6/14/2015

Arrival Day!

Greetings from Chiang Mai, Thailand! After making their way around the world on many very long flights, all of our June 14th arrivals have safely made it to Thailand. Four GLA students arrived earlier in the day and a big group of 18 more GLA students arrived via Seoul, South Korea just after 10:30pm local time. After driving back to Joy’s House (our GLA Home Base and our home away from home for the next two weeks) students tried a few small snacks and some fruit before settling in to their rooms for some much needed rest.

The GLA team at Joy’s House has been working hard preparing for the students’ arrival and trying to fine tune our schedule for the next couple weeks, and we are all very excited to have everyone here with us now. We will be going through an Orientation tomorrow morning after breakfast that will include an introduction to Thai culture, safety and security protocols, highlights of our service learning activities and adventure excursions, and a few other minor details (like staying hydrated in sunny Thailand!). After our orientation, we will be heading to the Sriri Panna Hotel for a brunch full of delicious Thai food, which should be a fantastic introduction to the culinary delights Thailand has to offer.

We’ll be getting an early start tomorrow morning so we’ll wrap up this first blog post here. Future blog posts will be authored by our student leaders and will include pictures from our busy days as well so be sure to check back often for updates on all the amazing adventures we are having together in the Land of Smiles! As they say here in Thailand, Khob Khun Krap!

Author: Keith Wingeard (International Director)

Added Posts by Student Blogger Aryana Barudin:

Day 1- Arrival Day

Today my group landed in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s airport. All of us are drowsy from flying. Yet, past the drowsy eyes, and aching bones we have contracted through flying. I feel a bursting excitement around me, and within me. These next two weeks seem to already hold such amazing stories waiting to unfold.

Day 2-

Still feeling jet lagged the crew woke up and we had an amazing Thai breakfast on homebase . We left homebase and visited majestic city temples. The swirls of gold, and the bright painting’s of the temples felt like a dream swirling to life. After the temples we went to a market and learned about Thai food ingredients. Afterwards, we all were taught to make 4 different Thai cuisines. The food was delicious and as laughter almost covered the loud smacking of lips. We returned to homebase and played fun leadership activities. Heading to our beds everyone’s exhausted and ready for a good nights sleep.

Day 3-

Today at breakfast everyone seemed to be jumping out of their chairs with excitement over the planned activities. Today after breakfast we load up into our vans and head to the Elephant camp. At first we rode the elephants with saddles as the rest of the tourist did. Bursts of uneasy excited laughter erupted each step the elephant’s massive legs took. When the rest of the tourist left we received VIP access to ride and get an even more up close and personal with the elephants. They allowed us to ride the elephants into the water bareback. once in baby elephants would splash us, and the mother elephants would relax in the water beside them. While swimming and washing the elephants everyone’s faces lit up and a connection to these elephants grew. As the current ran through the river, the connection between us grew, built by laughs and splashes of elephants. Today was a good once in the lifetime opportunity given to us by GLA, that we will all carry with us in life.

Day 4-

Our first adventure today was meeting the community leader and walking around the community within Chiang Mai. We really were given a taste of how Chiang Mai as a whole has smaller parts that give Chiang Mai it’s allure and wealth. The community we visited today was completely self sustaining, and the King had acknowledge the community as a whole for being so efficient. Afterwards we became Muay Thai boxers for a day. We visited the Muay Thai boxing facility and were taught a few new attacking skills. Afterwards one student and one teacher faced off in the ring. Our group and our mentors really became closer and more of a family after Muay Thai boxing. Jokes were freely bouncing around the vans back home after Muay Thai boxing, and the laughs never stopped.

6/15/2015

Title: The First Step of Our Journey

To start off our journey through the majestic culture of Chiang Mai, Thailand, we were oriented by Thai natives in the staff in order to familiarize ourselves with the culture. Being a group of enthusiastic and puberty-stricken teenagers, cuisine is constantly buzzing around our mind. Luckily we were introduced to the tantalizing culinary majesty of Thailand with an exquisite buffet. Everything from common stir-fried noodles, to strange creations such as “Pink Milk”. After a gut stuffing few hours we exited our Western Civilization state of mind and entered the Thailand culture through a historical shock. We journeyed to two specific Thai Buddhist temples in particular: Wat Chiang Mun, and Wat Chedi Luang. We were then taught the history of these temples along with the teachings of Buddha and his followers. It was very awakening to be aware of the culture and religion that we are surrounded by.

After a very educational, but excruciatingly humid tour, we were then re-introduced to the decadent and mouthwatering food of Chiang Mai. We were taught a cooking course after some prior instruction at a local market. We were the chefs behind dishes such as: Tom Yam Gung, Pad Thai, and green curry. Even with all of these culinary delights in our now bulging bellies, we couldn’t resist the subtle and palate pleasing sweet sticky rice with mango. A long, vigorous, and exciting day to start off a long, vigorous and exciting journey. Sorry to say with the lack of sleep and minor jetlag, some students were tired and most likely there were no revelatory or life altering thoughts or experiences. Yet needless to say, the day was, to state it plainly, fun. After a day like this many students will be looking forward to a long night of rest, and the remainder of innovative and educational experience.

– Dylan Helkey and Ryan Poon

6/16/2015:

Elephant Day

Today our group ventured into the mysterious elephant camp of Chiang Mai. Everyone was a bit unsure of what to expect, but it ended up being a fantastic day. We began by meeting and riding the elephants throughout the jungle guided by the elephant trainers (Mahouts). After the scenic ride which felt as bumpy as a roller coaster, we went on a bamboo river raft ride which was very peaceful. Just as the heat was kicking in, a wonderful rainfall cooled us off. We then ate lunch which consisted of a delicious buffet of rice, noodles, chicken, and other various types of Thai food. An interesting point of the day was when we were taught how to make paper out of elephant poop. After making the paper, we took a photo-shoot with the lovely elephants and rode them down to the river where we had the opportunity to bathe them. The mahouts helped us ride them in the water and joined in on the fun by starting water fights.

After our long day with the elephants we sadly said goodbye and went to a dinner at the host’s restaurant. There we were served a wonderful Thai dinner with coconut milk soup, spring rolls, and noodles. We were surprised with music by a boy band and met many students living in Joy’s house. We played funny dancing games with the students and connected with them through music and dance. After dinner we were taught a lesson by our school director Todd on how to teach the classes in our upcoming week. Thankfully we were surprised at the end of the long lesson with special American bakery treats. It was an amazing day filled with excitement, surprises, and love. Connecting with students our age was an amazing experience that we will all remember forever.

– Tara O’Malley, Joelle Chiu

6/17/2015

Getting to Know the Community

Today we were full of excitement as we visited the beautiful community center of Chiang Mai. The Community leader welcomed us with a video about Thailand and a speech that invited us into the Thai family. We also got a tour of the community center and got to see goats, pigs, chickens, and thousands of Thai catfish. Community members also taught us how to make special crafts out of paper and leaves. Every step of the way, these community members guided us with kindness and reassurance as we made the intricate crafts. Even though there was a bit of a language barrier at some moments, that didn’t stop the community and the GLA kids from sharing smiles and laughter.

After the wonderful craft making, we got in the vans and went to a Muay Thai training center. We got to learn special Muay Thai moves by the trainers. Punches, kicks, sit ups, and push-ups were all incorporated as we trained. We even got to partner up and fight using our new Muay Thai boxing skills. The trainers also showed us a traditional match and way of training in the ring. We were all very fascinated by the amount of focus and strength that the trainers put into each punch or kick. They also showed nothing but kindness as we sometimes struggled to do the right moves.

Overall today we realized that there is a current theme in Thailand. Kindness and respect was shown throughout the day by everyone we met. Whether it was craft making or fighting, the welcoming feeling surrounded us for the whole day.

