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

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 15, 2021

The 2021 GLA Galapagos: Preserving Nature’s Wonders group is together at last!

After an eventful day of travel (with some delays) our team is in good spirits with empanadas in-hand and lots to look forward in the coming weeks.

We will kick off tomorrow with orientation and a trip to Quito’s dazzling Plaza Grande. Carefully following COVID regulations and protocols, we are proud to say all students have safely arrived to Home Base and are ready for a good night’s sleep to prepare for the exciting days ahead.

We are all do grateful to be here! Above are photos of roommate pod groups, and we’ll have more photos in the days ahead.

Taylor McCue
International Director

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 16, 2021

On the day after arrival in Quito we began the day by meeting everyone and introducing each other during breakfast.

After breakfast we went up to the terrace of the hotel and played a few games to get to know each other better. We then split into groups and learned more about each other. We spotted a chocolate shop across the street from the hotel and we all went to buy chocolates. We then had a delicious lunch at the hotel.

After lunch we hopped on the bus and traveled to downtown Quito to go exploring! We visited La Virgin de Panecillo and looked at the amazing view. It was incredible to learn all the details and rich history. We then went down to the main part of downtown and visited a few beautiful, historic churches around the town. We also tried a couple of different candies that were very interesting to say the least.

After touring downtown we went to a supermarket to buy some snacks and ended the night with dinner and some games. We’re looking forward to tomorrow’s adventure!

-Ale and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17, 2021

Today was the BIG day we all had been waiting for.

We had to be up and loading our bags on the bus by 3:30am. We left the hotel in Quito at 3:50am. Our flight took off at 7am.

And then we landed in the Galapagos at 11am!

That afternoon, we walked to the Charles Darwin museum and the Giant tortoise breeding center. We found out more about Charles Darwin and all the endemic and invasive species in the Galapagos.

We learned the effects of endemic and invasive species on these spectacular islands, and the work that is being done to reverse the effects. We then walked through the town where we saw sea lions, pelicans, and iguanas.

There was a cute homemade ice cream shop we stopped at. Finally we walked back to the Home Base, ate dinner and went to bed early after a long but much-anticipated day!

-Caroline and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18, 2021

Today kicked off our first service project!

We stood side-by-side with the spectacular Galapagos Tortoises as we worked hard to help restore their natural habitat.

These unbelievable creatures walked freely around the terrain as we worked. Later we tried an orange mandarin – one of the tortoises’ favorite treats.

Throughout the day we enjoyed some fresh lemon grass tea and coffee grown locally. After working in the rain we enjoyed some free time around the town, where we explored the Friday night culture in Santa Cruz.

While walking around town we looked through the stores and enjoyed some homemade ice cream.

-Molly, Eva and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20, 2021

Saturday morning, we had our first true swimming excursion to Las Grietas, a brackish river tucked within a small gorge.

Although it was a little cold, we enjoyed jumping into the water and swimming; it made everyone feel very refreshed.

Later, we spent some time on the beach and enjoyed some local ice cream before returning to prepare for service. We continued our work from Friday, advancing our holes and continuing to clean up.

Sunday promised to be a bit different: the first true free afternoon! However, before the fun could begin, an important milestone in service was reached. We began planting and finalizing our holes, filling several with dirt and water and surrounding them with rocks.

We also listened to a local artist discuss his experiences on the Galapagos islands before spending the afternoon out on the town.

-Isabelle and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21, 2021

Today aboard the Sea Baby, Captain Chicharron sailed us through some bumpy waves.

The sea lions “lobos Marinos” of San Cristobal island were on hand to greet us! Then we enjoyed a lunch of local fish, rice and pumpkin soup (eaten the Ecuadorean way with popcorn on top) at El Rancho Manabita.

Afterwards, we made our way to Playa Punta Carola, where we saw some sea lions surfing and enjoyed the crystal blue waters of the Galapagos. ¡Que fresco el agua!

We finished the day off with some ice cream and some good old fashion table tennis.

-Taylor and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23, 2021

Today we went to the Darwin center and learned about the origins of the Galapagos. We learned about the people who first settled and their experiences.

Then we went snorkeling. It was the coolest snorkeling I have ever done! We swam with sea lions and alongside sea turtles. The sea lions were super playful. It is mating season so there are tons of babies and all the male sea lions are super loud competing for a mate.

After snorkeling we all went to a bakery and got awesome blackberry and pineapple bread.  We learned all about recycling on the island to cap off our amazing day and made our own tote bags! Today was so much fun.

