught up on some well deserved rest.

In the afternoon our ferry docked and we caught another bus to a delicious lunch stop right on the water, where we had a choice of pastas and chicken and a Greek salad on the side. After lunch we went on another bus, where the views were once again gorgeous. Soon we arrived at our final tourist destination. A bee farm! We learned how to safely help bees and how to take care of them! We then put on our bee suits to help protect us from stings and we got to interact and some people even pet some bees!

For dinner we went to a restaurant called epkouros. The view had mountains and we were able to watch the sunset from our seats. In the restaurant, for our ententes there was a cheese pastry and a salad consisting of shredded carrots, lettuce, and dressing. For the main meal we had roster and local pasta, for the vegetarian option there was a stuffed and cooked tomatoes dish called yemista. For dessert we had a Greek cake.

– Lydia, Blake & Autumn

BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Andrew, Bea, and Will

Hello from Athens!

We started the day by waking up and eating the hotel breakfast buffet from 8-9 am, including a variety of foods such as cereal, toast, and more, including honey, that we had learned to admire from the bee farm the afternoon before. After our meal we proceeded to shop around Delphi and buy clothing, foods, and gifts for our lovely family, friends, and of course, ourselves.

At 11 am we departed with all our luggage towards Athens to arrive at our location for our next hearty feast – today’s lunch. For lunch we feasted on beef patties, fish, along with salads and fries. After lunch we continued our journey towards Athens, arriving around 4:30. Exhausted, we rested a while before we all went up to the roof for a final activity at 6:45. We filled out our program evaluation surveys, and received a printed picture of the group and everyone had a good time getting people to sign them. We reminisced on all the good times we had and it was really meaningful. We left for dinner at around 7:30 PM.

For dinner, we went to the top of a hill for a Zafiro Experience, which included buffet style Greek foods and desserts. We watched and participated in Greek traditional dances, smashed some clay plates (Opa!), and enjoyed the beautiful sunset! We also celebrated Mia’s birthday! Some of us were even able to dress in traditional Greek dancing outfits. After dinner and a short dance party, we returned back to the hotel for some late-night goodbyes before our flights tomorrow!

by

Greece: Mediterranean Cities & Island Expedition (July 14 – July 25, 2025)

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

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Greetings from Greece!

We’re so happy to have all these great students here on the program with us. All 16 have arrived safe and are resting up after their long flights.

It’s a packed itinerary with tomorrow’s highlights being a city tour, Acropolis visit, and food tour. Today we had arrivals, naps, delicious meals, and pool time on our hotel rooftop overlooking Athens and it’s archeological sites. We also had our orientation, where we started by discussing the GLA rules and Code of Conduct, and transitioned into a discussion on values which informed our community agreement!

We shared some laughs and got to know each other throughout the day. Such joyful, funny, intellectual, sporty, and musically talented students in this group. What a great start to this journey!

Our blogs will start with myself (Amanda, International Director) and Kyle (group mentor) as authors then transition into student written narrative.

They will be busy during the days fostering in-person community and have their phones at night to reach out and connect with home. I recognize this time zone difference might be a challenge when you want to reach your student so we’ll send regular blogs and be available as a staff support team for you and them 24/7.

Thanks for trusting us with your young ones, it’s really an honor to work with them

Amanda, International Director

Kyle, Mentor

BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Yasass (Hello)! Our first full day in Greece we began with breakfast at the hotel. We then went on an Athens city bus tour! We learned the history surrounding the important buildings in Athens, and the golden age of Greece all the way to present Greek history. We also learned the reason behind why Greek parliament guards have pom pons on their shoes (an old military blade hiding technique)!

After arriving at the base of the Acropolis, we ventured up. While walking our tour guide Evi explained the importance and meaning behind the Acropolis, Parthenon, and multiple temples! She explained how they are connected to Greek mythology, religion, and culture.

After multiple water breaks we started our Athens food tour! Our tour guide first led us to a dessert bakery named Krinos that is over a century old! They are famous for their Loukoumada, which is a fried dough desert with honey and sugar. They are a Greek classic!