Thank you!

– Carmen Hall and Autumn Johnson

6/18/2015

Title: Teachers, Temples, and Thailand-Oh My!

As the alarms resounded earlier than usual this morning, we enjoyed a filling breakfast of watermelon, toast, and fresh vegetables with rice. Donned in our formal attire, our mentor groups rode buses to the designated school where we will be teaching English next week. The children were thrilled to greet their new, strange visitors and performed a traditional flag raising ceremony in our presence. The schools were very colorful and provided a cheerful environment that we are looking forward to being a part of. From there, we started our lesson plans for the English classes before heading off to lunch at our beloved Thai staff P.A.’s family restaurant. We devoured their signature dish, Khow Soi, a tasty Thai soup which P.A.’s grandmother invented. This dish is so renowned that Thai celebrities flock to the restaurant, and pictures of their visits adorn the walls. With satisfied stomachs, our group was led to a local temple and meditation center to fill our minds with wisdom from a Buddhist monk. We asked many questions about his life and learned about how this religion is instilled in all parts of Thai life. He then toured us around a large, royal temple, which has served the Chiang Mai community for over one thousand years. From the temple, we were whisked away to a vivid fruit market located alongside a gorgeously lush local park. Students tried many foreign fruits such as the controversial durian and the sweet rambutan while watching joggers dash through the scenic park. We then returned to Home Base and enjoyed a hearty meal after the busy, culturally enriching day. We are ecstatic about our day tomorrow where we will be visiting an even older temple than the one toured today, exploring local markets, and finishing with a refreshing pool party after another hot, hazy day in Thailand. Sawadee Ka and goodnight!

– Sydney Tinker and Emma Rylander

6/21/2015

Title: Busy Bees in Thailand 😛

Thankfully today we got to have an hour of extra sleep. We started off our day going to the Umbrella Factory Center and learning step by step how to make an umbrella. We had the privilege of decorating our own umbrellas. A very popular activity was getting your phone painted by one of the umbrella artists. As it approached noon we headed down to lunch at Sekasin Restaurant and had bomb (good) Thai food as always. Next, we went to the Ban Jaang Nak, an elephant sculpture museum. There were sculptures in all shapes and sizes and were beautifully painted. We left and went back to the home base to finish up our lesson plans for the four days of teaching and got ready for the Sunday Walking Street. The Sunday Walking Street Market seemed to be everyone’s favorite part of the day. We had three hours to look and shop around, which turned out to be not enough time to explore this huge market. For tonight’s dinner we had the opportunity to buy our own food which ranged from corn on a stick to banana crepes. The market was very exhausting but super fun and a great experience. We all ended the day with going to bed early to wake up for an exciting new day in Thailand!!

– Caylin Boardwine and Mackie Nelson

6/22/2015

Title: Teachers, Temples, and Tribes

Today we took on the challenge of teaching young Thai students English. Each GLA student paired up to teach different classes and organized their own lesson plans. We engaged students in fun games while simultaneously encouraging them to practice speaking English. After a full day of teaching different grade levels, the GLA group headed to the mountains for some good old-fashioned exercise and reached a sacred temple at the top of a 200-step slope. At the top, the group explored the majestic gold temple and foresaw their futures through Buddhist prophecies. At the temple the students were able to see an unbelievable view of Chiang Mai from the mountain top. We left the temple for a short ride to see a hill tribe and how they lived in the mountains. The group was able to shoot cross-bows and walk through luscious gardens. After a quick stop at the community coffee shop, the group headed back to home base to play more team leadership games and reflect on the day. The night was filled with laughs and a night time cha-cha slide rehearsal.

– Michelle Temby, Aryana Barudin

6/23/2015

Title: A Taste of Home

Our day began back at the schools with the students teaching the Thai students English. From games to songs, we were able to interact more with each student and further understand their culture. We joined them for lunch after we were finished teaching and made some new friends. After school, we traveled to a Modern Art 3D Museum where we spent our time taking tons of pictures while appreciating the art. After a short amount of time, we got back on the bus and made our way to get Thai Massages. Although, the massages weren’t the typical American massage, everyone seemed to enjoy it. Finally, the moment we were all waiting for had come-American Food. We went into the heart of Chiang Mai to a restaurant called The Duke’s to get a taste of home. From chicken wings to ribs, salad, and pizza, we left the restaurant very satisfied. For the remainder of the night, we walked the Night Bazaar, got to shop, and learned how to bargain with the locals. Our action packed day left most of the students tired and ready to return back to Joy’s house where we met with our mentor groups and finally went to bed.

– Stella Kleynerman and Jessika Zanotti

6/24/2015

Title: School, School, and More School!

Today was the third day that we taught at our schools in Thailand. Like the other days, we woke up getting prepared for the lesson plans ahead. By today, we had a better understanding and insight of how to teach the students because of the experience we gained from the other days. As a result of this experience, we were able to efficiently teach and proceed with our lessons. Some GLA students simulated a fake market in which the school students were able to communicate with effective dialogue, while also having a great time. Some of the GLA students were so liked that the school students swarmed them with hugs and affection. We look forward to continue teaching these students and growing as leaders in the next few days.
The next main activity that we did was, you guessed it, go to another school. But it wasn’t as mundane as it sounds. We were granted the opportunity to engage with students of our own age that attend school in Thailand. They performed their cultural dance and prepared their games and activities. We were also able to take part in this cultural exchange by giving our own cultural dance, otherwise known as the “Cha Cha Slide”. Along with teaching the dance to the students, we sang the national anthem and answered some of the questions that the Thai students have prepared. This cultural exchange gave us a better insight on the overall culture and education outside of America. We ended this day exhausted yet happy to have made international Facebook friends.

Authors: Abigail Craig and Davin Lee

6/25/2015

Title: A Last Good-Bye to Our Thai Students

On our final Thursday here in Thailand, we woke up bright and early for our last day of teaching English to our favorite little Thai students. Although we were sad about the fact that our childhood dreams of playing teacher were coming to an end, I think we were all a little bit happy to not have to go through the stress of planning another hour-long lesson. After another delicious lunch at school, we played one last game of soccer with the kids and then headed back to the home base where we got to enjoy a peaceful hour of relaxation before jumping into planning for tomorrow’s all day English camp at our schools. We split up by mentor groups and then within the groups, split up based on what topics we were interested in sharing. The topics included: Western culture/ holidays, colors and shapes, animals, cooking, and song and dance. We planned different activities for each topic, as we will be teaching grades P3- P6 (3rd- 6th grade) in four different groups. Our mentors had us play games to give us inspiration for the kids, and then we were off scribbling in our journals and spilling out ideas. After about an hour and a half of planning, our ideas turned into concrete actions. Once we felt that we had a solid plan, we headed off to our last dinner at Joy’s House where we enjoyed yummy curry and rice with some juicy lychee fruit for dessert. After stuffing ourselves, we strolled back to the library where we enjoyed watching a few inspirational clips and ended on watching a funny movie in blanket forts while topping off our full bellies with our favorite snacks from 7/11!

Authors: Kat Krautheim and Melanie Foreman

6/26/2015

Title: Goodbyes

We woke up to the sound of rain outside our rooms on the morning of English Camp. While we were all eager to see the kids, many of us found ourselves unprepared for the day ahead. But with the help of our GLA Thai staff everyone was able to get the supplies they needed and we drove off to the schools. We worked five stations at each school at which we would teach the kids a different aspect of American culture in a fun and engaging way. The lessons were very tiring and seemed long at times, but the effort was worth the reward. Both groups received a ceremonial sendoff that was as bitter-sweet as the food. The many thanks and pictures that were exchanged between the students and teachers left a lasting impression on us. We’ll surely miss them. Our last evening together concluded with dinner and a lot of pictures!

