PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Dear Session 2 Students,

As we prepare for the fall, we look back on our incredible journey in Patacancha, Peru, and reflect on the profound impact you made during our time there. This letter serves as a time capsule, capturing the essence of our adventure and the meaningful experiences that will forever shape our lives.

Throughout our time in Patacancha and Ollantaytambo, we worked tirelessly to build mud bricks and strip bark for the roof of the community room, contributing to a project that will benefit generations to come. Your hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed, and the gratitude from the local community was heartwarming. It was a testament to the power of teamwork and the difference we can make when we come together for a common cause.

But the impact of this trip extended far beyond the physical work. You built strong, lasting relationships with one another and with the members of the Patacancha community. We learned to communicate across cultural barriers, showing empathy and respect for different ways of life. These connections have left an indelible mark on their hearts, teaching us the value of diversity and the importance of global citizenship.

Together, we set a meaningful goal: to stop talking over others, to continue living our values, and to start reflecting and being resourceful. This goal became our guiding principle throughout the trip and beyond. By embracing this mindset, we have grown not only as individuals but as a collective group committed to making positive changes in their lives and the world around us.

We hope that the lessons learned and the values instilled during our time in Peru have inspired you to continue volunteering within your communities. The spirit of service, gratitude, and perseverance is something we hope you carry with you always.

As we move forward, we send you all our love and best wishes for their future endeavors. May you always remember the impact made, the friendships forged, and the goals we set. We are confident that you will continue to make a difference in the world, fueled by the experiences and memories from our incredible journey together.

Remember:

Leadership starts with you, but it’s not about you.
Work is always more fun with friends.
We love ya big.

Jayme, Smith, Warren and Eva
Global Leadership Adventures

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

Here are a few things to know and expect:

1. Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
2. We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
3. Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
4. Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
5. Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

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Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

Day 1: Arrival in Cusco and Drive to Ollantaytambo

Today marked the beginning of our incredible 14-day journey in Peru! After arriving in Cusco, we were immediately struck by the beauty and energy of this historic city. From the airport, we embarked on a scenic drive to Ollantaytambo, taking in the stunning landscapes of the Sacred Valley along the way. Upon reaching our home base, we spent the afternoon getting to know each other through fun icebreakers and group activities. It was amazing to see how quickly everyone started to bond and share their excitement for the adventures ahead.

Touring our home base, we familiarized ourselves with the surroundings and settled into our new temporary home. As the sun set, we headed out to a local restaurant for dinner. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was vibrant. It was a perfect way to cap off our first day, enjoying traditional Peruvian dishes and lively conversations. We even got to watch futbol on the tv with locals.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

Today we woke up and had breakfast first thing in the morning. After getting ready for the day, we all participated in a goal-setting activity using SMART goals. This involves creating goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-sensitive. We each made a goal to focus on ourselves, and goals for the group as a whole.

We then headed into Ollantaytambo to visit the Ollantaytambo ruins. We walked up many stairs and finally reached the top of the ruins, the Temple of the Sun. We learned about the Incas and how they built and designed the ruins. The effort and work that they put into the ruins was such a cool thing to see and learn about. After walking back down the ruins, we met three alpacas and headed back into town. We exchanged our USD for Peruvian currency and explored The Square, visiting a Guinea Pig House. We had a salad and beef kabobs with potatoes and vegetables for lunch.

We had an hour in an internet cafe to connect with our parents back home. We also spent this time exploring the market in Ollantaytambo. Some of us bought certain Peruvian items such as alpaca sweaters, blankets, and key chains. After we returned home and had an hour to recover before our next adventure. At 4 pm, the president of Patacancha came to our camp to give us the pleasure of experiencing a Pacha Mama Ceremony. It was a very informative and very wonderful experience to help us understand the culture of the Patacancha. They placed many culturally important items to represent different aspects of their lives and their significance to the God Pacha Mama. After the ceremony, we went to dinner and had a tasty soup and chicken curry. Our dessert was an interesting mix of a refreshing corn tea and a sweet warm corn soup. Finally, we concluded the evening with a social sync lesson and our mentor meetings that revolved around the dangers and uses of social media. What a fun and adventure-packed day! We’re heading to bed, but we’ll see you tomorrow!

Sincerely,
Ginger and Piper

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Day 3 Blog – Ollantaytambo, Peru

Hey everyone!

We’re here to update you on Day 3 of our incredible adventure in Ollantaytambo, Peru! We’re doing fantastic and having an unforgettable experience. Here’s a glimpse into what we’ve been up to today.

Morning: Patacancha Service Project

Our day started early with a hearty breakfast to fuel us for the day ahead. We then drove to Patacancha for our service project. Upon arrival, we were welcomed with a beautiful celebration that included traditional dancing and wearing traditional clothes. It was an unforgettable experience and a wonderful way to connect with the local community.

Service Work: Passing Rocks and Shaping Bricks

We then got to work passing rocks and shaping bricks for the community room foundation. It was hard work, but incredibly rewarding to see the progress we made together. We showed tremendous teamwork and dedication throughout the day.

Lunch: Traditional Peruvian Food

For lunch, we were treated to traditional Peruvian food and tea, generously prepared by the local community. It was a delicious and heartwarming meal that gave us the energy to continue our work.

Afternoon: Relaxation and Futbol

After a full day of service, we drove back to our home base, where everyone took much-needed showers and got ready for a fun futbol game. We spent the afternoon playing with local dogs and kids, enjoying the beautiful surroundings and bonding with one another.

Evening: Shout Outs and Dinner by the River

In the evening, we gathered for shout outs, recognizing the hard work and positive attitudes of everyone in the group. Then we headed out for a picturesque dinner by the river, where we enjoyed more delicious food and great company.

Night: Debate on Development

Once we returned to our home base, we had a thought-provoking debate on the development on the Lares trek. We shared insightful perspectives and engaged in meaningful discussions about the impact of development on local communities.

Bedtime: Reflecting on a Rewarding Day

As the day came to an end, we got ready for bed, reflecting on the hard work, new experiences, and the connections made throughout the day.

We’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings. Thanks for following along on our journey!

Good night from Ollantaytambo!

-Keeley and Isabelle

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 9 (PHOTOS ADDED)

Today, we started our day bright and early with a hearty breakfast, eager to embark on our journey to Patacatcha for our service work. We set out promptly at 8:15, our spirits high and ready for the tasks ahead. Our service work involved moving substantial amounts of dirt and rocks, a physically demanding but rewarding effort that was essential for preparing the materials needed to make mud bricks. We worked together seamlessly, forming a human chain to efficiently transport hundreds of mud bricks from one location to another. This collaborative effort not only exemplified our teamwork but also highlighted our commitment to contributing to the community’s needs.

After hours of strenuous labor under the sun, we were warmly welcomed by the generous women of Patacatcha. They expressed their gratitude by serving us a sumptuous meal that was both nourishing and delicious. We savored a traditional feast that included a flavorful potato soup, perfectly fried fish, steamed rice, and a variety of potatoes. Each bite was a testament to the local culinary traditions and the hospitality of the Patacatcha community. The meal provided us with the sustenance and energy we needed to continue our service work, and it also offered a moment of cultural exchange and appreciation for the rich heritage of the area.

Next, we embarked on a journey through the scenic Sacred Valley, a region steeped in history and cultural significance. Our destination was a local eatery renowned for serving cuy, a traditional dish of fried guinea pig that is a delicacy in the area. Many of us approached this unique culinary experience with a mix of curiosity and excitement, eager to immerse ourselves in the local culture through its food. After savoring the distinctive flavors of cuy, we continued our adventure by visiting a bustling marketplace. Here, we had the opportunity to explore an array of vibrant stalls filled with handcrafted souvenirs, textiles, and other unique gifts. The marketplace buzzed with activity as we honed our bargaining skills, interacting with local artisans and vendors. Our group members excitedly compared their finds, each treasure reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the Sacred Valley.

As the day turned to evening, we gathered for dinner at a cozy restaurant. The meal began with a refreshing appetizer of guacamole and crispy chips, setting a delightful tone for the feast ahead. The main course featured succulent roasted chicken, accompanied by golden fries and earthy beets, a hearty combination that satisfied our appetites after a day full of exploration. To top off this wonderful day, we celebrated Arielle’s 17th birthday with a delicious cake. The birthday celebration added a special touch to our evening, with laughter and joy shared among friends. It was a fitting end to a day rich with new experiences, cultural immersion, and the warmth of camaraderie.

All the best, Izzy and Arielle

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Hello from Patacancha and Ollantaytambo!

