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Sunday July 1, 2018

Om swastiastu!

All 8 globe trotters arrived to Bali safe and sound and the GLA staff and our local Bali Institute partners welcomed them to the island and also into our leadership family! A delicious Balinese feast and hydrating coconuts (with reusable bamboo straws!) were the perfect end to a long voyage. Everyone met each other, learned a little bit about the staff and their peers, and settled into our home-base, Kaya House. A much needed night of sleep will prep the wary travelers for their first full day in Bali. Tomorrow we will dive head first into the culture, language, and scenery of this magical island-Let the journey begin!

Monday July 2, 2018

Our first day here in Bali, we got to sleep in to help get over jet lag. After breakfast, we had an orientation, where we learned many things about the island of Bali and its culture. For example, life is mostly about the relationships and the community. Along with that the Balinese people live off of rice according to Beni and Fika, “Rice is life!” Then we went over the basic rules of GLA. Afterward we played some games to get to know each other.

Then we had lunch. After lunch, Beni taught us some of the Indonesian language. Just simple phrases like, Suksma means thank you and Apa means What. Then, we set out on the Amazing Race. There were two teams, Team Coconut Sisters and Team Pork Blood. We each had a long list of things to find or do around the village, it was a great opportunity to talk with locals and get to know the area. In Bali, the people are super friendly and helpful. During this game we learned a lot about the culture and the way of life. The Coconut Sisters spent time playing with local kids in the family compound, while Team Pork Blood spoke with locals about religious offering. Both teams had students that picked a coconut off the tree. We learned the legong dance which is dance style special to Bali. We came back to home base and relaxed a little before dinner.

After dinner, we had some free time before Rudy set up the evening activity, so we all hung out and got to know each other. Our evening activity was a model UN set up, where we did roll play discussing the issues that came up after the 2014 World Cup hosted in Rio. At the end we discussed our personal views on the topic. Once we finished our evening activities we headed to bed.

-by Paige and Addie

Tuesday July 3, 2018

Today started off with an early morning, we had to leave by 7:00 in order to make it to the herbal walk on time! The walk was really interesting and we got to learn about a variety of different herbs and flowers and their purposes in traditional medicine. In the middle of the walk we took a break and got enormous coconuts, they were bigger than most of our heads.

After that we kept walking and then at the end we went to a store where we drank tea and shopped for some natural beauty and health products. After that we took the bus to the water temple, tirta enpul, changed into our sarongs and sashes, and went to see the thirteen water fountains/spouts. After the morning full of activities we all went out to a buffet lunch with a beautiful view of the mountains and surrounding area.

After a full belly we loaded back up onto the bus and headed to the rice fields. Trekking up the high and uneven steps on a full belly wasn’t ideal but the view and experience was worth it. Luckily we had a hour ride back to home base to rest up before meeting the medical school students. Right before they arrived Rudy gave an informational presentation on what global health is and what it really means. Flying through the formal introductions we jumped straight into learning about what we would be doing for the next three days.

We broke off into small groups and got to know the medical students better. We learned how to take blood pressures and whatnot. Afterwards they joined us for dinner. On a full belly of chicken and potatoes, Kelsey filled our brains with information on sustainable travel and how we can work together to create an overall greener footprint. I guess could say we had a great day. Tiring, but overall great.

Wednesday July 4, 2018

Happy Fourth! Today we started off the day with a very interesting cultural workshop in our local Banjar- a place in Bali where local communities meet. Through dancing, making of offerings, wood carvings, and playing musical instruments, we experienced a whole new set of traditions that really opened our eyes. It was fun to interact with the local people, all of whom were extremely open to sharing their culture with us. Each activity came with its own set of difficulties, but constant encouragement from our friends and the locals really pushed us to do our best.

During our afternoon activity, we visited local homes in order to start our health checks. We met up with medical students and started visiting homes all throughout the local Banjar. It amazed us how open and happy the locals were about receiving the physicals, as such a warm attitude is extremely rare in other parts of the world. The trust the locals had in us was particularly endearing, and made us volunteering even more meaningful. We truly do look forward to continuing the service the next 2 days, as it means meeting even more wonderful families.

