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

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. 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.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. 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

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Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Arrival Day!!

Today we are excited to have our students arriving for the first day on their two-week adventure here with us. Students in our group arrived at all three of the country’s airports, Santiago, Puerto Plata, and Santo Domingo. Our team traveled across the country to greet the students and bring them back to our Home Base where they were able to eat, shower, play some ice breakers, and decompress!

We are still waiting for our students to arrive from Santo Domingo, and will send a photo of the full group tomorrow!

Buenas noches!

DR staff team – Andrea, Enrique, Jenny, Julianne, and John

BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Written by Ana and Juan (leaders of the day)

First day! We woke up bright and early for breakfast at 7:00 am. Starting the day off with orientation that lasted for most of the morning. Later in the day after playing a multitude of games, had lunch which was meat and rice, and we went to the beach. While it was somewhat rainy the view was amazing and the water was fun to play in until the rain became too unbearable and we went inside. After that we had our swim tests which consisted of swimming four laps, floating for 10 seconds, and tread water for 1 minute. The swim test was followed by a pool party!

The pool party was followed by a little bit of free time then we got into a debate. The debate consisted of four teams and one mediator debating whether or not we should “open an arena” It was a pretty fun experience. After we had dinner and had our lecture about global health and how that would relate to our everyday lives. We debriefed our debate then headed off to bed, a successful first night!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Today we woke up in our beautiful resort, complete with an amazing wildlife which we both appreciated and ran from in the shower. After having a delicious breakfast, we proceeded to have Q-tips shoved up our noses in order to investigate the contents of our bodies. We later took an hour and a half road trip to a remote village in the Dominican Republic, filled with the natural beauty and essence of the country. There, we were given the opportunity to help local communities, aiding in the building of their homes and improvement of their overall infrastructure.

Following a few hours work, we returned to the home base to have a nice, relaxing, and calming dip in our swimming pool. The rest of the day consisted of several engaging lectures in which we learned about the social determinants of health, in addition to the importance of global health. Lastly, we met in our mentor groups to assess our goals for this trip with the chillest person in the hemisphere, aka John🥶 And that concluded our third day at this retreat

BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Today we had the chance to visit La grúa, a small town near Puerto Plata at the north east of República Dominicana. Our bus ride was a 2 hour journey, where we socialized and played music.

As soon as we arrived we were introduced to a group of La Grúas kids who immediately welcomed us. The leaders of the day split everyone up into two groups and began to make separate concrete piles. Before we started we took the necessary precautions like face mask, sunscreen, water bottles and gloves. As soon as we began we had these instructions for each pile of cement: 10 buckets of sand, 5 buckets of rocks and 1 and a half bags of concretes. Each pile had its own designated house and the mixtures we were making were used for laying floors to prevent worm born diseases.

Throughout the day we continued to work together and consistently made more and more cement. During our breaks we played with the children and socialized with the residents of La grúa. Kids in our group played soccer with the local children, had their hair braided, and helped out with homework. After finishing the floors it was time to say goodbye to La Grúa.

Everyone slept on the bus because of the hard effort given during our stay in La Grúa. We arrived back at home base, everyone showered and spent time at the pool. Chow circle was then led by the group leaders, then everyone proceed to eat dinner.

At the end of the dinner, Enrique began speaking about his childhood and his difficulties with the challenges he overcame. The presentation was very interesting and everyone had a lot of questions at the end of it. All the students seemed to be inspired by the story and it was amazing to listen about his life story.

– Jordan and León

 

BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Instead of doing service today we went to a beach called Playa Preciosa! Even though it stormed, we had a great time watching the waves from a little restaurant where we ordered virgin Piña coladas. After a few hours at the beach, we ate some lunch and went to Dudu lagoon. It was one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. We were able to enjoy swimming and were entertained by watching people (not GLA students) fall from a crazy high zip line.

After returning to home base, we had training for the medical brigade tomorrow where we learned tips for interacting with patients. We finished the night by getting ice cream at a local ice cream shop and having some free time before bed. Tomorrow is an early start but we are so excited for the medical brigade.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Today was an early morning so that we could make it to La Grúa, a 2 hour bus ride! After a hardy breakfast, we got on the bus with our medical supplies and made our way to the community.

We arrived to La Grúa and set up different stations for the medical brigade. The stations included taking basic personal information, measurements of height, weight, oxygen level, and their concerns/symptoms. In the church, we had 2 doctors to see patients and a pharmacy to give out meds.

We broke into groups each consisting of a spanish speaker. Each group got to shadow the dentist, doctors, and pharmacist. While some shadowed, some took patient information, and others played with the kids in the community. After 6 hours of the medical brigade, we made our way to home base.

We ate spaghetti, plantains, french fries, veggies, fresh fruit (mango was immaculate) and some refreshing lemonade. After dinner, Enrique taught us about healthcare systems in the Dominican Republic. Hard work but lots of fun today and tomorrow we get to sleep in until 8!! Goodnight friends!!!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

We started our morning a little late because we got to sleep in! We had a hardy breakfast consisting of yummy pancakes, eggs, fruit, and oatmeal. Once we were done and ready to go, we went to paint one of the local house’s a cute yellow color for our service portion of the day. After painting we headed back to home base for a fantastic lunch of pork, rice, plantains, and lemonade.

After lunch, we walked along the beach for about a mile to a cute lagoon and went swimming for a couple hours. On the way back we stopped at a local ice cream shop to have some bomb ice cream. Once we got back to home base we cooled off by jumping into the pool! Once 6:00 came around, we ate a delicious dinner of Dominican style lasagna and passionfruit juice along with rice.

