The Young Leader

by

PERU – Amazon Service Adventure – July 2 – July 15, 2017

July 2, 2017 by Amanda Colón, International Director

¡Bienvenidos a Iquitos! Our first group of the summer arrived today, a bit jet-lagged, but excited. After a short drive through the city, students enjoyed some Peruvian Chinese food, a culinary fusion typical to the country. Students laughed and chatted over Inca Kola before taking a stroll to the Amazon flood plain, near our hotel. Local and international staff look forward to sharing this beautiful country and culture with these amazing students!

July 3rd– by Veda Surapaneni

Our second day in Iquitos started off with a brief visit to a local museum that had once been the governers house. Half an hour later, we were walking through the Belen market, trying to take in the busy atmosphere around us. Everywhere we looked there were colours, noises, smells and street vendors shouting about their goods. The amount of variety was amazing. Just south of the market, was a poor area built on stilts on top of the river. Beneath the village, was a mass of rubbish polluting the lake, to the point where the ground and water could not be seen. This sight showed us that the locals where not aware of how to manage waste, and of the danger that the ecosystem was in.
Next up was the Manatee Rescue centre, where we saw sick and injured animals from the jungle in rehabilition. After seeing the adorable manatees, otters, osalots, monkeys and alligator babies we headed off to lunch.
In the afternoon we were given free time to do some shopping along the main boulevard. Our first full day in Iquitos was jam packed and gave us a massive insight into the local culture.

 

July 4th– by Savie

Yesterday was the first day heading to the amazon and it was riveting because we first started off the day by seeing all the various life forms around us then took a beautiful boat ride to Don’s home and our base. We swam through the estanque as well as hiked through the jungle for the first time and it was magical.

 

July 5th– by Hannah

Our first full day being on the Santa Cruz Reserve was an exiciting one. We walked and took a short boat ride to the local school. The language barrier between us and the students was tough, but we connected with them through scoccer. When we made it back to the base camp, we had our daily swim in the river to cool off from the jungle heat. We also explored new trails to prepare us for our over night hike. I am excited to see what the rest of our trip has in store for us.

 

July 6th– by Gillian

We visited the school for teacher day and some of the kids sang and danced for their teacherz. Later, we danced for them and went into a conga line. It was super fun and I was smiling the entire. It rained really hard when we were inside, so when we played soccer it was all muddy and everyone was slipping and it was super entertaining. After lunch we had some free time and chilled. Then before dinner we went on a night hike and searched for some animals. We didn’t see much, but it was super cool to walk in the jungle at night. It was a different perspective. We could see stars which was pretty awesome.

 Thursday, July 6th continued:
Update by Amanda Colon, International Director:
Today our group of adventurous students began our service work at the school. All students participated in a big celebration because it was “Teacher’s Day” at the school. The celebration at the school was well attended by students, teachers, and local community members. GLA students took the lead in teaching students and teachers the “Macarena”, while also learning traditional Amazonian dances.
We have been fortunate in that we have had the ability to do a lot of hiking these past couple days through different riverside communities, stopping along the way to speak with community members. Our group’s guide has been very good at pointing out local flora and fauna.
Back at the home base, all students are settling into their riverside “Ranchitos” and are have been able to keep high spirits despite the recent rains. One feature of the home base which all students have particularly enjoyed is the nearby lake where students have been able to swim alongside the beautiful and calm “Angel Fish”.
This group of students is certainly an adventurous group and have taken very well to their new environment. Spirits are high and we are looking forward to returning back to our service site tomorrow.
Due to low connectivity, pictures are coming later

July 7th– by Eva

Today in the Amazon jungle, we visited a man who is very important in the culture along the river. This shaman, like a medicine man, showed us how to make a potion that is known all around the world as a physical and spiritual cleanser. He showed us plants that they use in their medicines and as food. After spending the day at his house, we hiked back to home base to discuss what we had thought of the experience and played some activities that let us learn about ourselves.

July 8– by Tash

Today we hiked down to Don’s house to do reforeststion. This included filling bags with compost for seedlings, creating holes for trees, sorting out plants and plabting trees. The jobs were a lot of work but they were a fulfilling experience. After a delicious barbeque lunch we arranged into three teams. In our teams we had to make rafts using just wood and rope and race across the river and back. One team floated downstrean, another team got caught in the mangroves and completed the race after a stressful experience and the 3rd team won and was able to complete the race successfully. We left Don’s house later in the day and returned to the smell of fresh laundry at home base.

 

July 9– by Sarah

Today we headed to Don’s for reforestation to do the same things as yesterday. Then we headed back to home base for health checks and lunch. After lunch we had several hours of free time, where we played in the water and played volleyball. After cleaning ourselved up we learned about Peruvian culture from Luis and Diego, members of the local team.
July 10

Incorporating games into English lessons at a local school.

 

July 10-14

We arrived back in Iquitos yesterday after a whirlwind ten days! Santa Cruz seems far away now with all the traffic and bustle of the city.

Over the past week, we taught English in the primary and secondary schools. During recess, the little kids would spill out of their classrooms ready to play soccer with us. In the afternoons, we hiked, swam in the estanque, and played volleyball. Our local guide took us fishing one afternoon and several of us caught piranhas which we ate at dinner that night.

Before leaving Santa Cruz, we did a long hike towards the river and camped overnight in the jungle. Our cook, Felix, showed us how to prepare Juane, a rice dish wrapped in banana leaves, which we carried with us to eat in the evening. It was a beautiful and exhausting night. The next day, we returned to the school to say our goodbyes.