For our Fourth of July celebration, we ate our first American meal of the trip, at a local restaurant 10 minutes away from home. Most ordered burgers, and let’s not forget the mouth-watering desert at the end of the meal. A night of laughter and an exchange of stories, today was definitely a good day.

Authors: Erica and Emma

Thursday July 5, 2018

Today, we woke up and came down for breakfast. This morning we had pancakes and an assortment of fruits. We had some time before we left for laughing yoga. Once we were all ready, we hopped on the bus.

Laughing yoga? What’s that? Well that’s what all of us thought. We got there and had a giddy smile on our face from beginning to end. We learned different ways to laugh using our head, throat, chest, and stomach. Between the little sections of laughter there were these dance breaks, these were so much fun. We also were taught about “laugh o’clock”, basically the time of day that you have to try to laugh. You can pretend to make a phone call or look at your watch, just remember, it’s always laugh o’clock somewhere.

Once laughing yoga ended we head back to Kaya House for lunch. Today we had a boxed lunch. We had some free time again before our next activity, so we played games and just hung out. At 1:30 we headed out for our home checks. We did the same thing as yesterday, we went to houses in the local banjar and took some basic data. We took things like height, weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, along with that we asked a few questions. Also we taught some people how to use hand sanitizer. Today we ended early and headed back to Kaya house to change for dinner.

For dinner we went out to a restaurant in Ubud. After dinner we walked into the town to the area where we saw legong dancing. It was beyond amazing. There were three stories each very different, but all beautiful. The most incredible part was the dancers’ ability to dance with their eyes. The amount of coordination they have is astonishing. The music that was played behind the dancing had everyone in a trance, even the dancers that know the music. At the end, we rushed out to head back to the bus, but not without a quick pit stop to get gelato. Everyone got their gelato and we continued our trek back to the bus. After a long day we all went to bed.

Author: Paige

Friday July 6, 2018

The first thing that we did today was go to Yayasan Bhakti Senang Hati, a community of people with disabilities dedicated to demonstrating that they are just as capable as any fully abled person. While we were there we played music in the drum circle with a group of the members there and after that we helped teach them a few common phrases in English. We finished with lunch and a bit of shopping for some of the products they made there like bracelets, book marks, and necklaces.

In the afternoon we finished our last day of home visits with the medical students, we managed to finish almost all the homes in the Banjar we were working in! We finished early and took some pictures before saying goodbye to the students we were working with and getting ice-cream.

At the end of the day we went out to dinner at the palace with Prince Chris who is seventh in line to the throne out of 72 princes! Before dinner we got a tour of the palace whose intricate detailing was stunning. Dinner was surprisingly relaxed, the prince was very chill and our final topic of conversation was mermaids and the apocalypse. After dinner we returned to home base and made yet another stop at the market for snacks.

-by Miranda

Friday July 6 through Sunday July 8, 2018

On Friday morning we left Kaya house around 9 am. On the way to Amed, we stopped at the Water Palace called Tirta Gangga. We saw a lot of koi fish. After lunch we continued our journey to Good Karma Bungalows. At soon as we got there we headed to the pool. Most of us got beach side massages. At night we all had girls night and got to know each other even better.

The next morning we woke up at 5 am. We went out on traditional Balinese fishing boats to watch the sunrise, it was so beautiful. We went snorkeling at an abandoned Japanese Shipwreck as well. The rest of the day we hung out by the beach and pool. Later in the day we visited a well-known Balinese spiritual healer. He told all of us things about ourselves and futures. We had burgers for dinner and then went night swimming.

Today we left Amed around 9 and we stopped at a place that recycles trash and makes it into to cool stuff. Tonight we had dinner at a place that gives health care to people less fortunate. All together it was a great, relaxing weekend. It was SO MUCH FUN!!!!

-by Jada and Addie

Tuesday July 10, 2018

Hi everybody! Today we started off by going to an NGO called Bumi Sehat, which is an all natural birthing center. Mothers from all over Bali come to receive free pregnancy care and other services. We toured the facilities, watched informational videos, and overall it was an amazing experience where we saw people from different economical circumstances receive the same healthcare.

In the afternoon, we went to a local school to meet local balinese children. We conducted workshops about the importance of nutrition, hygiene, and exercise. It was fulfilling to see how much the children were eager to participate and share with us their joy and energy. After a few hours of fun and activities, we are extremely glad that we will be coming back the next few days to continue these services.