Today was another incredible day of hard work and cultural immersion. We started our morning by dividing into several groups, each tackling different tasks essential for the community room foundation we’re helping to build. Some of us were sloshing mud together to make the base for mud bricks, getting our hands dirty and working up quite a sweat. Others were chopping hay to stiffen the bricks, ensuring they’ll be strong and durable. We also had teams sifting dirt and moving rocks, all vital roles that contributed to our project.

The day’s labor was intense, and by the end, we were all absolutely exhausted. Our muscles ached, and the fatigue was real, but knowing we’re making a difference keeps us motivated. We’re definitely looking forward to a few days off from service to recharge.

In the evening, we had a fantastic time participating in a dance class. We learned about several dances that are culturally important to Peru, and it was a blast! The music, the movements, and the vibrant energy lifted our spirits and provided a much-needed morale booster. It was wonderful to see everyone smiling, laughing, and enjoying themselves.

After the dance class, Smithy gathered us together to discuss our upcoming trek on July 11th. We listened attentively as he gave us valuable advice on how to pack and prepare for the adventure ahead. It’s going to be an exciting challenge, and we’re all eager to take it on with the right mindset and equipment.

As we wind down for the night, we’re filled with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation for the days to come. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. As a reminder, we will be trekking without any internet service for the next two days. We will update the blog when we return from our Lares Trek experience.

Hasta luego, The GLA Team

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 11 & 12

Day 6: Lares Trek Adventure Begins!

Today was the start of our incredible Lares Trek adventure! Our group of 24 teens set off early, filled with excitement and anticipation for the journey ahead. The first day of the trek did not disappoint. We were greeted with breathtaking sights of the Andes mountains, lush valleys, and sparkling rivers. Along the way, we encountered various animals, including llamas, alpacas, and a few of the emergency horses, which added to the charm of our trek.

Our cool tents were a highlight for everyone. After a long day of hiking, setting up our camp and settling into these cozy, well-designed tents was a real treat. The teens enjoyed bonding over stories and laughter under the stars before drifting off to sleep, ready for the adventures of the next day.

Day 7: Reaching New Heights

Our second day of the Lares Trek was even more thrilling. The trail led us through picturesque landscapes, with every turn revealing more of Peru’s natural beauty. We climbed higher into the mountains, and the views became even more spectacular. The sense of accomplishment and camaraderie grew stronger with each step we took.

We continued to spot various animals along the way, much to the delight of the group. The teens were particularly excited about seeing the view from the top. We accomplished a big goal.

Tomorrow: Machu Picchu Awaits!

Tomorrow marks a significant milestone in our adventure: we will finally visit the legendary Machu Picchu! The anticipation is palpable among the group. After days of trekking and exploring, the thought of standing before one of the world’s most iconic landmarks fills us with awe and excitement.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our incredible journey through Peru!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Exploring the Wonders of Machu Picchu

Greetings from Peru!

Today was an unforgettable adventure as our group of 24 teens embarked on a journey to one of the most iconic landmarks in the world—Machu Picchu. The excitement was palpable as we boarded the Peru Rail, eagerly anticipating the stunning landscapes that awaited us.

The train ride to Aguas Calientes was nothing short of spectacular. With every turn, we were greeted by breathtaking views of the Andes, lush valleys, and rushing rivers. Cameras and phones were out in full force as the teens captured every moment, ensuring their Instagram feeds were filled with the beauty of Peru.

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, we made our way to the majestic Machu Picchu. Guided by knowledgeable experts, the teens learned about the rich history and cultural significance of this ancient Incan citadel. They were fascinated by the stories of its construction and the ingenuity of the Incan civilization.

As we explored the terraces, temples, and plazas, the teens were in awe of the architectural marvels and the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The guides did an excellent job of bringing the history to life, making the experience both educational and deeply moving.

The highlight for many was the opportunity to take some incredible Instagram shots. From the classic postcard view of Machu Picchu to creative poses among the ruins, the teens showcased their photography skills and shared their adventure with friends and family back home.

After a day of exploration, we returned to Aguas Calientes, tired but filled with a sense of accomplishment and wonder. The train ride back was a perfect time to reflect on the day’s experiences and bond over shared memories.

Stay tuned for more updates and photos of our incredible trip!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Hello Families! Our adventure continues with a blend of hard work and fun-filled bonding activities. Today, our group of 24 teens embarked on a service mission that truly showcased their dedication and teamwork. We spent the morning debarking trees, sifting dirt, and helping build walls for the new community room. The effort and energy everyone put into these tasks were incredible, and the progress we made together was a sight to behold. It’s amazing to see how much we can achieve when we work as a team. After a productive day, we headed back to our home base, where the fun was just getting started. We played a series of communication games that brought everyone closer together.

From untangling ourselves in the human knot to strategizing in the art of communication, balancing in the human chair, and mastering the helium hoop, we laughed and learned about the power of effective communication and teamwork. As the evening set in, we wound down with some lighthearted games and entertainment. Happy Salmon had us laughing and moving around, and our karaoke session was a hit, with everyone showing off their singing skills and cheering each other on. The energy and camaraderie were truly heartwarming. Our journey in Peru continues to be filled with moments of growth, connection, and joy. We’re looking forward to the adventures that lie ahead and can’t wait to share more with you.

Best, The GLA Peru Team

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 15 (PHOTOS ADDED)

Hello from Peru!

Today marked a significant and memorable day for our group as it was our last day of service in Patacancha. The day was filled with meaningful interactions and cultural immersion that left us all inspired and grateful. Our morning started with a remarkable weaving demonstration by the talented women of Patacancha. We watched in awe as they skillfully turned raw materials into beautiful, intricate textiles. Their expertise and dedication to preserving this traditional art form were truly impressive. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to learn about their techniques and the cultural significance behind their creations. Following the demonstration, we enjoyed a lively soccer game with the local people. It was a great way to bond and share some fun moments with the community members. Despite the competitive spirit, the game was filled with laughter and camaraderie, highlighting the universal language of sports. For lunch, we experienced a special meal prepared by the people of Patacancha, cooked in traditional underground stoves. The flavors were incredible, and it was fascinating to see this ancient cooking method in action. Sharing this meal with the community added a special touch to our day, making it even more memorable.

Before leaving Patacancha, we had the chance to purchase some of the beautifully woven merchandise created by the local artisans. The vibrant colors and intricate patterns made for perfect souvenirs, each piece a reminder of the skill and creativity of the people here. Returning to Ollantaytambo, we took a short hike to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and reflect on our journey so far. The views were stunning and provided a serene backdrop for our thoughts and conversations. We ended the evening with a leadership activity called “Cool as a Cucumber.” This activity allowed us to share our experiences, discuss what we’ve learned, and support each other in a relaxed and fun setting. It was a perfect way to wind down and connect with each other on a deeper level. As we near the end of our trip, today’s events reminded us of the beauty of cultural exchange and the importance of community. We are all looking forward to the remaining days and the adventures still to come.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Day 11 in Cusco was a perfect blend of history, culture, and shopping! We began our day with a fascinating visit to the Maras salt mine, marveling at the intricate salt terraces and purchasing plenty of the unique local salt as souvenirs. Back in Cusco, we spent the afternoon exploring vibrant markets, soaking in the rich history and colorful atmosphere of the city. With our bags full of treasures and our minds full of memories, we are now thrilled for today’s adventure—river rafting! The excitement is palpable as we gear up for a thrilling day on the water.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

Day 12: An Adventure-Packed Day in Peru!**

Today was a thrilling and unforgettable day for our group of 24 teens in Peru. The excitement was palpable as we embarked on a series of adrenaline-pumping activities, pushing our limits and bonding as a team.

**Whitewater Rafting:**

Our day began with an exhilarating whitewater rafting experience on the Urubamba River. We geared up with life jackets, helmets, and paddles, ready to tackle the rapids. The river was wild, and so were our spirits. As we navigated through the churning waters, the teamwork and communication skills we’ve developed over the past days truly shone. There were moments of intense focus and sheer joy as we splashed through the waves, with the majestic Andean mountains providing a breathtaking backdrop. By the end of the run, we were soaked but happy, having conquered the river together.

**Zip Lining:**

Next up was zip lining, and the excitement continued to build. After a safety briefing, we ascended to the platform. One by one, we soared across the lush valleys, the wind rushing past us. Each line brought a new rush of adrenaline, and by the final zip, everyone was buzzing with excitement and a sense of accomplishment.