We can’t believe the program has come to an end. We will always remember the hikes to the river, boat trips down the Amazon, kayaking with local kids, laughing and chatting in our cabins at night, delicious Peruvian food, and the wonderful community that welcomed us so warmly.

by

PERU – Amazon Service Adventure – July 19 – August 1, 2017

Bienvenidos a Iquitos! Our group of students arrived today, a bit jet-lagged, but excited. After a necessary nap, students and staff laughed and chatted over lunch at a local bistro. We took a short stroll to the Amazon flood plain, near our hotel, before retiring for another siesta; we want our group well rested for the next couple weeks of exciting activities! Local and international staff look forward to sharing this beautiful country and culture with these amazing students!

After breakfast, our day started with a brief stroll to one of the historical European-style buildings for a tour. Then we headed down the street to the Belen Market, which was referred to as the “black market”. I doubt there were any drugs there though– just a handful of illegal animals such as cayman and tortoises used for their meat, skin, and shells.

Next we hopped on a bus to the much anticipated manatee rescue center. In addition to manatees, there were also many other exotic animals such as cappucin monkeys, sloths, and baby pythons. The day ended with lunch, some free time on the promenade, then dinner.

-Zoe

 

July 21
After packing our luggage, the group took a boat ride down the amazon river. We made a side trip fundo piedrito, consisting of scenic lookouts and playful animals. Watching the paiches splash through the water was definietly a highlight of the trip. We contunued down the river, waving at smiling families on the shore along the way. Once we arrived at Indiana the motocarros drove us across the town. With one last boat ride, we got to home base. The local youth greeted us and we had the chance to work on our Spanish, and them on their English. The hike to our tambos had the students in awe the entire way. Vivid greenery and noises accompanying the rainforest captured our attention. The day ended with us playing volleyball with the kids, exploring trails, and answering questions we pooled as a group. The personal favorite of the group was sharing what all of our best friends are like. Hearing Luis speak so kindly of his best friend Walter enlightened us all and left us with smiles on our faces.
By Madison
July 22, 2017
Today is the second day in the Amazon. After breakfast we went to a school that was built inside of the Amazon. The school is not big, there are only 6 classrooms and many students decide to stay in Iquitos after high school. There are 5 private colleges and 1 public university. After the the introduction of the Peruvian school system we went to the common room for community service. Even though we did not finsh painting the handrail, we still feel satisfied.
By Amy

 

 

July 23
We started the day with breakfast at 7:30, preparing ourselves for the following activities and meeting in the common area at 9 for the departure. Luis lead us through a new trail consisting of uphills and narrow walkways aligned with the rugged Amazonian jungle. A path that eventually opened to a medicinal farm, in which we were welcomed by the healer himself, Abram, who gave us a tour throughout the surrounding jungle, giving vocal and occasionally physical examples to the miracles of natural remedies the land offers. From cutting off a vine holding water so heavily purified, locals use it to clean their kidneys to a paste supporting a healthy prostate. Afterwards, we were introduced to a hallucinogenic root that plays a big part in the Amazons history. The process of harvesting and preparing the root in to a beverage for the ritual is simple yet time consuming and requires a vast knowledge of the tree. Ayauasca offers many unconventional, partly spiritual benefits that some travel from across the world to experience. With an exclusion to the drink itself, Abram preformed a basic practice on each of us offering healing, attraction, charm and protection dependent on what he sensed we needed.
The rest of the afternoon was our own, and we each took part in a variety of available activities, it was a somewhat lazy but thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
The same night we were given the opportunity to explore the jungle at night, spotting whatever nocturnal creatures came within sight. Besides a moth trying to tackle me, it was an incredible experience that gave me a deeper connection to the mystics of the Amazon.
By Kai
Eating sugar cane
July 24 
Today was a full day, but with much less hiking. After an amazing breakfast of french toast, we hiked out to paint more at the school. Although we didn’t finish, we got a lot done. After we went back to Don’s house to eat, followed by the raft building and race. Both rafts were crafted well and stayed together during the race, unlike the 50% of rafts that fell apart, according to Don. We then hiked back in our first rain shower. Free time consisted of reading, cards and social time. After was a dinner of chicken of and fried banana.
By Ian
July 25 
Today we returned to the local school to paint it. Some of the local kids accompanied us and together we finished all of the painting. The room will become their dining hall. While walking through the Amazon jungle we spotted some monkeys, and at the school we saw an anaconda. Later, we went fishing for piranha in the Amazon River. A few of us actually managed to catch some and we ate the biggest two for dinner.
By Max
July 26
Today we woke up an hour earlier to catch the school’s Independence Day parade. We, including Luis, participated in the march as well except we didn’t get to practice beforehand. Nonetheless, it was a great opportunity for embarrassing photos of us and cuter photos of the
pre-K chicitos in their traditional Peruvian costumes.
After trekking back to home base and having lunch, we all gave each other “colorful” tattoos with the ink from a local fruit called huito. Huito is also used by some Amazonian tribes to distinguish themselves from others. The evening ended with dinner at camp and
followed with a dance battle.
By Zoe
July 27
Today we took a day trip to Mazan. Many of us tried a variety of new foods such as dry tapioca, wild grapes and sugar cane. The owner of a local bakery allowed us to tour the room where the cookies are made! The task we had to complete while in Mazan was a scavenger hunt that required us to interact with people who live there and learn about the area. We then took a relaxing boat ride back to Don’s house to work on a reforestation project. About 40 trees were planted and 30 seeds were prepped so they can sprout. Overall the day was very fun and rewarding.
By Madi
July 28
Today we hosted a community barbeque, along with the planning beforehand and lots of rest. Collectively, we expected only a couple of people, but we recieved a pleasant surprise when a much larger crowd showed up. We spent a good amount of time doing outdoor activities with the kids, along with eating and coloring inside. After was rest and clean up, where we spent most of it talking and washing up. Today was a very socially oriented day, where we were able to build relationships with the nearby community.
By Ian
July 29
Today we had a comfortable, easy morning in preparation for the eventual night hike. Raul shared with us a short cooking demostration of traditional Amazon-Peruvian lunch packs, in which locals wrap their later meals tightly in a a leaf similiar to banana leaves (that become flexible underneath fire), a presentaion that would become our dinner for the overnight. Sharing an early lunch at 12, instead of the routine 1 PM, we took off for a slow pace hike on a new trail to the designated camping area. Once we arrived we snuggled in the big tent and traded ghost stories (if you dont believe in ghosts goodbye. Stop reading. Stop.) And went to bed semi early in a fit of exhaustion, voluntarily accepting the future back problems in light of friendship and experience. We left at like 630 the next morning. V cool.
By Kai
July 30 
Today is the last day in the Amazon. This trip has changed me a lot. I remember when I was in the airport I cried because I didn’t want to come to peru, however, I am really thankful to the people around me for changing my perspective on this trip.
By Amy
July 31st
We started the day with a 6:30 am hike to the river, where students were greeted by local kids waiting to say their final goodbyes. Students enjoyed the last boat ride on the river, the last mototaxi ride. We made a quick stop at Isla de Los Monos, playing with some rehabilitated wooly monkeys. A trip to an artisan market was followed by our final goodbye dinner. What an action-packed day in Iquitos to close up our time together!
Staff wants to thank this wonderful group for all they shared with us and the local community. We will miss Ian’s sense of humor; Max’s dancing; Amy’s curiosity; Zoe’s kindness; Kai’s compassion and Madi’s sweetness. We wish you all the best on your journeys. Hasta luego!
By Staff