After dinner we learned about the relationship between healthcare and forced migration in our lecture. After the lecture we played a very entertaining game involving a lot of energy and yelling. We then broke into our mentor groups and hung out with everyone for the rest of the night! It was an outstanding day and we are so excited for tomorrow!

-Dharma and Ava

BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Today the group had breakfast bright and early at 7:15 and left for service at 8am. Mia played her amazing playlist on the 45 minute bus ride to our service site.

When we arrived we split into groups like shadowing doctors, taking vitals and information, as well as learning about patients with Enrique. He is a doctor that helps explain patients symptoms and diagnosis with a deeper understanding.

Finally at home base we had free time today to do whatever we wanted. For instance, some people took a nap, some went swimming, and others decided to hammock and read before dinner. Tonight we had tacos for dinner and learned about malnutrition and diabetes at lecture from Enrique.

Tomorrow will be another early and exciting service day. Adios.

– Kristi and Alejandra

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

Today we started our day off with service. We insulated walls with recycled plastic bottles and finished with chicken wire and cement. After lunch, we swam at the pool before going to the beach for a sandcastle building competition. Each group had fun being creative and we finished off the night with two lectures. The first focused on a NGO presented by our own counselor John. The second lecture was focused on water borne illnesses presented by one the home based doctors. They were both really interesting. Before bed we all hung out and played cards.

-Emma & Mia

BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

Hola from the Dominican Republic! Today was day 10 in this beautiful yet humid country. We woke up and had a delicious breakfast of toast, eggs and amazing fruit. We then boarded the bus at 8:00 and prepared for a long and treacherous hike up a mountain. On the way up, we met two friends which we named Pepe and Antonio. These two pups met us at the bottom of the mountain and climbed with us both ways. Although the hike was exhausting, we were able to understand how difficult it is for people who live on this mountain to have transportation. When we finally made it to the top an hour and a half later, we had rice and beans (as always!) and well deserved ice cream. The way down was much shorter, but was just as hard due to the steepness and constant slipping of rocks. Pepe and Antonio had a blast slipping down the mountain and were a constant reminder to stay positive. After sadly saying goodbye to our beloved canine companions, we all snoozed on the bus ride back. We have just eaten dinner and are now preparing for a beach bonfire complete with s’mores! We miss you all but don’t want this adventure to end!

The superior leaders of the day: Natalie and Harper

BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

This morning we woke up early so we could enjoy our adventure at the incredible waterfalls of “27 Charcos”. We spent the day trekking through bodies of water and squeezing between natural rock slides. We all were thrilled to have the opportunity to jump off the gorgeous cliffs and into the turquoise waters below. We spent the day discussing the beautiful scenery and screaming joyfully as we descended off the tall rocks. Alongside the cliffs, the waterfall excursion included rock slides that everyone had a blast launching off of.

After we hiked and swam through the majestic area, we all found ourselves exhausted to which we all enjoyed a long nap on the bus ride home. At home base we spent our time socializing and debriefing not only the adventures of today, but all of the wonderful experiences we’ve had this trip. The day ended with a lovely lecture by Andrea, mentor groups, and chubby bunny. Now we are all ecstatic to see what the last 2 days have to offer!

-Amelia and Reid

BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

The day started around 6.45 when we all got up for showers and to start to get ready for our last day of service.

We all met at the benches for breakfast at 7am, where we had toast, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, fresh fruits and hot chocolate. When we all finished we got our bags and went on the bus heading to La Colonia. After 45 mins of bus ride we arrived and headed to complete the walk from where the bus stops and where we were going to work on today. Our mission was to make enough cement to cover all the walls of a house and then place it on them. After almost 4 hours of hard work we achieved our goal and went for lunch back down where the bus was and enjoyed rice and meat including also vegetables and fruits.

After finishing lunch we took the bus back to home base and had free time until 4.30pm where an activity prepared by the mentors took place. We then played heads up seven up, as the leaders of the day planned just before dinner. Here we had vegetables, mashed potatoes, fish and fried bananas, accompanied by fresh fruit.

Finally then before free time Enrique gave us a class on world citizenship where we discussed within our partners different proposed questions.

– Anna & Juan

BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Hello! Today is our last day here in the DR. We woke up early this morning for breakfast at 7 so we could make it on time for our 7:30 am COVID test. After our test, we boarded the bus and drove to Sosúa for our snorkeling tour. Once we got on the boat, we drove to a nearby beach where we snorkeled and swam for around 45 minutes. We had the privilege of seeing and swimming with 5 wild dolphins!! It was incredible!

We then headed back to the beach where we enjoyed several boxes of pizza and non-alcoholic tropical beverages like piña coladas. After around an hour of lounging at the beach, we began walking around the stores surrounding the shore. We bought several souvenirs for family, friends, and each other.

Unfortunately, we were unable to visit the city of Puerto Plata due to persistent rain but when we arrived back at home base it was sunny enough for us to swim in the pool. After mentor groups at 5, we ate our last dinner together and enjoyed our last free time together before our departure tomorrow morning.

Although we are all looking forward to seeing family and friends tomorrow, we are all going to miss each other and the DR very very much.

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. 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.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. 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

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Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25, 2021

Buenas noches,

This is Andrea Gallegos and James Tuttle the International Directors for the 1st session of the Global Health Initiative program in the Dominican Republic.

Today we are excited to have our students arriving for the first day on their two-week adventure here with us. Students in our group arrived at all three of the country’s airports, Santiago, Puerto Plata, and Santo Domingo. My team and I divided up early this morning and traveled across the country to greet the students and bring them back to our Home Base where they were able to eat, shower, decompress, and get acclimated to their new home.