**Leadership Activity:**

In the evening, we gathered for a leadership activity designed to reflect on our experiences and growth during this trip. We divided into small groups and engaged in a series of team-building exercises that emphasized what we have learned. Afterward, we came together to share our thoughts and insights, discussing how we could apply these leadership skills in our daily lives back home. It was a powerful and inspiring session, highlighting the personal growth and strong bonds we’ve developed over the past 12 days.

As the sun set on our adventure-filled day, we gathered for dinner, sharing stories and laughter, recounting the day’s thrills and the moments that stood out. It was a day of pushing boundaries, supporting each other, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

With only one full day left in our incredible journey, we’re all feeling a mix of excitement and bittersweet emotions. Tomorrow, we’ll be wrapping up our adventure in Peru, but today will undoubtedly be one of the highlights we’ll carry with us forever.

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Dear Students,

As we prepare for the winter, we look back on our incredible journey in Patacancha and Ollantaytambo, Peru, and reflect on the profound impact you made during our time there. This letter serves as a time capsule, capturing the essence of our adventure and the meaningful experiences that will forever shape our lives.

Throughout our time in Ollantaytambo and Patacancha, you worked to clear space for a community room foundation, contributing to a project that will benefit generations to come. Your hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed, and the gratitude from the local community was heartwarming. It was a testament to the power of teamwork and the difference we can make when we come together for a common cause.

But the impact of this trip extended far beyond the physical work. We believe you built strong, lasting relationships with one another and with the members of the Patacancha community. They learned to communicate across cultural barriers, showing empathy and respect for different ways of life. Watching you all play with the children was heartwarming. These connections have left an indelible mark on your hearts, teaching the value of diversity and the importance of global citizenship.

We experience a wonder of the world together in Machu Picchu, rode some cool rapids, and many of you completed the Lares Trek. We saw the ruins in Ollantaytambo, and many of you practiced bartering skills.

Together, you set a meaningful goal: to stop being ungrateful, to continue trying your best and pushing yourself, and to start reflecting and showing appreciation. This goal became our guiding principle as we look beyond our time here in Peru. By embracing this mindset, we believe you have grown not only as individuals but as a collective group committed to making positive changes in the world around you.

We hope that the lessons learned and the values instilled during our time in Peru have inspired you to continue volunteering within your communities. If you haven’t started, maybe this note serves as a nudge. The spirit of service, gratitude, and perseverance is something we hope you carry with you always.

As we move forward, we send you all our love and best wishes for your future endeavors. May you always remember the impact you made, the friendships forged, and the goals you set. We are confident that you will continue to make a difference in the world, fueled by the experiences and memories from our incredible journey together.

Remember a few things:

Leadership starts with you but it isn’t about you.

You are the future of the world.

Love ya big!

With warmest regards,

Jayme, Smith, and Warren
Global Leadership Adventures

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

Here are a few things to know and expect:

1. Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
2. We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
3. Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
4. Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
5. Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

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Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18

Ready to Welcome Your Teens in Cusco!

Dear Parents,

We are thrilled that tomorrow is the big day! Our team is all set and eagerly waiting to meet your wonderful teenagers at the airport in Cusco. As they embark on this incredible journey with Global Leadership Adventures, we can’t wait to greet them at the airport and kick off our adventure together.

Upon arrival, they’ll spot us easily—we’ll be wearing our blue Global Leadership Adventures shirts and holding up signs to ensure we can quickly and smoothly locate each student. Rest assured, we’ll be there to provide a warm welcome and help them feel at home right away.

Once we gather everyone, we’ll head to the beautiful and historic Ollantaytambo. This will be the perfect start to our adventure, offering breathtaking views and fascinating cultural experiences. We know your teens are going to love it!

To keep you informed and connected, your teens will be reaching out to you from the airport in Cusco. Expect to hear from them shortly after they land so they can let you know they’ve arrived safely and are ready for the exciting journey ahead. A blog post will be written tomorrow so you can see all of their shining faces from our home base in Ollantaytambo.

Thank you for entrusting us with your teenagers. We are committed to ensuring they have an enriching, safe, and unforgettable experience. We can’t wait to meet them!

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19

Welcome to Peru: Safe Arrival and Exciting Beginnings

We are thrilled to announce that all the teenagers have arrived safely in Peru! Our journey began with a warm welcome at our beautiful home base, nestled in the heart of Ollantaytambo. Today has been an exciting day filled with new experiences and the start of lasting friendships. Even the ride to our base was beautiful.

Our afternoon kicked off with a comprehensive orientation to the program. Everyone was attentive and eager to learn about the adventures that lie ahead. Before our orientation, we had a chance to tour our stunning home base, which boasts breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains and the ancient ruins of Ollantaytambo. The scenery here is truly awe-inspiring and provides the perfect backdrop for our time in Peru.

Lunch was a delightful introduction to Peruvian cuisine. We enjoyed a hearty meal of soup, chicken, and rice. Many students took the opportunity to try Coca Leaf tea, a traditional drink that not only offers a taste of Peruvian culture but also helps to prevent altitude sickness.

Throughout the day, students mingled and began forming new friendships. The excitement and positive energy were contagious as everyone shared their stories and anticipation for the days to come. Although all students have arrived safely, Simon was not pictured with the group due to his later arrival time. We’re looking forward to having him join in the fun tomorrow.

As the sun sets over the Andes, we can’t help but feel a sense of gratitude for this incredible opportunity. Tomorrow promises to be another day of adventure and discovery, and we can’t wait to see what it holds! Tomorrow we tour the ruins!

Stay tuned for more updates from our amazing journey in Peru!

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20

Day 2: Exploring Ollantaytambo, Peru

Hey everyone!

Our second day in Ollantaytambo was filled with adventure, learning, and some much-needed connection (both to the internet and to each other).

Morning at the Temple of the Sun
We started our day with a visit to the awe-inspiring Incan ruins of the Temple of the Sun. The intricate stonework and the sheer scale of the temple left us all in awe. It was fascinating to learn about the history and significance of the site, and we couldn’t help but imagine what it must have been like during the height of the Incan Empire.

Café Chill Time
After exploring the ruins, we took a break at a local café with some internet time. It was nice to catch up with friends and family back home, share our experiences with loved ones, play games, and enjoy some delicious local coffee and ice cream.

Lunch and Local Flavors
For lunch, we headed to a nearby restaurant where we indulged in traditional Peruvian dishes. The flavors were incredible, and we enjoyed trying new foods. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, making it a perfect place to recharge before our afternoon activities.

City and Market Walk
Post-lunch, we strolled through the city and its vibrant market. The streets were bustling with activity, and the market was a sensory overload in the best way possible. We saw beautiful textiles, handmade crafts, and colorful weaving. Some bought warm hats- it’s been a bit cold here. Brrrrr! We also got some alpaca wool souvenirs.

A Step Back in Time: The Guinea Pig House
One of the highlights of the day was visiting the “Guinea Pig House,” an original and intact Incan home. It was like stepping back in time, and we were fascinated by how well-preserved the house was. It was a unique glimpse into daily life during the Incan era.

Evening Ceremony
As the sun set, we gathered for a powerful ceremony to set our intentions for our time in Peru. It was a moving experience, and we all felt a deep sense of gratitude for being part of this journey. The ceremony helped us reflect on our purpose and the impact we hope to make during our stay.

Dinner and Leadership Activity
We ended our evening with a delicious dinner at Tierra Inka Hotel. Afterward, we participated in a leadership activity called “Social Sync,” where we discussed the importance of disconnecting from our phones and social media to be more present in the moment. It was an eye-opening conversation and gave us a lot to think about.

Mentor Meeting
Our day concluded with a thirty-minute mentor meeting facilitated by our group leaders. It was a great opportunity to reflect on our experiences today, share our thoughts, and prepare for the days ahead.

We’re all looking forward to our first service day in Patacancha tomorrow! Stay tuned for more updates.

Hasta luego!

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

Day Three: First Service Day in Patacancha, Peru

Today marked our first official service day in Patacancha, and it was nothing short of incredible. The morning started with a warm and welcoming ceremony where the Patacanchan citizens dressed us in their beautiful traditional clothing. This was followed by an energetic dance session with the townspeople, which was a fantastic way to bond and start our day. We even got to give some belly rubs to their adorable four-legged friends, which added to the joyful atmosphere.

Our main task for the day was helping Señor Juan move a significant amount of dirt and rock. This was all in preparation for the foundation of a new community room that will be completed by the three sessions of GLA students. It was hard work, but seeing the progress we made was incredibly rewarding.