by

INDIA – Service Through The Lens – July 14 – July 27, 2017

July 14, 2017

Namaste!
The group has arrived safe and sound in Delhi! We briefly rested, had breakfast and kept the adventure going by hopping on another flight to Amritsar. From here we drove to home base, stopping for some great Indian food along the way. Everyone is kind and positive despite the looming jet lag. We are all ready to start our service and learning about the power of photojournalism.

Stay tuned to more blog posts from the students!

Warmly,
Laura
International Director

 

July 15, 2017

Today was our first day doing service, as we split into 4 groups, 3 at a daycare and 1 at a sports camp, we got to fully experience a typical Indian morning with toddlers for the first time! At the sports camp, we played a variety of games such as cricket and soccer but we also held an arts and crafts activity for the younger children.

At the Anganwadi, we started the day with a couple of games, Duck duck goose and Sardina (an Italian song). We then started teaching the kids how to count and the letters of the alphabet, some were more advanced than others so we split them into two groups; the ones that knew how to count up to 10 and the ones who didn’t know how to count. By the end of the day, all the kids knew how to count up to 10 and some even learned how to write.
In the afternoon we passed by the market where we were immersed in its liveliness, nothing like what we are used to back at home!
 

 

July 16, 2017

Our day started after breakfast with a “camera basics” class. We learned some of the essential photography skills and how to implement them into our own picture taking. After receiving our photo assignments for the day, we headed up the mountain to St. John’s Church.

The church was set in a forest, where the morning fog added to the beauty of the architecture and lush greenery. We had lots of time to explore the grounds, take pictures, and hang out in the gazebo, where we spent time getting to know one another better. The fog cleared and we had a beautiful, sunny drive back down the mountain to home base. Upon returning, we had lunch and then gathered for our first Hindi class.
We were taught many common Hindi words and phrases by our local directors, including numbers, colors, names and questions. This knowledge will come in very handy when it is necessary to communicate with the locals. After class, we headed down the mountain to the market.
After exploring the market, we went to a local fabric store where each of us was able to pick out our own fabric. Then, we headed to a tailor who measured each of us. We are getting traditional Indian clothing made!
After everyone got measured, we made our way back up the mountain to home base where dinner was waiting for us. Following dinner, we called it a night after a long day in India.

 

July 18, 2017

After breakfast we headed to our Anganwadi assignments. Then, after working with the children and eating lunch we left for a Hindi Temple to hear about their beliefs and be blessed. We heard about the basics of Hinduism from one of our mentors, Priyanka, and were allowed to explore the temple and nearby waterfall for a few minutes while we photographed them.

 

 

Wednesday, July 19th, was full of photography, service, and some surprises. We loaded up on the french toast that were drenched in “American Style” syrup and started our day with service. The Anganwadi groups taught lessons from the alphabet to basic math to animals and everything in between. Meanwhile, the Sports Camp leaders played got muddy with soccer and cricket. Afterwards, lunch was served and it had a little more variety. There were spring rolls and fried potatoes, probably the closest thing we will get to french fries until we reach home but we will take what we can get. After, we got to learn the basics of setting up an interview and then conducting it. We were able to test out the mic and composition of interviewing on ourselves. We also learned about the three portrait lighting rules: Rembrandt, Butterfly, and Side. There unfortunately was not a lot light to work with because of the moody Monsoon season but there will be other chances to use our new knowledge. Next was dinner which was white rice and beans but for the sick people there was the comforting food of buttered noodles. We then split into our mentor groups and at the end, the staff surprised us with ice cream floats! Everyone ate the cold dessert quickly and quietly and we were satisfied until the last scope. Wednesday was a day full of fun and we are excited for more!

– Danielle and Clair

 

July 21, 2017

Today was a relaxed day for many of us and it was finally LAUNDRY DAY! In the morning we went to the Anganwadi’s (daycare) and some went off to sports camp. Towards the time of the day everyone starts walking back it started pouring and one by one everyone came back soaked and saying they had just been in a waterfall. After everyone drying off and lunch some watched two amazing TED talks and the others went off to interview people who are a part of Gaddi culture for our capstone projects. The group that went to do interviews was able to see authentic village homes and learn about Indian weddings and their way of life. At dinner everyone was supper happy as we had pasta, enchiladas, and ice cream!

