6/17/2017

Yesterday was a full day of orientation and exploring the “old town” of Quito. We visited some famous sites and had learned about the chocolate making process.

Early to bed for an early breakfast so we can head for the islands. Once we hit the islands, contact will be infrequent, but we look forward to to sending pictures and updating you as we are able!

Ready for the flight in Quito. In 1 hour we are on our way to paradise.

After a long day we finally arrived to Isabela and our base.

6-17-2017

6-18-2017

Emma Kapani

Will Daniels

Today was our first day of service working at Campo Duro. We cleared the tortoise habitats of unwanted weeds to make more of their land accessible. In the afternoon,  we hiked along the beach and swam in water surrounded by mangroves and blue footed boobies. A great first day in the Galápagos!

June 19th: Samuel McCarthy Potter & Aylin Duvan

June 20th: Zane Stowers, Izzi Dull

 Today was a fun day, we started off the day by going to a tortoise breeding center. Learning all about tortoises and how they breed, plus why they need to have a breeding center. We then went on a beautiful hike up an active volcano. Although the hike was 10 miles in total we managed to persevere through the heat. We ended the night with a great dinner provided by our lovely hosts.

6/21/2017

Benjamin Sheffield

Lily Hofman

Today was day seven. After breakfast we went to work at a school for little kids, where we sanded metal bars and weeded the area around there school in order to better there learning environment. We than had lunch and after lunch we had the mid point check which allowed us to voice our concerns about the trip so far. Finally we had a free afternoon where we could swim, explore the island, or help out in the kitchen. Now we have mentor groups in which we will end our day in a game of telephone.

6/22/2017

Alex Morris

Jake Polanski

We started the day off early and had breakfast at 6:00am. Shortly after we arrived at the harbor and got in the boat that would take us to Floreana a for lunch and snorkeling. When we arrived, we took a short hike to a cove for some amazing snorkeling where we saw sea turtles, sea lions, and other cool animals. Afterwards we walked to a restaurant where we changed and ate delicious food. Shortly after we walked to the harbor for another long boat ride. We then arrived at San Cristóbal. We spent  40 minutes walking around and shopping. Afterward we got on a bus and rode to home base where we ate dinner a day got in out mentor groups. Everyone was desperate to get some sleep for another big day.

6/23/2017
Audrey Pacthod

Clayton Hines

This morning we went snorkeling in Darwin Bay. We saw a lot of marine fauna such as Sea Lions, rainbow fish, turtles, sting rays and crabs. As we gazed at the cliff from Darwin`s view point we saw many birds flying and diving in the water for fish. We then walked to the information center where Fernando explained to us the history of the Galápagos as well as its diverse biodiversity. He also mentioned how Ecuador strives to fight for Nature’s rights. His explanation opened our eyes about the preciousness of the universe and how we should try as well to preserve our only home. We then headed back to Home Base for Lunch. After a short a rest we reached our service destination, where we used machetes to clear brush and vines we did that for four hours and had a surprisingly good time. Then we hiked back to the hostel and had a wonderful spaghetti and pork dinner.

6/25/207

Lily Sjaarda and Jamie Malasek

Today we got to sleep in which was a well received gift. Then we moved on to helping our hosts weed out their garden space and helped to transplant native plants into small containers in order for them to grow large enough to plant directly into the ground. We then went back to Home Base to enjoy lunch. We had time to pack up our things then we were off to the beach. Once at the beach we watched sea lions play in the sand and water. After the beach we had time to explore the town. After that we came back to Home Base and had a barbecue dinner and a campfire while listening to our guide Fernandos guitar playing and singing.

6/27/2017

Bella Jacobs, Anya Tyagarajan, Aylin Duvan, Clayton Hines

Today was our last full day together!

We started the day by going to the equator, and learned a lot about historic Ecuadorian tribes. Lots of us got diplomas for being egg masters 😉

Next, we took a salsa class in town, and had a lot of fun learning all the steps.

Afterwards, we all had lunch at Crepes & Waffles. The food was so good, and not gonna lie, we all stuffed our faces with crepes, waffles, and ice cream.

From lunch we all walked to the market, and enjoyed around two hours of free time to walk around and buy some beautiful souvenirs. Some of us even got to bargain with the prices!

We walked back to the hotel from the market, and headed off to pack and write evaluations of our trip.

Next, we all had a nice dinner together, and Zane organized an activity after dinner where we all wrote one good thing about everyone on a piece of paper. Everyone got to keep their papers after, and take it home with them.

It was a very eventful last day, and we’re all going to miss each other so much! Thank you GLA! It is said that the best part of a journey is the trip back home, where you can tell your friends and family about your journeys and all the stories and exploits you had and how they will affect you in the future. So fair well and thank you for the experiences you have given to us, and may you do so to many others in the future.

 

July 31st arrival day blog:

Bula! With an early, 5:50 AM arrival our GLA group collected itself and we headed off to our hotel at Nadi Bay. After a hearty breakfast and some socializing, we relaxed by the pool and headed to our rooms. Before lunch we had our first Chow Circle where we played a shoe swap game where half the group takes off a shoe, the other half of the group picks up a shoe, and the two people find each other and talk about where their shoes have been. Then we went to lunch before having orientation where we talked about health, code of conduct, and other important things. At Wailoaloa Beach, a 15 minute walk from our hotel, we played some more ice breaker games. One game involved being back to back with someone, turning around, and yelling their name. Before dinner we printed sulus with stencils and paint. Afterwards, we had another Chow Circle, talked about the role as leader of the day and what we are planning to do tomorrow. We had a delicious Indian curry dinner and went straight to bed!

Day 2

Bula! Today in Fiji was a blast! We kicked off the morning with a nice breakfast at the Mango Cafe. After that, Gabby, a local Fijian staff member, gave us a fascinating presentation about Fijian culture and customs. We also learned how to tie our sulu’s and how to present ourselves once we are in the villages. After a fun game of poison dart frog, we enjoyed some free time hanging out by the pool and getting to know each other! Later, we hopped on the bus and headed down to the “Best Fish and Chips” restaurant overlooking the ocean. After filling up on our fish and chips, we headed over to the Sleeping Giant Gardens. We saw some beautiful flowers and enjoyed peaceful swings on the hammocks. We then endured a beautiful yet tiring hike up the mountain. But it was totally worth it at the end to see such incredible views! Once we got back down the mountain, we drove down to the thermal mud baths down the road. We coated ourselves head to toe in the mud and had a blast competing head to head in some fun games while the mud dried. We then took a dip in the mud pool and the thermal pool to cool off and relax. We all enjoyed some amazing massages and walked through the booths the women had set up selling bracelets, sulu’s, and more. Once we were done we headed back to the hotel and enjoyed some free time to relax. We met up for dinner later on and had some fantastic fried rice, fish, chicken, and fruit cocktails. We talked a lot over dinner and then finished the day with our first mentor session! Moce (pronounced mothe), bye for now!

