Machu Picchu Trek: The Experience of a Lifetime

When is the last time you explored an ancient civilization that laid untouched for centuries before being rediscovered in 1911 by an American historian named Hiram Bingham?

Oh, you’ve never done that? Well then you’ve never been to Machu Picchu!

Machu Picchu, or “Old Peak,” is a 15^th century Incan site situated along a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley, only 80 kilometers from Cusco, Peru. It has gained worldwide recognition since it’s rediscovery, being named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it was voted one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World.” People from all across the globe travel to see this intact representation of Incan culture, and to hike the exclusive Inca Trail, which has strict limits on the number of people who may make the hike each day. It’s a difficult trek, and the experience of a lifetime for those who get the opportunity to make it!

Read the journal entries below from a GLA student who traveled to Peru this summer on GLA’s “Spanish Service Adventure” Program, and who had the chance to make the incredible journey to the Lost City of the Incas.

June 21st, 2013:

The first day of our trek along the Inca Trail toward Machu Picchu began with the group boarding two vans for a long ride along a winding road (within feet of a daunting cliff!) until we reached Soraypampa, the origin point of our hike. In this town, we had lunch surrounded by the mountains we would soon be conquering. We started our adventure by learning how to breathe and hike correctly at an elevation of over 11,000 feet above sea level! The hike began with a “gradual incline” lasting about 2 hours, including hiking across rocks and crossing many creeks. At Salkantaypampa we set up camp surrounded by towering mountains and gorgeous views, ready to settle down for our first night of camping in the Salcanty Mountains.

June 22nd, 2013:

After a cold night, we woke up at sunrise and packed up our belongings. Next, we ate a scrumptious and “gourmet” breakfast (for camping) of omelets and pan, a type of bread. After a little pep talk, we embarked on our strenuous excursion. We climbed boulders, crossed rivers on unstable stepping-stones and bridges, and used all of our leg power to climb the mountain! After four hours of heavy trekking across frozen terrain, all uphill, we reached the summit. It was breathtaking, literally. We took a quick break at the top of the summit and then started our downhill journey to the campsite. We walked along a beautiful river under mountains shrouded by clouds and snow, and it was a very peaceful and serene walk. It was still strenuous, however, because we had to keep our balance while trudging through loose rocks and mud. Finally, we made it to the campsite, which was already set up for us. Throughout the entire camping journey, a crew of cooks raced ahead of us in order to prepare the campsite for us. The amount of dedication that these men had for their work was inspiring. By the time we got to the campsite, all of our tents were set up and the food was ready. We were all extremely thankful for these hardworking men! Next, we ate a hearty lunch and then retreated to our tents to rest. Later, we had a tasty dinner and bonded a lot by singing various songs. After this incredibly long day, we retired to our tents for some much needed sleep.

June 23rd, 2013:

On our final day hiking, we hiked for four more hours downhill in the mud, and while a little gross at times, the end was quite rewarding when we reached a small farm and had a pleasant lunch. After lunch, we had to hike for another two hours to meet the van that would drive us to a train station. When we got to the train station, we caught a brief fifty-minute ride to Aguas Calientes. We went to dinner at a buffet style restaurant, and afterward had pastries at the bakery next door to our hotel while listening to live music that was playing down the street. After showering up, we went to bed, eager for the next day at Machu Picchu!

June 24th, 2013:

After a wake up knock at 6 AM, and eating a quick breakfast, we left the hotel to take a bus up to Machu Picchu. We arrived early and spent three hours walking around with animated and excited tour guides, who revealed secrets of the lost city of Machu Picchu. During our tour, we walked the path of the original Inca inhabitants, learned phrases of Quechua (the Inca’s original language), maneuvered through dark tunnels and learned the secrets of the Inca’s amazing architecture! It was an indescribable experience. We were also given plenty of time for independent exploration and photo taking in the lost city. Finally, after a long awaited day of exploration, we had a long way home; taking nearly four hours of transportation by train and a direct bus. Through the journey was difficult at times, we persevered to finish the trail and were rewarded with a wonderful day exploring Machu Picchu!