Emily

 

by

INDIA – Service Through The Lens – June 20 – July 10, 2017

After a long flight, the students have arrived in India! I am already amazed by their resilience and enthusiasm. We stayed briefly and Delhi andWe took a flight to Amritsar. the group met with Rohit and Rahul, the incredible photographers coordinating the photojournalism curriculum. We stayed in a unique guest house that used to be military barracks, then had an early morning tour of the Golden Temple where students learned about Sikhism and culture. The students took pictures following the Rule of Thirds, and will be analyzing their work tomorrow.
Today we are heading to the home base in Dharamsala. I can’t wait for the rest of the program- this group is truly awesome and I can’t wait to see how they make this program truly their own.
Stay tuned for more blog posts from the students!

Warmly,
Laura, International Director

June 22, 2017

A byproduct of both jet​lag and enthusiasm, Thursday began as early as 4:55 AM for some brave souls who chose to watch the sunrise from home base’s rooftop. For the first full day after what seemed like eons of traveling, friendships had already begun to form and everyone was enthusiastic to get into the city of Dharamsala. In beginning our photography curriculum, we learnt the rudimentary skills required to finally switch the camera to manual mode as well. For some, photography seemed to come naturally (or from years of practice), while for many of us it was a steep learning curve away from the iPhone. In the afternoon, we became accustomed to both the busy market streets via a scavenger hunt of sorts, as well as the utter fearlessness of drivers. Everyone returned in the evening understandably tired, yet excited for the weeks to come.

June 25, 2017

The perpetual honking of a car horn. That would be the main sound that fills the humid Indian air. Just like any country, industrialization has slowly engulfed the cultural traditions that once permeated throughout the physical and spiritual landscape of India. There is asylum, however, in the Hindu temples that continue to preserve sanctity, purity, and connection to the primal sense of true humanity. Inside the Hindu temple that celebrated Vishnu, walked the Babajii; men with long entangled dreads that fell along their backs and chests. Their robes fell loosely around their appendages, granting them the freedom to move swiftly and lightly. As I walked, I tried to replicate the softness of their footsteps, looking to keep the serenity and harmony of the temple. The main spiritual calling of the temple was the eternal flame. A conflagration that has stayed alight for five hundred years, fueled by the unwavering dedication of the Babajii. The Babajii were a generational being, a relic from the past that continued to sustain a bright future. Walking further there was a river that symbolized the holy spirit of Vishnu, a raging blessing that secured passage to spiritual connection. The river retained a divine atmosphere, an entitlement to cleanliness that replicates the providence of Vishnu and offers decontamination to those who wake in its water. My feet were my medium to spirituality. They were my stability as well as a gateway to the ancient holiness of the relics and natural phenomena. I slowly walked into the raging water, trying to engage in the spirituality that the native Indians had practiced relentlessly to obtain. The waters lacked any direct connection to the eternal flame, aside from both containing the admiration and divinity that the Hindi worshiped, as well as being in the caring hands of the Babajii. Despite the non-existent connection of the two that would be solidified by the ancient Hindi texts, the raging waters seemed warm. As if the heat and luminance of the eternal flame mitigated the cold and raging complexion of the river.

A day in India

Leader of the day: Corrina Lewis
Song of the day: Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
5:45 A.M. Wake up call for sunrise
Alarm song: It’s Tricky- Run DMC
Sunrise summoned by sun salutations with my lovely group of four led by Laura.
6:30 A.M. Breakfast: oatmeal, cut up fresh fruit, fried egg with hot sauce and crushed tomato
Breakfast tunage: Monsoon Madness
7:30 A.M. Departure. The weak are left behind.
Skip ahead: I’m sitting on the edge of a forest with a view of a small town on my left. My eyes wander along the mist covering the mountain side, despite the damp heat surrounding. This is the most silence experienced since my layover in Shanghai. No honking, no angry covering, no loud music over the mountain side, we even find it hard to muster words. We only run into one other traveler along the way, quite a rarity here. The world know photographer/ coffee shop owner has us continue on, taking close ups of a variety of flora while bewaring the leeches. He has two companions. One, Simon, the other I don’t recall but I call him Garfunkle. Although they carry the title “Guide”, the real guide strides ahead on his four paws confidently claiming us as his, only stopping to mark the path from time to time or, once, to take a drink. We continue on for a while before we fall into rhythm with each other, taking less and less breaks, and falling more and more under the silent spell of the mountain. 3.1 miles later we emerge on the other side of the mountain t a rest stop. The car ride to homebase consists of deep conversations before sleep.
1:00 P.M. Lunch is vegan. Nut burger patties, garbonzo salad, and a few leaves and bean sprouts also titles salad.
1:30 P.M. Naptime
5:30 P.M. Some game involving blind folds that started up the monsoon again.
6:00 P.M. Ted Talks
7:00 P.M. Dinner: Rice, Potato Curry, some kind of cheese balls with sauce, naan
The rest of the night we bond together over music and videos, sharing each others interests. We dance, laugh, and sing into the night. I end my night with two people I never knew I could grow so close with in two weeks time. Sitting in woven chairs and listening to the sounds of our new town, Dharamsala and the sights of the upward fade of light into the Himalayas.

Photo by Rylan Martinez
Corrina and Cow

June 29, 2017

My fellow GLA students and I awoke to peaceful rain and a perfect temperature of seventy degrees. As our capstone project approaches its deadline, we began to discuss game plans and ideas for our soon to be masterpieces. Our late morning activities consisted of our visit to the daycare, where we practiced patience while getting in a challenging workout.