-Written by Isabel

August 1, 2017

“Bula, This morning, we had an engaging discussion about our goals for this trip and the steps we will take to achieve them. After our meeting, we left for an Indo-Fijian community. While we were there, we prepared an authentic Indian meal, composed of pumpkin curry, potato curry, coconut chutney, and roti. In addition, we learned about the Indian migration to Fiji in the 1800s. After our afternoon in the Indo-Fijian community, we toured Nadi, a local Fijian town and experienced a diverse culture. Here, we went to a local, outdoor farmer’s market. After returning to our hotel, we participated in a student-led activity. This activity consisted of sharing our opinions and perspectives on various topics. For dinner, we had an authentic Fijian meal. We are looking forward to the next few weeks of our experience in Fiji.

August 3, 2017

Bula! Today we woke up early with our bags packed, ready to go to our new home at Botaira. After eating breakfast, we headed to the port to hop on the ferry for a three-hour boat ride to the island. On the ferry, we met some local Fijian kids and played cards. Arriving on the island we were greeted by freshly cut coconuts, a welcoming song, and smiling faces. We quickly settled in and had a delicious lunch. On the beach, Gabby then instructed us on proper snorkeling technique and we swam to the platform, where we jumped off the high dive, sunbathed, and canoed. After swimming in we got changed and participated in learning more on Fijian culture and learned about the importance of embracing cultural norms. Enjoying the sunset at dinner, we saw the infamous green flash as the sun went down. We were then introduced to our local service leaders and briefed on our tasks for tomorrow, including marine preservation and helping in the local schools. Tired from our long day, we went to bed early. – Julia and Kevin

– Julia and Kevin

August 4, 2017

Today was our first day of service in Gunu village. The hour long boat ride around the island gave us a chance to admire the surrounding islands and crystal clear water. When we arrived on the beach, we walked through the village to arrive at the main hall where we observed the kava ceremony to welcome us into the village. From there, we went to see the school, where the children were celebrating the end of “Preschool week.” We got to experience some lively performances by the local students, as well as a Fijian guest speaker. After the celebration and lunch, my group began our work with the children. we each met with two different students for 25 minutes each. It was challenging to try to make them comfortable with us and help them learn in such a short amount of time, but especially rewarding when they spelled a word correctly on the first try or came up with their own sentences to write. We are all excited to continue working with them!

Hey Jane, it’s Lulu- this blog post is for you, and by the way, I’m not dead!
Today we pulled out mangroves from the ground and replanted them in a less populated mangrove area. It wasn’t muddy like sam said it was because there wasn’t even mud. It was a good time since it wasn’t a lot of work and during lunch, we got lots of food. The locals in the village cooked us casava and plantains. We ended up planting 468 mangroves and I got really attached to one of them, so I took a selfie with it. Afterward, we met a really cute dog named Bruno! He had tan fur and black around his snout. Back on the island we went snorkeling and tanned on the dock. Some of us missed tea time because we were too lazy to swim back. There was an unexpected fire show during sunset and some students held the fire stick! For dinner, we had a barbecue out on the beach. I was supposed to write the blog after dinner but I was so tired I went to bed, so I’m sorry for the delay my friends but it’s here now… I love you all and be sure to subscribe to my channel
-By Lulu and Leila

August 5, 2017

This morning, like almost every morning here in Fiji, the group ate breakfast altogether to the sound of waves. When we finished our “pancakes” and scrambled eggs, we split off to get ready for the day that our designated activity groups had ahead of us. Group 1 sat down with Tema for a Fijian language lesson. The six of us learned key phrases and concepts of the official Fijian language until lunch at noon. The staff, and also our friends, prepared a mound of white rice and a beef stir fry for us. The afternoon was relaxed as we played in the sea and lounged in hammocks. We set out around 3:30 for the channel which a short boat ride away. We arrived and hopped into the water with our snorkeling gear to be greeted by massive manta ray beneath us! We all described the experience as one of the, if not THE coolest thing we’ve ever seen.

After group one left for there Fijian language lesson group two left to hike to Noah’s village (a local staff member). We raced to the top of a big lookout and then sang songs on the way down. It took us about two hours, faster than any other groups! Once we were in the village we met some of Noah’s family then had lunch. We took the boat back base where the ocean welcomed us for a
nice swim to cool off.

Talk about a great way to spend a Saturday!

August 6, 2017

Fiji blog: Day two of service work! Today we went back to village of Gunu to continue our service work. The marine group went into the village to survey which houses had the proper water filter systems and waste management. We then built filter systems for the houses without them, using limestone and plastic containers. Then in the afternoon we went snorkelling, looking for trash in the coral. We didn’t find any, so we made our way back onto the boat. In the education group, we walked to the village next door to Gunu and spend the day with the preschoolers there. In the morning we sat down with them and played lots of learning games and colored a lot. We practiced our alphabet, numbers, colors, and animals. We also read lots of books in pairs and as a group. The kids were so smart and knew so much! We then had our lunch break and the women in the village made us some awesome food, lots of rice, noodles, plantains, cassava, and more. After lunch we met back with the preschoolers and some more came to join as well. We all sat in a circle and passed a ball around to practice letters, numbers, colours, and animals. We then learned some Fijian songs and dances, and also practiced some in English too. Before leaving we went outside with the kids and played around in the grass. We gave them rides on our shoulders and swung them in circles. We got lots of hugs and then were on our way back to home base! On our way back to the islands the seas were quite rough as the wind picked up. But we didn’t even notice cause everyone was singing songs as loud as we could the whole ride back. It was so fun! When we got back we set right out for the sunset hike. We hiked up along a beautiful path watching the sun as it set over the horizon. When we got to the top we admired the beautiful view then made our way back down.