Midday, we were treated to a delicious lunch prepared by Señor Juan’s wife. The meal included locally sourced trout, potatoes, cheese, and a mouthwatering soup. It was a perfect refuel for our hardworking team. After lunch, we had the opportunity to learn about traditional remedies through a fascinating tea-making class, which was both informative and relaxing.

Despite the colder-than-usual temperatures and spitting rain, we accomplished a lot today. The work was tough, but every student had a smile on their face and maintained a positive attitude throughout. After returning to our home base, we took some much-needed rest and showers before heading out to a lovely dinner in town.

The evening concluded with a thought-provoking debate-style leadership activity led by our mentor, Warren. The topic was the Lares Trek, and it sparked engaging discussions among us. As we prepare for another service day tomorrow, we are excited to see the progress we can make and the impact we can have on this wonderful community.

Everyone is in high spirits, looking forward to what lies ahead. It’s amazing to see how much we can achieve together, even in just one day.

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Day 4: Being ROCK Stars in Patacancha… because we moved a LOT of rocks!

Today was an incredible day here in Peru with our amazing group of fifteen teens. I have to say, they were absolute ROCK stars as they wielded pick axes and shovels to clear space for the foundation of a community room in Patacancha. Their hard work and determination were truly inspiring, and I couldn’t be prouder of these young leaders. You have raised a great bunch and I am grateful that you have shared them with us!

When we took breaks, it was heartwarming to see our students playing with the local children who came to watch us work. We played trucks and ring around the rosie. A smile was all the common language we needed! The connection shared between them bridged cultures and created lasting memories for sure.

After our productive morning, we embarked on a road trip to Pisac, where we learned about Peruvian culture even more. We stopped to learn about a traditional Peruvian drink made of corn and played a throwing game. We held our own and showed off our skills! And of course, we couldn’t miss trying a Peruvian staple, cuy (guinea pig). Several students were brave enough to try this delicacy, adding another adventurous chapter to our journey.

Exploring Pisac’s vibrant market was a highlight, where we got to practice our Spanish skills and engage in the art of bartering with the locals. The energy and colors of the market were invigorating and helped us to understand the Peruvian way of life. Many of us, parched by our day’s work tried the Inka Kola drink which is a local favorite.

Our day concluded with a dinner at a local restaurant in Ollantaytambo, where we experienced more Peruvian flavors and shared stories of the day’s adventures. We then gathered for a value-sort activity led by Jayme, followed by our mentor groups, where we reflected on our values and today’s experiences, making each moment count on this remarkable journey.

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

Day 5: Ollantaytambo, Peru

Hello everyone,

We really ROCK-ed today! Our group tackled a ginormous pile of rocks to level the foundation for the community room we’re building. It was tough work, but your teens showed incredible determination and teamwork. Their efforts paid off, and the progress we’ve made is impressive!

After we finished our work for the day, we were in for a treat. We watched a fútbol match in Patacancha and were recognized by the community for our contributions. The highlight was the surprise of dressing up in traditional Andean clothing again. The photos from today capture not only our hard work but also the fun we had immersing ourselves in the local culture and enjoying the local children and pets again.

In the afternoon, we returned to Ollantaytambo for some well-deserved free time. Some of us played soccer, while others explored the local market to prepare for our upcoming trek. We also enjoyed a relaxing break at a coffee shop, where we took advantage of the Wi-Fi. We hope your teens took the opportunity to give you a call!

Our evening wrapped up with a briefing on the Lares trek. We’re all excited and looking forward to this adventure. Please note that during the trek, there will be no internet access for the blog, and cell service will be unavailable for the students in the evenings. We do have an emergency phone with us, and you can expect to hear from us again through the blog once we return from Machu Picchu!

I want to take a moment to say how amazing your kids are. I’m impressed by their hard work, grit, and the smiles they keep on their faces, even during tough tasks. They are truly remarkable.

Until next time!

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24 & 25

Day 6 and 7: The Lares Trail Adventure

Hello from Peru!

The last two days have been a whirlwind of adventure and achievement as our group of fifteen incredible teens trekked the Lares Trail. Parents, you should be extremely proud of your children as they faced and conquered challenges with resilience and grit.

Starting the Lares Trail
We kicked off our journey at around 11,000 feet, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and eager to explore the trail ahead. Meal times were a highlight, with delicious three-course meals that kept our energy up and spirits high. The students enjoyed traditional Peruvian dishes, which added to the richness of the experience.

Wildlife and Nature
As we hiked, we were greeted by various animals, including alpacas, horses, sheep, and friendly dogs. The sight of these animals added a special touch to our journey and provided excellent photo opportunities.

Climbing to New Heights
The Lares Trek was not without its challenges. We ascended to a peak of around 15,000 feet, which is higher than most of the students had ever been before. The altitude was humbling, and we took regular breaks to rest and acclimate. These breaks were essential for regaining energy and ensuring everyone’s well-being.

Night Under the Stars
One of the most unforgettable moments was the night we spent under the stars. The untouched landscape offered a spectacular view of the Milky Way and the stars, a sight that left everyone in awe. Bundled up against the cold, we marveled at the beauty of the night sky, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Perseverance and Bonding
Despite the extreme temperatures and physical challenges, every student pushed through with determination. We faced stomachaches, headaches, blisters, and sunburn, but the support and encouragement within the group was unwavering. The steep inclines tested our endurance, but reaching the top was immensely rewarding.

Three students chose to return to home base to enjoy pizza and bonding time, which provided them a chance to recover from the altitude.

This trek was a once-in-a-lifetime bonding experience. The students demonstrated remarkable perseverance, supporting each other through the tough moments and celebrating their achievements together.

Looking Ahead
As we wrap up our trek on the Lares Trail, we are filled with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation. Tomorrow, we will be visiting Machu Picchu, a highlight of our trip that everyone is eagerly looking forward to.

Best regards,

The GLA Team

Leaders of the Trek:

Isabelle Zimmerman & Evalyn Grocki

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26

Day 8 Blog: Discovering Machu Picchu and Embracing Delays

Hello parents,

Today was an unforgettable day for our group of adventurers in Peru! On June 26th, we started our journey early, loading a train by 10:30 am for a picturesque ride to Aguas Calientes. The scenery was breathtaking as we traveled through the stunning Peruvian landscape, as we moved from high altitude to several thousand feet lower we went from arid and mountainous to humid and jungle. We loved being on the edge of the Amazon.

Upon reaching Aguas Calientes, we hopped on a bus that took us up winding roads to the top of the mountain. From there, we embarked on a climb up many, many, MANY stairs, and then we saw it—one of the wonders of the world, Machu Picchu. The sight was truly awe-inspiring and worth every minute of our trip there!

Our knowledgeable guides shared fascinating Inkan secrets and history with us, giving us a deeper appreciation for the ancient ways of life. We still can’t believe they were able to do so much without the landmovers of today. As we explored the ruins, we couldn’t help but notice the numerous tourists striking poses for Instagram. Holding back our snickers, we decided to join in the fun and recreated some of the poses we saw and we kept a straight face! It was a beautiful time, filled with laughter and the realization that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Our day wasn’t without its challenges. We faced a three-hour train delay on our way back, but the students made the most of it. They spent the time chatting, hanging out, resting and even enjoying their phones despite the lack of signal. It was a great opportunity for bonding and relaxation after an eventful day.

We finally made it back to home base, safe, fulfilled, and grateful for the experiences we’ve had. The next two days will be dedicated to completing our service hours in Patacancha, where we look forward to making a positive impact.

Thank you for your continued support. We can’t wait to share more about our adventures with you!

Warm regards,

Your GLA Team

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27

Day 9: Building Bricks and Strengthening Bonds

Greetings from Peru!

Today marked the 4th of our 5 service days in Patacancha, and what a day it was! Our hardworking teens dedicated themselves to the labor-intensive and delightfully messy task of building mud bricks. Together, we managed to create an impressive 73 bricks, which will soon become the walls of the community room we’ve been tirelessly working on. It’s incredible to see the progress we’ve made and to know that our efforts will leave a lasting impact on this community.

After a productive day of brick-building, we returned to our home base and dove into the “Communication Olympics.” This fun and challenging activity tested our teamwork and communication skills in various ways. We tackled the human knot, completing it in just over 4 minutes, and successfully managed the human chair on our first try. The helium hoop proved to be a tougher challenge, and while we never quite completed it, we had a lot of laughs and learned a lot about patience and persistence.

Next, we engaged in a drawing activity where we focused on being very descriptive with our language. This exercise highlighted the importance of clear communication and how our messages can be best understood. We also had a meaningful discussion about perspective, exploring how our life experiences shape the way we view other environments and cultures as we travel. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and open-mindedness in our global adventures.