Tonight we also met another girl who will be joining us for maybe the rest of the trip due to weather complications. As our trip in Bali winds down to the end we are very excited for the upcoming adventures and new experiences.

Authors: Emma and Erica

Thursday July 12, 2018

This morning we woke up at 6:30 to delicious pancakes. The 9 of us then loaded the bus and headed to a coffee place where we got to taste many teas and coffees. We then were able to purchase whatever we wanted from the wide variety of natural Balinese drinks. After we were buzzing on them beanz, we headed to white water raft. Some of us were nervous but ended up having a lot of fun. Halfway into the river, we encountered a beautiful waterfall where we stopped to admire the view. After rafting, we climbed many flights of stairs to get to a yummy Balinese lunch.

Service day 2 began at 2:30pm with our second round of lessons with the kiddos. We taught the kids about hygiene, exercise, and nutrition. It was so fun to interact with the kids. We then headed home to eat dinner and plan our lessons for the next day.

Friday July 13, 2018

The last couple days in Bali together were packed with final service, ceremony, a birthday, karaoke, and fun in the sun!

Our last full day together was spent in Legian Beach where students shopped, lounged, and caught some waves! After surfing and chilling beach-side, the evening was spent reflecting on our 2 weeks of adventure, cultural immersion, and service. Students shared their goals for the future, made one final offering, and watched a slide show of special moments from the trip. A mini “graduation” ceremony closed the night where student’s received a wooden Balinese carving of their name and an Indonesian flag.

This morning, everyone headed off to the airport to depart from Bali. Tears were shed, hugs were given, and wishes of safe travels filled the air. The GLA and local Bali Institute staff were so glad to meet the session two students and live and learn alongside the 8 leaders and future world changers! Girl power was strong this session and we have no doubt that these awesome ladies will be lifelong friends! While our time together in Bali is complete, our memories and GLA bond are forever <3

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Friday June 15, 2018 

Om swastiastu and greetings from the GLA Bali team!

It’s day one of our amazing two week adventure together and everyone has arrived to Bali safe and sound! The GLA staff and our local Bali Institute partners welcomed the 27 global travelers to the island and also into our leadership family. A delicious Balinese feast and hydrating coconuts (with reusable bamboo straws!) were the perfect end to a long voyage! Everyone settled into our home-base, Kaya House, and a much needed night of sleep will prep the students for their first full day in Bali where they will dive head first into the culture, language, and scenery. Let the journey begin!

*not photographed due to late arrival times: Maria, Katie, and Chloe

-by Kelsey Stone (International Mentor) on behalf of the entire Bali GLA Team

Friday June 15, 2018 

Sending an update with a photo of our late arrivals who weren’t in the original photo (Maria, Katia, and Chloe)!!

Sunday June 17, 2018

Day 3 began at 5:30 this morning with a delicious and familiar breakfast of toast and eggs. We then headed off to our herbal walk. We got to try many exotic plants and learn their holistic properties. We even tried a spicy pepper known for killing bacteria in your mouth, but it felt like breathing fire. We had wonderful guides who explained to us the significance of nature and how it inspires Balinese artwork. Afterwards we went to a shop that sold holistic medicines and all natural products. Many of us bought organic coconut oil, tea, face masks, lotion, and plant-based vitamins.

After that, we visited the Holy Water Temple where we learned how to wear traditional Balinese sarongs and how to pray by presenting offerings. The prayers were concluded with a priest splashing us with holy water and giving us ceremonial rice grains which we placed on our foreheads. On the way home we visited an Indonesian style buffet that had a view of a volcano, lake, and rice paddies.

Once we returned to home base, we prepared lesson plans discussing nutrition, hygiene, and exercise. Tomorrow we will put these plans into action at local primary schools. After dinner we discussed how stereotypes may not be true and are incomplete. We also discussed how not to base your beliefs on “the single story.”

Today was a great day; we learned how Balinese beliefs play an important role in their close-knit communities among farmers, priests, and other locals. Everywhere we went we were greeted with smiles. We are all grateful for the cultural opportunities we had today and we can’t wait for tomorrow!

Selamat malem!