Fiji blog: Bula! Colin here. Today was another service day and I was part of the marine group. Unfortunately, the winds picked up today and we did not have the adequate technology to be able to traverse the obstacles of the great Pacific’s rough waters. Instead, the marine group decided to do all their work in the reef right outside of Botaira. For the first half of the day, we delved into some fish identification. We were each given a fish to look at for before we braved the cold waters. During our swim, we each tallied the amount of our assigned species of fish we saw. Getting out of the water was a challenge due to the heavy winds, making it very cold. After lunch, we once again jumped back in, but this time we were looking for an invasive species of starfish: The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish. This species is extremely harmful to the coral and is able to destroy two hectares of coral every day. We were able to find, collect, and bury nine of these dangerous creatures before retiring for the day. The education group began the day in the dining area overlooking the ocean. There, we worked with Ms. Tema to create lesson plans and activities for the next education group to use. We tried to make games that would be engaging, but that would also help the kids in areas that they struggle in, like creating sentences and being descriptive. Many of us made activities that involved matching words to create sentences or games that challenged them to remember certain English words. After our work, we got a chance to enjoy the sun and the sea. Later in the afternoon, when the marine group returned from their service, we participated in Fijian games run by Botaira’s local staff. We threw spears, tried to find a ball while blindfolded, and did an egg toss on the beach. This evening, our mentors gave a presentation on setting goals, which culminated in a description of a project that each GLA student will do. We all are encouraged to relate our experiences in Fiji to something that we can do to make a difference in our own communities, and create a presentation on our ideas. Our day ended with briefings on our next service adventures for each group, as we begin new projects tomorrow. Moce! (Goodbye!)

~Leila

Today in the sustainability service group, we completed the cement base for the water catchment system we are constructing. First, we compiled all of the supplies we needed to make the base. Next, we assembled a mold for the cement base using wooden boards. After, we mixed all of the cement ingredients in a barrel and poured it into the mold. Finally, we used a trowel to spread the cement through out the mold.

Today, we all woke up bright and early to eat our breakfast and get ready for a day of service, a short boat ride away to Gunu village. The marine group spent our morning chopping down several dozen trees and then using the skinny trunks to build a fence around a designated area for trash just off the beach. The sustainability group continued our rainwater harvesting project, where we installed gutters and continued working with cement for the rain barrel. Both the marine service group and sustainability group met in Nosongo village for a lunch of fried rice and a variety of Fijian dishes that the women of the village prepared for us. After lunch, the marine group came together again to take on the task of digging a six foot hole for tin and glass waste that builds up around the village. The sustainability group dug a hole for filling up water containers near the rain barrel and filled it with cement. Then we got back to Botaira and had free time, where some people swam to watch the sunset and others played cards. Dinner was great as usual and then we had an identity-based activity on the deck.

-Julia and Randy

8/16/2017

Hi!

Today was our last day of service, but luckily not our last day in the village. We still have the final ceremony to look forward to:) In the morning we ate another great breakfast and then were off to the village. The education group worked with their respective kids in the morning. We started off by sitting in a circle all together, singing some songs and the children recited some of their favourite bible verses. It was soooo adorable.

Then every GLA student in education got a kid to work with and read to them. We worked with them on their english and some math. Then it was lunch time. After lunch we played some games with the kids. We sang row row row your boat and I’m a little teapot. And did many dances. All the kids were very excited and into all the activities which made it 10x better. Then we read a final book all together to wrapped up our education service. I already miss the kids and it has not even been a full day. Luckily we will see them all on Friday. Education has created such great connections:)

In sustainability today we finished both of our water tanks! The concrete bases had dried so we took off the wood holding and rolled the rain barrels on top. We also set up the piping along the houses that led the water into the tank. It was pouring rain most of the day so it was awesome to see the instant results of our hard work when the rainwater started trickling down!

On the way back to Botaira the waves were huge and it was windy and rainy all the way back! It was crazy but we made it back safe and sound! We had some tea at tea time and then had great mentor sessions. We had a great dinner and played some heads up before bed and just spent some time together as we wrap up our final days at Botaira!

-Carolyn and Isabel

8/17/2017

Being one of the last days on Naviti, we had a big, fun day ahead of us. Soon after breakfast, we were off to a different part of the island where there was a remote beach with beautiful snorkeling. We spent the morning and into lunch tanning, swimming, playing in the sand and admiring the coral reefs. At noon we had a delicious BBQ lunch that some Botaira staff prepared for us, we were lucky enough to have them tag along for the day.

Once arriving back at Botaira, activity group #1 went on a medicine walk with Ms Tema. She taught us all about the medicinal uses of many plants that are at our own resort. Meanwhile, activity group #2 made coconut rings, and saw a demonstration of a local staff member opening a coconut with their bare hands. Afterwards, we had a talent show that everyone participated in. Before wrapping up the night, we had a bonfire on the beach, and participated in a variety of exciting activities.

Anna T
Lizzie O

8/18/2017

The final days are upon us. Early today, we took off in our little school boat for our last day at Nosoqo. We arrived to a lively community preparing for the lovo (earth oven). We helped where we could and then watched the local men load the food into the hole. While we waited with the villagers for our lunch to cook, we presented to them the details of the service work we completed.

Hey what’s up! It’s Lulu one last time. I’m just picking up where Randy left off. After our presentations we kicked it with some authentic Fijian dance routines. A group of Fijian kids and their parents performed a fun gospel dance for us. After we danced dambay for the village. Later the Fijians took apart the lovo which was literally on fire but the Fijians still touched everything with their bare hands. To neutralize the heat on their skin, the Fijians dunked their hands in cold buckets of water. We enjoyed some lunch together which was pretty tasty. We then had a farewell cava ceremony with the mentors. The local ladies also sold us different souvenirs and jewellery. We got some pretty sweet stuff! Finally, the village gathered to sing isa lei for us before we left. A lot of us cried as we boarded the boat! We came back to tea time and dinner on the beach followed by some sweet dance moves done by the Fijian staff. It was a pretty solid day and I’m ready for bed. This is my last time writing the blog so Lulu is out for good.

-Lulu and Randy

8/19/17

Bula! Today we started off the day early with a sunrise hike up the mountain at Botaira. After breakfast, we packed up our bags and prepared for a day of travel. Then we presented our Capstone presentations to the group and received a very heartfelt goodbye song from the lovely staff at Botaira.

We took our last ride on our little school boat to get out to the ferry that would take us back to the mainland. We said a few more tearful goodbyes as we climbed aboard, and watched Botaira disappear. After our three hour boat ride, we got on a bus that would take us back to Nadi Bay. We are now spending our last night in Fiji relaxing and preparing for the day ahead. We can’t wait to see you all!