Students were getting to know each other while enjoying playing games, chatting, and walking on the slackline. We are so excited about this amazing group of students, their interactions, and their energy.

Per our focus on leadership curriculum, students will be assigned as ‘Leaders of the Day (LOD)’ throughout the program. Our LOD will help support us in contributing to our blog posts so we can keep all those back home up to date on their days here. Our leaders tomorrow will be Sofia, Adam, and Aiden!

Here is a picture of very happy and very tired campers!

(Laurelle and Mateo are arriving later tonight – we are looking forward to having them join the group.)

Hasta pronto!

-Andrea, James, Jenny, Julianna & Enrique

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26, 2021

It was the first full day of our GLA experience, and volunteers and young community workers from Los Angeles to Madrid came together to meet as a group for the first time.

For some, this was 4am, and for others this was 1pm, given all our native time zones! After eating a nutritious and healthy breakfast of local cuisine, we began orientation, in which we went over the day’s plan. Following breakfast, we engaged in several group bonding activities, where participants made new friends with their peers.

Prior to eating lunch, students took swim tests and the Mentors and Directors ensured that we were healthy. Shortly after, we headed to the community in which we would be providing support for the next few days.

As we walked up the rocky dirt road, we saw the local community’s water supply, which primarily consisted of a contaminated vat of filthy water. Surrounding these bags was a haphazard collection of degrading, and broken-down shacks and eroding dirt paths. This was our first exposure to this impoverished world, and it made us extremely thankful for our developed, wealthy, fortunate, and privileged bubble.

After our short hike up the hill, we were greeted by a conglomeration of locals. Despite the significant language barrier, some volunteers put their school and self-taught Spanish skills to use, and successfully instructed the locals on how to build a water filter, using only a bucket and a ceramic membrane.

Additionally, we were able to snag a glimpse of the stove and house that we will be transforming the next day, where we will be making them more environmentally friendly.

When we ran out of time we returned to Home Base, marking the completion of our first of many service adventures. We then headed to the beach, in which students participated in an intense soccer match, making elegant drip castles, or simply enjoying the scenic environment, which many people are not used to.

After rinsing off and playing a few card games, the group came together for dinner, where the day’s leaders presented their interviewees and ate yet another delicious meal.

Local director, doctor, and beach soccer superstar – Enrique Blanco – then gave an informative lecture regarding all aspects of global health, and its many causes and effects. James then shared an activity with the students, in which we broke up into groups and discussed the intricacies and conflicts of Global Health.

In the simplest terms, or in the most convenient definition, today was an amazing first experience of what life would be like in the Dominican Republic for the next two weeks!

-Aiden Jaskolka-Brown, Adam Marshall, Sofia Escontrias and the GLA Team

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27, 2021

Our group took COVID-19 tests. Fortunately, all of our tests came back negative so we no longer have to wear masks with each other!

After our tests were finished, we headed to La Colonia, which is the service site we visited yesterday. Our group made a lot of progress with making installation with empty water bottles and mesh/wires as well as laying concrete for a house at the service. After about 5 hours of work, some of our group played soccer with the kids at La Colonia.

Our bus ride back to home base was full of childhood throwback songs and singing. After we arrived, we hopped in the pool and relaxed after a long day. Dinner was delicious, of course and then we headed to the beach for some group activities. We played a fun group game, then a name game. Then we headed back to base camp for a lecture on Planetary Health.

-Auden, Brooke, Dylan and the GLA Team

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28, 2021

Hello, we miss all of you. Today was an emotional rollercoaster. In the beginning of the day, we did not know what to expect but we stayed open minded and learned about the conditions people live in here. We began a sleepy ride by taking a 2 hour bus ride to our destination, La Grua. When getting off the bus we were greeted by the locals of La Grua with open arms. We began interacting with the locals and got to meet one of our counselor’s mom who has lived there her whole life. We got straight to work and started making concrete.

At about 11:30 we stopped for lunch because we ran into a problem dealing with the water being turned off to the city. As we were eating in their beautiful church one of the counselors went around offering locals money for some of their stored water. We got back to work and finished around 3. As we were leaving the local kids excitedly waved goodbye and blew kisses and even braided some of the camper’s hair. We got to learn about the internalized racism in the country against the Haitians.

(Pictures taken and today’s blog post written through the combined efforts of Clarissa, Charlotte, and Cayden.)

James Tuttle

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29

The day began with a refreshing breakfast which brought a sense of tranquility after an emotionally tolling day yesterday. After many incredible days of hard work and determination, we were excited with the chance to get away and relax. By 8:00 A.M we were on our way to Laguna Dudú.

After the 1.5 hour drive, our breaths were taken away by the unique beauty of Dudú Lagoon. The lagoon was breathtaking-striking teal water surrounded by jagged cliffs and vivid greenery. But the most beautiful thing about our time at la laguna was not the scenery but rather the opportunity we got to get to know each other as a GLA family. We spent around 1.5 hours bonding, jumping, and swimming at Laguna Dudú before our stomachs were cuing us to eat.

We hopped on the bus and drove a whopping two minutes to the restaurant. This was the first time we’ve eaten outside of the lodge together. There, we met a friendly spotted cat, who we affectionately named Señor Meow Meow. The food was delicious: beans and rice and, of course, fresh tropical fruit.

Afterward, everyone boarded the bus for a trip to a beautiful beach called Playa Precioso (?) where we were able to enjoy crashing waves on the shore. This was the most idyllic beach many of us have ever seen. The water almost glowed in the sun and the sand was a sunscreen-commercial yellow. Many of us also had fun buying jewelry from the vendors who set up shop on the beach. Souvenirs!!