We wrapped up the night with games and a lively karaoke session. It was heartwarming to see the boys belt out every word of Moana, bringing smiles and laughter to everyone.

As we look forward to our final service day tomorrow, we can’t wait to analyze all that we have accomplished and reflect on the impact we’ve made. Stay tuned for more updates!

Warm regards,

The GLA Peru Team

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28

Day 10: Our Final Service Day in Patacancha

Dear Parents,

Greetings from Peru! Today marked the culmination of our service efforts in Patacancha, and what a day it was! It’s hard to believe, but we managed to move even more rocks, making significant progress on the community room foundation. The determination and teamwork your teens demonstrated was truly inspiring.

Our hard work was followed by a unique and heartfelt experience—a private weaving demonstration by the talented local artisans. We watched in awe as they skillfully crafted beautiful woven items, and many of us couldn’t resist purchasing some as souvenirs and gifts. It was a special way to connect with the people we’ve been helping and to take a piece of this incredible community back home with us.

In a touching gesture, the community prepared a special meal for us. We shared heartfelt goodbyes knowing this isn’t truly goodbye if we keep these memories and experiences in our hearts. The bonds formed over these past days will be cherished for a lifetime.

Upon returning to our home base, the fun didn’t stop. We had an energetic dance class where everyone let loose and embraced the vibrant spirit of Peruvian culture. The day wrapped up with a leadership-style activity by Jayme, followed by engaging discussions in our mentor groups. These conversations have been crucial in reflecting on our experiences and personal growth throughout this journey.

Tomorrow, we head to Cusco for the next adventure! Thank you for your continued support and for encouraging these incredible teens to be a part of this life-changing experience.

Best regards,

The GLA Team

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29 & JUNE 30

June 29th & 30th: Salt Mines, City Tours, and Adventure!

Dear Parents,

Greetings from Peru! It has been an incredible journey, and we have so much to share from the past two days. The teens are learning and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

June 29th: Maras Salt Mines and Exploring Cusco

Yesterday, we embarked on a fascinating visit to the Maras salt mines. These ancient salt pools, nestled in the Sacred Valley, offered a unique glimpse into the traditional methods of salt extraction that have been used for centuries. The teens were interested in the intricate process and enjoyed wandering through the sparkling salt terraces. Many of us couldn’t resist purchasing some delicious souvenirs to bring a taste of Peru back home.

After our exploration of the salt mines, we headed back to Cusco. Our guide, Smith, led us on an informative walking tour around the city. Cusco’s rich history and vibrant culture came alive through Smith’s engaging stories. The teens were shown the blend of Incan and Spanish architecture that defines this historic city. We wrapped up the day with some free time to explore Cusco’s charming streets, shop for local crafts, and soak in the lively atmosphere.

June 30th: White Water Rafting and Ziplining Adventure

Today was packed with thrilling activities that tested our courage and teamwork. We started with an exhilarating white water rafting experience on class 2 and 3 rapids. The teens showed incredible bravery as they navigated the freezing waters, their spirits high despite the cold. After conquering the rapids, we warmed up in a cozy sauna, sharing stories and laughter as we thawed out.

In the afternoon, we switched gears to ziplining. Soaring above the stunning Peruvian landscape was a highlight for many, offering breathtaking views and an adrenaline rush. The teens’ enthusiasm was contagious, and their encouragement for one another was inspiring to witness. They even cheered for me as I tried ziplining in spite of me fear of heights.

This evening, we enjoyed dinner at our hotel. The meal was a wonderful opportunity to relax and reflect on our adventures. Afterward, Warren led a leadership activity that fostered reflection and growth. The teens engaged thoughtfully, sharing insights and supporting each other’s learning.

We concluded our night with our final mentor group session of the trip. It was a heartfelt time to discuss our experiences, share personal growth, and express gratitude for the journey we’ve shared. The bonds formed during this trip are strong, and it’s clear that these teens have made lifelong friends.

As we prepare to return home, know that your teens have grown immensely, both as individuals and as a team. They have embraced every challenge, celebrated every triumph, and supported one another with kindness and compassion. We are immensely proud of each and every one of them.

They are looking forward to seeing you all soon and sharing more stories from our incredible adventure in Peru.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

Final Blog: A Heartfelt Farewell from Peru

Dear Parents,

As our unforgettable journey in Peru comes to an end, we wanted to share the highlights of our final day together. It has been an incredible experience, filled with growth, adventure, and lasting memories.

Our day began with the bittersweet task of packing and organizing our belongings. For lunch, we revisited our favorite restaurant, Uchucuta. The familiar flavors and warm atmosphere made for a perfect final meal out together. It was a time to reflect on the many shared meals and conversations that have brought us closer as a group.

In the afternoon, our students engaged in an activity called OMG, or One Meaningful Goal. Each student set a personal goal to carry forward from this experience. It was inspiring to hear their aspirations and see how much they’ve grown. This exercise emphasized the impact of our time in Peru and the lessons learned along the way.

We spent the remainder of the day celebrating our successes and the strength of our group. The appreciation circle was a deeply emotional moment for everyone. Tears flowed as we expressed our gratitude for each other, highlighting the unique contributions and support within our team. We concluded the circle with a spirited “Vamos Equipo” for Jayme and a heartfelt group hug, solidifying the unity and camaraderie we’ve built.

As the night approached, we gathered for dinner of pizza and flan. We even attempted to recreate the classic s’mores experience, which was a first for Smith, our Local Director. Despite being far from home, the s’mores brought a touch of familiarity and joy to our evening.

As the night wound down, we shared more tears, listened to music, and reflected on our time together. The sentiment, “It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later,” resonated deeply with everyone. The connections we’ve made here are not bound by geography; they will continue to thrive as we return to our respective homes.

Thank you for entrusting us with your incredible teens. They have shown resilience, compassion, and an eagerness to learn and grow. This journey has been transformative, and we are immensely proud of each and every one of them.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Smith, Warren, and Jayme

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Written by Fernanda & the Peru Team

Hey Sigma Squad,

I know you guys are all back into the swing of your lives and it probably is crazy to think about how six months ago we were all living together in Pisac pushing wheelbarrows, moving rocks, and pouring concrete while vibing along to the sounds of Hans the engineer’s mega speaker at the worksite. I hope that wherever you are doing school, working or starting college you still think back to our trip because we (the team) still think of you and all of the things that we experienced and achieved together.

The three weeks we spent here in Peru has carried an impact that has not been erased. The bocatoma that we spent hours building is now diverting precious water all the way down the mountain into the reservoir the insanely hard working community members built and into the greenhouses of all those families in Chauaytire. Every one of the rocks we lifted and shovels of gravel we poured has made an invaluable water collection system helping to feed and bring income to hundreds of members in the community. I hope you still remember how real climate change is and how hard it is hitting Peru while we live back in North America where we don’t worry about food on the table or having enough water to shower.

We shared so many incredible experiences and memories here in Peru, it is insane to think about how much we did in a mere 21 days on top of nine days of service. We drove down crazy mountain roads to see ancient salt mines and then spent a beautiful afternoon kayaking and stand up paddle boarding in Piuray. We went white water rafting and ziplining at a river lodge after waking up at 4am to hike up Rainbow Mountain, and we dressed in traditional Peruvian clothing and danced around a fire at our local homestay.

I think one of the most memorable excursions for us all was our Lares Trek. I think none of us really knew what was coming for us when our guides took us to buy bread and coca leaves early that morning. The hike itself was a challenge with us ascending to almost 15 000 feet above sea level. We hiked through small villages giving out bread to the children, climbed boulders and even had to have a horse help us complete the journey as a team. We camped out under the stars and woke up to frost. It was so cold but we completed it still! The next day we got to continue our journey taking a beautiful train ride to the base of Machu Picchu leaving at 5am in the morning to go see the ancient wonder.

We miss the small things from our time together as well from spontaneously being a choir of cats, nightly trips to the gas station where our snack purchasing probably topped their sale charts, arguing over the correct way to pronounce pasta and jumping and playing on the huge slide at the festival. I miss the awesome group energy of Peru STEM internship group B 2024.

Do you remember the SMART goals you created on the last day of the trip?. GLA would love to hear how that’s going. Have you made any changes in your personal life, home or even community? Remember to share you personal goals and work at home by tagging GLA, they’d love to see how you are BEING the CHANGE back home!

Thanks for helping to make these special memories in an amazing place and good luck with all your personal and professional projects!!