Goodnight,
-Leila and Julia

8/20/2017

Bula! Today is our last day in Fiji and everyone is so sad to go! We woke up at Nadi Bay and had a great breakfast. We then had some packing time and left for downtown Nadi. We walked around town and bought some cool souvenirs! Some of the girls got henna and we had lunch at a pizza place. We watched a slideshow of our trip and then were off to the airport. Moce Fiji!

Day 1

Bula!

 What a truly amazing first day in Fiji it has been! Once meeting with the local staff and directors we settled into our rooms before a delicious authentic Fijian meal. It is astounding how kind and thoughtful we have found the local community to be having only been here for an afternoon. In the late evening we were pleasantly surprised by multiple traditional dancers that did everything from dancing with fire to pulling a few of us in for a dance or two! Overall this sneak peak into the local culture that we will be experiencing over the next few weeks was quite unforgettable.

-Tabitha Shively

Day 2

We all started the morning off well-rested for an introduction to Fiji’s history and culture with Gabbi (a Fijian staff member). We then learned specifically about the Indian Fijian culture before departing to a local Indian community. We were greeted by Pastor Praveen Chand, and took part in cooking various Indian dishes. We were inspired by how courageous the Indo-Fijian people are, by preserving their native roots here in Fiji. It was also interesting to see how they cooked most of the meal outside (it was eye-opening to experience how much work went into the big meal).

After our bellies were filled to the brim with delicious roti, curry and dahl, we went to a mud bath and hot springs just outside of Nadi. Everyone covered themselves from head to toe with volcanic mud. We then did ridiculous relay races while still covered in mud! It was a blast! Some people even had short massages with coconut oil while others enjoyed fruit and shopped at a little market. We learned today that the coconut tree is the tree of life here in Fiji because the whole tree is used for many things! The mud bathes were a super fun way to end day. We are all so surprised about how friendly the people are here. Everyone says “bula” and waves!

By Maria, Julia and Bundev

Day 3

Today, July 9th, we met in the presentation room after breakfast to discover more about leadership and what it means. It was informative and even allowed us to practice our teamwork abilities. In addition, we set goals for our time here and realized how important it is to support each other. We then headed out to downtown Nadi on a small bus and experienced the local culture on a ‘lil shopping spree. We bought goodies from the grocery store and browsed the different sulus to get for wearing during service time. Lunch was at a pizza shop called Mama’s Pizza! Let’s just say there’s a reason Fiji is known for its own local foods 😉 Then we went on a nature walk at the Sleeping Giant Garden. The view was amazing!

After returning to the hotel, we had internet time to have some of our last communication with the outside world before leaving for the rem te Yasawa Islands. A mentor then lead some rooftop yoga as the sun was setting! Tonight we are preparing for our big journey to Botaira and will update you all on what comes next!

Madison G, Jacob & Jared

Day 4

Today was a big day for the GLA team! We started off our morning by eating breakfast and traveling to the ferry dock to travel to Naviti. As we sat on the boat deck, we felt the Fijian sun and admired the beautiful crystal clear water and exotic islands. After the long but short-feeling boat ride, we arrived at our new home. We where welcomed with singing, fresh coconuts, and a beautiful flower necklace. As we ventured towards the island, we admired the colorful reefs and hermit crabs. We then heard the beat of the Fijian drum that signalled it was lunch time. We all sat down and ate our first meal while overlooking the view of the ocean from Botaira. After lunch we were assigned rooms and told to put our swimsuits on for our swim test/free time! We snorkelled, swam, and jumped off of a platform until it was time for tea. After tea time some students played volleyball with the locals while others relaxed in their rooms. We then came together for a cross cultural talk, where we learned about the ‘danger of a single story’ and how stereotypes are portrayed of cultures from around the world. Before dinner, local Fijians performed a torch lighting run and we all ran behind, following the flame! Dinner consisted of rice, soup, rolls, and chicken, fish and veggies. Following dinner, we were all briefed on what our service adventures hold for the upcoming days!

– Avery and Camryn

Day 5

Today was the first day in Gunu Village on Naviti and our first day of service. We were greeted on the island by the Village Mayor Whice, and observed a traditional welcoming kava ceremony. We were also greeted by the local children who sang us a song they had prepared. After introductions, we got to work on service. The marine group pulled and replanted over five hundred mangrove trees which will become the habitat for 75% of the fish caught for the village. After which, we had a mud fight with Gabby and his students. The education group taught three groups of children from all English levels by helping them with reading, writing, and spelling. Afterwards, we played soccer with some of the children during their PE class. Finally, the sustainability group spent the day gathering rocks and sand to make a water filtration system. When we got back, we got to snorkel and have some solo personal time as we watched the sunset from the beach. Today was the hardest day so far but it was also the most rewarding; we are all excited to see what will come in the next few weeks.

-Kimberly, Hannah, Kasidy

Day 6

After an informative film about how climate change is directly impacting Fiji, we headed off to bed and woke up to another stunning sunrise. It was another good day at Gunu village! The sustainability group built the base of the water tank which consisted of timber, a plastic sheet, a rocks, and cement. Education continued their one-on-one sessions with students at the school. The marine group, who call themselves the “Soso Squad” (Soso meaning mud in Fijian) remained at home base to learn about the role that mangroves and coral reefs play in different ecosystems around the world. They then geared up to snorkel in a designated area while tracking coral, fish and invertebrates. Upon returning back to home base we had some free time and then learned how to wash our laundry (the undergarments that are not washed at the village). The dinner was delicious fish, cassava and other options! We had a brief mentor time following dinner discussing what service is while star gazing. We are off to bed and will check in later!
-Billy, Phoebe and Sage

Day 7

Good morning friends and family both old and new! Today was the last day of our service groups and we are now switching on to other ventures. Marine finished up their first service rotation by cleaning up the coral reefs and collecting any trash that was seen on the beach. Sustainability finished making the water tank and putting gutters on the houses to collect more water for the village. It was really rewarding to know that this is something that will effect their lives for as long as they need water. Education continued to help the children learn; and by the end of their service they had seen a difference in how the kids performed.We are now moving on to different projects in the community to keep the village clean, help the children with education, and to preserve as much water as possible. It is a fine day on the islands of Fiji. Hope you’re all well 🙂

-Maddie, Theo and Kylie

Day 8

Good morning family and friends! Today marks our completion of one fantastic week in Fiji! We began helping out in different service groups. Some started their morning with little, smiley faces as they mentored school kids for 25 minutes one on one. Others put on their hard hats and got to work collecting materials for our new water tanks. And the others got their hands and bodies dirty planting mangroves. After arriving back at home base we all enjoyed a intense game of speed charades and delicious octopus. Although the sky has been cloudy for the past few days, the Fijians bring fun and light to our lives! #TeamBula

-Jane and Molly

Day 9

 

Today we faced some choppy waters on the way to the community; some of us were left completely soaked! The sustainability group worked to make and pour concrete for the base of a water catchment tank. The marine and education groups got a lot done, but the chilly waters were a challenge for the marine group. Sustainability and education hiked to the other side of the island where they could get on the boat back to the resort in smoother waters, and they took off from a beautiful empty beach. The boat got back in record time! We all took part in mentor groups before dinner, and after eating we engaged in an activity to better understand our leadership styles and how this translates to our work with others. To finish the day off, we said good night to a beautifully starry night!