Then we explored the meat, fish, and vegetable market. Then we were seated at a restaurant and had a family style lunch tasting multiple different Greek dishes. We finished the tour by stopping for gyros! We ended the day back at the hotel hanging out near the pool playing games. All in all great start to an ongoing adventure!

Blog done by Leaders of the day,

Anya and Nora

BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

By Mia and Audrey,

After a busy day yesterday, we started off today with the Invisible Tour, which highlights the parts of Athens not commonly seen by tourists. A homeless man from Athens led our tour and told us about his life and how he became homeless. We learned about the International Network of Street Papers and the International Network of Street Tours. He showed us some of the places that help shelter, feed, and provide resources to the homeless. He spoke about the importance of sport and the arts, and how many homeless people lose access to that. He shared his opportunity to act in many theatre productions and how meaningful that was to him. Moral of the story is don’t take life for granted, and that life always keeps moving!

After the tour we went into the main part of town and got a Greek dish called gyros, mostly everyone asked for beef and chicken. We had an hour to eat and then we went into the main shopping area, the flea market street. We had an hour to get some clothes, bracelets, and ice cream.

After shopping we went back to get our bags from the hotel and got on a bus to get on the ferry! The ferry was delayed a bit so we went and got ice cream and water. We were able to stay on the bus so we weren’t in the heat for a long time. We all got our roommates and now we are headed to our next destination Crete!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

Done by: Katie and Kaleigh

This morning, we began our day pretty early by arriving from our ferry in Crete at 4am. After a quick few hours at our hotel of rest, freshening up, and breakfast, we made our way to the bus, and arrived at Magarites after a long car ride. This is a village in Crete known for its extensive history of pottery. While here, we met a gentleman who was kind enough to offer us an in depth pottery class. He taught us some techniques, shapes, and styles as to how we can create our own unique pieces.

After completing our masterpieces, the gentleman took us to his studio, where he creates, displays, and sells his finished pieces. He demonstrated many ancient techniques that individuals used to make life easier back then! After this, we swung by a restaurant in the village to grab some delicious lunch. It was yummy! We had a wide variety of Greek dishes such as; fried cheese, meatballs, tzatziki, and goat. We then went back down to explore some other shops and purchase what we wished.

Following this, we made our way to our new hotel for the night, and got changed for dinner and Cretan dancing. The 30 minute bus ride felt almost like 5 minutes by how entertaining the landscape truly was! When we arrived, we were greeted by friendly people who had everything planned out for us. We began eating dinner, and were quickly surprised with live Cretan music being played. Eventually, the dancers joined in and invited us to join them in a few of their performances. Near the end, the students took a turn in teaching by showing the dancers how to do the Cotton-Eye Joe line dance. Everyone enjoyed today so much, and we can’t wait for what’s to come next!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Written by: Anika and Jake

Hello from Crete! We all started our days in Rethymno, where we took a short bus ride to where our bike tour would begin! We rode through the historic and beautiful city, stopping along the way to see the many sights that Rethymno has to offer! We did have a few bumps along the way… maybe more than 8…but no real injuries, and we didn’t let that stop our journey through the city.

After our tiring but enjoyable bike tour, Evi told the group what we were going to eat for lunch. We were going to eat cheeseburgers! Everyone cheered in joy, expecting more Greek food. After everyone had eaten their variation of cheeseburgers, we all walked down to a cute little ice cream shop. According to our bus driver Bobis, it is the best ice cream shop in Crete. He was not lying. It WAS good. People enjoyed vast flavors from banana to cheesecake. These were all arranged by our amazing local director Evi. Thank you Evi!