At lunchtime we played intense card games and continued to outline the elements in our assignment. The group work transitioned into the afternoon, and we ended the evening with a documentary, dinner, and mentor groups.

Throughout my time here I have had the song “Imagine” by John Lennon playing in my head on repeat. Everyday I spend here in my temporary home, I relate to each song lyric and a feeling of humbleness and gratitude spend here in my temporary home I relate to each song lyric and a feeling of humbleness and gratitude washes over me.

“Imagine there’s no heaven

It’s easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today.”

Although we are exploring a country that holds some of the most religious practices I have ever seen, I have also witnessed a few native people who live and make choices without consideration nor fear. At the daycare, we arrived the scene with shy and respectful pupils. However, they quickly opened up, allowing themselves to act like children. As they stole our phones and cameras and laughed uncontrollably whenever we did something embarrassing, the beauty of not caring about the next moment, day, or week shined through their eyes. Their curiosity, innocence, and intelligence taught me more than any classroom could.

“Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world.”

Coming from a country where self esteem is often built on possessions, I had the opportunity to soften my greedy heart when I went to a local market. Macy and I were searching for souvenirs when we made conversation with the store owner. We discussed American politics, the Indian education system, and the cause of this town’s corruption. After our knowledge-filled discussion, I presented the items I wanted to purchase. To my surprise, the man shook his head and said “Take it.” I insisted that he should take my money, since I was trying to support his business. He responded, “You paid me by speaking to me, we are blessed to have you staying here.” My heart sunk. I gave him a hug and requested to take a picture of him and his brother. I will never forget this man. A man who has close to nothing but is willing to give anything.

“You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope one day you’ll join us

And the world will be as one.”

My most treasured discovery of this trip has been the connections I’ve made with my fellow travelers. Never have I felt more understood by so many people. Every student here has so much in common. The most important similarity is our passion. We are all ready and eager to lead our generation to a more equal world. As the self-driven, supportive GLA India group furthers the journey in India, we will continue to become masters of photography, fluent journalists, and brothers and sisters. But most of all we are dreamers, hoping to better the world one step at a time.

Lacey

 

Saturday, July 1st
We started off the morning with our usual 8am breakfast, however, some came down feeling better than others due to the endless barking of a certain pup which filled the previous night. After breakfast, each capstone group gathered and allocated their time in a way of their choice. This could have been anything from interviewing locals to editing video clips to writing and photographing aspects of a culture. A little before lunch, we came together on the roof to get a quick lesson from Raoul and Rajit about portrait photography lighting. We then had some more free time to practice the lighting skills we had just learned, and reconvened for lunch around 1pm. An hour after lunch, we gathered our things and drove about 15 minutes up the mountain to the village of McCloud Ganj, where we were given 3 hours to spend as we chose. We strolled the streets, filling our time with lots of browsing, the occasional spending, and some quality food (the best chocolate cake and iced mocha I’ve ever had.) 3 hours and 20 fatigued kids later, we head back to the cabs and drove down the mountain to return to home base. After a little but of time to figure out and show off what all had been bought in the previous hours, we were treated to an early dinner of pizza!!!! After dinner we gathered around the screen to watch Chimamanda Adichie’s TED talk The Danger of a Single Story. The video was followed by meeting with mentor groups, in which we discussed what we would take with us after returning home, and how we would adjust back to life in the US.

 

July 4, 2017

Today the group spent all of our time exploring Priyanka’s (GLA staff member) family farm. Whether it was picking mangoes and Jamun straight from the trees or helping out in the rice fields learning about the growing process, we were all fully immersed in the agricultural life of a local farm in the mountains of India. During our time at the farm, we were split into groups of 4 or 5 and asked to photograph different aspects of life on the property as it pertained to our group’s assignment. Through this we were able to converse with elders and gain insight into their perspectives on culture and tradition. Additionally we got the opportunity to watch chai tea be made from scratch and see traditional meals being cooked. A part of this process involved eating a delicious meal made by the family members who owned the farm. To wrap up the day, we were given a final tour of the farm and all the fresh produce grown on its property. Afterwards we said our goodbyes and headed back to home base for a final evening meal before ending that day’s festivities.

-Nikita
The group getting a taste of S’Mores….. Indian style!

The group planting rice near the farm

 

July 5, 2017

We began our day with the usual amazing breakfast and afterwards spent the morning working on our Capstone projects. Everyone is either nearly done or making great progress on the educational and fun presentations which allow us to immerse ourselves more into the culture’s past and present. Afterwards, we received our beautiful specially tailored traditional Saris that everyone was ecstatic to put on and show off. After lunch we all quickly got ready to go to the Dalai Lama’s temple in McLeod Ganj where one of our leaders, Priyanka, gave us a tour. She explained the traditions and history of the temple and the significance of each intricate aspect and shrine. Being in such a sacred and beautiful place was surreal and an amazing honor. Then we spent a few hours shopping in the market and practicing our bargaining skills while trying to find the perfect gifts for ourselves and loved ones. We went out to dinner at a Tibetan restaurant and loved every bite. When we got home we played games and enjoyed Coca-Cola and Fanta ice cream floats(because apparently root beer doesn’t exist in India) to celebrate the Fourth of July in our own way. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