Bula from Fiji!
Today on Gunu, education, sustainability and marine groups wrapped up our last bit of service. We all are buzzing with accomplishment.
In education, many of the students taught us hand games, sang us songs and introduced us to new Fijian words.
In sustainability, we worked up as many droplets of sweat that would fit into the 3100 liter rain catchment tank .
In the depths of the coral reef in the azul waters, the marine group continued scientific data collection, a five-year project. A fish team, invertebrate team, and a coral team checked the reef for indicator species.
Later in the day, the whole group viewed a Ted Talk made by Drew Dudley regarding the importance of “lollipop moments”. This inspired the members the collective whole to share with the group their own impactful lollipop moments.
Cheers to wrapping up an excellent two weeks of service!
– Julia and Leslie Knope
Sending love to my mother and Fitzgerald Golfo

First day after completing our service, we had a Saturday full of activities. Group 1 went on a hike to Kese Village, which we braced with 7-8 students and were lead by Noah. Originally the group expected the hike to be a lot harder than it was, but the ending was very rewarding. We ate lunch with Noah’s family, and had a beautiful boat ride back to Botaira. For group 2, we walked along the beach in the morning looking at some animals that live by the shore on low tide. We saw some sea slugs, octopi, and some eel. Then we took a boat ride around the island to visit another reef and snorkelled for a couple hours. In the afternoon, we weaved some bracelets out of local plant leaves. Group 3 started the day off with a “medicine walk” around the resort with Ms. Tema. We spent around 2 hours walking around the resort learning about all of the plants and their medicinal purposes. After we sat and drank tea made from lemon leaves while some of us worked on our friendship bracelets. In the afternoon we sat with Jessica and Lisa while they shared their wisdom about being a savvy traveler. It was very inspiring and gave us good resources about how to ‘travel authentically.’ After this, most of us spent the afternoon playing volleyball and swimming. We closed the day off with a sunset swim out to a floating dock that has a sweet high jump off a ladder. We took tons of pictures and had a dance party on the floating dock and just had a grand ‘ol time! Today was definitely the hottest day while in Fiji!

-Kiara, Jake, and Emma

Fiji July 7-27

 

Wrapping up our last few days in Fiji, today we went snorkelling, weaved bracelets, made coconut rings, and learned Fijian songs and dances. Throughout the day we celebrated one of our own’s birthday with cake, balloons, and song. Happy Birthday Kavya! To finish off an amazing weekend we held a talent show where we watched everything from an interesting German rendition of party in the USA by Billie and Theo to a belly dancing lesson hosted by Tabitha. So bittersweet to be leaving Fiji in less than a week!

July 24, 2017

Bula! Today after breakfast the group was spilt into two groups, one group went on a hike while the other went on a medicine walk. The group ended their hike in the beautiful village of Kese! The actual hike was challenging and extremely tiring, but defiantly worth it because the view was amazing! The rest of the group went on a walk around the resort grounds led by Ms Tema, who showed us the medicinal properties of several plants that grow on the islands. Both groups met up together on a remote beach called Malivu! We had a awesome barbecue and the snorkelling there was one-of-a-kind. Everyone enjoyed soaking up the sun and celebrating their last few days on Naviti Island!

July 24, 2017

June 13, 2017

It was mutually agreed that the first day in Fiji felt drastically longer than a day. However, rather than feeling like time never seemed to pass, it feels more like we’ve been here for a while– like we’re all already friends, as cliché as it sounds. The first flights, including mine, landed a little after 5 am, which I’m sure is much earlier than any of us would normally be awake on a summer day. Though I got stuck in immigration (which it seems was not uncommon,) I was the first one to meet the GLA staff, and therefore had the pleasure of watching all the other students file out of the immigration and border control to meet most of us for the first time. It wasn’t hard to talk to anyone. We all have a commonality. Each and every one of us was brave enough to leave the luxury of comfort behind and to trek into something entirely uncomfortable and new. I think that’s a likely cause of instant relationships; nobody was afraid to share. We were all well beyond the point of fearing discomfort.

Our tour of our first location seems more like a vacation than a leadership trip. There’s a pool, incredible food, amazing staff members, and palm trees that allow streams of sunlight to hit the resort. It’s not something for us to mistake, though. Already today we’ve had multiple team building orientation activities to create the sense of comfort we left behind and to prepare us for, as we call it, “The Island.” From what I’ve been told, this island (where we will spend the duration of the trip) is the most remote location that GLA takes students to. Despite that, I was also told the “The Island” has everything we could ever want. A supposed one look at the environment has been enough to make the GLA staff abandon the want for technology and idealistic Western amenities. To put it simply, it’s gorgeous, I’m ecstatic to go, and from what I hear everyone else is, too.

We took a small trip away from our current Home Base to visit a nearby beach called Wailoaloa Beach, appropriately translated to “black water” beach. Though the main purpose was to allow us time to leave the grounds of the resort, it was interesting to look at the beach and quietly reflect on its condition. The water is dirty, polluted to the point where the waves are a dense gray color. Glass bottles and shards, cans, and even a CD riddle the shoreline. In a place known for being so beautiful and clean, this beach exists. It’s significant for all of us to look at and realize that where we are isn’t a vacation, but rather a place in which we can do our best to help. The beach may be beyond our help of 21 days, but we could at least encounter it with a positive attitude, doing more orientation exercises there and finding the beauty in smaller doses. Did you know that the tribal symbols found all over Fjii (and on the planes owned by Fijian Airlines) mimic nature? The tiny shells scattered across the sand each have distinct patterns that have become interpreted into the Fijian tribal print.