It’s difficult for us to write this blog without being reminded of all the great moments that we have shared with our fellow GLA students and staff alike. The two weeks really have gone by fast and we are sure it is going to take a while for all of us to readjust once we are home. The only recap that is suitable for a trip this large is a look back through our journals and blogs which will most likely remind us of many great stories that we would have neglected otherwise. While the trip may be over, we have all made friends and memories that will transcend our stay here.

Authors: Austin Bryan and Kelsey Halvorsen

6/29/2015

Thanks for a great two weeks!

Thanks again to everyone for what turned out to be a fantastic two week session. GLA staff all really enjoyed the time we got to spend together with you and we are all grateful that we had such an awesome group. Hopefully most of you were able to actually make it home on time (despite the sign that was put up at Joy’s House). We hope you guys are all back home sharing the experiences you had here in Thailand with friends and family, and we hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summer!

Authors: Keith Wingeard, Martyna Skura, and Ryan Pringle

6/17/2015

Karibu Tanzania! Welcome to Tanzania!

Today was a great first full day in Tanzania! We are super excited that all of our students arrived safely and are settling into their new home for the next three weeks. Today was all about orienting the students to their new home and the local customs and culture of their host country. After a morning spent at the home base the students went to a local market to purchase fabric for when the tailor comes tomorrow. They were able to walk and explore an authentic Tanzanian food and clothing market. We are excited for the new experiences and adventures that the next few days will bring!

6/18/2015

Hello friends and family, Bill Sanders comin at you with the daily rundown of our day. Waking up is still a bit tough with adjusting to the new time schedule, this has lead to some early mornings after some easygoing nights, although waking comes easy after a shower. For breakfast we ate pastries, toast (I like to throw some peanut butter and an egg on it), and bananas. After that we played some card games then got on the bus, and went to the school for the first time. Once we got off the bus we were immediately met by what seemed like hundreds of cheerful children with bright smiles. It seemed as if all the kids liked to play with rings that they would roll then keep it going with a stick, it’s amazing to see kids so happy with a stick and a ring especially after seeing kids that age in America get frustrated over a cell phone that’s not good enough. We got to the school, today was just orientation, and signed the visitor sheet for both schools, and got to meet the very proud owner of both schools, his positivity almost matched that of the kids. Next we got to visit a classroom where all of the kids sang songs to us including, we will rock you, twinkle twinkle little star, and one more that I did not recognize. We then moved on to see all the impact (environmentally) that GLA has had on these schools and what we saw was astounding. They have made a huge impact, whether it was planting so many trees, or building a thorn fence for the school’s border. We followed that with about an hour long photo shoot with all of these kids in an open dirt field. The kids fell in love with the spotlight and made for amazing models. The photo shoot also had piggyback rides, high fives, and hugs on the side.

After the photos had all been taken, we made the poor decision to play a big game of duck, duck, and goose. I say poor decision because the little kids slipped and fell while running away from one another. One of those kids just so happened to be myself, I was not going to let the little guy beat me in a race around the circle, but unfortunately a rock had other plans for me. I failed to save myself as I picked up a couple good cuts and bruises, but even worse the camera around my neck was worse. The lens broke and it no longer turns on, even with a full battery. We then headed home and enjoyed a nice lunch consisting of pasta, vegetable crepes, and fruit salad. We played loads of fun games as a group, including a game of pickup soccer that gained more and more as kids continued to join, by the end of it our leader Baraka was even in the game. Also, the seamstress came and we gave him our fabrics we bought the previous day at the market, he then turned it into whatever we wanted him to make. We were given a very interesting presentation about the Maasai warriors given by our leader Allison. For dinner we had some very different but still delicious fish. After that we played some games and were given a sort of leadership/personality quiz. Now we are debating whether or not to watch a documentary. Mom if you are reading this my injuries were not a lie, but the broken camera was. Also, I still have yet to receive my bag, so please wish me luck.

– Will Sanders

6/21/2015

Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day, Baba!

Today, we were supposed to sleep in, but instead everyone got up early anyways and played cards together! Mama Simba, our mother away from home, gave us a comprehensive Swahili lesson, and now we’re completely fluent. We had a quick break and then met our host families! Sophie and I (Galen), bonded a lot with our new host brothers. Everyone was very kind and welcoming, and all of us had a wonderful time. We met their families and they took us on tours of the town. We learned about their lives and we taught them about aspects of American life. It was an eye-opening experience, especially because we had to bridge the gap between the cultures ourselves, without the help of the local staff.

After our tours, our host families left and we were in for a surprise. There was a dance group here that performed traditional tribal dances. It was very lively, and included audience participation (Zach even danced). The leader of the dance group gave some background information, and we learned that there are over 120 tribes in Tanzania alone. We were able to purchase some beautiful merchandise from the group as well.

Dinner was a delicious delight, and we reflected on our favorite parts of the day. We then participated in a leadership activity where we were exposed to the challenges of cross-cultural interaction, and how we can better understand the behavior of others. All in all, it was a fabulous day, and we cannot wait to spend more time here and with our host families.

Maasai Day

Today was our earliest day by far, and we were on the bus by 4 am to go to the Maasai boma. The ride was about 3 hours, but we were entertained with games and an amazing view of the sunrise over the Serengeti. When we arrived at the Boma we first interacted with the cattle before they were let out to graze. We got an introduction to Maasai life from a Maasai tour guide, and looked in a traditional home. We had breakfast with the Maasai, cooked by a cook that we brought with us. After breakfast we rode the bus for a short while, and then got out and went on a nature walk. We saw many beautiful views, and even saw zebras. We walked for about 2 hours and then took the bus back to the Boma.

After the walk we were given the option to watch a traditional goat slaughter. Most people watched the slaughtering, but many of us left part of the way through. The goats were killed through suffocation, which was hard for most of us to watch, but after the goats were killed they were skinned and cut open, which was very interesting and a few people watched. After the slaughtering we ate lunch, and had the option of eating the goat, which was apparently very delicious.

After lunch we got to throw spears, which was much harder then it looked, but everyone tried their best and it was very fun. The women at the Boma had beautiful jewelry on, and many of them shared their jewelry with us. We watched, and many participated, in the dancing of the men and the women. The dancing with the men and women was mostly separate, and the men left when the women started dancing. We had a chance to buy some Maasai jewelry, and then we got on the bus to leave.

On the way home we stopped at another Boma, where there was a circumcision celebration, which ended up being for two girls. There were a lot of people from various communities there, who all brought their own gifts for the girls. We were given a brief tour, and then left again. The bus ride back was about 4 hours because we got stuck in traffic, but we were entertained by a good playlist and games. Everyone was exhausted when we got back to the home base, and most of us went right to bed. It was a great day, and meeting the Maasai was an amazing experience.