We ended the day with a medical brigade training from a special guest. He taught us how to take blood pressure and how to properly record patient information. We also had the opportunity to whack a counselor with a reflex hammer. Now we’re ready for what lies ahead!

Hasta Luego!

Katelyn, Gisella, and Jessica

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

Today was yet another amazing day under the Dominican sun. We traveled far and wide—twenty minutes away to Islabon. 28 of us, now known as medical students, helped set up our first medical brigade in a local church. Most of us got to use our Spanish skills to speak to the locals about their medical issues. To top it all off, as “medics”, we decided to wear more professional attire… aka scrubs. Working as a team, we were divided into 6 groups.

We greeted the patients, took vitals, shadowed doctors + dentists, ran a pharmacy, created nutritional charts, and taught sanitary guidelines. Ironically, it was “taco Wednesday”, as we all wrapped our burritos, piling them with beans, cheese, and guac (no extra charge included). After 6 hard working hours, we managed to treat over 75 patients— when originally we planned to see 30! A great day to say the least, mucho amor to all of our families. <3 Laurel, Laura, and Maddy

BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

Not only does today mark the first day of July, but it also marks the halfway point of our Dominican Republic GLA experience. The morning was rather haphazard, with many students disappointed with the cancellation of 6:00 am yoga, resulting from the rain. Due to the fact that the service site was a two-minute walk (or a 30 second sprint, depending on how determined you are), we enjoyed a late breakfast and a chill morning. We then headed to Ricky’s house. Who Ricky is, we do not know, but regardless of his unknown identity, students were still motivated to help him out after hearing his tragic story. Once we arrived at the work site, we were divided into three separate groups; cement mixing, wall building, and hole digging.

After three hours of hard labor we then enjoyed a nutritious and delicious lunch back at home-base, and then resumed our work at Ricky’s. Dr. Enrique Blanco, whom we are still trying to sign up for a TED Talk, surprised us with an early finish to our hard work, and rewarded us with local ice cream and a trip to the beach. Dinner followed shortly after, of which the Alfredo pasta was the absolute highlight. After taking a short survey about our GLA experience thus far, Dr. Enrique Blanco gave yet another stellar presentation, this time regarding Healthcare and Forced Migration.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

Today we split into two groups and half went to an amazing chocolate factory made by only women. The other half went to work at a medical brigade and at lunch time the people from the chocolate factory came to work at the medical clinic. It was an amazing day we filed through 80 patients all helping them with their specific needs. Then we went to the beach during sunset to enjoy the amazing views and hang out with our friends.

Ruby, Maera, and Mateo

BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Hello everyone. Today was another day of fun in La Republica Dominicana. This morning, we had breakfast at home base. It was mashed potatoes, eggs, cocoa puffs, watermelon, pineapple, and juice. Then, we walked over to Ricky’s house, across the street, and painted the walls inside of his house. We also made cement for the floors. We went back to home base and had lunch. We had rice, beans, fish, and the usual fruits. Then, we got ready for a surprise adventure later today.

We went to the beach, but the waves were too rough to swim in so we played in the sand and hungout. There was a car that had a huge speaker system in the trunk and played loud music. Enrique convinced them to play his favorite song. Then, we had dinner at home base. We had pasta with chicken.

We listened to another one of Enrique’s fascinating ted talks about waterborne diseases. We had mentor groups and did an activity about the 25 aspects of life that we think are most important. We had to choose only one at the end. That was deep. Peace, love, and ciao.

-Molly, Raphaelle, and Clarissa

BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

Today we had a late start, we got to sleep in until 8 and had breakfast while it was pouring around us. After that we had a group clean up competition. Congratulations to Gigi, Clarissa, and Laura for winning. Then we started a project on Malaria on a Proximal, Intermediate, and Distal level. We had a delicious lunch then hit the beach for a 30 minute beach clean up. After that we had a sand sculpture contest (results to be determined). We washed the sand off in the pool then had dinner. After dinner we had an interesting lecture on malnutrition and diabetes. To finish the night off we played a round of capture the flag and headed to bed. It was a relaxing day and we were glad we could recuperate after our days of service.

Mia, Auden, and Merrill

BLOG POST FOR JULY 5

Nearing the last day of the trip, we ventured to Sosúa for a snorkeling excursion. We spent some time on a boat, switching between diving into the water and exploring the reefs and watching the tropical schools of fish. After a while on the boat, we spent some time on the shore enjoying the sun and some cool lemonade. Eventually, our 16 boxes of pizzas arrived. Our efforts to consume all of the pizzas were unsuccessful. After lunch we headed to Puerto Plata for our next adventure.

We went on a tour of an amber mine museum. We learned about the creation of amber and had the chance to purchase various souvenirs. We took a break at a local coffee shop and then explored the town a little further. We returned to home base for a delicious dinner. Finally, we watched the sunset on a nearby beach and then listened to one of Enrique’s Ted Talks.

Shalini, Ruby, and Maera

BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

The last day!

The day began bright and early at 6:30 am when we woke up to get ready for our excursion. After breakfast, we left for our two hour drive to 27 charcos. The group split up between the van and the bus. The people on the bus got to listen to Mateo’s Spanish songs one last time (bittersweet). Enrique introduced the van to his favorite songs (Ed Sheeran was in the mix, and so was Eminem.)

We arrived at the destination and got ready with our life vests and jackets.
Once everyone was suited up, we walked about 30 minutes up a mountain and through a vibrant forest before arriving at the first waterfall. This first descent was the most intimidating: each of us had to jump seven meters into the ice blue water below. We had a few other jumps and natural water slides after that and had a blast.