Cheers,

The Peru team!
Samantha Heard – Mentor
Fernanda Ramos Diaz – International Director
Manuel Lastarria – Local Director

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

Here are a few things to know and expect:

1. Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
2. We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
3. Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
4. Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

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Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

Hola from Peru!

The day has arrived and with it, all of our students!

With our best skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm, we have been preparing to start this GLA Internship Program in beautiful Pisac.
We have a full group of happy and surprisingly energetic students who are ready to learn and explore the paths of their future careers. We are prepared to facilitate this process.

After a morning of trips to the airport, we explored our little but very charming town of Pisac and its Sunday market. We look forward to writing about breathtaking treks and meaningful experiences in the next blogs.

For now, we are all off to a much-deserved night of sleep.

Bye!

– Maria Fernanda, International Director and Leader of the day!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

Hello!

The trip is officially underway! We started the day trying some exotic fruits bought from the local market with our breakfast. We then hopped on the bus that took us to the community where we will be doing our service work.

The bus ride took beautiful winding mountain roads up out of the Sacred Valley to an altitude of 13000 ft. The views of the mountains were incredible. Once we arrived to the Chahuaytire community we got an introduction from MEDLIFE, a non-profit organization that partners with low-income communities in Latin America and Africa to improve their access to healthcare, nutrition and self-sustaining economies.

We learned about how the community is being heavily impacted by climate change, the mountains surrounding us had no more snow or glaciers, something that would have been there ten years ago, impacting the water access they rely on to grow their food.

Since the community we are working in has no more reliable rain and water due to the receding glaciers, they have been struggling to produce food. MEDLIFE is working towards building greenhouses for all 150 families in the community. The greenhouses not only allow the plants to grow a lot faster so the farmers can have a greater yield, but they also trap moisture in the air allowing plants to grow with less water.

The community so far has around 60 greenhouses and they are growing vegetables adding more nutrients to their diet and the excess produce is being sold to other villages acting as a source of income. We will be working with two local engineers, one who grew up in the village to build water distribution systems for the greenhouses, so the villagers don’t have to carry buckets of water from the river to water the plants which is time-consuming and inefficient.

We got to then meet some of the villagers, and they taught us how they turn wool into fabrics by using plants, bugs, and even urine as dyes. We also learned about how they weave them into fabrics and make their colorful clothing. We also toured some of the greenhouses that have been built.
In the afternoon we completed orientation and got to attend a ritual led by a Quechua Shaman who taught the importance of living with your heart mind and actions and living in unity with the planet.

We finished the night buying some snacks and learning about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how our project connects to them.
Tomorrow, we get to start the service work and are looking forward to it!

Good night!

Sam – Mentor and leader of the day

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

Today was our first day doing service work, and it was a great introduction to the work we would be doing in the coming days. Yesterday, we learned how establishing sustainable water infrastructure, like building greenhouses, promotes positive economic and nutritional development within the communities. Today, we were able to see firsthand how these projects are created.

First, the local engineer explained that we were going to create a water collection and filtration system using a natural stream that would be used to irrigate the crops in the greenhouses. It must be filtered to prevent sediment from clogging or damaging the pipelines.

We arrived at the work site where community members were already working digging and funneling the creek. Our job was to move a pile of dirt, gravel, and rock sediment from the road (where the dump truck bringing it left it) because it was obstructing traffic. The material would eventually be added to the concrete mix to reinforce it.

We also learned about topography, and the tools engineers use to create accurate measurements of slope and grade. Using a tool adjusted to be level on the x and y planes, we can accurately record the change in height between 2 locations using a leveled ruler. By measuring the distance between the two points, using trigonometry, we can calculate the percent grade. This data is necessary to calculate the flow of water, especially considering the difference in altitude’s effect on water.

Although we didn’t finish clearing the road, we learned a lot about our mission and what we were working towards. It was a very productive day.

Siddharth Sooknanan – Leader of the day

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Hello Everyone!

And welcome back to your place to stay up to date on Groip B’s adventures in Peru. Yesterday (Wednesday) was an action packed day! After waking up and eating our usual breakfast of delicious eggs, cereal, toast, and meat and cheese we had our 3rd day of curriculum. Here we learned about cultural humility and how people can be more aware of their own cultural norms and how they might differ from someone else’s. We scored ourselves on a set of topics, such as how nonjudgmental or flexible we are to see what our stong suits in relation to culture humility are and what skills we can continue to work on.

Next, in our day, we drove to the Maras Salt Mines. In the pictures below you can see how stunning all of the 4,200(!) salt pools are. These pools are special as they have been around for 1,500 years. They are formed from water people put on them from a river that runs along the outside of the pools. This isn’t any ordinary river, though. Millions of years ago, ocean used to cover this area of Peru. Part of this ocean still resides underground and results in the river being made up of different salts and minerals. Each family of the community owns there own pool. After they put the river water into their pool, they need to wait about 2 weeks, in Perus dry season (which is from April to November), before all of the water has evaporated and they can collect there salt in the bags seen below. One bag is worth about 6 U.S. dollars. The reason that this salt making process isn’t more industrialized or that the salt isn’t sold for more money is because people do not collect the salt just for money. They collect the salt to keep there cultural customs alive. After visiting the salt pools we had a chance to purchase some of the salt for ourselves. There were different types of salts to choose from such as bath salts or ones for food.

Moving forward in our day, we went to lake Piuray. Here, after having a delicious lunch of chicken, avocado, quinoa, and vegetables we were able to paddle board and kayak which was super fun despite for a slight breeze! During our time on the water we learned from our guide that the lake is responsible for 30% of the water supply for Cusco.

Talking about Cusco – after a soccer break and some time to relax – that is where we headed to. After checking into our hotel were we spent the night and some people eating not one, not two, but three servings of spaghetti, we went out and explored the city’s nightlife. Here we explored some shops that sold merchandise made from alpaca wool and saw a breathtaking view of all the city lights. Once we made our way back to the hotel everyone was exhausted and soon was fast asleep.

Thanks for checking in and make sure to come back tomorrow for more updates!

Zane Baker – Leader of the day

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

Today we all woke up early to get to the work site and continue with day 2 of the water captivation project. Early on we all found and carried rocks through an assembly line to transport them to be used as the walls of our project.

Further on, we worked on new engineering practices today such as bending metal and bringing a blueprint to life. Each of us took turns bending metal rods at a 90-degree angle to be used as a support to our concrete walls. Our engineers also guided us on the measurements of the mold for the walls we will be building within the proceeding days. We also implemented using chalk lines to prepare the guidelines of the walls.

Once back home we were met by the profound environmentalist, Alessandra Yupanqui, who gave a speech and met us for dinner. Within this speech, we learned first about the cultural discrimination she faced from Peruvians in Lima after learning about the lineage of her ancestors’ culture and Quechua background. However, she explained to us how she used this turning point to fuel her in life, and now educates us and many others on the dire water issue that climate change is causing for Peruvians. Today was overall a great day and very informative for our project.

Max Saari – Leader of the Day

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

Today we woke up, ate, and were met with a guest speaker that taught us about research and ethics in the field. She taught us who climate change affects and how it affects them.

After the guest speaker, we loaded into a bus to go to the worksite. Upon arrival we began gathering rocks and continued to shovel the pile of rocks and sand.

Once work concluded, we headed directly to a traditional ceramic making class in a local community. When we arrived we were greeted with flower petals and a beautiful scenery. After, they taught us about traditional music instruments the Incas used and we got to try some.

Finally we returned to the hotel. We ate dinner and had another guest speaker, Manuel, who taught us about energies and the effect of each type on the environment.

Dylan Powers – leader of the day

Photos coming soon!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Peru first day of Machu Picchu hike!

Today was the day we had all been waiting for, the start of the hike to Machu Picchu through Lares. We started our day bright and early at 6 am, we met our guides for the day and left at 7 am. We made our first stop at a small village 30 minutes away called Calca to buy coca leaves and bread to give to the locals we would find on our hike up. 2 and a half outs later and with some beautiful views we arrived at the base of our hike. After some preparation, we got moving through the beautiful Andes meeting many alpacas and locals along the way. After our first hour and a half of hiking, we made it to lunch. We were served some amazing food as we all indulged after a long morning.

After lunch, we were fueled and prepared to take on the rest of our hike. Unlike our previous experience with flatter ground and a smooth road, we took on the mountains. This tested us pushing us to our boundaries with massive inclinations, thin air, and heavy backpacks. We hiked through clouds, the beautiful mountains, and some villages with very friendly locals. We quickly got exhausted taking multiple breaks along the way to catch our breath. Two and a half hours later we had made it to our campsite for the night feeling extremely accomplished.