After we had eaten lunch, we all jumped into our bus for the 2 hour drive to Zaros. Some of us slept while others were listening to music, chatting with friends or just entranced by the beauty of Zaros. Shortly after we had arrived at our marvelous hotel in Zaros, many of us headed straight for the pool. People were reading by the pool, passing a ball around, learning how to swim, and laughing heavily. After everyone had washed up we all headed over to the hotel restaurant where we saw a big tank of fish, a small playground, and the gorgeous view of the sunset in the mountains. For dinner we had cheese pie, salad, chicken and potatoes and the Greek twist of flan.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

This morning we ate breakfast at the IDI Hotel and then left for the farm. At the farm we first learned how to bake bread and a dessert called skaltsouni (cheese pie). While we waited for the traditional oven to be ready we learned about making a traditional goat cheese. After trying the cheese, we visited the farm animals. We got to feed all of the goats, hold the baby goats, feed the pigs, and collect the chicken eggs. After we were done with that, we sat down to eat lunch. We ate the bread we made along with chickpeas and herbs, a mixture of rice and vegetables, and a traditional Greek salad. After that we had our dessert, and once we finished our dessert, we danced. It was the same dance that we learned on Thursday so I think it was a bit easier for everyone this time around. We spent our entire morning there and it was time well spent.

We had a pretty low key afternoon. Once we got back to the hotel, we chilled a little in our hotel rooms and then went downstairs to have a debate about water scarcity in Greece and possible solutions from different points of view in the economy. The debate went very well and we all came to an agreement about solutions. Afterwards we all went to the park and had different activities like a plant scavenger hunt, charades, and speed competitions about Greek gods and goddesses. We all went back to the hotel and had an amazing dinner made up of salad, ham and cheese rolls, kebabs and pita bread! All and all it was an amazing fun filled day and we had so much fun!

Authors – Sophia and Lyla

BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

By Michelle and Adeline

After a busy few days, we got to sleep in till 10 AM and make our way out of Zaros and into Heraklion which is the capital of Crete. We got to swim for a few hours in the beautiful clear blue water off the coast. We had lunch at the seaside restaurant where we got to choose either pasta or pizza. We ate our lunch and continued to swim, play volleyball, or hangout together on the sand. After the beach we got back on our bus to our hotel in Heraklion where we got to rest for a couple hours before walking over to the city part of Heraklion where we got to listen a little bit about the history of some of the buildings like the church and main “lion fountain”. After our short tour we got free time to shop around with our partners and explore a bit before coming back together and going to a sit down dinner where we got fried cheese, pork, French fries, and Greek salad.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

By Paige and Amelia

We’ve made it to Santorini! After a wonderful time in Crete exploring the island we started off the day by taking a couple hours ferry to the famous Santorini island. Once we dropped our luggage off at our new hotel we headed straight to the black beach. Usually when you hear beach you think of beige, white and lightly colored sand but in this case, there was a volcanic eruption which had led the beaches to have a beautiful and unique red, black, and while pebbled beach. Here at the beach we swam in the water, played volleyball, and ate lunch at the beach club where we had margarita pizza, gyros, and Alfredo pasta which were all amazing.

After spending time at the beach we checked into the hotel and later went on a bus tour around the island, going to various different little towns each one being gorgeous and having the classic white and blue buildings. This tour lasted around 3 hours and we got souvenirs, great photos, and of course ice cream. After learning a bit about life on the island and seeing it as well, we headed back to the hotel for a bit of down time before dinner.

By the time dinner came around everyone was starving from the long day we just had. They served us a lasagna-like dish for dinner and some had pasta as well. For dessert we had a cinnamon flavored yogurt mixed with cream and a graham cracker which everyone enjoyed. After our first day in Santorini everyone was exhausted and we all had a good night.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

We’ve made it to Santorini! After a wonderful time in Crete exploring the island we started off the day by taking a couple hours ferry to the famous Santorini island. Once we dropped our luggage off at our new hotel we headed straight to the black beach. Usually when you hear beach you think of beige, white, and lightly colored sand but in this case there was a volcanic eruption which had led the beaches to have a beautiful and unique red, black, and white pebbled beach. Here at the beach we swam in the water, played volleyball, and ate lunch at the beach club where we had margarita pizza, gyros, and alfredo pasta which were all amazing.