-Rutva, Chloe, and Maguire

Monday June 18, 2018

Today we went to the Banjar. At the Banjar we took time to understand Balinese culture by doing activities such as: wood carving, dancing, playing music, and creating offerings. Offerings are used to thank the spirits for everything in life, they consist of multiple colored flowers in a basket made of bamboo leaves. We split into separate groups and learned a traditional dance. Then the boys learned a dance which is performed when going off to war.

Afterwards, the group split and drove to two separate schools. There we taught 4-6th graders about exercise, nutrition, and hygiene. The kids were excited to learn, but we had minor complications due to language barriers. Luckily, we were able to overcome this challenge through games and hand gestures. All in all, we were surrounded by a wonderful environment and used our obstacles as lessons for the future days on the trip and in our lives.

Authors: Delaney and Olivia

Tuesday June 19, 2018

Today in Bali we started off our day in a very unique, silly way. Laughing yoga is a way to relieve stress and take in some positive energy. At first, it was a little uncomfortable because it was different and awkward, but after a while it became more natural and funny. The best part about the morning was definitely the ice cream that we had the option to buy after.

Later on we were the honored guests of the prince of Bali. We had a chance to ask questions about daily life in Bali and the founding of the Balinese culture. We were eating a traditional Balinese dinner and the prince explained that behind the closed doors we were eating in front of, “his uncle was resting inside”. So we all assumed that was his uncle’s tomb. About 5 minutes later we saw the lock turn and a man walks out of the room. Everyone jumped because we thought we were experiencing paranormal activity but after much confusion the prince explained his uncle was literally just sleeping in the room. The experience was super cool because the prince was outgoing and engaged us in conversation.

So far we have been experiencing new culture traditions and different foods. This trip has changed us for the better and we are excited to see what the upcoming week has to offer!

Authors: Madison and Luca

Wednesday June 20, 2018

Hello!

Today we started off the day with Kaya House’s green pancakes with shredded coconut, banana and syrup. We found out at the herbal walk that the color comes from a plant. They have been long awaited for since the first day of the program when we tried them, and they’re loved by all of GLA’s Bali students. After breakfast, we visited Senang Hati’s building to learn more about and talk to Balinese people with disabilities,then finished up our first week of service at the schools, and finally witnessed a traditional Balinese legong dance at the Palace of Peliatan.

Senang Hati and their people of various disabilities opened our eyes to a valuable lesson. Despite people’s differences in abilities, cultures, environments, religions, languages, and values, the experience of music and smiles can bring everyone together in an instant. Everyone at Senang Hati began by playing a song on several different instruments and singing all together. It was amazing to learn that most of the people performing when first learning the song struggled at being able to hold the instruments or hit a drum. Their stunning act really demonstrated how with practice and determination, those with disabilities and physical differences can achieve anything that anyone else can. We concluded the visit with GLA students playing their own rhythms on the drums and playing alongside the performers, eating a delicious Balinese lunch, and lots of students buying bracelets and shirts to wear and support Senang Hati.

Poem by Lauren:

The rain hit the ground as our feet left the bed
We downed our pancakes and packed into the tiny buses
A long travel we had as we reached Senang Hati
We taught the children to clean, eat, and exercise
We wiped our tears as the children waved goodbye
Our eyes reopened from our naps at the palace
The dancers jigged as we watched in awe
As we headed home and we laughed until our eyes shut in bed

After lunch, we made our way to SD Negeri 3 Kemenuh, Sukawati and SDN 2 Kemenuh Sukawati, the 2 schools we have been volunteering at. All the 6 volunteer groups have now completed each of their lessons on nutrition, hygiene and exercise. As we finished up and ended our service, we gave the kids certificates, pens, pencils and books as gifts for completing our lessons over their break. Tears were shed and hugs were given as we said our goodbyes to the children we taught and loved.

Finally, we completed the day with a legong dance performance at the Royal Palace. It was cool to see all the instruments played and dresses and makeup worn in such a unique dance.

Authors: Annika and Lauren

Saturday June 23, 2018

A collection of blogs from our excursion to Amed, Bali:

Let’s go to the beach, beach. Let’s go get away.