After relaxing and hanging out we had some hot chocolate to warm up accompanied by crackers and popcorn. We then indulged in some amazing dinner which consisted of potato soup, chicken, and pasta. During dinner, we held our nightly meeting to reflect on our very eventful day. The beautiful night sky quickly grabbed our attention with the bright stars filling up the dark sky. Not long after we got settled into our tents and went to sleep to prepare for another day of hiking.

Oliver – leader of the day

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

Hello everyone!

Today, we woke up at 6:00 am, just in time to see beautiful sunshine at 14,000 feet up in the mountains of the Lares Trek campsite. It was pretty cold, so the guides at the campsite gave everyone an option for hot drinks, such as hot chocolates, tea, and even coffee, which was a great way to start the day. After that, we went over to have some late breakfast at 7:30 . We had pancakes, fruit salad, granola, yogurt, and some bread. After we had breakfast, it was time to pack up our things and leave the campsite clean to continue our next part of the trek.

The second part of the trek was hiking to the highest point of the Lares Trek, approximately 14,600 feet up in the mountains. This was a very challenging part of the hike, but we finally made it to the top in about 45 minutes. The Lares Trek had officially concluded. The views were INCREDIBLE!, and we got to see what was really the purpose of this hike. We chilled for about 30 minutes at the summit, took some photos, and ate some snacks before heading our way down. The way down the mountain was so relaxing and peaceful compared to the going up part, and it was a nice time for everyone. As we were heading down, we were told that there was a pond nearby. It was beautiful! We took a bunch of pictures before finally continuing our way down for lunch.

We took about 2 and a half hours to get down the mountain to the village where we would be served our lunch. For lunch, we had potato soup, salad, chicken, rice, veggies, and some traditional yuca too. It was delicious, we were all so hungry it was great. After lunch, we took a 40-minute bus ride to Ollantaytambo, the place where we were going to take the train to Machu Picchu! We went around town for around 40 minutes and we went back to the restaurant where we initially went to leave our bags to have some dinner. This dinner was delicious, it was definitely one of the best we’ve had on this trip. After dinner, we headed out to the train station, which would take us to our hotel in Aguas Calientes, the town base of Machu Picchu. It was a 2-hour train ride all the way to the hotel we were staying at. After we arrived, we went to our rooms to get some sleep for tomorrow’s adventure. That concludes our day 11, hope you guys enjoyed it and see you guys for Machu Picchu tomorrow!!

– Enrique Ruiz – leader of the day

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

We woke up around 6 today to catch the bus to Machu Picchu. Touring it was amazing with our excellent tour guides we learned a lot about the history surrounding the place. As the sun rose over the mountains, it illuminated all the terraces and stone structures creating a majestic view. UNESCO World Heritage site. Being up this early, we were able to get a look around and get pictures without there being too many people. The architecture of the Incan civilization was amazing and so were the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.

After a wonderful morning at Machu Picchu, we drove back into Aguas Calientes. The bright markets and its narrow streets offered a glimpse into local culture. Here, artisans proudly displayed their work, including clothing, toys, and classic cultural foods. Exploring these markets provided a great opportunity to purchase souvenirs but and also offered a connection to the Andean way of life, where centuries-old traditions are still carried on even in the modern day.

In conclusion, we had a wonderful day. Waking up early to be some of the first people to see the sun coming over the mountains at Machu Picchu, tour it, have lunch, and then explore the markets in Aguas Calientes afterward. We concluded the day by taking a train back to home base(Písac) having dinner, and then resting in preparation for the work days tomorrow.

Buenas Noches from the Leader Del Dia, Reagan Etheridge

BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Hello Everyone!

Today was the first work day coming back from our 3 day excursion. Everyone was more tired than usual, but we powered through and did some great work.

We collected rocks all the way until lunch time where we ate our two delicious chicken sandwiches accompanied by a banana, a juice box, oreos, and crackers. We then got to help out making, transporting, and pouring the cement. We all learned a lot, from showing us the contraptions used as the mold, to the machine to vibrate the cement into place.

After work, we went to Potato Park where we learned about all the different types of potatoes, as well as the tools they used to grow them. There was one tool to level hilly ground, one to loosen the dirt, and one to take the potato out once it was ready to be harvested. We also got to try the tool to loosen the dirt, which was much harder to use than we initially thought. We also got to peel our own potato and eat it with a peanut dipping sauce.

After coming back home we worked on our poster projects and had our nightly meeting. A beautiful vocal performance by tomorrow’s leader of the day was a great end to our day. With that, we all were getting a little sleepy and called it a day. Goodnight!

Alex Yuan- Leader of the day

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Hello everyone! Today is day 13, and we followed our routine as usual. Though, we had breakfast at 8:00 am because our mentors saw that we were really tired, so they gave us an hour extra to wake up which was really nice. We had our breakfast and Hans cam to give us our briefing for the morning. After that, we went to our worksite. We did the same thing we did yesterday (make concrete mix and pour it on the wall) onto the left side of the wall. We also excavated an area 30 cm deep in the river to set up a rock base for the water to flow. It was really interesting and it finally started to come together! We had our lunch and we went back to work an hour later. We continued pouring the concrete mix until we finished.

Then we went back to Pisac to have our guest speaker, Mark Gregory, which talked us about his initiative of Chasing Glaciers. His presentation was awesome, it really shows how any human can make a difference in the world by changing perspectives of certain things! After the guest speaker’s presentation, we had time to prepare for our group presentations. Later, all the groups presented and there were some really great presentations! At 6:30 pm we had our dinner (Hamburgers and fries!) and it was SOO good all of us enjoyed it. After that we had our nightly meeting, and we had some announcements for the next day. That concludes day 13, great day today, a lot of progress was made in the project. See you guys tomorrow!!

– Enrique

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Today we woke up to another day of service. We quickly rose out of bed, ate breakfast, and received our orientation from our civil engineer. We learned more about the design and complexities of our project and what work had to be done for the day.

Once we arrived at the worksite, we got to work filling in a bed of rocks and creating another 30cm deep rectangular hole. This had taken up our whole morning however we had a very present visit from a professional photographer we got some amazing group and individual photos to treasure.

After an amazing lunch, we received an amazing gift, a concrete mixer. This made our work so much easier and more efficient. Unfortunately, we had some trouble getting the concrete mixer started but once it began to we became more efficient than I had seen our whole trip. We then used our concrete to fill in our bed of rocks which went by so quickly.

Returning to home base we were all tired and filthy with concrete all over us. Our amazing director Fernanda had made us a lot of popcorn when we returned. After many showers and some time to relax, we had our seventh curriculum session where we learned about our final personal and optional professional projects.

We ended our night with a trip to the store, some dinner and our nightly meeting where we were greeted about our upcoming trip. Some of us after dinner decided to go visit the festival site right beside us which is starting the 14th of July in Pisac which was incredibly fun for those who attended. We then finally made our way to bed exhausted and excited for our upcoming trip.

Oliver Gilmer – leader of the day!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Today, we woke up early and set off for our homestay. After driving for a while, we made a brief stop at the Tipon archeological site, where we learned about the Inca’s methods of irrigation and agriculture. Once we finished exploring, we returned to the car and drove a bit further until we reached our next destination, a pre-Inca site. We enjoyed an hour-long hike there before returning to the bus to continue our journey.

Upon arrival at the homestay in Raqchi community, we were warmly greeted by the locals. We were divided into three groups and taken to different houses, where we were shown to our rooms and rested until lunch. Lunch was a delicious traditional meal consisting of soup, a vegetable mix, and a chicken dish. Afterward, we gathered at one of the houses for a ceramics demonstration.

Following the ceramics class, our group split up: some stayed to continue making ceramics, while others decided to play soccer. A local kid guided us to the soccer field, and we played until dark. Afterward, we returned to our houses for dinner. Following dinner, the locals dressed us in traditional clothing, and we all reconvened for a traditional ceremony in which we worshipped Mother Earth and made wishes for our futures. After the ceremony, we received a briefing about our upcoming hike to the top of Rainbow Mountain.

The day concluded with a dance around a fire. An Andean woman led us in a traditional dance, clasping our hands as we moved to the rhythm. By the time the dance ended, everyone was exhausted, and we all retired to our rooms for a well-deserved rest.

Dylan Powers – Leader of the day

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Imagine waking up super early in the Andes Mountains of Peru. It’s chilly but exciting because you know today will be special.

We started with a great breakfast in a small village where indigenous people live. The place felt cozy, and the people were nice.