After spending time at the beach we checked into the hotel and later went on a bus tour around the island, going to various different little towns each one being gorgeous and having the classic white and blue buildings. This tour lasted around 3 hours and we got souvenirs, great photos, and of course ice cream. After learning a bit about life on the island and seeing it as well, we headed back to the hotel for a bit of down time before dinner.

By the time dinner came around everyone was starving from the long day we just had. They served us a lasagna like dish for dinner and some had pasta as well. For dessert we had a cinnamon flavored yogurt mixed with cream and a graham cracker which everyone enjoyed. After our first day in Santorini everyone was exhausted and we all had a good night.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Our day started at 7:40 with a big breakfast, and we were soon on our way to shop. After shopping in Fira, we walked to a restaurant, where we enjoyed delicious food and had great conversations with friends. For lunch, we had meatballs, fries, and spinach pie. Shortly after lunch we boarded the bus and headed towards the dock where the boat would meet us.

We arrived and the boat and we were impressed with the boat’s old and stylish appearance with high sails and colorful wood. Many stops were made along the cruise, each very unique and beautiful. After everyone boarded from the two docks, we sailed toward the first destination which was a nice sunny swimming area close to the safe volcano that created a really cool appearance on the black rock. It was an option to jump off the side of the boat which a lot of students took part in and had a blast, along with swimming with pool noodles.

The next stop was another unique swimming area that noticeably had very clear, dark blue water next to steep mountains which is also where dinner was served. This dinner was quickly eaten by the students tired and hungry from swimming, which consisted of Greek salad, chicken kabobs, rice, potatoes, bread, tsiki sauce and orange juice. A good portion of time was spent at this location relaxing, swimming, and then eating.

After this, the sun slowly began to set, so we started to cruise around the islands for the last few hours on the boat. We had a wonderful time watching the sunset, taking pictures, talking, and laughing. We arrived at the boat port around 9:00 and hopped on the bus back to the hotel where we went to bed right away, exhausted from such a fun day!

From Will and Joseph

BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

By Michelle and Adeline

Today we woke up bright and early to eat breakfast and make our way to the “Humanity Greece” soup kitchen. We all worked together to prepare vegetables by peeling them and cutting them up to make a meal to then put into boxes, which we decorated to give out to homeless people in need. We then sat down and ate the meal we made for lunch, which was a healthy mix of lentils and vegetables. In the afternoon we had a few hours of freetime. We played cards, swam, and (unfortunately) packed to leave the following morning 🙁 . After our free time we all got ready in our nice dresses and dress shirts then took the bus to our farewell dinner where we did our last sunset circle. Once we did our sunset circle we sat down for our farewell dinner. We did traditional Greek dancing and ate traditional Greek food buffet style. We then competed in a competition where you had to be the loudest team to cheer and GLA won!

P.S. We also added in posts for July 20 and 21. Scroll up to check them out!

by

Greece: Mediterranean Cities & Island Expedition (June 15 – June 26, 2025)

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

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 15

Greetings from Greece!

We’re so happy to have all these great students here on program with us. All 13 have arrived safe and are resting up after their long flights. It’s a packed itinerary with tomorrow’s highlights being a city tour, Acropolis visit, and food tour. Today we had arrivals, naps, delicious meals, and pool time on our hotel roof top overlooking Athens and it’s archeological sites.

We shared some laughs and got to know each other throughout the day. Such joyful, funny, intellectual, sporty, and musically talented students in this group. What a great start to this journey!

Our blogs will start with myself (Amanda, International Director) and Kyle (group mentor) as authors then transition into student written narrative.

They will be busy during the days fostering in-person community and have their phones at night to reach out and connect with home. I recognize this time zone difference might be a challenge when you want to reach your student so we’ll send regular blogs and be available as a staff support team for you and them 24/7.

Thanks for trusting us with your young ones, it’s a really an honor to work with them.

Amanda, International Director

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 16

Greetings from Athens!

Today marked the students’ first full day on the program, filled with a program overview, a history of Athens, and cultural and culinary insights.

Following a tasty breakfast, we started the day with the GLA Orientation, reviewing GLA’s mission and values, the Code of Conduct, Greek cultural norms and a safety overview.