We then headed out for lunch. After lunch, we drove 40 minutes to a grocery store for one last stop, many stocked up on candy and snacks to share that night. We started to pack a bit when we got back and then ate dinner and had a surprise cake for Zoë’s 16th birthday and watched some videos from James’s GoPro refecting on our time. We all got little papers and signed everyone’s with notes and memories. We then went to the beach for what we thought was going to be watching the stars, but ended up being a little party! There was music and dancing and balloons and a fire and everyone had so much fun spending our last night together.

After the party, some of us looked at the stars for 10 minutes before heading back and going to bed.
It was an amazing last day and we had so much fun together throughout this trip.

– Sydney, Zoë, Will (with the help of Gigi )

**We all had so much fun on this program with this wonderful group of students, you will all be missed ! So much hard work was put in to help improve the lives of others, and we learned so much from you all. We wish everyone safe flights home and a great rest of the summer! – The staff team – Andrea, James, Jenny, Julianne, and Enrique

 

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. 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.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. 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

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Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 5

Hola a todos (hello, everyone)!

Most Caribbean Service Adventure students have safely arrived at our Home Base, Indalo Lodge, here in the Dominican Republic!

Today, we arrived at the Home Base and got to meet our roommates and settle in.

After a delicious local dinner including beans and rice, we had orientation and learned about the rules and regulations of the program as well as the itinerary for the next 10 days! We are so excited to dive into service learning tomorrow in La Colonia community.

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 6

We woke up this morning and had lots of fruit, oatmeal, eggs, fried cheese, and toast for breakfast. We then left for La Colonia where we spent the day mixing cement and sifting sand for the walls and floors of the house that we were helping to build.

We worked until about 2:30 in a campo at the top of a large slope. We all bonded through the heat and hard work of physical labor and very much enjoyed the hike down at the end of the day.

When we returned to home base, we all took our swim tests. Everyone passed! The cool water was very nice after a long day of work. For a while we hung around the pool, some people tanned while others swam.

At 5:30 we had our “Leader of the Day” activity which was a name game called “Drop the Sheet”. It was a very heated game but team two triumphed. After that we had dinner and a very interesting lecture about the Seven Elements of Human Security from Junior.

We ended the night by splitting up into mentor groups to talk about our days and anything else on our mind. We are all very much looking forward to another day of service on this beautiful island tomorrow!

-Bre and Molly

P.S. Here are some AMAZING photos from today’s adventures:

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 7

Hey y’all!

We are enjoying the Dominican Republic sunshine and learning about Haitian communities in the country by making two clement floors in La Grúa.

Here we are able to practice our Spanish and also learn about the language Creole!

By now in the program we’ve bonded a lot more as a group. We know how to work together, even if we were arguing during our debate last night as we took sides of different stakeholders and modeled real world complex global issues.

Can’t wait to write more details soon! Here are some snaps of our service work now!

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 7

Today we went back to La Colonia and worked more on the cement floors, and we covered the outside walls in cement. We got to ask questions to locals in the community which was very interesting.

We learned that it’s a very tight knit community and even people who are not related are very close even if they are not related because of living so close together.

When we got back, we went to get ice cream. There was Caramel cake chocolate and strawberry ice cream flavors, and they were all really good. For breakfast we had pancakes with honey, for lunch we had pork and salad and for dinner we had pasta.

We also got to speak Spanish to locals we met in the community, which was very engaging and interesting. We are finally settling into life with GLA in the Dominican Republic!

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 8

Today we visited the La Grua community and helped them with their cement. We also got to meet more kids!

We finished early so on the way home we stopped near the water to eat lunch. When we got home, we had extra time, so we all swam and got ice-cream.

After that, we had leader activity, dinner, and a lecture from Junior.

Today we also celebrated Ella’s 17th birthday! What a great way to enjoy more of island life here in the DR.

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 9

After an incredibly rainy morning, the group boarded the bus for Dudu Lagoon.

We arrived and dropped off our bags. The first part of the day was spent jumping into the blue-green water underneath a large cavern and climbing out to do it again and again. We then moved onto a larger part of the lagoon where we swam some more. Afterwards, a riveting volleyball game was played. If you missed the Olympics volleyball, this would have been a great substitute. The game ended our time at the lagoon; we piled onto the bus to get lunch. Upon our arrival we grabbed tables and sidled up to the buffet where there was an amazing selection which included rice, salad, fruit, chicken, and pasta.

After lunch, we went to Playa Preciosa and had fun swimming in the ocean. The waves were intense and many of us tried to ride them. The group also enjoyed virgin Pina Coladas in a pineapple! These drinks were a little chunky but so refreshing. Furthermore, there were also some small souvenirs stands and many of us bought beautiful rings and necklaces made of a special stone, only found in the DR, called Larimar.

Many of us enjoyed the experience of getting their hair braided by two Dominican women. Sadly, our time at the beach ended and it was time to head back to the lodge. But the fun did not stop there. Most of the group enjoyed swimming in the pool and many of us made an ice cream trip. This was followed by Circlo de Cena and an amazing dinner of beef and potato stew.

After dinner, the group participated in an insightful lecture about Economic Security and Poverty.

The day ended with a fun game about our similarities and differences which allowed the group to learn more about what makes unique and what we have in common.

-Seth and Sam

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 10

Today, we went up to La Colonia and we worked on the houses as part of our ongoing community service project. We threw the concrete we mixed onto the walls of the house and shifted the sand as part of our efforts. We had lunch, then we worked for about an hour or two more, before returning to Home Base.