Hey everyone, sorry this is a few days behind.
So last Friday, we went to the primary school and I was in a group of 6 people who taught a decent size group of kids (maybe 40??). We introduced ourselves, sang a few songs, and read from their learning book while trying to act out the words. I sat in the back of the class for a bit with a few of the students and helped them out a bit. Then we played with them du+- ring their recess time. Everyone was so kind and fun; it was amazing how well we got along, even though we don’t speak the same language. When it started raining, we went into one of the older classrooms and started demolishing the floor, with hopes of rebuilding it to make it safer for the kids. After going to the school, we went back to the home base for a special presentation from an FGM speaker. She talked for about an hour on what Female Genital Mutilation was and how it effects the culture here. It was very powerful and really opened up my eyes to different things going on around the world. After that, we went to the wifi café, which served a ton of American food and very cheap wifi. It was really nice to reconnect with family and friends back home, and maybe post a pic or two. Back at the home base, our group played a huge game of signs (our new favorite game) then went to bed about 8, because we’d need to wake up the next morning at 3:30am… the whole day was extremely fun and I’m so glad that I got to teach the kids today, even if there was a slight language barrierJ

– Jennah landgraf

6/22/2015

Today was an average Monday morning. We rose at the bright and early hour of 7:00 am and prepared for the school day. After we ate a nutritious breakfast and packed our back-packs we boarded the bus and headed to school. The ride to school was pretty boring except for the view of the peak of Kilimanjaro from our bus window. Today was our second day at school so we felt more comfortable and began to form bonds with the students. Classroom instruction was filled with fun games and blank stares as the children struggled with English learning. Recess was an enjoyable period with hoky-poky and athletics plus various song and dance routines. The children adored us and especially enjoyed taking selfies on our phones. Once we finished enjoying our leisure hour we began a session of rigorous physical labor that involved digging large holes for suspicious purposes (is a tree or a small child going in that hole?). After we devoured our lunch, we began arts and crafts hour. We learned the classic African arts of batik where we painted on fabric using wax to create beautiful images. Since we are all so artistically talented we required no assistance with our painting and created everything completely on our own with no professional help. We also made good use of our money by spending copious amounts of African prints and baggy pants. Arts and crafts took the entire afternoon and we were excited for French fry omelettes (chips in my eye). Nothing like a cholesterol and fat filled meal to complete a strenuous day. In the evening we learned about confronting harmful African stereotypes. In all, it was an enjoyable day in the bush.

6/21/2015 

Happy Father’s Day, Baba! Today, we were supposed to sleep in, but instead everyone got up early anyways and played cards together! Mama Simba, our mother away from home, gave us a comprehensive Swahili lesson, and now we’re completely fluent. We had a quick break and then met our host families! Sophie and I (Galen), bonded a lot with our new host brothers. Everyone was very kind and welcoming, and all of us had a wonderful time. We met their families and they took us on tours of the town. We learned about their lives and we taught them about aspects of American life. It was an eye-opening experience, especially because we had to bridge the gap between the cultures ourselves, without the help of the local staff.
After our tours, our host families left and we were in for a surprise. There was a dance group here that performed traditional tribal dances. It was very lively, and included audience participation (Zach even danced). The leader of the dance group gave some background information, and we learned that there are over 120 tribes in Tanzania alone. We were able to purchase some beautiful merchandise from the group as well.
Dinner was a delicious delight, and we reflected on our favorite parts of the day. We then participated in a leadership activity where we were exposed to the challenges of cross-cultural interaction, and how we can better understand the behavior of others. All in all, it was a fabulous day, and we cannot wait to spend more time here and with our host families.

Maasai Day

Today was our earliest day by far, and we were on the bus by 4 am to go to the Maasai boma. The ride was about 3 hours, but we were entertained with games and an amazing view of the sunrise over the Serengeti. When we arrived at the Boma we first interacted with the cattle before they were let out to graze. We got an introduction to Maasai life from a Maasai tour guide, and looked in a traditional home. We had breakfast with the Maasai, cooked by a cook that we brought with us. After breakfast we rode the bus for a short while, and then got out and went on a nature walk. We saw many beautiful views, and even saw zebras. We walked for about 2 hours and then took the bus back to the Boma.

After the walk we were given the option to watch a traditional goat slaughter. Most people watched the slaughtering, but many of us left part of the way through. The goats were killed through suffocation, which was hard for most of us to watch, but after the goats were killed they were skinned and cut open, which was very interesting and a few people watched. After the slaughtering we ate lunch, and had the option of eating the goat, which was apparently very delicious.

After lunch we got to throw spears, which was much harder then it looked, but everyone tried their best and it was very fun. The women at the Boma had beautiful jewelry on, and many of them shared their jewelry with us. We watched, and many participated, in the dancing of the men and the women. The dancing with the men and women was mostly separate, and the men left when the women started dancing. We had a chance to buy some Maasai jewelry, and then we got on the bus to leave.

On the way home we stopped at another Boma, where there was a circumcision celebration, which ended up being for two girls. There were a lot of people from various communities there, who all brought their own gifts for the girls. We were given a brief tour, and then left again. The bus ride back was about 4 hours because we got stuck in traffic, but we were entertained by a good playlist and games. Everyone was exhausted when we got back to the home base, and most of us went right to bed. It was a great day, and meeting the Maasai was an amazing experience.

6/23/2015

Hey everyone, sorry this is a few days behind.
So last Friday, we went to the primary school and I was in a group of 6 people who taught a decent size group of kids (maybe 40??). We introduced ourselves, sang a few songs, and read from their learning book while trying to act out the words. I sat in the back of the class for a bit with a few of the students and helped them out a bit. Then we played with them du+- ring their recess time. Everyone was so kind and fun; it was amazing how well we got along, even though we don’t speak the same language. When it started raining, we went into one of the older classrooms and started demolishing the floor, with hopes of rebuilding it to make it safer for the kids. After going to the school, we went back to the home base for a special presentation from an FGM speaker. She talked for about an hour on what Female Genital Mutilation was and how it effects the culture here. It was very powerful and really opened up my eyes to different things going on around the world. After that, we went to the wifi café, which served a ton of American food and very cheap wifi. It was really nice to reconnect with family and friends back home, and maybe post a pic or two. Back at the home base, our group played a huge game of signs (our new favorite game) then went to bed about 8, because we’d need to wake up the next morning at 3:30am… the whole day was extremely fun and I’m so glad that I got to teach the kids today, even if there was a slight language barrierJ

– Jennah landgraf

6/26/2015

After waking up to heavy-metal dubstep (thanks Paige) at 6:00 this morning, we were so happy to walk out of our room and see The Rolls, the famous delicious bread that The Mamas made us. We then quickly got ready and boarded the bus for our last day of teaching and service this week. Our ride consisted of a wide variety of songs from Taylor Swift to Coldplay, all of which we now have highly-complicated choreographed dances to. After arriving at the school, we were greeted by the many smiling faces of the children that we have been teaching and have gotten to know throughout the week. Today, Jennah, Galen, and I reviewed the story that we taught our class yesterday, played a lot of Simon Says, and taught our students The Macarena. We then continued digging the holes where we will plant over 60 trees next week. Upon arriving back at our home-base, The Mamas surprised us with chips-mayeye, a large plate of French fries cooked in a fried egg. After eating, we walked to a nearby orphanage. We learned that the orphanage started with just 12 children, and they now host over 90 kids, all of whom attend school. We had the opportunity to learn about and tour the orphanage as well as play and talk with the children there. We played games such as “Indian Chief” and soccer, and they also taught us a few games of their own. We then walked back to our home-base and learned about our safari tomorrow from the leader of another GLA program who also doubles as an undercover officer who has worked for many groups including the CIA. Dinner came quickly later, and we ate delicious pasta with beef, tomato sauce, and delicious vegetables. As I have been writing this blog, Sophie, Galen, and “Lauren” (also known as the other Julia) got into a heated marker battle. Unfortunately, the event took a drastic turn to the worst when Lauren’s foot had to be amputated. When asked what happened, Lauren told the following tale, “A rabid ginger stalked me in hot pursuit, using an artistic tool as a savage weapon. As I was chased by this fearsome entity, I tripped and fell, but rose quickly in attempt to evade the evil ginger, unaware that blood was spewing from my foot. I thought I would get away, but then a barbaric blonde tackled me to the ground. The ginger and the blonde began stabbing me savagely in the facial region as my foot bled profusely. After this incident, there was no way to save my beloved appendage. My foot will be mailed to my parents next week.” Just kidding, Lauren mildly cut her foot, but she is as alive and spunky as ever. We now are about to have another leadership activity lead by our two mentors, and then we are going to sleep early tonight because we leave very early tomorrow for our first safari! It’s been a really amazing experience so far and I absolutely cannot wait for everything else that is to come!