 We concluded the orientation with an activity exploring our relationship with cell phones, social media, and establishing norms around mindful tech use during the program.

The group then explored Athens with a historical city tour led by local staff, followed by a visit to the Acropolis. Students learned about the history of Greece over the centuries, the construction of the Parthenon and surrounding ruins, and reflecting on historical Greek influence on modern life.

In the afternoon, we enjoyed a guided food tour, sampling traditional Greek dishes like gyros and various olive oils, offering a delicious introduction to Greece’s culinary culture. In the evening, we came together to discuss what the students wanted for the program, and collaborated on a community agreement based on some of the values they shared.

Tomorrow promises more adventure and leadership growth. The students have already started forming new friendships and coming together as a team. Stay tuned for more updates from Greece!

-Kyle Scheer, Mentor

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17

By Abhinav and Sienna

Greetings from Athens!

It being the second day of exploration, we embarked on an invisible tour of the side of Athens many do not see. This part of Athens is where many homeless people live.

Our tour guide Michalis told his life story and struggles involved with how he ended up homeless. He first explained the crisis in Greece, on top of how the death of his family members affected his life, and how he ended up without a home. He also explained how life never stops no matter what happens to you, and that you always have to keep moving.

We walked around Athens looking at different homeless shelters and soup kitchens, while learning the history behind it. This tour was something that really impacted the group’s thoughts about the city, realizing the struggles of different people, living in totally different circumstances than we do.

Then, we had some free time where we explored the flea market, which was a narrow street filled with different shops and souvenir stands, before having a delicious lunch.

After eating several servings of fries and gyros, we piled into the van and headed to the beach for an afternoon filled with swimming, tanning, and fun.

Then we finally ended our day with traveling to the overnight ferry to Crete where we enjoyed dinner and checked into our cabins for the night.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18

Authors – Michael M and Andrew Jack

We arrived in Crete early this morning after an overnight ferry from Athens—sleepy but excited. Our first stop was Chania, and the city was absolutely charming. The old Venetian-style harbor felt like something out of a movie, with colorful buildings, narrow alleys, and sea views around every corner. You could really feel the Italian influence from the time of the Venetian Empire.

For breakfast, we went to a local bakery and tried bougatsa—a warm puff pastry filled with sweet cream and cheese. It was light, delicious, and exactly what we needed after the ferry ride.

Next, we took a bus into the hills to Margarites, a quiet village known for its pottery. At a small workshop, we tried our hand at shaping clay. Let’s just say some of our creations were more “abstract” than functional, but it was fun and surprisingly calming. After out pottery class we got to keep our creations and learned a little more about how clay was gathered and used for the local pottery in Margarites.

By evening, we made it to Rethymnon, checked into our hotel, and headed out for dinner at a local taverna. The food was amazing—grilled meats and fresh salads. We enjoyed watching and listening to the music and traditional dances while eating this food. We even got up and were able to dance and learn simple moves that were used in the dance. This was a great way to wrap up our day in Crete.

A perfect start to our time in Crete—beautiful, flavorful, and full of life.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19

By Abhik and Brooke

Greetings from the island of Crete!

For day 4 of our GLA trip to Greece we were in the magnificent city of Rethymno in Crete. We started out with a biking tour to experience the different areas and culture the city has to offer. We got to see many places such as downtown, the beach areas, and the love bridge. We learned about the different social norms of the residents such as how they have a very friendly attitude but can also experience very strong feuds with other families. After which we got to have a scoop of ice cream in a nearby shop.

After that we came back to our hotel and grabbed our bags to go have lunch at Agkouseliana in the mountains with rich vegetation and wonderful, traditional food. The drive was very long but so worth it as we got to our hotel in Zaros. The hotel was beautiful with a gorgeous, crystalline pool, floral garden, and exquisite rooms for us to enjoy.

Then after we got settled we had a four-course dinner of an appetizer, salad, main meal, and dessert. The rest of the day was spent in relaxation as the students enjoyed the calm and tranquil atmosphere of our residence.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20

Authors – Kylie and Alivia

Greetings from Zaros!!