Once we got back, we had ice cream, swam in the pool, and hung out together before having mentor group discussions.

After mentor groups we had the leader of the day activity, which was a game called Queen Bee. Then we had dinner, and a lecture by Junior learning all about the Haitian and Dominican sides of the island of Hispanola.

Then we talked and laughed until going to bed after another long but fun workday!

-Kate and Ellen

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 11

In the morning, we took a trip to an ATM and supermarket to exchange cash and buy some snacks. We had to change our hiking plans a bit due to inclement weather, but we still had quite an adventurous day!

After lunch back at Home Base, we journeyed to Choco-Jobo, a chocolate factory completely run by women. We toured the factory, learned how the chocolate was made, and had a chance to purchase some chocolate products at the gift shop if we liked. Can’t beat a chance to be around chocolate!

The group then returned to the lodge for dinner and Junior’s thoughtful lecture about colonialism and its many impact.

We finished the night with a karaoke sing-off and some serious Marco Polo games in the pool to kick back after an exciting day!

-Chase, Sean and the GLA Team

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 12

We started the day like usual, breakfast and getting ready for the day. Then we left for the Cabaret Caves. There we went to three different caves!

The first cave we went underground to a small swimming hole. We all jumped in and turned off the lights, so it was pitch black for a little bit. The second cave had stalagmites that we got to see, and the third one had about a ten meter distance off into a swimming hole. The caves were super cool to see and an amazing thing to experience!!

After the caves we went to a new community called Maranata. We had lunch and mixed and carried cement for two floors in a house. It was our last service project and by this time we were pros at mixing cement.

After we finished up the floors, we headed back to Home Base and changed and had an ice cream run. Afterwards we had appreciation circle.

Appreciation circle was where people went into the middle of a circle and anonymously appreciate each other. It was a feel-good activity we all loved.

We then had circle de cena and dinner. Afterwards we had a movie Junior showed us and we all gathered around to watch it. Then it was lights out after a fun and exciting day.

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 13

Today was snorkeling day! We had such a great last day, from swimming with fishies, eating pizza on the beach, getting our souvenir shopping and learning how to bargain, and more.

When we arrived back home to the lodge, we did a GLA leadership activity and all set goals for how we will use the knowledge we learned in our lives when we leave here. Then we had culture night and danced the night away followed by a last nighttime swim in the pool.

We’re excited to come home tomorrow but also sad to say goodbye to the friends we made and grateful for our life-changing experiences here in the Dominican Republic!

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. 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.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. 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

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Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Hola a todos (hello everyone)!

All Caribbean Service Adventure students have all safely arrived at our Homebase, Indalo Lodge, in the Dominican Republic! Today, we arrived at the home base and got to meet our roommates and settle in. After a delicious local dinner including beans and rice, we had orientation and learned about the rules and regulations of the program as well as the itinerary for the next 10 days! We are so excited to dive into service learning tomorrow in La Colonia community.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Written by Reed and Nick

Today was a ton of fun except for the 8,000 bugs constantly attacking you. The bug net helps when you fall asleep but anytime before that is really bad. I feel like it is also worth mentioning that the mosquitos don’t care whether or not you are wearing any bug spray. After I put hydroquinone cream on in the morning the day was great. After a short hike we made it to the building we worked on and got to use some new tools for the first time. It was very hot out however there was a slight breeze which did a lot to cool us all (Nick).

The project of today was building a house out of recycled water bottles, chicken wire and cement. This task was made harder by the heat along with the constant buzz of mosquitos and baby chicken peeps every five seconds. Somehow through the heat and exhaustion we were able to still have fun and even crack a few jokes here and there (Reed).

(Hi mom and Dad, my phone is being weird -Reed)

We also took the swim test and had to tread water for two minutes, swim 4 laps, and back float for thirty seconds. We then had a delicious dinner of fried fish and then had our first lecture and mentor groups so we could get to know each other more. Overall, I think today was great and we are excited for tomorrow.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

Written by Lucas

The second day of work was a lot more tiring than the day before, especially the heat. The early morning was interesting and similar to yesterday, but everybody was a lot more friendly to each other. When we started working, we separated into the same groups as the day before, in addition to some new GLA participants. Compared to the day before our work was much more efficient than the previous day both in making the cement and placing it in the walls. Along with that work group working much better together we were able to practically finish two of the three houses, and with enough effort we might finish the last house in the next workday. Several of us were very proud, but mostly sweaty and tired.

After we got back to home base, several of us went to go get ice cream. They had 4 different flavors chocolate, caramel, cake, and strawberry and they were all delicious. After, a large group of us went to the pool, where we had fun, played games, and talked. We decided to have the leader of the day game in the pool, and we played drop the sheets, which was fun for the most part but towards the end got a little chaotic. Dinner was good as usual lots of good food and interesting choices to pick from. Afterwards came the debate, which we had to split into 4 groups and discussed the advantages and disadvantages to building a baseball stadium from 4 points of view. We all had fun but with so many people trying to prove their points and talking really loudly it got out of hand, but in the end it was a really great day and hope there are many more to come.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Written by Devin and Jess

Morning yoga was beautiful and very relaxing, a good start to our day. Then we had a delicious pancake breakfast before getting on the bus to head to Dudu Lagoon. The lagoon was very pretty, though the water was super cold. We got to jump off a platform into the water and swim in another part where we could relax on a floating platform. Some of us played beach volleyball while others relaxed and bought snacks. We had a good lunch at a restaurant and then took the buses to the beach. The beach was so much fun. We were able to accomplish stacking three people on shoulders, even though our goal was a five-stack. We bought souvenirs and had pina coladas.