– Julia Kostro

6/28/15

Greetings friends, family!  Yesterday morning at 7:30 am we piled into
Jurassic Park-style trucks and hit the road for the drive to Terangire
Park.  After a six-hour car ride, including a stop for some healthy
snacks and enlightening reading material, we arrived.   The tops of
the trucks opened up so we were able to stand up and get a better view
of the beautiful landscape.  We witnessed elfies, zeebees, giraffes,
warthogs, and more.  A whole herd of elfies walked right in front of
our truck at one point!  Seeing these animals in the wild was
incredible; most of us, including myself, had only ever seen them in
zoos.  We arrived at a motel a few hours later and were able to get
some much-needed rest.

-Cayley

6/28/2015

Zeke Goldsmith

Today we got off to an early start to the day, waking up at 5:30 am,
and leaving the hotel at 6:00. We drove for about an hour before
reaching Ngorogoro Crater. As we were ascending the walls of the
Calavera, we were engulfed by a thick fog (we soon found out that we
were actually in a cloud.)  Finally, we came to the crest, overlooking
the majestic Ngorogoro world heritage site, but not before Paige
spotted a Leopard. At the crest, we opened the tops of the safari
vans, allowing us to fully take in the site. We descended into the
savanna, and one by one came across various mammals of interest. From
a group of zebras, to several huge herds of wildebeest, the Tanzania
fauna did not disappoint. In addition to that, we saw a lion eating a
wildebeest, surrounded by hungry hyenas. After a few hours in the
crater, we had lunch next to a surpassingly close pod of hippos. If
the hippos weren’t as tolerant of humans as they were, we could all
have been dead in about 10 seconds. Thankfully, we survived. After
lunch we made our way back to home base in Moshi. As we were leaving,
we came across a beautiful vantage point. The clouds had passed, so we
all clambered out of the vans to take pictures. Some of the girls
decided to take the classic “Jump in mid air all at once” picture.
However, Lauren’s phone was not as snugly fit in her pocket as one
would hope, and mid jump, the phone made a break for it, falling out
and smashing the ground. Fortunately, her phone’s case protected the
vital iPhone from damage. Unfortunately, the case made the ultimate
sacrifice in the process; after hitting the ground, it skidded across
the pavement and off the conveniently placed cliff, tumbling into the
Ngorogoro Crater below.  “MY PHONE!!!!!” Lauren screamed as she
dropped to her knees, not realizing the iPhone itself was sitting
firmly and safely on the ground. Once the realization was made, she
saw the $5 case was lost and not the $300 phone, Lauren experienced
what the described as a  “religious experience,” convinced that the
hand of God had saved her phone, and not the case. All was well after
that, and concluding a six-hour van ride, we returned home.

———————–

 29 June 2015
Today we had a late breakfast, toast and eggs, which was amazing as
usual. This morning we walked down to the soccer field, all wearing
our mismatching Tanzania soccer jerseys; while they were all either
black or blue, no two were alike. We played a friendly-competitive
game of World Cup, a soccer game where teams of two all compete to
score a goal at once. Kids from the school across the field happened
to be out on recess, and were more than enthusiastic to play with us,
specifically to play with Paige’s soccer ball.  After a hard fought
match, and some much appreciated exercise, we walked back to the home
base. As everyone prepared to change out of his or her jerseys and
shower/nap, we were surprised by a special announcement.

The GLA staff had decided to take us out for lunch on the town. We settled on an
American-style coffeehouse. We had a very nice meal and some Wi-Fi,
then headed back the home base, but only after we escaped the
extremely persistent street peddlers, who have taken to sticking their
heads and merchandize inside the bus as a sales tactic. Needless to
say, it failed (for the most part). After that, we had a chill
afternoon followed by an informative lesson about Tanzania’s education
and economic situation. After dinner, which again was amazing, we
listened to Mama Simba’s inspirational story of her journey to
success.
From,
Jane

June 30

Safari Bill coming at chya once again. Today we returned to school after a three-day weekend and the kids were quite pleased to see our pale faces again. After a strenuous day of educating the youth of Tanzania, we were kindly greeted by one of the locals who gave us directions to the nearby church and airport for our departure home. We then played with the children through games such as, pulling on Lauren’s hair, dancing to indie rock, and asking for “picha teacha!” We then painted the brown dirt with some beautiful green trees. We returned home to a nutritious lunch filled with love. After lunch there was an electric vibe in the air, and not just because Zeke received a shock from the electric fence. Next we visited the orphanage down the road once again where an intense game of soccer occurred.

During this day Zeke received his second memory of the day when Sherry rocketed a shot right into his gut, but all in the fun of soccer. I was beaten by Joseph for the orphanages leading goal scorer, however I’m having the kid checked for performance enhancing drugs, so I’ll get back to you on that. After this we had a lovely dinner prepared by our amazing mommas, then all but myself took part in a large game of human knot (I have a large phobia of knots, and ties). We ended the day with what I believe was a TED talk but since I had a lack of energy I dreamed about the village children getting upset and forming the cutest angry mob I’ve ever imagined. Mama Simba is THE

BEST!

July 1

Hellur, everyone. @zumbazach speaking on behalf of the GLA staff and students. Today, we enjoyed another unbelievable day in Tanzania. Will, Zeke, and I woke up to a lovely alarm of Nicki Minaj as usual. Will was salty, because he woke up late for breakfast and blamed me for his irresponsibility.  Our friendship was still on the rocks, because of the treacherous game of Life that we played on the way back from the Safari. (I sued him for $100,000 and ended up winning by a landslide.)

For breakfast, we all downed our daily cups of tea that most of us have come to drink as second nature. After breakfast, we piled onto the bus and headed to service, knowing that it was our second to last day spending time with the school children.  Sophie and I were overwhelmed by the large turnout in our classroom of over 30 students; for the past two weeks our class had been composed of less than 12 students. Class ended up being a blast, because the kids were very energetic, and we decided to take it easy for a change and utilize crayons as part of our lesson. Joseph, Braiton, and Queen are my favorite students, but of course that’s purely confidential. Recess was exhausting, yet such an experience, like always. After finding my boy Baraka, we walked around and talked with several of the kids, playing a game of catch or simple hand games like Double Double This This, which Baraka loves to play but can never get right.

Saying “Kwaheri!” (Goodbye) is always hard, but after recess we returned to the job of planting trees and watering them. Galen struggled with the water and ended up  being soaked by the end of the day, but we had fun with it. Many of the kids, including Baraka, stayed behind and ended up helping dig holes or carry water, so I got to continue spending time with him during service. Once we finished the hour of hard work, we were worn out and finally said our final goodbyes for the day to our favorite kids. I think Baraka and I hug twenty times every time we say goodbye.

Upon returning to the compound, we dove into a delicious lunch prepared by the Mamas whom we love so much. Will has made it his mission to become BFF’s with Mama D, so he always gets extra food or even special requests just for him, that little bugger.  After lunch, I napped for a solid hour with Lana Del Rey playing from my phone, and Will woke me up once it was time for our next activity. We were separated into two groups and told to go on a scavenger hunt for food ingredients at the local market, because that night we were helping Mama D prepare dinner!! The hunt was fun, but it was very hot and I was still groggy from my nap, so I let Jennah and Julia do the bargaining. I’m getting used to being pointed at and called Mzungu (white person).

At home base, we piled into the kitchen, and started helping to make soup. Galen and I cut onions and shed tears (over our impending departure from Tanzania), and Will sat in the corner shredding coconuts. I appreciate my parents’ cooking so much now. In the time between cooking and eating, we had downtime and somewhere during that time we held a manhunt for Will, who we thought had miraculously disappeared from the compound. After five minutes of panicked searching, we found the stinker napping UNDER his bed, because it was “quieter under there.” Then we ate our dinner and felt the success of our hard work.