After arriving in Zaros yesterday afternoon. We got to spend the whole day in Zaros today! This city is small but beautiful and full of nature. We began our day with 30 extra minutes of sleep. We all ate breakfast at the hotel and enjoyed some fresh air before starting our day.

We then took a short bus ride and walk to a local family farm! At this farm we jumped right into learning how to make Bread. We made and shaped the dough and then let it sit. While we let our bread dough rise, we learned how to make a cheese filled pastry, lastly we got to watch how feta cheese is made. The next step was to make sure the oven was ready. The oven temperature is set by throwing flour into the oven and observing the color that it turns. If it isn’t the right color, they use an oven mop with cold water to cool it down slightly. We know the oven is ready when the flour turns light or golden brown.

While our food was cooking we got to have an amazing farm experience. On the farm we got to feed the goats, everyone got the chance to hold a baby goat if they wanted to. We got to see the chickens and collect their eggs. We also got to see, touch, or hold rabbits, dogs and pigs.

We then enjoyed our delicious lunch at the farm and danced to some traditional cretan dances that we learned a few nights prior!

We then went back to the hotel to relax and swim for a few hours to debrief. From there we went on an inclined walk to Lake Zaros. At the lake we did many group activities to improve our teamwork and enhance our communication skills. We started with a scavenger hunt of the different plants on Crete. We then did a timeline of the different eras of Greece. From there we jumped into sharing our knowledge of the Greek Gods and Goddesses. Lastly we competed in a game of charades based on our experiences on the trip so far! We ended with a beautiful three course dinner.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

By Kylan and Yeva

We began our Saturday back in the lovely city of Zaros on Crete. After breakfast, our GLA activity. A tense debate between the European Union, the French Government, and French farmers who are arguing import costs, regulations, and the impact that farming has on the environment. We divided ourselves into smaller groups and we each represented a side, coming to an agreement between all parties. Everyone got a chance to vocalize themselves and speak for their group.

At noon we got onto our bus and took a hour long drive to Heraklion, which was rewarded with a beautiful beach! The sun was bright, the sand was burning our feet and the water was blue and clear. We enjoyed our beach day then headed on to our hotel and checked before heading out to dinner. In the city’s center, we shopped, absorbed the market and spent our euros on gifts and treats.

The winners of our previous GLA activity chose pizza for dinner as the reward. We went to a local pizza shop and enjoyed some slices of freshly made pizza, a taste of home.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Authors – Kane and Julian

To begin the day, the group stared with an early rise in Heraklion in order catch the ferry to Santorini. With haste, the group boarded the ship, and settled in for an oceanic ride. It allowed the group to catch some Zzzs and make up for the early rise.

After a few hours, the group arrived to the vast Santorini where we embarked on a quick ride to our pretty hotel. After settling in, we walked right down the road to the beach! After settling in our cabanas we gathered together and played in cold water, and black sand. As time passed the group ate a variety of delicious foods and smoothies. Once the group was ready to head back to the hotel, we made our way back and hit the showers. After we freshened up, we traveled to the vinard village of Megalochori and then the town of Oia.

After walking around shops and on balconies, the beautiful views did not disappoint and the group enjoyed the aesthetics of the city. During the evening, the group got some icecream, souvenirs, dinner, then headed back to the hotel where we did a GLA activity and called it a day.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

Written by Zoya and Abhinav

The GLA students woke up to a beautiful morning, greeted by the Santorini sun, ready to take on the day!

After breakfast, we embarked on our journey to Fira, the capital city of Santorini, where we got to experience the beautiful white buildings sitting around the Caldera.

After a few hours of walking around, shopping, taking pictures, and admiring the view, we relaxed in a nice Greek restaurant.

After finishing lunch, we went to the port of Fira, where we got on our boat for the rest of the night. Our pirate-looking boat took us to the beautiful hot springs, allowing us to swim in the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea. We also had the opportunity to hike the volcano which created Santorini, giving us a beautiful view of the Caldera.

