Once In A Lifetime

What’s your idea of paradise? For most of us, we don’t have to think much further than Bali. A province of Indonesia known as the “Island of the Gods,” Bali is an incredible island nation where culture, spirituality, art and natural beauty intersect. With so many amazing qualities, it isn’t hard to see why the people of Bali are eager to share their warm and vibrant local culture with the world- and it is completely logical that this island haven is one of the most peaceful destinations on Earth.

Visiting a place like Bali is an opportunity that doesn’t present itself everyday- it’s more likely a “once in a lifetime” type of trip. So it makes sense that when the time does arrive, you should try to soak up as much of the sun, sand, and scenic landmarks as humanly possible.

That’s exactly what 17 teenage students are doing with the Global Leadership Adventures “Empowering Island Communities” Service Learning Program this summer! From July 3^rd to July 23^rd, they’ll be in Bali, diving into the culture and connecting with students at a local elementary school, all the while immersing themselves in a community that is worlds away from their hometowns.

Pack It In!

Here’s what Erin B. (Latham, NY) and Jessica M. (New York, NY) had to say about their first few days in Bali!

July 5^th, 2013:  To start off our first full day in Bali, we went on a scavenger hunt around Ubud (climbing trees for coconuts, getting pick-pocketed by monkeys, and asking locals about the Balinese organic movement). It was very exciting. Later in the evening, we had a home cooked meal at our Madra Homestay…

July 6^th, 2013: This morning, we woke up early to the sound of roosters and dressed in our new sarongs for the first time! We made our way to the early local market, where many of us bought exotic fruits and breakfast foods, and I bought way too much saffron. Then, we stopped at rice paddies on our way to the temple we visited. After the temple, we had a wonderful lunch at a buffet that overlooks Lake and Mount Batur. It was incredibly beautiful and the perfect start to our adventure in Bali…

July 7^th, 2013: What a spectacular day! Our group learned so much about the Balinese culture and we were able to experience it firsthand! We went to a Banjar workshop where we learned traditional Balinese dance, played traditional instruments, learned how to make offerings (which is surprisingly very difficult), and even did some woodcarving! In the evening, we met the Prince of Peliatan! He gave us a personal tour of his palace, followed by a delicious dinner. To end the evening the group witnessed a traditional Balinese dance known as Legong….

Clearly, these teenagers are embracing as much of this brand-new culture they can manage, and they are doing so in one of the most picturesque getaways on Earth. Not a bad use for a summer vacation, right?

Learn more about the “Island of the Gods” or explore options for traveling to Bali in Summer 2014 by scheduling an appointment with one of our enrollment advisors today.

Costa Rica is known for it’s pristine beaches and untouched rainforests. In fact, almost 25% of the land is made up of national parks and protected areas!

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Touching Down in Thailand

Anyone who has traveled to Thailand will tell you that there are countless ways to spend your days there, whether it is culture or adventure that you crave! In a country that is known for its beaches, night marketplaces, and lush rainforests, it can be difficult to pick only a few activities, and the itineraries of visitors to this corner of the world fill up quickly. Fortunately, the students that are currently in Chiang Mai, Thailand with GLA’s “Cultural Kaleidoscope” Service Learning Program have plenty of time to soak in all of the life that this colorful nation has to offer, and they haven’t wasted a second of it!

In the 9 days since they have arrived in Thailand, this group of adventurous teenager volunteers have already learned to cook traditional Thai cuisine, visited an elephant conservation camp, trained with champion Muay Thai boxers, bartered at street markets, and visited the peak of the tallest mountain in Thailand! They’ve also made a tremendous impact on several non-profit organizations in Chiang Mai through their volunteer work, including a home for single mothers and an orphanage for those affected and infected with HIV.

Our GLA students also had the opportunity to soar through a rainforest canopy when the group added zip lining to their quickly growing list of adventures. Using technologies that originated in Asia when Chinese farmers used zip lines to cross rivers in lieu of building bridges, these thrill-seekers had the chance to see a whole new Thailand- one from hundreds of feet in the air!

Zoom Zoom!