-Caroline C. and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24, 2021

Blog by Madi Morrin

In the morning of day 10 we took a short boat ride to Isla Lobos (“Island of the Wolfs,” which refers to the sea lions). We were able to see and learn a lot about sea lions, blue footed boobies, and frigate birds.

Some of us went snorkeling and swam with a lot of sea lions and sea turtles! In the evening we had a little competition of a scavenger hunt in the town and played some fun games.

-Madi and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25, 2021

Wow it’s already day 11!

Today we went to the beach and a few of us snorkeled. We played fun games like Ninja.

We also got to meet Daniel, Wilson’s (our guide) son. He was so cute! He liked to race us along the beach.

After the beach, we had lunch and some free-time before we headed out to the soccer field. We showed up as a unified front with braided hair and matching outfits of grey and black. We even had a cheer squad. We played against a local soccer team, who flattened us with a score of 5 to 0, still had a great time though.

Our group split up for dinner, half went out to sushi and the other half ate at the usual restaurant. Then we went back to our rooms to pack and prepare for tomorrow.

We’re sad to be leaving the Galapagos tomorrow but we’re also excited to spend more time in Quito.

-Christina and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26, 2021

Today, our blog post is a series of photos for you to enjoy!

---

 

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18, 2021

We are so excited to be the inaugural group for the Florida: Marine Wildlife Initiative this summer! We have begun bonding, laughing and getting excited to start service.

For some of us, it was a very long travel day. After some delicious spaghetti dinner we got oriented for what to expect, and we feel totally ready to take on this Florida heat as well as the many incredible adventures ahead!

We can’t wait to start service tomorrow and get some beach time soon!

*Not pictured – Charlotte who was still in route to Home Base. She will be featured in upcoming blog photos.

-Desiree, GLA Director

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19, 2021

We started our day with a one complete student group, awake at 7:00am. We showered and then went downstairs for breakfast. We kicked off the day of new experiences with a drive to Mote Aquarium for our first day of learning and community service.

We split into two groups, where one would head to the aquarium first and the other to the Save our Sea Birds to start.

Our group first viewed all different types of exotic birds. Our guide told us why the birds were there and what they were doing to help release them back into the wild.

We then were showed the many ways in which we could help in a meaningful way. We started service by weeding and clearing out different bird preservations. We then grabbed some shovels and loaded the whitest sand I’ve ever seen into a cart, before applying new sand to the preservations and raking it out. We were getting the holding units ready for any birds that might arrive and will now have a safe space to recover and get well.

After lunch my group went to the aquarium, where we saw lots of cool animals and were able to pet the sharks and stingrays. We then drove back to Home Base to shower off. After showering we did a group project about a Florida Bill and what we would add and change based on the greater good of all people.

After, we had dinner and watched a presentation on the seven elements of human security. Once the presentation wrapped, we all went to bed because we had to be up at 5:00am the next morning to go learn about turtle watching and prepare for the new adventures ahead!

-Joel B and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20, 2021

We woke up early to go investigate turtle tracks on the beach. After looking at some turtle eggs and learning how to identify and mark a nest, we went to the bird sanctuary to learn more about sea turtle nesting habits. We even got to hold a real turtle shell!

After lunch we were allowed to have some free time at the beach, which was the highlight of the day. We played in the water and on the beach at the volleyball nets.

After a while at the beach we went back to Home Base to have dinner. Once we all were done eating, we got together and watched a documentary about the effects of climate change on coastal creatures and habitats.

After the documentary, we had a mentor group meeting and talked about what we were feeling and our insights into what we learned from the documentary.

We were eager to prepare for bed after a long day in the sun, and are ready for another day on-program tomorrow!

-Aiden and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21, 2021

Today we had a later start to the day- waking up at 9:00am. We headed to Caspersen Beach to carry out our service project: collecting and removing materials that could potentially cause harm to the sea turtles.

We also got to do some searching for shark’s teeth as this beach is famously known for finding them. After a couple of hours of walking around the sandy shores, we made a pit stop to have lunch. Afterward, we took a trip in the van to the beach.

Once we showered, we headed to downtown Venice to do some shopping and exploring. We were excited to get ice cream from a parlor and sat under a gazebo looking at all the phenomenal scenery!

After dinner was finished, we had a lesson from Kate about different types of pollution. From there, we broke out into mentor groups and got to meet more people through some leadership activities.