After PULLING ourselves out of bed at 8:15, we took a scenic journey throughout Bali to the fishing town of Amed. This is where we are about to thrive. In the car we bumped to Nicki M and stopped for lunch at a precious, little restaurant. After our wonderful lunch of chicken and rice and an hour more of driving, we arrived at the Good Karma Bungalows. Everybody scrambled into their bathing suits and marched to the beachside pool for an intense swim test. It consisted of jumping in a 5 foot pool and then standing up, swimming across the pool, treading water for 30 seconds, and floating on our back for 30 seconds with the sun glaring into our poor eyes. It was fantastic.

When the mentors learned that we all were able to swim, we were free to venture and swim about as long as we had adult supervision, aka babysitters. Most of us took advantage of the Balinese sea and ran in, others chilled by the pool or lounged in their hammock. We all survived the coral attacks with battle wounds to prove it. No pain, no gain. To conclude this fine day, we enjoyed a dinner of Japanese food at the beachside café followed by chocolate crepes and fried bananas.

-Rachel and Abbie

Today was our earliest morning yet. We dragged ourselves out of bed at 5 with sore muscles all over from the vigorous swim test the day before. We all gathered on the beach and loaded onto small boats that each fit three people plus the Captain. We departed the beach and headed out to sea. There was a bit of wind and the waves were a good size which added some fun to the voyage. At one point, some of the captains opened the sails and used the wind to propel the boats. We eventually turned around and headed toward a Japanese shipwreck near the shore. After a few minutes, we reached the shipwreck and jumped in the water wearing our snorkeling gear. There was a lot of coral and many cool brightly colored fish along with the degrading ship resting on the sea floor. In addition to the fish there were also some odd looking jelly fish that stung a few people. After snorkeling, we went back to the bungalows where we ate breakfast followed by free time.

At 2:15, the group went on a short hike which ended at a dark cave that led to a pavilion. At the pavilion, we watched a presentation about trash in Bali and then proceeded to make eco-bricks, which are plastic drink bottles filled with non-biodegradable waste such as plastic to the point where it’s as hard as a real brick. We finished this service at 4 and went back to the bungalows where we had some free time until dinner. For dinner, we had burgers which was a nice western surprise. After dinner, at 8, we built a bonfire on the beach where we roasted fruit filled marshmallows and danced to music. When the fun ended, all of us crashed into bed and passed out.

-Nischal and Jordan

For some students, this morning started out early. Many wanted to capture last minute pictures at the beach, while others enjoyed an early morning yoga sesh. Breakfast consisted of chocolate crepes, smoothies, and assorted tropical fruits. Students then made a mad dash to the bungalows and frantically threw their clothes back into their suitcases.

After the three hour scenic ride along the coast of Bali, we finally arrived back at home base. The next two hours gave students the ability to finish their car naps or go wooden mask shopping. Once free time was over, students shuffled downstairs to listen to a presentation on Global health. As we were wrapping up our presentation, the medical students we will be working with for the next few days started rolling in. We learned how to take blood pressure, fill out medical records, and check homes for sanitation. We wrapped up the night with a birthday cake for Maguire.

-Macy and Maria

Sunday June 24, 2018

We all were awakened at 7:00 am to a delicious breakfast, consisting of a banana pancake, along with fruits and corn. After breakfast, we learned about traditional healing and how it can be used to do medical check-ups by watching a video on it. Mangku Kandia, the owner of the Kaya house, gave us medical check-ups using his medical powers, and we all were in good medical condition! He explained to us that with his methods, he can detect rashes and diseases, but he could not detect broken bones. It really impressed us all! We came back shortly after to take some rest before having lunch.

After lunch, we split up into service groups and drove off to different Balinese Banjars (kind of like neighborhood communities). We worked with Balinese medical school students. In each group, consisting of 4-5 GLA students, each person had different roles. The roles were checking the bathrooms for mosquito larva, checking the patient’s height and weight, teaching the people to wash their hands thoroughly. All of us went to at least 2, or maybe 3 houses before leaving. It was a lot of fun, helping these people out!!

We then came back to having a wonderful dinner of rice, chicken, and salad with the medical students before doing an evening activity. All of us had to step into a circle, and one of the staff members would ask personal questions. Every time the question applied to us, we had to step closer into the circle. This activity helped us learn more about each other on a personal level, and it hopefully brought us closer together as a family! It also made us realize that we are not alone, and that we have each other’s backs for anything that comes our way. Now, we are all going to pass out after a long, fun day!