“Today we woke up later than usual- a chance to sleep in and catch up on our rest! We headed down to the zip line course and set off for the mountain. We split into groups, but as Leaders of the Day we decided to play a trick on our fellow peers by dividing them again from the group they split themselves into. The point of this was to encourage the students to work in new groups. We all got our harnesses on, and we rode in vans to the starting point. The first group started and we each took turns flying down the lines. Some were short, and others were very long. The longest line was around 800 meters! One of the coolest lines was called the “Superman” because the instructor attached you from behind and you had to jump off the platform and soar like Superman! It was so much fun, and the views of Thailand’s rainforest were beautiful. Everyone was famished by the time we finished, so we sat down and stuffed our faces with food! There was a Thai band playing in the background, and the overall effect was quite soothing. After picking up some delicious Thai ice cream, we rallied and went on a hike through the mountains! It was a tough climb, but the view at the top was really pretty. Once we finished the hike, it was time to go back to our Home Base for some dinner. This was the best dinner we’ve had- Pad Thai, some strange shrimp doughnut things and apple pie! Afterwards, we played some games and got to listen to some Peace Corps guest speakers, who were all extremely charismatic. Overall, this day was a great day for bonding, and it was packed full of adventure- definitely one of the highlights of the program!”
-GLA Student, “Cultural Kaleidoscope” Program

While these students are experiencing day after day of life-changing adventures, it is clear that they are not only making an impact on people native to Thailand through their service projects. They are also experiencing great personal growth, learning about themselves and others, and making friendships that will last a lifetime in the process!

To learn more about Thailand, or to explore opportunities to travel there yourself, schedule an appointment with an enrollment advisor today.

Where Disney Dreams and African Adventures Collide

When most teenagers think of Africa, they probably hear a Disney soundtrack playing in their heads while envisioning Rafiki holding Baby Simba in the air for all of the Pride Lands to see. And, although The Lion King does give us context regarding the variety of wildlife that lives in the African Serengeti (the region of land which the fictional Pride Lands are based on), there is much more going on there than a battle for Pride Rock.

Tanzania, the country in which the Serengeti is located, is a vibrant and diverse region that is full of life, both human and wild! From the Chagga people, living at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, to the Maasai Tribe, who still lead a semi-nomadic lifestyle, the people of this East African nation welcome travelers with open arms! They are eager to share their culture and history with those who are lucky enough to visit their country, and their storytelling and festivities do not disappoint.

Students traveling with GLA’s “Heart and Soul of Africa” Service Learning Program have the rare opportunity to experience life in Tanzania and embed themselves in the local culture. In addition to doing critical volunteer work at local schools and orphanages, they have the incredible opportunity to learn from community members who share with them the art, history, and customs of a group of people living lives that are worlds away from our own.

Learning and Living

Read three student’s reaction to one exciting day in Tanzania, in which they volunteered at a school and learned the ancient craft of Batik painting from a local artisan.

Jambo families and friends!

Everything is wonderful here at our home base in Tengeru, Tanzania. Today was our second day visiting a local school and working with the children there- it was very challenging, but successful. The children love having us help them with their English! They are all on different learning levels, but are eager to learn as much as possible. It is exciting and important work, and we’ve set high goals for ourselves and our time with the students here. After lessons, we played a variety of games such as Hokey Pokey and Relay Races, and we learned traditional Tanzanian dances. Later, we began to wash the walls and sweep the floors in the classroom, because we will start to paint them tomorrow. After a long morning at the school, we returned back to the home base for lunch, and in the afternoon we went to the market and learned all about Batik painting! This is a very popular type of African art, and it is a very long process to create the colorful pieces. They turned out great, and now everyone has a beautiful piece to bring home! Dinner was delicious as always, we had a variety of American foods such as pasta and salad, and traditional Tanzanian food as well. We ended the day in our mentor groups discussing lessons for the students tomorrow, in order to ensure a successful day at the school!

Now we’re off to climb into our mosquito nets. Goodnight!

-Emma M. (Boulder, CO), Cayleigh N. (Lone Tree, CO), and Olivia N. (Riverside, IL)

These students are having the adventure of a lifetime while they make a difference in the quality of life for the warm and welcoming people of Tanzania. To learn more about this colorful nation, or to explore opportunities to experience your own African adventure, schedule an appointment with an enrollment advisor today.