Around 8:30pm we checked and tried on our snorkeling gear for the next day and fixed our headlamps so they had red felt covering the lights. We learned that red light will not scare the turtles, which will allow us better viewing opportunities!

-Brooke and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22, 2021

Today was a day where many people tried things for the first time. Some of tried kayaking or snorkeling for the first time. Others were experienced at these water sports but all had fun!

We went to Liquid Blue Outfitters for kayaking and snorkeling adventures in the brackish water (a mix of fresh water and salt water).

During this adventure in the brackish water while kayaking, we saw mangrove trees, small black crabs on some of the trees, and the snoot of a manatee.

When we kayaked to the place we had gone snorkeling, we looked at different types of grass such as shoal grass and turtle grass, which had varied in amounts of epiphyte (also known as an air plant, it basically grow on other grass plants for physical support and has a moss-like feel).

We returned to Home Base exhausted from a day of adventure and recuperated by having dinner, playing cards and enjoying a round of frisbee. We ended our day learning more about each other during an activity called Common Ground, with our new mascot “Tito the Turtle.”

-Cassie and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23, 2021

We woke up at 7:00am, had breakfast, and then we got in the van to go meet a biologist named Mike. Mike took us on a fascinating walk and was telling us about the different types of mangroves and what effects they have against tropical storms and hurricanes in the nearby coastal region and its habitats.

After the walk, we did service at the small beach area next to the hike, and then we got into the car to go to Siesta Key beach.

When we arrived at Siesta Key, my first thoughts were about how white and powdery the sand was! It was so bright it was almost hard to see. We got into the crystal clear water and we hung out with friends. After around an hour, we got back into the van and ate lunch at Home Base.

After lunch, we showered and had some time to relax. We spent our time downstairs and got to watch a bit of the France v. Portugal group Euros match (soccer).

We continued to work on our “Be the Change” projects before dinner and went to bed early as we had to get up early the next day for our swimming with the manatees!

-Reid and the GLA Team

---

PLEASE NOTE: On Friday, June 25th, students and staff will be leaving in the morning to begin their overnight campaign trip. During this time, please be aware they will not be able to charge their phones and may not have cell service. Our ability to receive new blog updates may also be delayed until after the overnight excursion is completed.

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24, 2021

We woke up at 6:30, had a 2 1/2 hour car ride where we all were asleep. Today was the day we were going to swim with the manatees! INCREDIBLE! We got to the manatee tour, put on wetsuits, and split into 3 different groups. Each group was sent off to different locations in the bay where we looked for manatees. When we found one we got into the water and looked at them up close!

You had to be very still when near the manatees as they frighten easy. We also learned they are pretty blind! Afterward, we got lunch and then had ice cream. We headed back to Home Base and shared our environmental projects. We had pizza for dinner, and packed for camping before heading to bed.

-Gatsby and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25, 2021

Today we got to sleep in late and woke up around 11am and packed for our camping trip. We left around 12:30pm to catch the ferry that would take us to the campsite at Cayo Costa. When we arrived, we rushed to put up the tents because it had briefly begun to rain!

After the skies cleared up, we ate hot dogs and hamburgers while walking along the beach. We played frisbee and looked for seashells. While watching a beautiful sunset, we did mentor activities and finished the night with s’mores!

-Desiree and the GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26, 2021

Today was a pretty chill and relaxing day. We woke up from camping to a bit of cool weather and immediately went to hang on the beach. The grill was fired up and we filled our bellies with oatmeal and leftover burgers. As we slowly began break down our campsite to head back to the mainland we were welcoming the warm sun!

We returned to Home Base, checked back in and got ready to have our dinner out at a local spot called Fresh Kitchen. Everyone was so excited! Since it was our last night all together our Leaders had us do one final activity. This activity was to show those we appreciated for all different reasons and to begin to say goodbye.

A few of us had to be up for some early flights but we all said goodbye, smiling and hugs all around!

-The GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27, 2021

Day 10!

Today started early with students beginning to head home. Many came out to say farewell to the few who are starting their journey while it is still dark out!

While we are all sad to be parting this was a trip to remember. Safe Journeys to all the students and we had so much fun!

-The GLA Team

---

 

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. We typically receive 1-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

---

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25, 2021

¡Bienvenidos a la Republica Dominicana!

Wow, are we excited to be together!

After some very long flights, our Semester of Service students have arrived safely to Indalo Lodge, where we will be staying for the summer.

We had a relaxed day playing cards and doing some swim tests.

We also got to enjoy this beautiful sunset!