Then it was time to head back to home base, and lots of us jumped in the pool as soon as we arrived. We jammed to music on the bus. We stayed in the pool for all our free time and did our leader of the day activity in the pool. For dinner, we had fries, chicken, and fish, and it was delicious. We had a video lecture from Junior about planetary health that was very informative. Then we spent time in mentor groups, and now we’re finally heading to bed after a day of fun, since we have an early start tomorrow.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

Written by Ally and Jack

Hello all, this is Ally and Jack. Today, the 28th, the group took a tour hour trip out to la Grua. We spent several hours mixing cement and transporting buckets of it over to construction volunteers who were laying the groundwork for the houses of low-income families. The experience provided great exposure for us as we had opportunities to play and interact with the both kind and fun loving local children. Shortly after the work was completed, we were given a quick lunch along with a history of the community in which we were working.

After arriving home, we were afforded some downtime to go to the pool, grab ice-cream, and partake in a sunset walk on the beach. As night fell, we gathered as a group for a special activity in which we learned more about our own individual similarities and differences. Overall, the day was a great success and definitely a highlight of the trip so far for several people. Also–hey mom, it’s Ally-you told me not to contact you because you wanted me to “fully experience it all,” I am btws, also, love ya and my phone is really not working 🙂

BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

Written by Zoe and Rylee

Today we had a half day of service at La Colonia and explored the Caves of Cabarete. We were able to complete a lot of our empty walls and cover them with cement. After we enjoyed lunch, we headed over to see the caves. We were able to go into three different ones and jump into crystal clear water in two. It was very refreshing to cool down in the water after sweating a lot at service. We were able to fill up on snacks and treats at the store and come home to a yummy dinner. I am enjoying this trip so much and learning a lot about the culture and the different communities.

-Rylee Means 🙂

For our half day of service today in La Colonia, we needed to mix a lot of cement and place it on the walls of the house. We spent a lot of the day on the ground and the ladders to place cement near the top of the house. We all enjoyed walking in the caves and jumping into the water. One of the jumps was pretty high, and many of us had fun jumping off of it- including Lauren!- who is a little afraid of heights. We returned for an activity and a delicious dinner of chicken and noodles. We had a lecture tonight from Junior, where we learned about the economy and the division between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. I am very grateful for this experience and am happy to be making a difference in the communities here and experiencing their culture.

-Zoe

 

BLOG POST FOR JULY 30

Written by Elyssa and Kayla

Hey Squad.

Today we woke up to a beautiful morning and a baby blue sky with fluffy clouds. Elyssa and I banged on doors with our water bottles to wake up our fellow guppies. After that we all went to breakfast and ate cantaloupe, eggs and avocados with a scrumptious juice. We demanded everyone to wear bathing suits, bring towels, and money to go to the beach and get ready for an amazing day of snorkeling on a boat on some blue ass water. A lot of us got sunburnt and a few chosen ones got tan. At the area where we snorkeled our day away, there were multiple shops that we all bought souvenirs at and many other things. (you guys will see.) The bus ride back wasn’t too bad because Elyssa played some head bangers on the way back.

After, we obviously didn’t get enough water in our system, so we plopped in the pool and swam like guppies. Once we were done, we proceeded to go into mentor groups and play some games with our peers. Finally, we led a spontaneous game of eye contact and screaming, and everyone really enjoyed that. Right away after, we had a delicious meal of tacos and fruit. We concluded our day with a beautiful lecture from King Junior, talking about colonialism. WE had the best day ever tbh 🙂

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 31

Today was our final day of service at La Colonia where we have been building bottle houses for the people in the community. We focused mainly on mixing concrete for the workers to use on the flooring inside the house. We were able to tackle multiple milestones in relation to the construction of the houses that we have been working on. We finished the flooring in the main room, most of the walls, etc.

Although, since it was our last day of service everyone was tired, but we managed to finish strong and conquer our goals for the day. After dinner, we watched an interesting documentary about poverty in lesser developed countries that Junior presented to us.

-Sawyer and Noah

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 01

The day began with COVID tests for each student (we all tested negative). Since our snorkeling and hiking days were switched, the group spent today hiking through the community of Brison. We took an hour and a half bus ride to the beginning of the trail and began the climb. Along the way, we met local families and they shared their stories with us.

After an arduous two hours uphill, the group reached the summit of the mountain and enjoyed a meal prepared by a local woman. The way down was much easier, aside from the slippery gravel beneath our feet.

We returned to home base, with many sleepy souls drifting away on the bus. At home base, lots of us hopped into the pool, while others stayed in their rooms to rest. In the evening, we had our OMG (One Meaningful Goal) activity, where the students agreed on a goal for the group going forward. Then each student had to create their own personal goal. Following this activity, each student had to complete a survey about our experience.

The day ended with culture night and a dance party. Some students had to wake up bright and early for their flights, so they packed and went to sleep. What a wonderful day!

-Michael and Aiden

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. 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.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. 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

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CLICK HERE TO JUMP TO THE MOST RECENT BLOG POST

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Everyone made it safely to their airports and arrived at the base camp. Students were immediately immersed in a completely different and foreign environment. From the moment they landed many were facing a language barrier and had to navigate their way to the GLA staff. Being submersed allowed students to get a feel for the type of atmosphere they will be in for the remainder of the trip. They then faced Dominican traffic, a very new experience for many. The lack of strict road laws and relaxed signs were quite the shock.

Once students arrived at home base, they were shown their rooms and were settled in they had dinner and were then briefed on the agenda for the week. Staff led a lecture / introduction once dinner concluded. Then students were sent to bed and got their much-needed rest for the service work the next day. After waking up and getting breakfast we then to go work to our service project. While working many students noted on the differences between life here and that of the US.