How could one immerse themselves into a culture without the language? We had the translation of the beach, and also took time to pick up a few more words. The most significant of those words is “Bula.” It’s used as an all around term, which I like to compare to “sup.” It’s a greeting, cheers, exclamation, and anything between. It’s a little something that allows us to become a little closer to who we’re living with, as when one says “Bula,” there is bound to be a reply. Not only that, but natives are quick to greet us with a smile, as we’re all just as eager to reply. It’s the little things that bring us closer together: the GLA students, staff, and Fijian people.

-Lilly Brada

Day 2

On the second day Sydney and Athena have been selected as leaders of the day which takes a role of leadership and responsibility. Being jet lagged had us up before the sun, which is unbelievable because most of us have not gotten up that early for school. After breakfast we all gathered for a cultural presentation that was presented by a local Fijian instructor. We all learned how this culture is a lot different historically and socially from our own. We were taught new words which included, good morning (Yandra), yes (io), and goodbye (mothe). After the presentation we all gathered as a group to discuss our group dynamic. Using a tree as a metaphor we used the roots as our names, truck as support, and the branches as our goals and what we hope to learn. Continuing in the discussion we dove deeper in knowing the construction of GLA. Exploring different food options in town, we went out to lunch and had fish and chips. Which we all say was amazing, including the ice cream and milk shakes we got.

Moving onto another life changing adventure, we had the opportunity to hike in the Sleeping Giant garden. Seeing orchids, ballerina flowers which look like ladies dancing, and trekking through mind-blowing trees eventually led us to an outlook of Nadi where we have been staying. Concluding the hike, our lovely guide, Howard, gave us a vibrant colored juice which had papaya, passion fruit, guava, and mango. Our next afternoon activity was a visit to the famous mud pools. Communally we enjoyed a little competition with potato sack races, partner balloon race, sprinting, freeze dance, and passing a ball to your team mates. We were led to buckets with mud and slathered it onto our bodied with help from others. We waited fifteen minutes for the mud to dry, and then jumped into a mud pool. We then went into another pool which was very warm and relaxing, slowly washing off the mud. The final pool was filled with minerals and big enough to swim around. Once we arrived back to home base, we finished the day with either playing cards, doing yoga, or just relaxing. Cannot wait for another day filled with Fijian smiles!

-Athena Mihalakakos and Sydney Ferris

Day 3:

Every day gets better and better I constantly fall in love with new colors, foods, and kitties. Today we visited a beautiful Indian village and we learned to make traditional foods, including curry, roti, and chutney  from scratch. We took turns flipping the roti and stirring the curry while others caught lots of frog as well as good vibes, love and happiness. While we consumed the fruits of our labor, we gained an inside view to the Indo-Fijian culture, which led to our very generous hosts letting us try on some of their traditional sarees.

On the bus ride to town the sense of community was strong as we all bonded over a mutual love of music from back home. When we arrived in downtown Fiji, we were introduced to even more welcoming people as we dove into life as a Fijian. We shopped for traditional Fijian Sulus and discovered some new and unusual foods in the supermarket. We all touched base in an internet cafe while trying Fijian beverages and desserts. The feeling of homesickness is hard to imagine because being on this island, we are so welcomed that it feels like we are at home.

Day 4-

The leaders of the day were Tessa and Evan. Now having spent a couple days on the island, we all awoke fairly energized and ready to take on the day. Our breakfast consisted of toast, fruit, cereal, and eggs… Yum! After breakfast we situated our luggage and prepared for the journey ahead to the port where we will depart for the island of Naviti. Upon the arrival to the port, we found a cafe and little shops to wait out the departure of the boat. During this time some of us shopped at the boutiques. Once we got on the boat we sat on the bow and watched as the beautiful islands went by– some being as small as a football field! The three hour boat ride flew by. Everyone was full of joy and had huge smiles as our island entered our view of the horizon. We were greeted on the beach by the staff singing and playing guitar. Giving the hugs, they gave us flower necklaces and coconuts with straw in them to drink. After, we were introduced to the amazing staff and went to our designated bungalows. Lunch was served and free time followed. It consisted of swimming and snorkeling. The reef here astonished many of us, We saw fish of every color and even a stingray! In the water, there is also an elevated platform that everyone jumped off. Once we finished out snorkeling, there was volleyball, soccer and tea time! After, we had a presentation on stereotypes and that there is always more than one story to something. We should not make any assumptions of people no matter where they come from. Dinner followed and was made up of fish soup, fish with sauce, veggies, mashed potatoes, and finished with pudding for dessert. After, we had mentor time, which is a time to discuss the day, our experiences, and life. Some of us laid out on the beach and stargazed. The night sky here is so surreal to all of us, After a long and exciting day, bedtime sounded great to all of us and we headed back to our bungalow looking forward to what the next few days hold.

Evan Mihalakakos

Tessa Salazar

June 16, 2017

Photos from Fiji:

June 17, 2017

On the morning of our first day in botaira we started off the day with a delicious, traditional Fijian breakfast prepared by the local staff of the resort; providing us with the energy to prepare us for the crazy fun adventures ahead.

We were separated into three groups, each given a different activity. In group one with Patrick, we went snorkeling in the beautiful Fijian coast to swim with manta rays, but unfortunately for us, there were none spotted in the area. So instead we helped relocate clams that were effected by the hurricane that occurred early last year to provide them with the sufficient sunlight they needed to grow.

In group 2 with Sam, we embarked on a nearly two hour hike up the center of the island, that led strait to the top of a mountain, parallel to another mountain to what the locals call the teddy bear. The hike took us to a small village where we bonded with each other and met several children of the island as well. They put on a little dance and had lunch with us. After the hike we took a boat back to enjoy some free time where we saw group 3 channeling their inner Fijian.

In group 3 with Lisa and Ms Tema, a leader in the Vinaka program, a published author, and an overall incredible and admirable woman– we dove deeper into their culture by learning some Fijian words and sentences that will later on help us during our service days in the village, and we were taught several different ways to tie a sulu–the traditional wrap worn by the Fijian people.

Our overall experiences these past five days have been absolutely breathtaking, and we are extremely grateful to have been welcomed into this amazing culture and given the opportunity to live like a real Fijian. We can’t wait to begin service on Monday to give back to this wonderful community.

Vinaka vaka Levu!