-Nina

6 July 2017 : INDIA FUN DAY 

Leader: Sofiarose Mineghino
Song of the day: Angel by Shaggy
       Three weeks. Three weeks to immerse ourselves in a culture so diverse, even the locals still haven’t quite grasped it. The Himalayan mountains have served as our neighbors an the dogs and cows, our friends. As a group, we’re currently facing the realization that the end date, (that has slowly been creeping up behind us) is getting closer and closer; not even being able to fathom the thought that we may not be ready to leave quite yet.
Don’t get me wrong, we’re most definitely still enjoying the few days we have left:
Losses thus far:
  -Patagonia Sweatshirt
  – Invisalign
  -A beautifully bruised kankle
Gains from the losses:
  – the hope that someone who needs it more has found a Patagonia sweatshirt
 -The practice of learning to be more responsible… I’m trying to prove that I’m good at adulting !!
-my blood fed an insect
Breakdown of the day:
      The usual morning chirp of a bird at the early hour of 6 am wakes the majority of the girls rooms up.
8 am: (the scheduled start of our day) marks the time for breakfast.
Next: Capstones. All. Morning.
      The intense work period ends with lunch at 1 pm and now it’s time for the “fun” part of “India Fun Day.”
2pm: Henna party and fashion show preparations
5: Fashion show on the roof to show each individuals take on a traditional sari.
6: A failed attempt of a silent disco but a well deserved dance party.
7: A rain storm greets us with the beginning of our Bollywood dance class.
8: Dinner (with ice cream floats I might add)!!
9: Bedtime
The night ends earlier for those who danced too hard or are far too sick. The rest join quietly on the roof for a casual DMC (deep meaningful conversations) accompanied by the mountains, the stars, and discoveries of new music.

by

GUATEMALA – Children of the Maya – July 22 – August 4, 2017

July 22 and 23 

 

Guat’s up friends and family? All but one of the girls have arrived safely and are at home base here in Quetzaltenango. Alexis will be joining us in the morning. Yesterday, our students trickled into Guatemala in multiple waves. The flights from the west coast landed bright and early at five in the morning. The majority of girls arrived midday, but some were landing as late as 10:00 p.m. Today, we had breakfast with a view on the roof of our hotel in Antigua. Our accommodations, courtesy of La Quinta Santa Lucia Hotel, were beautiful! The rooms bordered a gorgeous courtyard and had lots of character. We left after breakfast and drove to a local shop where the girls and mentors learned about the Mayan culture through a weaving workshop and wedding reenactment. Not only did we learn about the customs and clothing of the Mayan people, but also about how they are diligently working to preserve their culture, which is currently threatened by the more efficient technologies of large manufacturers. We then drove an hour to a beautiful restaurant in the countryside where we enjoyed a delicious lunch of either chicken, beef, or a veggie kabob. Next, we hopped back in the vans and drove 30 minutes to the ancient Mayan ruins of the town of Iximche. We continued to learn about aspects of the Mayan culture and also found out that the Spaniards could not pronounce Iximche, or Cuauhtemallan, so simply called the city Guatemala, which became the country’s namesake. After the ruins, we proceeded on our route to Quetzaltenango. During the next two and a half hours, we zigzagged through the mountains. Urban areas turned to farms and lush forests, but the number of stray dogs roaming the streets did not change, and they continued to pull at our heart strings. As we ascended even higher into the mountains, we literally drove through the clouds. Finally, we reached home base, where we had orientation and received room assignments. Our service at the school begins tomorrow, and we are all very excited to meet the students and to continue getting to know each other. Even though it’s only our first full day here, we are already very close and having a blast! We are in such disbelief that we are finally here that we keep asking ourselves, “A-mayan Guatemala for real right now?” Stay tuned for more updates to come! 

Caroline Foshee and Jordan Remillard

 

July 24, 2017

 

Hola everybody! Today was our first full day at home base. We woke up ecstatic to get to the school and meet all of the friendly Guatemalan kids. We piled into the van and took a short drive to the school and were immediately greeted by over 500 smiling colorful children all with interesting stories and personalities. After a tour of the school by one of the teachers at the school we could not be more excited to contribute and add more to all that GLA has done for this community. It was amazing to see how school life is like for these kids compared to our daily lifestyles and how little they have yet how happy they are. We learned about the 3 different service projects we will be working on at the school during our stay in Guatemala. The first project is a mural that we will be working on and finishing to help improve the students addition, multiplication and division skills. We are also working on finishing a classroom that the previous sessions began by smoothing the walls and plastering. The final project is teaching the 5th and 6th graders english and helping them to improve their skills. This is a lot harder than it sounds but we have been working together to develop lesson plans and games that will keep the students entertained. Recess was probably the best part of the day where we had kids begging for piggyback rides and teaching us their games that they love to play. They were so friendly and happy to be playing with us and we all could not get enough of the them. We left to head back to home base for lunch and were so excited to go to our next adventure! After our feast of food that everyone inhaled, we then got into the vans to head towards a tour of a church. After singing and jamming out in the vans for 40 minutes, we arrived at this eye brightening church! It was more colorful than anyone could imagine. Reds, yellows, blues, greens, and whites. The church portrayed symbolism of their culture. We then hiked up the steep streets and made our way to see extremely beautiful views of the mountains at the high elevations. After snapping photos of everyone at the beautiful views, we made our way back down and stopped to see a traditional dance of a guy acting like a monkey.  Then, we went to visit a lady who makes traditional patterns that take around six months to make.  We got to see her live in action and then a couple of girls got to try on the traditional outfit as well. We then made our way to a house that we received homemade hot chocolate that is made in this town and also a traditional bread that was both delicious! The hot chocolate was different from the hot chocolate that we are used to, but was awesome too! Trying not to slip down the steep streets, we finally made our way back to the vans and headed to the home base.  30 girls squeezed on a couch but surprisingly it worked and was super comfy! We watched a TED talk which was about we appropriate cultures from different countries.  After discussing what we wrote on flashcards about three things that we thought represents the United States and Guatemala. It was extremely interesting to see how everyone thought our where they live compared to where we are visiting now. We headed to dinner and then after showers and hanging around, the people who had to teach the next day needed to plan their lessons. Since we were divided into groups for service, the three groups planned their lessons while others watched Grownups on the couch.  As everyone went their separate ways to their rooms, we settled down ready to wake up for a new adventure in Guatemala tomorrow!