Working through a language barrier caused some difficulties, but students were able to remain patient to overcome them. We worked on two houses, putting plastic bottles in as insulation, and covering spaced with chicken wire. Many students also marveled at the ability to use old plastic bottles in the creation of the buildings. Students went to home base for the swim test and icebreakers. After, the students were treated to dinner and a lecture by Junior on the 7 elements of human security. Then they gathered in mentor groups to talk about bonding things to help the students open. Then students retired to their bedrooms to prepare for tomorrow’s events.

Written by Nova and Zach

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

On the 14th of July we had a nice morning yoga session to start the day at about 6:15am. Breakfast was some yummy eggs and peppers with a choice of toast or oatmeal.

We then headed to the community service site, La Colonia, where we started cementing and continued bottling the two houses. Our service project has been a real highlight of the program so far. And as you can from our photos, we’re making some really meaningful progress!

At around 3:00pm we went back to the Home Base, swam a little and a group went to buy ice cream and walk on the beach. Afterward we held a student debate as a leadership activity over the pros/cons of building a large baseball stadium in a local community here on the island. There were four different student groups representing the government, government supporters, the people, and support alliance. Support alliance won the best critical argument, but the government supporters had an extremely solid argument and amazing debate skills, especially when you know that they were provided with the least solid evidence. They were all really good and fascinating to hear out.

Today, on the 15th of July, some of us woke up to go watch the sunrise and started their day at 5:50am. Early start! For breakfast today we had some great pancakes with honey.

We then headed to Dudu Lagoon, a famous spot in the Dominican Republic with beautiful views. It’s like a hidden oasis in the jungle. We spent the day swimming and playing volleyball and soccer.

We had lunch at a restaurant and then headed to the beach. We were able to go into the ocean and spend the rest of our day at the beach. Excursions like these really round out the experience as they complement service well, and offer both fun and a bit of a unique insight into life on the island.

Afterwards, we headed back to the home base, but we got detoured because of a strike going on in the community. After a slight delay on the bus, we got to the Home Base where we had a conversation about the demonstration, so we could turn the detour into a learning experience about life in Dominican communities. We then had a nice dinner and had a lecture on global health and climate change. Our day ended with our mentor group discussions and reflections.

Here are some more photos from yesterday and today for you to enjoy!

-Saskia, Aaron, Maria & the GLA Team

BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Hi there! Lea and Ella E. were chosen to be leaders of the day today. We started off with an early breakfast then had a 2-hour bus ride to our service cite at La Grua.

At La Grua we mixed concrete and lugged buckets of it to 2 different houses within the community. They used the concrete to lay floors in 2 homes. Our amazing local director, Junior, showed us around and gave us a descriptive tour of the community in La Grua. We were able to learn about their struggles and how they live their day to day lives. We had a chance to connect and play with the children of the community. They were very kind, friendly, and welcoming to us as visitors. We all loved the kids so much and getting to hangout with them was the highlight of our day.

After La Grua we arrived back at homebase and had some free time to build better connections with our friends here. After that our leaders of the day led us in a group game and then we ate dinner. Lastly, we received a detailed lecture from Junior on economics and poverty.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

Hola padres!

Today started out like a typical day. Lauren took some of us to the beach for a walk/run at 6:15. Although we missed the sunrise, it was nice to start the day by hearing the waves. Thankfully, the sand was hard this morning. Yesterday, it was so soft.

Breakfast was delicious. Today we had French toast, eggs with peppers, and the delicious Dominican fruit. After breakfast, we ventured back to La Colonia. One crew spent the morning finishing the chicken wire and water bottle while the second crew kept putting concrete onto the walls. We enjoyed lunch (early today) at 11:30. We ate down by the bus today, since we were going caving in the afternoon. We enjoyed chicken, beans, salad, and fruit! On the way to the park, we drove through some larger towns and saw the ocean with tourists! At the park we began our adventure by planting seeds. Then we embarked to the first cave where we descended 90 feet into the ground and jumped into the water.

The path down was tight and dark, but we were equipped with flashlights and helmets. The experience was exhilarating and remarkable. The second cave we entered was only 20 feet underground, but it held century old rock. We had to be careful not to touch the rock as it would damage it. Lastly instead of descending into the third cave, we ascended to an edge and jumped into the water. The drop was about 9 feet; the feeling of landing in the water was freeing and refreshing. Our park tour guide even climbed up the side of the cave, like rock climbing, and jumped down from thirty feet above. The splash hit everyone!

After the caves, we came back to the lodge and took quick shower. Then, we played in a NINGA tournament and enjoyed a delicious dinner. Lastly, we walked to the local store and indulged with some ice-cream. They had a new favor tonight: caramel! We are looking forward to hiking Mt. Brison tomorrow! Goodnight:)

Written by Elle and Cassidy

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

After our pancake breakfast this morning we headed toward the bus for La Colonia, our service site for this trip. At La Colonia today, we split into groups to work both on cementing the walls of the lower house and bottling the walls of the top house. With some students leaving the service cite early from feeling under the weather, the students who remained at La Colonia stepped up to get even more work done on these houses.

After eating lunch at the service cite, we returned home with extra free time. This time gave us the opportunity to further bond with each other by playing games, hanging out at the pool, and getting to know each other better. After free time we all gathered in the kitchen for the “appreciation circle” activity and then enjoyed dinner together. Tonight’s lecture was a super informational movie that gave us all a new perspective on poverty. This has been a great experience so far!

Written by Ethan and Natalie

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