It has been getting close to an end for our trip! We have had so much fun here in Bali, and a lot of us are going to miss it!

-Jaideep

Monday June 25, 2018

Today we departed for our adventure at Bumi Sehat, a NGO focused on providing free maternal care and assistance in natural birth. When we entered, it was as if we’d re-entered America. The architecture was new and bright. We ventured on an exploration through the facilities and experienced two babies. We gazed at a few videos depicting the origination of the foundation and a deeper look into the benefits of a water birth. After a few questions and some merch purchases we left, t-shirts in tow. We thought we were going home, but no! Rain<3 took us on a detour to a Whole Foods-like, americanized, Bali market entitled “Bali Buda”. We went ham (and cheese) on the bread and the baked goodery.

After lunch, we went on our second day of home visits with the medical students. We had a blast saving the world, one visit at a time. Blood pressure. Blood sugar. Height. Weight. It was like an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, even with the hand washing. We returned and encountered a bit of free time before dinner. We napped in preparation for our feast. Dinner was noodles. Smiles were a plenty. We found out there was going to be a surprise.

Excitement was building. What were we going to do? We hopped in buses with the knowledge we were going to venture onto an hour long course to our destination, Denpasar. We snaked through the city, seeing lions, tigers, bears, and a sign for “Happy Puppy”. We shrugged the sign off, thinking it was nothing. Little did we know. A U-turn signaled our liftoff to adventure world. Our spacecraft? Happy Puppy Karaoke. Oh snap. We sang and danced the night away with 80’s bops, 2008 classics, and ending with the iconic Nicki Minaj hit “Starships”. We have our differences. We are from different places. We all love different things. But above all, we love Starships. It tightened our bond as a group. We came back, tired yet gratified with our experience, enticed with the idea of another tomorrow.

-Julia and Grace

Tuesday June 26, 2018

We started our day off this morning with a trip to the coffee plantation after a fun night of singing karaoke. At the coffee plantation, we tried a variety of local teas and coffees and learned how they make a delicacy in Bali consisting of the stool from Luwak cats. The coffee comes from the beans that are fed to the cats and then separated from the rest of the waste. Then, we headed to a local Balinese river for some white water rafting!

During the white water rafting, we first met our guide named Made and began our journey on the rapids. The river started off calm and steady, but after a small waterfall, it became a bit rough. The river winded through the Balinese jungle and provided us with many breathtaking views. At the half way point, we had the chance to get out of the boat and look at a giant waterfall sitting in the middle of the jungle!!! After we got back in the boat, there was more twists and turns and we finally made it to the final drop. It was a small waterfall that was 4 meters (1 story) high!!!!

Finally, we finished the day with our last round of service to local families and dinner at an NGO supporting pop up clinics that help less privileged towns that need medical help. Today was our second to last day in Bali and we couldn’t have thought to spend it in a better way. We are excited for some shopping and surfing tomorrow!

-by Hailey and Arriana

Thursday June 28, 2018

The last day was packed with fun in the sun in Legian Beach where students shopped, lounged, and caught some waves! After surfing and chilling beach-side, the evening was spent reflecting on our 2 weeks of adventure, cultural immersion, and service. Students shared their goals for the future, made one final offering, and watched a slide show of special moments from the trip.

A mini “graduation” ceremony closed the night where student’s received a wooden Balinese carving of their name and an Indonesian flag for their peers to sign. This morning, everyone headed off to airport and departed from Bali. Tears were shed, hugs were given, and wishes of safe travels filled the air. The GLA and local Bali Institute staff were so glad to meet the session one students and live and learn alongside the 27 leaders and future world changers! While our time together in Bali is complete, our memories and GLA bond are forever <3

Coming soon! Check back here for program blog updates.

Sawatdee kaa (hello) from Thailand!

After many hours (or even days) of travel, everyone has arrived and is ready to go! Our first day in Chaing Mai was full of food, fun, and making new friends.

On our walking tour in the old city we visited temples and learned about Thai culture from our amazing local staff.

At first of many market visits we learned about what ingredients are used in Thai cuisine and tried our hand at making some typical Thai dishes like green curry, pad Thai, and tom kha.