 

July 25, 2017

By: Charlotte Howard and Ellianna Bryan  

Today was the second day of service and we started the day off splitting up into our groups to teach, construct and paint. The teaching groups headed into their classrooms introducing themselves and began teaching things like “I like..” and “I do not like..“. It was more challenging than we all expected and even though we felt super prepared with lessons it was difficult to maintain the students‘ attention but once we got the hang of it we really felt like they were learning. The best feeling was when the students were able to answer our questions in English and show they were understanding. After the lesson it was recess and we spent another hour playing games with the kids. The construction groups plastered the walls and continued working on the classroom, while the painting group worked on painting multiplication tables on stairs. We headed back to home base to get ready for an exciting afternoon of chocolate and salsa dancing.  As we arrived to the chocolate workshop, we were all seated in a large room and row by row, we went up to get our choice of fruit with the homemade chocolate. After our faces were covered, we went outside to see and understand how the chocolate is made. We then received hot chocolate and before taking the first sip, we made a wish and then drank the warm mug of hot chocolate! As everyone jammed into the chocolate shop, bars after bars were purchased. We headed out and made our way to learn the traditional salsa dance. After sweating and laughing immensely, we all were wiped. We came back to the home base and all squished into the living room to listen to a veteran from Guatemala speak. After listening to his astonishing story about his war experiences, we all ate and then the groups for teaching tomorrow planned their lessons! Extremely tired and wiped out, we all crashed and were ready for the hot springs and another day with endless smiles! 

 

June 26

Howdy yall! It’s May and Brianna from Houston, TX reporting live from Guatemala! This morning we woke up and ate some delicious pancakes and then headed to the school. The GLA student teachers taught the children family words and school subjects in English. Girls in construction plastered walls for the storage room. Painting people finished painting times table onto the stairs. After lots of playing with the kids, we headed back to home base and ate delicious beef, mashed potatoes, and cucumbers! Soon we took an hour drive into the mountain where we swam in the Hot Springs! The scenic route was breathtaking. No picture could do it justice. We were literally in the clouds! When swimming in the Hot Springs, the sulfur in the water made our skin very soft. It was a good time to relax from our previous very busy days. Finally and most importantly, our best part of the day was going to WALMART!! Wise GLA students decided to splurge their parents’ money on light-up blue-tooth fidget spinners and live turtles. PSA: be prepared parents when your child returns. But obviously, every student bought way too much junk food (if that is even possible). We ended the day at home base reflecting upon an anthropology article describing Americans in a different perspective, reminding us to not be close-minded and listens to everyone’s stories. This is your favorite bloggers signing out.  

Gracias por tu attencion!!  

Brianna Barrow and May Koby

Thursday, July 27

Hey everybody! Its Anna Conneely and Ellie Bryan checking in from Guatemala! Today was a day full of car rides and big spending. We woke up to a classic American breakfast, the first one we’ve had so far. We climbed into our vans and drove off towards Chichicastenango, the biggest market in the southern hemisphere. We jammed out to some throwback songs for a couple hours in between falling asleep on top of each other. Finally we arrived and unloaded from our van and were allowed to wander around the market for a couple hours. We were amazed at all the colorful souvenirs and brushed up on our bargaining and Spanish skills. Everyone bought lots of sweatshirts and gifts for home (so get ready parents)! After a couple of hours in the market, we had lunch at an adorable hotel in the middle of the city, filled with parrots and other crazy birds. Then we drove another hour to Panajachel, a lakeside market town. We got another few hours to wander. Some of us caught up with friends from home in the internet cafe, shopped for more gifts, sat by the lake watching the sunset, or got henna tattoos (they’re temporary!!!). We then settled into our gorgeous lakeside hotel where we roomed with some friends that we’ve made so far. We hung out in our rooms getting even closer and laughing our butts off through the night. See ya next time!!! Xoxoxo

-Anna and Ellie

 

 

Friday, July 28

Hi guys!!! We’re back! It’s Anna from Chicago and Ellie from NYC!! We spent the night at the hotel by the lake and woke up to the sound of birds and chickens outside our window and the sun above the lake. We got a nice surprise of breakfast at 8 rather than 7:30! Then after a breakfast of PLANTAINS outside in the hotel garden, we headed down to the docks to board the boats for a ride to San Jose, a town across the lake. There we got lots of time to wander around the streets and EVEN MORE MARKETS! We got frappuccinos at a local cafe and waited to board the boats again. We bargained some more and looked at pretty paintings of Guatemala along with other bracelets and souvenirs. The boat ride back was a little bumpier than the way there but still just as amazing of a view. When we safely arrived back at the hotel we had some free time to relax in our rooms and pack up for the drive back to Home Base. During the drive back we went through the clouds after a rain storm and everybody was falling asleep. Once arriving at Home Base we all hung out and had free time until dinner time, during which we celebrated Ellie’s birthday with a piñata & cake! Afterwards Orlando started a dance party and a couple of us got super hyped up. Nicole and Ana, our mentors, were singing along and laughing at our silly dance moves and how we knew every word to every song. They also said we were the most entertaining and the best session yet, obvi 😉 After our dance party, we headed to bed tired and excited for everything in store tomorrow, including zip lining!!!!!!! We’re having the best time and already so sad that we only have 6 more days here in Guatemala. See ya next time!!! Xoxoxo