Once we got back on the boat, we ate some Greek barbecue, danced to the music, and watched the breathtaking sunset from the boat.

Overall, today was an amazing part of the trip, giving us a great opportunity to view the Greek island of Santorini.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24

Authors – Brooke and Sienna

During the second to last day of our Greece trip we woke up at around 8:00 for a quick breakfast before jumping into a group reflection activity.

We reflected on a letter we wrote to ourselves last week about SMART goals, where we made goals for ourselves and our group as a whole to become better as people.

After packing up all of our stuff, we finally ventured off to the port where we continued our journey on long ferry ride back to Athens. However, we will all miss Santorini and its beautiful views and teal waters so much.

During this cruise we got to see a great view of all the islands, and bonded with each other as a whole for a long 6 hours. Some played UNO, while others slept or watched movies together. It was a tiring but rewarding journey when we finally made it back.

We finished the day off with a sunset circle where we shared what we did while on the cruise and someone that made us laugh today. We also chose our new group leaders for tomorrow before heading to dinner which was delicious as usual.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25

Written by Abhik and Alivia

Kalimera (good morning) from all of the students in Athens! We started our day at 8 a.m. with a joyful farewell breakfast, savoring every bite of our exquisite food and cherishing our last minutes together. As the morning sun warmed the city, we convened as a GLA group to reflect on our experiences and the friendships we’d built. In this spirit of solidarity, we set a common objective to improve our leadership abilities and make a good difference in our communities. This commitment demonstrates not just our drive to personal improvement, but also our desire to inspire others. As we move forward, we are eager to use what we have learned and empower people around us, ensuring that our time in Athens leaves a lasting impact.

We left the hotel at 10:30 a.m., excited to volunteer at Humanity Greece and help prepare lunch for those in need. Upon arriving, we were greeted with warm grins and a sense of purpose, eager to contribute to a worthwhile cause. Our responsibilities included cleaning and cutting a variety of fresh vegetables, such as carrots, tomatoes, peppers, green onions, and cilantro, as well as making pasta. The kitchen was alive with activity as we worked together, sharing laughs and stories while slicing and preparing items. After we finished preparing the food, we focused on designing small boxes to contain the meals, giving each one a particular touch. Some of us loaded the boxes with the delicious food we had cooked, while others carefully closed them to ensure everything was properly packaged. After all of the boxes were packed and ready for distribution, we made a few extra pieces for ourselves to eat for lunch, appreciating the results of our effort and contemplating on the impact that we were making in the community.

We all returned to the hotel for a special GLA activity, during which Amanda graciously gave beautiful pictures from Santorini to everyone of us. The plan was to pass these images around, allowing everyone to write small words and notes to one another, resulting in a treasured memory that we could look back on in the future. This activity encouraged connection and thought as we shared our ideas and memories from the trip.

After this important exchange, we proceeded to fill out a survey aimed to summarise all of our experiences on this remarkable trip. This survey gave us the opportunity to reflect on the lessons we learnt and the friendships we made. After all of the organized activities were completed, we were pleased to have some free time to relax. Many of us took advantage of this break by swimming in the hotel pool, playing cards with friends, and indulging in some excellent Starbucks, all while enjoying the casual atmosphere and friendships we’d formed during our time together.

Finally, we wrapped out our busy vacation with a lovely dinner at Zafiro cafe-restaurant, an ideal backdrop for celebrating our shared experiences. The meal was served buffet style, with a delectable selection of dishes that allowed us to experience the rich flavors of the native cuisine. As we dined, the wonderful sounds of live music filled the air, setting the tone for a great evening. The vibrant tunes motivated many of us to get up and dance, and we were happy to be able to participate in the festivities with the local performers and another group. We embraced their culture by wearing traditional dancing clothing, which brought authenticity to our experience and made us feel even more connected to the vivid heritage around us. This evening not only provided us with excellent cuisine, but also created lasting memories of laughter, joy, and a deeper respect for the culture we had immersed ourselves in throughout our journey.

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