Today we embraced the Thai saying that, “We only eat one meal a day. It starts when we wake up and ends when we go to bed!”

Day 3

Cultural Kaleidoscope began  with an artistic twist to several thai pottery factories. There, we took a group lesson and were given the opportunity to create our own “masterpieces” of sorts, imitating the other beautiful Thai pottery surrounding us. All the while the amazing Thai staff discretely  found amusement in our mishaps.. We extended our day of relaxation to _____ lake where partook in bonding activities and enjoyed another taste of Thai cuisine in the Buegaios. After returning to the base we engaged in more group activities where we got to learn about our peers through our newfound skills– active listening. For the final act of the day we were split up into mentor groups where we were asked to contemplate our reasons for being here, Overall, it seems that Thailand is shaping up to be our greatest adventure yet!

By: Maria, Biancat Ethan

June 25, 2017

We began our day with a Monk chat at Wat Suan Dok. Praha KK taught us about the four noble truths and the noble 8 fold path along with the other fundamentals of Buddhism. Afterwards, the group had a long Q&A with KK and asked many important questions they had about Buddhism, KK, and Thai culture involving Buddhism. We also learned Praha KK’s favorite method of meditation and cleared our minds during a group meditation with Praha KK following with a small your of the temple including MCU Buddhist University. After our special time with Praha KK, we went for the lunch the boat restaurant. Once we were all filled up, we headed over to House of Blessing Children’s Home to begin our FIRST DAY of service!!! Julie and P’Nut gave us a brief history of House of Blessing Children’s Home before we split into two groups. One group sanded down old playground structures in order for the sets to get a shiny new coat of paint! The other group helped start construction on a new laundry facility by digging large 6 foot holes and painting beams (with plenty of girl power involved). Everyone had a great group sweat while working hard for the kids on each of their projects. Finally after working super hard in the heat and sweat, the kids arrived back at the home after their long day of hard work at school. As they drove in on the buses, every kid had the biggest smile, waved, and ‘waied’ to all the GLA students as we returned the gesture. The kids all exited their buses and immediately ran to greet us. All of us GLAers we’re just as excited to meet and play with the kids as they were to meet and play with us! The playing commenced and games of ping pong, soccer/football, tag, and duck duck goose all broke out. There was laughing; so much laughing. Each child was grabbing for one of our hands and a couple GLAers developed some pretty cool fan groups. Every single human there had the largest smile plastered to their faces throughout the entire time we had together. To wrap up our day, we split up into mentor groups and discussed how rewarding all of this service would be after working there for four days.

By Meg Fordyce

June 30, 2017

July 1, 2017

This morning we were all very happy to have a late breakfast, which started at nine instead of seven. After breakfast, we started some lesson plans so we could present our plan to our mentors, ensuring our plans were okay. Then we went to the Chiang Mai Night Safari with the kids from House of Blessings, and no it was not at night, it was a walk around zoo. Afterwards we went to the mall to get some KFC, which is a treat here in Thailand. The children were all very excited to enjoy some tasty food. Some people who like veggies went to go find subway but we found out that it actually moved, so we ventured around the mall to find some good thai food. In this insane mall that people were mistaking for an office or hospital, there was a bowling alley so we took the kids bowling and it turns out none of them had bowled before. It was pretty chaotic as the kids crowded together to get their turn, but eventually we had a system established and all was well. We then slowly made our way out the mall trying not to say our goodbyes yet. Too soon, it was time to leave and some tears were shed as we said goodbye to the children we’d spent the past week with. back at homebase, we watched a documentary called the Last Elephants in Thailand showing the treatment of elephants in tourism in Thailand. We found out that a lot of cool things happen and that there are people working to save the elephants and protect them. This one lady Syriah had opened the first elephant hospital and has an elephant with the prosthetic leg after it was blown off after stepping on a landmine. We discussed how we felt about the video and then talked about what we’re going to do at the elephant place tomorrow. We ended the night was some more teaching prep and are all excited to meet the new children.

July 2, 2017

July 3, 2017

July 8, 2017

Today we went on a bike and kayak adventure!

– 17 kilometer bike ride where we saw friendly locals, rice farms, and mountains!
– 8 kilometer kayak adventure!
– Bouncy slide in lake and jumping platform!
– “Shout out circle”where we shared things that we love about each other!