After dinner, we had our leadership activity, which was especially interactive. We were all blindfolded and lead into a maze that Nicole and Allison had constructed inside the dining area. We were told to hold onto a rope and that if we wanted help, all we had to was raise our hand. After fumbling around for about five minutes, I raised my hand and Allison told me to open my eyes. Turns out, the point of the activity was to learn the value in asking for help and realizing that others can help you when you can’t help yourself. Only by asking for help could you complete the maze.

We were then left with more downtime until lights out, so me, Galen, and Jennah decided to stargaze outside. Soon everyone decided to join and it turned into a giggle fest with everyone laying on each other for support. I decided to leave early, and found Agape, Mama Simba, and Will in the dining area talking around a phone flashlight (the power was out again). I joined in, and we all talked about how much we loved the program and how Mama Simba was welcome in our homes whenever she wanted. I feel lucky to have met a woman like her, and her messages will stick with me forever, I know.

Then, Will and I headed to bed, where we prepared for another morning full of the beautiful sound of our queen, Nicki Minaj. We both decided that Taylor just doesn’t compare, but I’m glad that Will is realizing the power of Nicki. 

July 4

Today we woke up as early as everyday, though we didn’t have normal service.  We had breakfast at 7 and left at 8.  We spent about an hour watching and learning from a few blacksmiths.  We spent about the hour with three different blacksmiths, and watched them make machetes and other objects in the fire.  After learning how to make knifes and other dangerous objects, we made a quick stop at the ATM and currency exchange before spending too much of our money at an underground art market.

After everyone finished buying their over-priced souvenirs, we stopped at our favorite place, the Wi-Fi café.  We ate our American food and dove into the world of the Internet (after a dangerous scare with disconnected wireless).  We made a pit stop at a grocery store to buy ice cream for a fourth of July celebration, before returning to the compound for a delicious lunch prepared by our wonderful Mamas.  We had a little while to relax and recharge before our host families, that we met a couple of weeks ago, came by to pick us up.  We were able to spend most of the afternoon with our generous families.  I (Galen), along with Sophie, Jennah and Cayley, walked around Rau Village with Muhammad, who is 18 years old.  At about 4:30 we all met at the soccer field at the local primary school.  There was a soccer game going on, and a few people joined in and the rest of us enjoyed watching the match.

A little before six we walked back to the home base, looking forward to a fourth of July celebration.  We were informed, however, that due to a mishap in the kitchen, the pizza we were looking forward to had not been possible.  We voted and chose to go to a café in town for a more American dinner, to celebrate our great independence (the café also had WI-FI, which was a plus).  The bus ride home consisted of belting out “Firework” by Katy Perry a total of three times, which of course included choreography by our very own Lauren.  We were in for a surprise when we got home, a bonfire!  We sang songs, although we were all a bit disappointed in our inability to remember real campfire songs.  The night ended in sitting around the campfire and picking out a Swahili name for each of us.  Each of us was given a name that the group agreed matched their personality.  Most of the group is now helping Julia pack, who we are sad to see leave tomorrow.

Happy Fourth of July!

6/15/2015

Karibuni Tanzania!!

Tonight we welcome the last of our GLA family and we are excited to have everyone here. All day today we have participated in orientation activities, getting to know each other and what to expect. Although everyone is feeling tired from jet lag, excitement and spirits are high!

Our beloved Mama Simba has been with us all day before she heads back to Moshi to assist the other Tanzania GLA program with welcoming their students tomorrow. Her wisdom and power is fueling our excitement for sure. We feel welcome and warm in her home and are learning lots of things very quickly about the culture of Tanzania, how to be good cultural ambassadors, how to learn effectively, and all the amazing things about Tanzania.

A highlight of the day was meeting our host families and getting to see their homes. We managed to learn enough greetings in kiSwahili to greet our families appropriately, but spent time working through the language barriers so we could try and understand each other. After lunch with the families, students explored the area with their families, some even visiting a nearby lake and waterfall towards the direction of the beautiful Mt. Meru that is the backdrop of our village.

Tomorrow we will finally have everyone here and we will get to meet our students and see the school that we will be teaching and doing service at. We will also get to go to Arusha to exchange money and run some errands. We are excited to continue to explore more and more outside of HomeBase, learning about where we are and engaging with our community.

Missing everyone back home, but excited for these next two weeks in beautiful Tanzania!

– Laura and Staff

p.s. today is one our student’s birthdays: Happy Birthday Megan Garcia! We hope you like the cake, ice cream, and balloons.

6/15/2015

Today was the first day of the actual community service portion of our trip. The community service took place at a local school known as Patandi—a short ten-minute walk from home base. The first 80 minutes consisted of teaching students of level five in classrooms. We got to know our students and briefly taught them about expressing qualities and adjectives. For the next couple of hours we performed actual labor work. Some of us sanded classrooms so they could be ready for painting and others built/fixed desks that were in poor quality. We also got to experience local market day. We went to the local market and got to buy fabrics and other goods. It was interesting to see how the whole community came together for the market day and how busy it was. We got to end our day by learning that places and people do not have single stories (especially Africa); there are multiple sides and perspectives to everything.

– Kanwal Momin

6/16/2015

Students woke up at 7:00 am and they had breakfast which was tea, porridge, and bread. After tea everyone was ready   heading to the community services site and then the tour of Arusha.

We walked from home base to school and arrived at 8:00. The students and the teachers were waiting for us. Students were very excited to see pupils and general environment of school. We went on a tour of the school grounds including the special needs class rooms.  We began our school orientation by walking through and see all the activities which were done by previous GLA student’s by assistance from local staffs and teachers of Patandi Primary School. The students at Patandi Primary School were very welcoming and friendly towards everyone.  After, becoming acquainted with Patandi Primary School student went back home where they prepared themselves for the town tour

We split up student into three groups each with a mentor and a local leader. Then, we went on a tour of Arusha where we stopped at a store to purchase snacks if we wanted to do so we headed to an internet Cafe where the student  were able to manage their  accounts online.

Student had lunch which consisted of Pancake, Ugali, (Mboga) Vegetable, Salad, Tunda mix fruits, and then they had a guest speaker Godwin Melissa who taught them about Tanzania history and the education system of Tanzania. Then after, Kate informed the students on ways of teaching in the Primary School of Patandi.

Then student were able to spend an hour of free time and then ate dinner. After dinner they went to the respective mentor groups where they had memorable conversations about a day and experience which they gain for the whole day. They winded down as they got into groups that will teach with tomorrow and planned the lessons.

– Hannah

6/18/2015

After a delicious breakfast cooked by Joseph, we walked to school to start our second day of teaching. Things went smoother because we had a feel for our students and their abilities. After teaching, we had playtime, everyone’s favorite, and did service work, either sanding or repairing/building desks. We visited Mama Noras orphanage after some downtime, where we got to play with orphans and other underprivileged children in the community. Although we couldn’t communicate with them because they knew little English, they loved our cameras and all the attention. That night, a local seamstress came to help us custom design shirts, skirts, bags, and headbands among other things made from the fabric we bought at the market. Some much needed chill time followed that until bed, ending a great day!

– Bailey and Megan Garcia

6/23/2015

Safari Weekend:

This weekend when we went on Safari we saw many things, which were truly indescribable. Elephants, lions, zebras, and many other animals were all within inches of our reach. Our overnight in a hostel was filled with delicious foods and star watching in a sky filled with unbelievable beauty. Driving through the crater and seeing all the wonders untouched by man was simply humbling. Our safari experience brought our entire group closer together as a whole and we were all very happy to have experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity together.