Not only are GLA student volunteers making an incredible impact on developing communities through their service across the world, but they’re also having life-changing experiences, like visiting The Lost City, along the way.

To learn more about Peru, and how you can take your own journey of a lifetime, schedule an appointment with one of our enrollment advisors today.

Humanitarian Adventure in Ghana

While you update your Facebook profile, catch up on favorite TV shows, and text your friends before you go to bed tonight, try imagining what it would be like to survive on less than $1 a day? You’d have no electronics, kitchen appliances, or even bathrooms with running water. This would be an enormous challenge for most of us, but for 4/5 people living in Africa, that is an everyday reality.

Fortunately, a group of motivated, adventurous and inspirational teenagers are currently in Ghana, referred to as “The Heart and Soul of West Africa,” traveling with GLA’s “Building Healthy Villages” Service Learning Program and discovering the challenges that the people of Ghana face. Over the 14 days they are spending abroad, they’ll provide important humanitarian efforts at the intersection of public health and poverty, and their hard work is essential in creating a more sustainable, healthy future for this colorful nation.

Although these students are putting in 4+ hours of hard work each day, helping to build sustainable composting systems and private restrooms that will help keep the people of a small fishing village outside of Accra safe, you’d never know that they had lifted a finger if you saw their smiles! While they are working to improve health conditions for the Ewe tribe who live in the village, they are also having the adventure of a lifetime!

“Guys, We’re in Africa!”

Read excerpts from the journals of Peter and Karisma, two GLA student volunteer who are currently in Ghana and see how they’re doing:

Peter: Today, after laboring over the foundations and floors of our compost toilets, we were fortunate enough to have a more relaxed schedule! After a spectacular breakfast prepared by the staff, we departed for the football (soccer) pitch for a game with the local children. During the 20-minute walk to the pitch, we passed through local villages and were showered with myriad smiles and cries of “Yevu yevu!” (white people!) from the children. After walking through a dense swamp, we arrived at the barren pitch only to find dozens of children performing unbelievable stunts with the soccer balls.

 Although our GLA team didn’t win the tournament, we had a great time using our meager knowledge of Ewe (the native language) to meet and converse with the Ghanaian children. After a very late lunch, we spotted a six-year-old boy atop a massive coconut tree near our Home Base. The boy was cutting the fruit from the tree, and each one would fall fifty feet before landing with a resounding thud! The boy was kind enough to spare a coconut for each of us, so we enjoyed the sweet fruit together on a tree-shaded beach overlooking the Atlantic. Our group mate Jordan candidly pointed out, “Guys, we’re in Africa,” and we all laughed. It’s easy to forget just how incredible this experience is. Afterward, our group promptly jumped into the lagoon to cool down after all the day’s festivities!

 Karisma: Everything in Ghana is extremely laid-back compared to life back in the US. Tonight, we contentedly sat around the table while enjoying the breeze and the sound of the Atlantic’s waves breaking on the beach. Just when we all thought it was time for bed, we spotted some of the staff dancing to Ghanaian music behind the bar table. Slowly, we all trickled into the room until it became a full-on Saturday night dance party! We even found out the names of the songs so we can find them on iTunes when we get home! Next, we took a walk along the Atlantic under a stunning full moon. Nobody wanted to leave after we finished our nightly leadership discussion, so we all decided to meditate for a bit at the foot of the waves. Overcome with a sense of inner peace, we headed back to the lodge for a good night’s sleep. The day’s events, however, were not over yet. As soon as I opened the door to our room, I saw a lizard sitting on the wall directly across from my roommate and I! After a chaotic 20-minute ordeal, the lizard was caught, thanks to the efforts of Peter and Steven. The adrenaline from the experience was such a drastic contrast from our meditation- our sincerest apologies to those who were disturbed in the process!

From the way that this group tells it, life in a country where 80% of people live on less than it would cost to buy a soda seems pretty amazing.

To learn more about Ghana, and how you can experience the serenity of culture worlds away from your own, schedule an appointment with one of our enrollment advisors today.