We are looking forward to our two months together and can’t wait to share everything we learn with our friends and family back home.

-The GLA Team

---

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27, 2021

It’s been a busy first few days!

After learning more about our big project for the semester, we got to check out the site where our project will be put.

We visited the small community of La Colonia, where we will be helping to plan, engineer, and construct a water system to give the uphill residents of the community access to clean water.

We got to talk with the locals in the community and hear about their thoughts about the water tank project. It was a great opportunity to learn about how development projects work in small communities like this one. There are so many factors to consider!

We got to return to La Colonia the next day to work with another group in constructing some homes. We put up chicken wire and are using old plastic bottles as a sustainable insulation for the walls. We made a lot of progress. We got to mix cement by hand and even use a hand saw to cut some wood.

Because we will be here for eight weeks, we will get to see these homes progress from the simple foundation, to the sturdy structure of a house.

Also, we got good news today – our COVID tests came back negative so we are able to hang out with another GLA group, too!

More to come!

-Semester of Service students and the GLA team

---

BLOG FOR JULY 1

Today the semester group went to Cabarete Caves to look at the freshwater and frogs. After a delicious lunch, the team went to La Colonia once again to assess how electricity could be implemented into the community and listen to various ideas from the locals.

BLOG FOR JULY 2

Today we headed out to La Colonia to continue work on our bottle house. We were able to get a whole wall finished and the project is coming along. After heading back to home base we did an hour long Spanish class before our dinner. After dinner we headed to the beach for a talk with Dave about non-governmental organizations. We learned a lot about the flaws in the system and what causes them.

 

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

---

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Hello families!

It was a fabulous first day in the Dominican Republic!

Everyone is settling in well and getting to know one another!

We are just missing Joseph and Jorge with later arrivals! We can’t wait to welcome them into the GLA global health team!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

Today we started the first day with orientation, where we learned about the details of our trip. We met the home base dogs, including a six-week old puppy! Everyone rocked their swim tests, and we had fun in the pool twice today. We participated in medical brigade training, learning how to take vitals and to communicate with the patient in Spanish. We ended the night with our first lecture on global health from Dr. Enrique and a game of uno!

 

BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

Today we drove to Lagrua a community that is home to our inspirational local director Enrique! Our group helped support locals with a medical brigade and became further accustomed to the Dominican culture through interacting with the kids and speaking with other citizens. Lastly, after a long day of hard work we stopped at a supermarket for refreshing snacks and drinks before heading back to home base for dinner, mentor groups, and a motivational speech from Enrique. We are all having a great time and are thankful for the experience!

From Payton, Matt and James

BLOG POST FOR JULY 30

Today we rose bright and early to head on over to a sweaty bus ride to an amazing place. Where we began a long hard hot day of service. We mixed cement to built sturdy walls for the locals. It was amazing but draining. We met so many people such as a VERY friendly older man who talked to his donkey as they were his children. Shout out to our parents for sending us off to the amazing place.

Ciao mama! -Gea

BLOG POST FOR JULY 31

Today we all climbed to the top of a mountain. it was a long hot walk for everyone. when we got to the top we talked to one of the locals who told us about her life and daily activities in the village. some people took a tumble coming down the mountain. but we were all ok in the end.

---

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 2

Here are some photos from our Dudu Lagoon excursion adventure!

And we capped off this EPIC, AMAZING day with this wonderful sunset at Home Base.

---

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 3

Today was a great day!

We started out at the Chocojoba chocolate factory (we know — you’re jealous already). But it’s also a really meaningful organization run by single mothers as a way to provide income. And we had the chance to taste some DELICIOUS chocolate while we were there.

For community service, we headed back to La Colonia to mix more concrete. And tada — we finished the floor of the house!

At Home Base, we learned about health care systems on the island in ways that challenged our perspectives. And then we finished out the evening with time to relax and with a fun group activity.

Here are some photos from today for you to enjoy!

---

 

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

---

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Arrival Day!!

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

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

Buenas noches!

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

BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Written by Ana and Juan (leaders of the day)

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

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

BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

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

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

BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

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

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

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

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

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

– Jordan and León

 

BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

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

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

BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

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

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

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

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

BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

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

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

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

-Dharma and Ava

BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

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

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

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

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

– Kristi and Alejandra

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

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

-Emma & Mia

BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

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

The superior leaders of the day: Natalie and Harper

BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

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

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

-Amelia and Reid

BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

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

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

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

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

– Anna & Juan

BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

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

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

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

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