– Alexis Vatterott

6/22/2015

A lot was achieved today. We went to school as usual, and taught the students more lessons in grammar. We then finished sanding the
classroom as a group. While sanding, we listened to music and readied the classroom to begin painting. In the afternoon, we returned to home base and went to the coffee farm. At the coffee farm, we were able to grind fresh coffee beans and drink it. We then returned to home base where we ate a nice meal prepared by Baba Joseph. Later on, each teaching group prepared their lesson plan for the next day. Our time
in Tanzania is over halfway over. We all love it here, but we miss all of our friends and family back home. Whenever the time does come, we’ll all leave Tanzania with stories to tell, pictures to share, and friendships to last for years to come.

– Peter Ganovsky and Harry Jones

6/23/2015

We woke up at our normal time at 6:30 and ate porridge and donuts for breakfast made by Baba Joseph. Then, we went to school and continued teaching to the kids. We took a short break after our classes and started painting a classroom. We went back to the home base for lunch. We had the option of going on a hike/walk to a nearby lake. After the walk we were further informed on Female genital mutilation/circumcision. We enjoyed a traditional African dance by the Kilimanjaro Wizards at the school. This was a great immersion to the culture and at the end we were able to ask them questions about how their whole group started. We also had an opportunity to buy souvenirs from them such as figurines and paintings. After that we came home to a lovely dinner by Baba Joseph it was pasta! Lastly we were visited by a retired Masai warrior named Jacob who taught us more about the Masai culture and traditions.

– Eleanor Zhu & Matthew Edevbie

6/24/2015

In the morning, we went to community service in school and kept the kids learning. After we played some soccer and got to work on painting and repairing the desks. We also finished painting the classroom today. Afterwards we went to the Usa women’s group farm, where we learned how to prepare banana soup. We also learned how to basket weave and we learned it is like to live on a farm. In the end of the lesson we planted our own banana tree. Learning about living on the farm gave us a lot of experience with agriculture and traditional cooking. Later on that night we learned about public health around Africa. We were taught a lot about HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Ebola. We learned a lot about facts and statistics of these diseases. It was many students first time understanding what these diseases are like, and it was very interesting.

– Hongbo Zeng & Connor Waters

6/25/2015

Everyone woke up to the loudest and best wake up call of the program by us. We ate our usual breakfast by BaBa Joseph and we set out for our last day of school at Patandi. We had the best last day with the kids both wrapping up what we taught for the last two weeks and playing with them one last time. After we had a tearful goodbye at the school, the students walked us to the home base. After lunch, we split up into groups and went on a scavenger hunt throughout the market. Mama Simba gave us her life story and taught us all about the importance of leadership, forgiveness, support, education, and faith. We were briefed on our hike around Mount Kilimanjaro and we all went to bed after hanging out together.

– Eleanor Zhu and Peter Ganovsky

6/26/2015

Today we went on a hike around the base of Kilimanjaro, went to a market, and came back to home base for dinner. We hiked to three waterfalls and had the opportunity to swim at one of the waterfall pools. We then hiked to a local rest area and had lunch, soda, and souvenirs. After we continued to the last waterfall and headed back to the bus. We stopped at a small art market to see the art made by locals. After shopping at the art market we headed back to home base. When we arrived the tables were set with candles and dinner made by the amazing cook, baba Joseph was waiting for us. We all sat together to eat dinner and share our favorite experiences that we had on this amazing trip. A great end to a great trip.

– Morgan & Ethan Shaw

6/16/2015

Starting at 6 AM this morning, students began trickling into our home base here in Cusco. Everyone besides two students made it today, and we’re expecting their arrival tomorrow. With our new roommates, we climbed the four flights of stairs to our rooms on the 5th floor and started unpacking. The stairs proved to be worth it after we saw the beautiful view. After our first delicious Peruvian breakfast and lunch, we played name games and got to know our family for the next three weeks. Later in the afternoon, we headed out into the streets of Cusco for a walk around the local area. We were immediately exposed to the street vendors and stray dogs followed by a beautiful town square filled with kids dancing in preparation for the Incan New Year and others playing soccer. We headed home, excited for the new memories and friendships to come, with smiles on our faces. After meeting with our small mentor groups, we enjoyed our third delicious meal and immediately got ready for bed, ready to crash after our long but successful journeys to Cusco.

first photo: group walk to town
second photo: view of the mountain side
third photo: view of the mountains from the plane this morning
fourth photo: dinner!

6/17/2015

On our second day of our Peruvian adventure we ventured at 7 am to begin our service project of building a greenhouse for a rural school, we worked arduously begin the foundation of our community service project. By far, the best part of the day was getting to meet the kids as we indulged ourselves in their recess, where we played various forms of soccer, volleyball, hopscotch and attempted to connect with their daily lives. Afterwards we went to the grocery store and shared various forms of quinoa. We all went to the second floor and sang karaoke. After that we listened to a speaker that made us see the importance of our mission. We’re all exhausted but, ready to continue tomorrow.

Written by: Jacob, Chris, and Tatyana.

6/18/2015

Our GLA Extravaganza – a Magical Day Tres

Today our magical adventure was filled with digging out rocks (mostly done by Julio) and a visit to the Shaman. We continued to bond over our various hardships and funny moments – some of our (unspecified) students faced the many woes of the world traveller. We began to build the base for the green house that will be for the Peruvian school. The children were excited to see the effort we put into the first steps of the green house, some even began to help us dig out rocks and dirt. After a long day of work and a great meal we all traveled to the local Shaman where we gave offerings to the gods, we got our fortunes read and had some unexpected…happenings (Stay tuned, Gina and Aaron Schroeder!). Some of us were even told that we will have multiple jobs and be passionate about them! (Stay tuned, Claire and Bobby Misko, & Lisa Witt & Steve Herz). Overall, a successful and informative.

– Maddy S, Hannah M and Sara H

6/21/2015

Starting at 6:00 AM, students and mentors were woken up to the sound of the drums from Down With the Sickness and flashing strobe lights by their leaders of the day. They were not amused…

An hour later, they piled into the buses for a 45 minute scenic ride to the village of Patabamba. The ride was probably more terrifying than scenic from all the skinny roads and steep heights. Students then broke into 4 groups and were each assigned a host family to work with for the day. Some groups shucked corn while others picked beans, and our families fed us a tasty snack of cheese, potatoes, and quinoa soup. We then played a soccer game with the local community and admired the view from the high altitude. After the ride back to home base, we ate dinner and got ready for a night of fireworks and churros. We walked two and a half miles to the city square to see the festival celebrating the end of the week of Cusco. After struggling through rough crowds, we found a fabulous spot to watch the flamboyant fireworks from. The 5 mile round trip proved worth it, AND no one got lost. (:

We made a new friend when a stray dog followed us back to home base, but then Miguel shooed him away. 🙁 How rude.
We tiredly shlepped to our rooms, changed, brushed our teeth, and fell into bed, excited to sleep in the next day.

Your LODs,
Renee, Arzoo, & Dustin

6/21/2015

The morning was a special and happy one for the group, as everyone slept in until eight for a sightseeing tour instead of struggling to wake up at six for service. The city tour was around Cusco and its surrounding areas, including various Inca ruins. Some of the sites we saw were Tambomachay, Pukapukara, Q’enqo, and Saqsayhuaman. In the city itself, we went to Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) and Basilica Catedral. Tambomachay is the “Water Temple,” which has had nonstop running channels of water since its construction. Our tour guide, Arturo, explained to us that the Incas built everything with the same attention of detail and how the buildings had changed over time. This was our first stop, and after a short bus ride, we then arrived at the greenhouse that the previous year’s GLA group built. Although the greenhouse was empty and plants were still being ordered, the current group had an idea of what the project would look like upon completion. Along the way, we met friendly and excited locals – both the women and children. From there, we traveled to the other sites previously mentioned. We went through caves, tunnels, and explored the areas while doing some light shopping as well.