– Lu Gund and Macy McCormick

July 18, 2017

Lilly: My morning began with a lesson in Fijian language and proper tying of sulus after a healthy (and, of course, delicious) breakfast. The language is hard to get the hang of. Pronunciation is extremely difficult, especially with “g,” which, by the way, makes a “ng” sound. However, once one gets the hang of it, the language rolls right off the tongue. Midday was a marine adventure, in which my group and I dove deep into the coral reefs to search and take a tally of the sea creatures we spot. The water is incredible, absolutely beautiful and radiating with colors, just like the sunset we watched on the top of the island. I’ve taken two hikes in two days, walking and climbing to the to peaks, which are difficult, but completely worth while in the end.

Audrey: while Lilly was busy in her own group, I spent the day under water exploring the coral reef, we ran in to toothy needle fish and squishy sea cucumbers and a wide array of other sea creatures. After we took a lunch break, the rest of the afternoon was spent learning how to weave from native Fijians, we made jewelry and realized that all of the furniture we have been admiring is hand made and woven. After we had finished our jewelry, I got the opportunity to help out in the kitchen for tea time biscuits, the experience was wonderful and it felt so nice to be welcomed with open arms into their routine. The people here have and will continue to amaze me with their intense kindness and close knit community, I can’t wait to see what adventure we will go on next.

  Today was our first day of service! Last night, we were split into three groups: education, marine, and sustainably. As leader of the day, it was my responsibility to ensure that everybody was ready for their day of service. (This, however, was mainly just making sure that everyone had eaten their breakfast).

  To travel to the village of Gunu, we took a thirty minute boat ride, and were greeted upon arrival by the mayor of Gunu. Subsequent to this, we spilt into our groups–of which I was in marine–and began our service work.

  In the marine group, it was our responsibility to count certain fish, invertebrates, and coral reefs. Though the weather was windy and overcast, everyone in the group maintained a positive attitude, regardless of how chilly it got.

  Upon returning to home base, we had some free time to hang out and also play volleyball with the Fijian staff. We had a fun lesson about how to wash our undergarments by hand (we are now confident in doing this on our own for the rest of our time here). As the day came to a close, we broke into mentor groups and reflected on our day of service. Everyone was full of excitement for what is to come–despite whatever weather comes our way!

-Lilli Nilsson

Day 8

Today was our second day of service at the village and our second session with the kids at the primary school. We continued communicating with the children in English to further expand their knowledge. The children today were so motivated and engaged whilst reading and writing in their notebooks. In the sustainability group we poured hand made cement and attached the gutter to the house for our rain catchment system. Over all it was a very productive day of service for everyone involved.

P.S I love you mom ~Caden and Emily

Yet another day in paradise, also known as Botaira resort, we shared a meal gazing at the clear blue waters of Fiji and then set sail for our third and final day of our rotation of service! We took part in aiding in the further learning of English for grades 5-8. It was a magnificent experience growing a connection to the local children in the school and out and about the village. We ate yet another delicious meal prepared by the chief himself and the other local villagers. After lunch it was back to work and every team completed their service projects on time and with good hearts! It was back to Botaira for some much deserved relaxation on the sandy beaches of Naviti. At sunset our team engaged in a self journal session while watching the sun dip behind the horizon. Then yet another dinner was eaten together on the deck of the resort. After dinner we ambitiously discussed the upcoming service project the new groups will begin tomorrow! Now as we go back to our rooms with thoughts of helping others dancing through our minds we fall asleep to the lullaby of the ocean and all is well in paradise. 🏾️🇫🇯

Written by Sofia and Emma 

Today was the start of our new service rotation project. We dove into the different work projects with full force! Our groups are split into seven students in each group. The education program worked one on one with children (and shoutout to my parents Chrissy and Mark who helped me learn English to be able to now teach other kids). On the other 🤚 the sustainability team outlined the plastic and the gravel in preparation to place a new water tank. Last but never least, the marine team observed and collected data about the . We finally arrived home and played the Patty G (the spicy version) of telephone ️. In the middle of telephone, Seru came in and lit our worlds on fire because it was the first day of winter ️. Our concluding preparations ended with an amazing dinner and the movie Moana. Bless everyone and have an amazing night !!!

By Anouk and Claire N

It’s day five of our service projects in Gunu Village. The sustainability crew mixed and poured the concrete base of our second rain catchment system, and already started attaching the gutters to the roof. The education team got to spend the morning teaching the same kids as yesterday, only increasing the bonds between each volunteer and student. The marine team planted a record number of mangroves, reaching a total of 835 for the day. Although we haven’t known the locals long, they already seem like family. While the students at the school were busy playing sports in the afternoon, the education team got a special surprise, and helped Tema teach the kindergarteners.

Our boat ride back was much more eventful than usual. Halfway through, the engine gave out and we broke down all together. However, we were rescued very quickly by another boat and just ended up getting back to Botaira a little late (Fiji time). The rest of the afternoon was spent with lots of swimming and volleyball games. We wrapped up the day with a new meaning of the word leadership.

Written by Frances

After an exciting weekend full of adventures we are ready to bring it in and start service again. We had a great start to a new week! Today we did are last day of service in the previous groups. The sustainability group spent the day putting finishing touches on the water tank they built. With the start of drug awareness week the education group set off in there blue attire to teach new kids as well as old.  Meanwhile the marine kids Surveyed the amount of sea grapes in a given area as well as Watched while gabby caught a fish off the end of the boat. We all arrived back at Botaira after a long hour and 15 minute ride crammed in the small boat. Although the ride was long we finished the day with good spirits and the happy birthday song drilled into our heads. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANOUK‼️ -Sophia P. and Tessa S.

 

The day started with everyone at breakfast enjoying some cereal,  vegetables, and freshly picked fruit. After eating, we boarded the boat and headed towards our service location. Although there was a small hiccup with the boat engine dying halfway through the trip, we all persevered and got another boat to take us the rest of the way. Today was the first day of our 3rd and last rotation of service groups. The marine group did an outstanding job relocating nearly 1,300 mangroves, amazing! The sustainability group made a wooden frame and collected all the materials for the cement platform they will be making tomorrow. As for my and Macy’s group, which was education, we had the opportunity to meet some inspiring children that we had the privilege to teach and will continue teaching for 2 more days! After service concluded, we headed back to home base and had a leadership activity that challenged and bettered our communication and ability to cope with frustration. Dinner was served soon after consisting of freshly caught fish, chicken, veggies, and fruit. Mentor time followed, where various topics were discussed, and we all headed back to our bures, calling it day. Looking forward to what tomorrow holds for us!