Choosing the Right High School Volunteer Abroad Program

If you’re interested in adding international volunteer service to your high school experience, finding a program that meets your needs starts with knowing what you want to learn or contribute and what kind of excursion you hope to have. High school students can visit different parts of the world and join a wide range of causes. To find the right opportunity for you, think about what kind of difference you want to make on the world. Here are some things to consider when selecting a service trip:

Location: Where in the world do you want to go?

Programs are available in memorable locations throughout the world that can benefit from the time and skills of high school volunteers. When choosing a location, think about language barriers. If you have any training in speaking a second language, consider volunteering in a country that speaks that language. This allows you to use the language in real-world situations and enables you to better connect with the people you meet through your service program. Other considerations related to location include weather, culture, the political climate in the region and other local aspects that will definitely impact your experience.

Service focus: What do you want to do?

After you choose a place or narrow down the options to a particular region, think about what kind of work you want to do. What made you want to explore the possibility of a volunteer abroad program in the first place? If your interest stems from something other than the actual work, then start by deciding if you want to work mainly with people, animals, nature or infrastructure? What skills do you want to contribute and strengthen through the service program?

Programs center on all sorts of work — from community gardening and reforestation to coaching sports or building homes and irrigation systems. For students interested in zoology or veterinary science, for example, a program that puts student volunteers face to face with elephants or marine wildlife is ideal. Similarly, instead of focusing on what a volunteer can contribute to a community, some programs center on helping volunteers better understand a traditional culture through immersion and learning, which may be well suited for students interested in international relations and diplomacy.

Program management: Who’s running this show?

When you find an organization that offers the kinds of opportunities you’re looking for, look closer. Find out how the organization operates and how it perceives its purpose. Why does the group organize volunteer service opportunities for high school students? Do you agree with this philosophy and world view? What do other people say about this organization and the programs it offers?

Also find out how much support the organization provides student volunteers. This will probably impact the program costs. In other words, organizations that arrange for transportation, lodging and meals, as well as recreational and learning activities, often leverage partnerships and volume pricing to minimize the out-of-pocket costs. Inclusive-style programs tend to be more cost-effective and structured than a DIY, freestyle approach to volunteer abroad opportunities that leave most of the trip planning to volunteers themselves.

Housing: Where’s home away from home?

Before making any final decisions about your high school volunteer abroad program, make sure you’re comfortable with the housing situation. Will you live with a local family as part of the community, or does the organization have dedicated housing where volunteers stay together? As the service period gets longer, housing becomes increasingly important to the overall volunteer experience.

Ultimately, the most important step in choosing the right high school volunteer abroad program is figuring out what you want to achieve from the experience. International travel can be enriching and even life-changing, and pairing it with volunteer service takes the experience to an entirely new level. To ensure you embark on a rewarding trip that’s positive for yourself as well as the people you hope to meet and support, spend some time thinking about your intentions and goals. Knowing what you’re looking for usually makes finding it much easier.

The purpose of this newsletter is NOT to inspire guilt. It’s actually to share some exciting recent statistics about what your son or daughter’s generation is doing to help their neighbors near and far.

Perhaps you’ve heard this great Yiddish saying: If you and all your neighbors lay all of your problems on your respective front lawns, you’d look them all over, and end up taking back your own.

Well, with our lives becoming increasingly more interconnected via search engines, Skype and social media, suddenly our neighbors are not just the ones three houses down; they’re in Egypt, Mexico and India. Some of the problems out on the front lawns of these neighbors might include:

• Lack of basic plumbing or clean water

• Limited access to education and resources

• Environmental threats

According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics study, Volunteering in the United States, 2011, U.S. teens ages 16 to 19 are more likely than any other age group under the age of 35 to have volunteered in the past year. These teens are statistically less likely to become pregnant or use drugs, and are more likely to have a strong work ethic and to vote.

Click here to watch a brief video of teens volunteering in India and having the time of their lives.

If your teen isn’t already in this distinguished category, this summer could be the perfect time to get their feet wet with a life-changing volunteer program abroad.

If you’d like to find out more, simply reply to this email or call: 1.858.771.06455. We would love to hear from you!