June 23, 2017

Throughout the day 29 students from Greece, the UK, China, and the United States arrived in Chiang Mai. With droopy eyelids and a lot of luggage we settled into our home base for the next two weeks. There is much to do, see, learn, and eat in the coming days, but first SLEEP! Let the adventure begin!

 

June 25, 2017

Leaders of the Day:

Hunter, Phoebe, and Rhi:

June 26, 2017

After a day of experience , our teachers were able to build strong bonds with their students as well as each other. We were able to accurately observe our classes and adjust our lessons to give the students a fun and informative experience with GLA.  Following a long day of difficult but gratifying work, we took out our stress rather unconventionally with a traditional Muay Tai class.  Despite a few of us having to extra push ups, we were able to connect with friends and family at an Internet cafe.  We finished up our day with a couple rounds of broken telephone and learning a traditional Chinese fan dance from our Chinese students.  Though we were tired from a long day of teaching and punching we finished the day feeling like celebrities amongst the students signing countless autographs and being surrounded by so much love and positivity.  We really look forward to continuing our work with the students as well as out Cultural Exchange tomorrow where we will be performing Party In The USA and The Cupid Shuffle.

Today leaders were Gianna S. Millie and Lily

June 27, 2017

Hey, It’s Liola, Kevin, and Olivia. Today we were able to cross out riding an elephant off our bucket lists’ at Thai Elephant camp. We started camp off right by meeting and feeding our elephants sugar cane and bananas. we crossed the river on the back of our elephants and took an hour and a half hike into the jungle.  Once reaching the top, we stopped for a quick pad Thai lunch while the elephants bathed themselves in the mud. GLA joined the mud party and covered ourselves in clay just like the elephants. The clay is good for your skin! We finished our day by hiking down to the river and giving the elephants a bath.  The elephants were so happy they sprayed us and gave squishy kisses. We quickly rinsed off and boarded the vans for home base. Everyday is a new experience and we can’t wait for another one in Thailand!

Leaders of the Day: Grace & Alexa

Today we split into two groups to go on different adventures. One group went to discover the jungle in Ahakha Village and got to eat various foods. The next group went to a food market tour and experience new Thai snacks/desserts. We walked around and shopped a little. After we met up at Art in Paradise 3-D Museum. We were all fascinated by the 3D paintings. Then we went to the one place we’ve been waiting for, Thai massages. Spending an hour stretching our bodies in weird positions, the experience exceeded our expectations. Gathering in the vans we went home where we relaxed and ate dinner.

July 4, 2017

Today was a day that we are sure none of us will ever forget! We had the chance to bond with our friends while flying through the jungle zip lining. It might have seemed a little scary at first, but all of us found a little piece of our wild side. After zip lining, we had the chance to make a positive difference in the world by planting some trees. We finished off our day by getting together as an entire group and learning a little more about the interesting and beautiful lives of our mentors. Although we are sad that we only have one more full day together, we are fully prepared to have the best day so far!

Jack and Korbin

July 5, 2017

Our goal today, as leaders of the day, was to make everyone remember the positive traits of all the people that joined us on this life changing and eye opening experience. Some of us visited the Ahkha Village while others toured the Warorot market. Then we went to lunch at Tesco and were able to re-unite at the cafe, where we did our surveys. The evaluations allowed us an opportunity to think back on the amazing times we spent on this awesome trip. At the end if the day we spent a wonderful time having dinner on a dock and chatting as a group for the last time. Since we had dinner outside of home base, we were still able to do shout outs, which made many of us openly emotional. Overall we achieved our goal of ending this divine trip with an activity that made us all reminisce on the great adventures that we were privileged to experience in the past two thrilling weeks.

-Thank you GLA,

Flora Bourdeau and Angel Lee

July 6, 2017

We bid a bittersweet farewell to 29 lovely students. We learned a lot from them and really enjoyed witnessing their growth throughout the last 14 days. The last two weeks were not without their challenges, and we hope that when students reflect on their experience they will see their curiosity, perseverance, and resilience as skills they can use for many years to come. It was a true pleasure to have them all in Thailand on the Cultural Kaleidoscope program. Safe travels home and get some sleep!

Paz, Gurdip, Jessica, and Max