-Anna and Ellie

Saturday July 29 

By Caroline Foshee and Lydia Bailey 

Hey everyone! We’re still here in Guatemala. To begin this eighth day on foreign soil, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of French toast, fruit, and bread. It was refreshing to have a meal at home base after a night away. After breakfast, we hopped in the vans for an hour drive to the ziplining course. There, we partook in a series of ziplines cascading down the mountains. But first, we had to take a bumpy truck ride through the woods. Once we were all harnessed up, we went down the nine different ziplines one by one, stopping along the way to let everyone catch up. After that fun adventure, we drove back to home base where we ate a lunch of steak and veggies. Once the rain cleared, we went to the school and broke into groups to paint and construct. It was weird being at the school without any kids there. However, it gave us time to work without distraction. The constructors continued to cement the walls in a classroom, while the painters worked more on the times tables painting on the school’s stairs. Both of us, in addition to Gray, Juli and Kristin began a mural, which is turning out beautifully! What was once an orange wall is now a budding masterpiece. Upon returning to home base, we had an ex-guerilla speak to us about the Guatemalan civil conflict. This presentation was truly touching, and it was fascinating to compare the speaker from earlier this week to tonight’s speaker. Then, we ate dinner, which was tamales. After dinner a few of us watched a movie before going to bed.

July 30, 2017 

By Caroline Foshee and Aeryn Massenza 

Have you ever hiked a volcano and gone to a Guatemalan circus in the same day? Because we have! After breakfast, we left for the hike up Chicabal volcano. The drive in the vans was about 40 minutes, but once we arrived, we piled into all–terrain pick–up trucks that had seating in the truck bed. The trucks carried us over hilly, dirt roads to the trailhead. Then, we began our hour-long trek up the steep and slippery paths to the top of the volcano (don’t worry- it’s dormant). The trip was hard, as the air got thinner with every step. Finally, we reached the lookout point, where we had an eagle eye’s view of both the sacred lake and the surrounding area. Then, we climbed down hundreds of stairs to reach the lake’s edge. Being at the lake felt like being in a different realm. Clouds and fog scraped the water’s surface, blurring the lines between earth and sky. At the lake, we had a snack to replenish our energy and participated in a sacred Mayan ritual ceremony. The ceremony involved the burning of fruits and sugar, throwing of candles into the flames, the making of wishes, and a prayer in a native Mayan language. After the ceremony, we headed back for the trailhead. On the way back, a dog followed us down the mountain. The dog belonged to the man who led the ceremony. Finally, we returned to the bottom and headed back to home base. For lunch, we ate Domino’s pizza and breadsticks, which have never tasted so good. We had some free time after lunch, then we went to Walmart for even more snacks. From Walmart, we went to Internacional Circo de la Luz (aka the circus). What originally appeared as a haphazard spectacle in a small tent, it was actually very entertaining. The clowns made us laugh, despite our lack of fluency, and other acts kept us on our toes. There were acrobats, tightrope walkers, dancers, jugglers, fire spinners, and other talented performers. During one of the acts, Anna was whisked onto stage by a German man playing a cannibalistic animal. After the circus, we came home to a dinner of baked potatoes and veggies. Then, some of us planned lessons for school tomorrow while some of us played cards or just hung out. We went to bed easily, after such a fun, but exhausting day.

July 31, 2017

The Chicago and New York ladies coming at you live all the way from Xela Guatemala! Today was another day at the school where we all helped out in different ways.  Some of us plastered, some painted steps and mural, and some taught. Everybody had an awesome time with the kids at recess (as always) and it was an awesome way to take a break from all of our work. The highlight of today’s recess was that someone brought about 800 stickers, and the kids could not have been more thrilled! Faces, hands, and clothes were covered in stickers by the end.  As we resumed our work, Anna and Charlotte (authors of this blog obvi) ended up plastering a total of two whole walls. That may not seem like a lot, but trust us it was, you all should be proud.  We suffered through blisters and were covered from head to toe with plaster by the end. We went home for lunch and after a couple hours of resting, we went out to a local coffee shop to hear the ideas of a man who had lived in both America and Guatemala. The shop was a non-profit organization and part time art gallery. The speaker opened all of our eyes to how one can be wealthy with money but poor in relationships. Everyone left the talk with something new to think about. We stopped at a bakery on the way home, and it was a riot. Everyone was grabbing donuts, muffins, and pastries, all courtesy of Brian. After we got home, we all hung out, played cards, and crashed. “Boy were we exhausted” -Charlotte. Overall, it was another amazing day in Xela where we all learned so much and got to experience an amazing culture! XOXO Anna and Charlotte 😉

August 1st and 2nd blog by Olivia Ketcham and Ava Green. 

Hello parents and others! Yesterday started at home base, with a delicious breakfast that we didn’t make it to, because we slept in, but others said it was great! After that, it was back to the school where we made our finishing touches on the cementing, painting, and teaching. Back at home base, lunch was later served, and then to the Marimba work shop we went! There, we listened and participated in the beauty of the art. Later, we reflected on our days, and discussed. Dinner was made and later there was some well-deserved free time. Personally, we watched movies, played board games, made brownies, and had conversations with Brian (the counselor). Finally, it was time to go to sleep, and we went to sleep. The next day, again we slept late and ate dry cereal on the way to the school (but again, others said it was great) and finalized GLA’s hard work this past summer. After the students and faculty presented us with gifts and did dances, they thanked us and we thanked them as well. Okay continuing on, after the school we had lunch and later went to the weaver’s house, where we learned how the threads are made, and some bought more bajas, blankets, and scarves. We also got to eat and make delicious tortillas. Then we had dinner and another discussion, but this time about our experience overall, and what we’re going to take away from it. The reflection challenged us to think in different ways and incorporate multiple perspectives while exploring and learning about this beautiful country. Currently, we are watching movies, packing, and making brownies. Everyone is sad to go home, but the journey was amazing and the memories and friendships we’ve created over the past two weeks are irreplaceable.  

Here’s some other beautiful photos from our time in Guatemala. Enjoy!

Processed with VSCO with a4 preset

Brought to you by