Lunch was a special treat today. The group was taken to a restaurant on the side of the hill overlooking the city of Cuzco. Although there was an initial mix up and we went the wrong restaurant, we eventually found the one we were supposed to be at. We had the opportunity to enjoy many different foods – ranging from chicken to pasta to alpaca. Both the view and the dessert (ice cream :)) were greatly appreciated by the group.

Qorikancha, Temple of the Sun, was our next stop of the day, where a large number of paintings were displayed. Most of the artwork was completed by anonymous painters, and represented the religion here at Cuzco throughout the centuries following the introduction of Catholicism. Our tour guide explained the historic background of these works, and we headed to the Basilica Catedral in the city center. The Cathedral’s construction spanned over 140 years, and was completed in the 1600s. Arturo explained much of the religious background of the Incas, and how Catholicism was a significant influence. For example, Jesus is known as the God of the Earthquakes, and holds an extremely important role in the religion. Also, Arturo noted that the most of the artwork in the Cathedral mimicked the European paintings and was not signed, as the local painters were not allowed to.

At about five in the afternoon, we returned to homebase. From there, we had free time until dinner. A game named “Fishbowl” was organized by the mentors for the night. Everyone seemed to enjoy their time with inside jokes, awkward relationship stories, and interpretive dance battles (even one between Sara and Miguel).

That’s all for today!

Talia L, Dayanara O, Hannah S

6/22/2015

Today we went back to the service site, and we finished doing the trenches and we started to put the rocks inside. After lunch, we went to a local orphanage and got a tour. We also played with the kids on their playground. After dinner we played Buffa Buffa, an interesting team building game that was very new for many of us. We learned about how different cultures interact with one another through this game.

6/23/2015

We woke up and air horned everybody to death before heading to service. There we embarked on a muddy adventure where nobody was spared. We had various fried objects for lunch and then went to Andean/Incan music workshop where we attempted to learn how to play the pan flute and “waka waka.”It was a grand ensemble. After dinner we made a grocery run where are stocked up on chips and candy, and went to a sketchy pharmacy. It was a splendid day.

Martine, Chris, and Jacob

6/24/2015

By Madeline S, Spencer G, and Hannah M
Our Magical GLA Experience – Day 8

We started out the day by busting into our group’s rooms and dancing to “Milkshake” while wearing headlamps. The Peruvian solstice celebration was today, so the group trekked to the plaza to bask in the festivities. It is the festival of the sun, and is therefore a highly regarded and celebrated part of the Peruvian/Incan culture. While it was fun and a great way to experience the culture, we were bombarded with street vendors! A word to the wise – “No tengo dinero” is your best friend. Afterwards we began to work on the greenhouse; the walls are being constructed with mud and rocks. Nobody was safe from the mud; Julio said we looked like his pigs by the end of it! We also began packing for the big hike to Machu Picchu on Friday – stay tuned!

Love, your muddy children

6/25/2015

We went to service as usual today, which began at eight in the morning and lasted until noon. At work, we built more of the wall with rocks and mud that we mixed with our feet. It was freezing!! Most of the foundation for the wall is now completed and we will be working on adobe bricks when we return from the hike. After lunch, the group went on a WiFi and shopping trip in the city. Students had the opportunity to contact friends and family as well as have a milkshake or coffee. Some went to shop for last minute hiking afterwards while others bought souvenirs and local products including scarves, bags, socks, etc. Upon returning to homebase, the group had dinner and watched a documentary on Machu Picchu and its history. Before going to bed, students have to have packed everything necessary for the hike from Friday to next Monday.

That’s all for today!

Dayanara O, Eliza R, Hannah S

6/29/2015

Hello!

One Blog to Rule Them All 7/5/15

We woke up at 7:30 and went to our last day of service at 8:30. We worked for about three hours, trying our best to lay as many bricks down as possible. Our goal was surpassed by four layers of adobe bricks! The morale was high, as we spent a half hour taking pictures while a cat in heat yowled from the rooftop of the school. We ate our last lunch and at 3:00 we visited the girls’ orphanage in Cusco. The girls were playful and enthusiastic and wanted a hug every three seconds. We played volleyball, a version of tag, the see-saw, and a game of “steal Chris and Jacob’s hats”. One particular girl was fantastic at doing hair, and another girl even proposed to Ken at the end of the visit! Saying goodbye was hard, and we departed for dinner soon after. We got dressed up to go to Don Antonio, a buffet style restaurant with music and various performances, including lighting tail feathers on fire and scaring the crap out of Tatyana and Maddy! Overall, it was a very enjoyable dinner and we all danced on stage at one point and tried guinea pig. It was a lovely GLA experience. When we got back to home base, we had a bacci bracelet “ceremony” where we would give one person in our group a bracelet for having an impact on the trip here in Peru. It was a bittersweet and emotional experience. We are all packing and preparing for bed now, and it was a wonderful last day in the GLA three week program. We will see you all very soon!

By: Ken, Dustin (in spirit), and Talia, with guest writer Maddy 😀

7/7/2015

Everyone is here and happy, eating our first meal in Amritsar! Tomorrow we venture to the golden temple and then off to Dharamshala!

Two photos: one from placement, the other from the visit to the slum

7/11/2015

7/19/2015

Namaste family, friends, and other readers!

Today we went on our second hike in the Himalayan Mountains, not too far from the first hike we went on. We split into two groups: those who wanted to go on the hike, and those who stayed at home base to dedicate their time and hard work towards an important fundraiser we have been organizing. But first, we all started our day with a good and hardy breakfast consisting of eggs, fruit, and toast to power us through our Sunday. By 10:00 we were ready for our hike and piled into two cars and drove off—which is an experience in itself on these roads. On the exciting and bumpy ride through the streets of Dharamsala, we got to see amazing views of the mountains, the many colorful rooftops from afar and below, and even an elephant which we shared the road with. One thing I’ve realized about Dharamsala is that there is never a view that isn’t amazing, especially on a clear morning like today.

We began the hike on a rocky and declined trail surrounded by tall and thin trees, which led to a beautiful stream where we stopped for snacks. Here, we loaded up on the necessities—chips, soda, and chocolate! These also served as a pre-reward for the inclined trek ahead of us. The path up the mountain consisted of steps, steps, and more steps, but the many goats, cows, dogs, and sheep that greeted us on the journey made it quite interesting, while also allowing our minds to be distracted from how tired we were. The further along we were on the hike, the thicker the fog became. People walking ahead of us became mere silhouettes, and the mountain we had been hiking became a small land floating in the clouds. Our sense of place on this mountain had diminished, considering we were unable to see ahead, behind, nor below us with the thick white fog that filled the air, so we simply followed our path to get to our destination. At the top of the mountain there was the Guna temple, which we had finally reached. There, we stood at the rail where one would gaze at the amazing view a clear day would bring, but instead, considering the circumstances, we stood staring at complete blankness. Although this wasn’t the view we were expecting, it was an amazing thing to see and experience. It looked as if we were floating in a large cloud with nothing but the Hindu temple behind us, where we sat and ate our Indian meal and drank our chai.

For those who stayed behind from the hike had put in a day of hard work toward our fundraiser for Tong Len, which is a hostel here in Dharamsala that takes kids from the slums and gives them new housing, education, and a better future. We were able to create the impactful video to promote our fundraiser and set up the GoFundMe, where you and anyone else who wants to help this cause can donate to, and completely change a kid’s life!

(http://www.gofundme.com/onepicture)

-Chloe