-Evan and Macy

 

Date: July 24^th

Author: Alex Sanchez-International Director

Our last Sports Service Adventure group arrived in the Dominican Republic today! After picking everyone up from the airport, we traveled to Las Canas to get settled in to Home Base and took our first team picture on the beach. Dinner was a traditional Dominican meal of chicken, rice, beans and delicious fruits and veggies. We continued the evening with orientation to the program and some free time before bed. Looking forward to a challenging but fun hike tomorrow in Brison!

Date: July 25th

Authors: Cole & Racquel

Today we woke up to the great smell of eggs, toast, bacon, fruit, and homemade juice.  At 8:30 we took an excursion to Brison. We enjoyed a hike to the top of a very steep mountain, and halfway through, we met a lady selling limoncillos. In case you are unfamiliar, limoncillos are fruits that have a hard green casing. Once you break through the shell of the fruit there is a slimy seed covered with a fruit that tastes like grapefruit and lemon.  As we continued to walk up the mountain, we saw clay/rock terrain and the people of Brison.  We learned that kids walk 3 miles up a mountain every day to get to school.  After reaching the top of the mountain, a family provided us with fresh chicken and vegetables.  Once we finished, we took a photo atop the mountain and started back downhill to the.  We learned about the reforestation project that 7 Elements is implementing along the way.  Once we got to the bus, we took another long and hot ride back to our beautiful camp.

One we got back to home base, we went to the beach and got our first dip in the insane 75 degree ocean water.  In the water, we body surfed and found sand dollars. Although the beach was a great bonding experience, going back to the camp afterwards was even more rewarding.  We ate dinner and had some exquisite fried fish, lemonade, potatoes, and locally grown fruit.  Afterwards, our mentors read us our guardian angels. Guardian Angel is an exercise we do each day to provide positive reinforcement to each other.  We finished today with free time and team bonding around a bonfire at the lodge. This day was a surreal experience for all of us!!!

Date: July 27th

Authors: Lauren and Ethan

This morning we woke up to the sound of roosters and the fresh aroma of local food. After the delicious breakfast, everyone applied sunscreen and bug spray as we prepared to go to Caño Dulce.  At the service site we spent hours mixing concrete and finishing the rebound wall from the previous day of work. We dripped of sweat and hard work. As the service day was coming to an end, we had fun playing sports with the locals such as basketball and baseball. This included playing on the new basketball court that the previous GLA groups built. After working we came back, ate lunch and prepared for the water sports activities that soon followed. Our first activity was surfing where we shredded some gnarly waves. In particular, Ethan was able to get the wave of the day. Then we practiced some kite surfing with local instructors. Afterwards we cooled off in the pool before dinner. For dinner we had a traditional Dominican meal with a chicken and rice stew. Following dinner we had a great leadership lecture and identified our personal leadership qualities. After the lecture we enjoyed some free time and went star gazing with our personal photographer Mike.

Date: July 28th

Authors: Griffin and Jordyn

Right from the start, we embraced the day. From the get go, kids went out to enjoy the sunrise and surf the awesome Dominican water (shred the gnar). During this time, Mia and Jordyn accomplished the ever so difficult Wave of the Day™. We then devoured the delicious pancakes with honey from the local bee farm. Included with our lovely pancakes, we enjoyed fresh fruit and loveable bacon. We then lathered on our sunscreen and bug spray and set out to Caño Dulce. At the service site we finished almost all of the panels of our wall we have been working on to protect one man’s land from the neighborhood basketball court. Many kids played with the members of Caño Dulce community and enjoyed a game of basketball. Peter’s squad, including Jose, won against the powerful team of Zeke, Samuel, Edwin, Ethan, and Griffin. We then took a quick bus ride back to the home base to scarf down some grub (spaghetti, plantains, potatoes, and luxurious fruit). After, we went to the beautiful beach, swam in the crystal clear water and continued to learn how to kite surf. After the learning experience, we made our way back to the lodge and ate seasoned fish, rice, potato salad, ripe fruit, and avocados. Then a group of us went to watch the exquisite and beautiful stars. And now we write this eloquent blog post.

Date: July 30th

Authors: Mia and Payton

This morning we woke up to hot sunny side-up eggs, potatoes and fruit. Next, we headed down to the beach for surfing. The sound waves were calm, the sun was out all morning and a fantastic opportunity to get a tan. We went back to the lodge for a pre-lunch swim. For lunch we had chicken wings, broccoli and more potatoes. Then, we hopped on the bus to drive over to Caño Dulce. At Caño Dulce we finished the wall by the basketball court and threw cement on it. Some of us played basketball on the court with the local children. We came back after service for some down time and smelled the cooks preparing dinner. Dinner consisted of mushroom sauce chicken, mac and cheese, plantains and fruit.  Soon we read our guardian angel messages and listened to Walner’s life story. We ended the night with a nice walk on the beach under the stars.

Date: July 31st 

Authors: Rocky and Payton

This morning several of the GLA students went out to catch some gnarly waves and watch the sunrise while the others stayed asleep. For breakfast, we had eggs and Frosted Flakes (which Zeke argued weren’t actual “Frosted Flakes”). After breakfast, we loaded into the bus to continue our work in Caño Dulce. Once we arrived we began to sift sand so that we could put a finishing coat on the wall we had been building. While certain students worked on that project others began painting a new backboard for the basketball court. After a long day of work, we went back to the camp so that we could fill our tummies with grub before heading to play baseball with some of the locals. Two hours of bad bat swinging, lizard bites and laughter there was a torrential down pour. Those of us that had enough energy ran back to the camp while others walked in the rain. When we got back to the lodge we had the option to get our hair put in cornrows by a woman and her daughter who had been working in the area. Not only the girls looked cute with their braids but Kyle and Luis rocked their individual cornrow as well. After dinner and a lecture, the photographer who had been capturing our memories this past week came to say his fair wells as he gave a heartwarming speech which brought tears to our eyes. In conclusion to our great day we walked along the beach and gazed upon the stars.

 

Date: August 3rd

Authors: Zeke and Kyle

Today we started with a flash of home, with pancakes straight from the cooks’ pan. Then we returned to Caño Dulce and finished cementing our wall. While we were gone the local mason came and installed the backboard that we painted. One on the local men also bought a net to attach to the rim, and the court was finished. We are looking JUAN MARICHAL forward to tomorrow, which will be our last day in the town when we will be painting the wall and then playing basketball for the last time with the locals. We also took our last turn at kite surfing, another reminder that our trip is coming to an end soon. After a dinner of rice and chicken, we piled some of the wood that we have been gathering and had a bonfire so that we could mix with some of the other groups staying in our compound. After the fire burned out we split up back to our areas to get ready for bed.