After breakfast, we drove to Rainbow Mountain. The roads were twisty, but the views of the mountains and llamas were amazing!

When we got to Rainbow Mountain, we hiked up to see it. The mountain had these crazy colors—reds, yellows, greens—all natural! It was tough because of the high altitude, but so worth it for the view.

Next, we went to a lodge by a river. We did this cool zip line across the river and back. Flying over the trees and water was such a rush!

After that, we had a nice dinner at the lodge. We ate local food and sat around a campfire under the stars.

From meeting locals to hiking Rainbow Mountain and zipping through the trees, every moment was of this day was unforgettable.

Reagan – Leader of the day

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

The day started with a breakfast of eggs and toast. After that, we got ready for the long-awaited white water rafting!

We first got changed into our gear, which included the wetsuit, shoes, water jacket, life jacket, and helmet. Promptly, we drove 15 minutes upstream where we got a safety briefing, as well as instructions on what to do while in the water. We learned the commands to tell us which action to perform while on the water. There was “Forward” and “Back” which meant to paddle forward and backwards, “Right back, Left forward” to turn clockwise, and “Left back, Right forward” to turn counter-clockwise. Usually, you sit on the top part of the raft, so when we went over bumpy and turbulent waters, the guide would say “All in” which went to get your whole body into the raft. And to get back out they would say “Back to positions.” After all the fun, the cold and numbness got to many of us. Thankfully, there was a hot sauna waiting for us, which many of us enjoyed thoroughly. We then had a great lunch, said goodbye to everyone, and headed home.

Today is also the first day we are back for the Virgen Del Carmen, the biggest celebration of the year in Pisac. So we took a stroll around town to check out what was going on. In the town square, there was a crowd gathered around a band and dancers. They were all wearing bright-colored clothes and masks too. There were also many small vendors selling things like sunglasses, cotton candy, and popcorn.

We then came back to homebase to work on our projects, had dinner, and to end it off another great nightly meeting.

Alex Yuan – Leader of the day!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

Today we woke up back at home base to prepare for another service day. The group traveled to the worksite and was greeted by the plenty of progress made after much of the concrete had dried. We then proceeded to arrange rock across the floor to prepare for the final few concrete installations. Our project is close to finished and the group looks forward to pouring the final concrete tomorrow to finish off.

After the service work, the group went and checked out Group A’s project and learned about this alternate water captivation system. We learned about how engineers select their project design by analyzing both the geography and the water needs of the community. The dam system was impressive and expanded our idea of engineering possibilities.

Lastly, we ended the day off by visiting a community for a textiles demonstration. The local community lady showed us how to cut, clean, stretch, and dye the alpaca fur. Each color is made with different natural herbs or plants brewed at 45-minute increments with the fur. Many of us then got the chance to knit the fur into handmade bracelets and received one as a gift to take home. We thanked the community and drove back to home base after rwards to finish off the day.

Max Saari – Leader of the day

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Hello Everyone, and welcome back!

After our usual morning routine of waking up and eating breakfast, we did the unusual.

Instead of going directly to our service site, we went on a hike at Kinsa Cocha. In Quechua, Kinsa Cocha means three lakes. The two of those three lakes that we saw on our hike were stunning! As our guide led us through grazing sheep and alpacas we learned some cool facts about the environment we were in. We were at an elevation of 13,800 feet/ 4,206 meters. One cool fact we learned was that when there is too much animal grazing in a certain area, a small fluffy looking cactus grows there. When the cactus decomposes, it produces the nutrients needed to make that area of land fertile again.

Around 11:30 we made our way to our work site. This day was special because it was our last work day! Once there, we helped to mix concrete. We did not have a mixer this day, which made things a bit more difficult, but there were enough of us to have everything run efficiently. The process of mixing the concrete consisted of combining an approximent amount of dirt and small stones together with a bag of cement and water from the river. After everything was thoroughly mixed, we put it in to wheelbarrows and buckets and brought it to fill in the sites wall molds and flooring.

After arriving back to the home base and taking a well deserved shower, everyone had an incredible dinner of baked chicken and rice. After eating and having our nightly meeting – where we had a recap of the day – everyone got ready for bed and continued to prepare for the presentations we had been working on for the last couple of days that we presented the following morning.

Zane Baker – Leader of the day

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

Today was our final internship day and we began it with a late morning wake up for our final breakfast. We all headed down to an auditorium where we presented our reflections and an optional engineering-related project. This perfectly wrapped up the experience and everyone shared many of their takeaways from the program, plans for the future, and engineering interests.

Proceeding that, we had a ceremony at both Group A & B’s worksites. Many community members, Medlife, GLA members, and the Pisac mayor came to celebrate the project. We broke a vase as a celebration ritual and seeing the complete result of all our work was extremely rewarding. Along with that, we got the opportunity to meet many Group A peers.

To finish off the day, we returned to the auditorium and had one final reflection. The reflection made us think about short and long-term goals to set. We spent our final dinner together and had a great dish of burgers from our chefs. 9 men, worlds apart, came together, boys to men.

Zachai – Leader of the day

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Written by Katerina & the Peru Team

Dear GLA Interns,

Six months have flown by since our transformative experience in Peru, and it’s amazing to look back on all we achieved and discovered together. As you reflect on the past few months, we hope you cherish the memories of our incredible journey and the impact we made on the community of Chahuaytire.

Building the dam was no small feat. We shoveled countless loads of dirt, carried tons of rocks, mixed concrete like true professionals, and wheeled miles with those wheel barrels. Each challenge we faced brought us closer together as a team and underscored the importance of our mission. The dam we build will serve the community for years to come, a testament to your hard work and perseverance.

Our time in Peru was not just about hard work; it was also filled with unforgettable adventures. We conquered the Lares Trek, marveled at the ancient wonders of Machu Picchu, and experienced the breathtaking views of Rainbow Mountain. Our rafting trip was a thrilling adventure, and exploring the archeological sites gave us a deeper understanding of Peru’s rich history.

Among the many highlights, John’s music was a constant source of motivation through the tough days, lifting our spirits when we needed it most. Logan’s infectious laughter kept us all smiling, and Brody’s dramatic reactions to the cold showers will be a story for the ages. These moments, filled with camaraderie and joy, made our time together truly special.

As you continue to reflect on your experiences and personal growth achieved, we encourage you to share your projects and “aha” moments on social media. Tag @GLAteens so we can celebrate your ongoing journeys and keep the spirit of our shared adventure alive.

Thank you for your hard work, enthusiasm, and the memories we created together. Here’s to carrying the lessons learned and the friendships forged into everything you do moving forward.

Warmest Regards,
Katerina Pata – Internship Supervisor
Hector Deza – Local Director
Janay Wigley – Internship Mentor

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

Here are a few things to know and expect:

1. Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
2. We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
3. Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
4. Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

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Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

Buenas tardes from Peru,

All students arrived and we are all together in the Home Base in Pisac. We settled in our rooms and after a few get-to-know-you activities we headed out for a first exploration of the town of Pisac! We visited the main square of the town and the artisanal market. Hector, the Local Director, gave us so much information about the local culture and cannot wait to learn even more from him. Everybody seems very excited about the program but also very tired from their flights! Stay tuned for more updates!

The Staff Team

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

It was a brisk morning in the hotel, as everyone awakened to eat breakfast. Our group was then enlightened to the past experiences of the Counselors we will be working with. Next we enjoyed the exquisite local chicken dish prepared by the chefs. After we took a windy bus ride to the Chawaityre area where we learned the process of making textiles by hand to make shoes, quilts, and more.

Then we visited the worksite where we would be completing a project for the next days. We came back, and learned about a peaceful ritual which encompassed fire and plants from the earth. This was a great end of the evening as it was very grounding and peaceful for us. We wrapped up the day by playing cards in the common area and went to bed, ready to tackle the challenges that came of tomorrow.

By: John & Tristan

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

Today my peers and I visited our service site for the first day of work. And let me tell you, when I say it was an invigorating, inspiring, yet also extremely tiring experience, I mean it. We worked alongside about a half dozen native Peruvians who live in Chahuaytire to build our service project, a dam. Chahuaytire has over the past few years experienced about half as much rain as they’re used; While it used to be normal for them to have 6 months of constant rain to help nourish their crops and the grass that their livestock graze on, during recent years that number has dropped to about 3 months of rain.

Our work on the dam is to the great benefit of the Chahuaytirans, since the dam, which is being built on a small river running next to the community, will hold about 1 million liters of water for the Chahuaytirans to use for their crops. While the work of relocating dirt from the area was hard, having a great group of people to socialize with helped make the time pass by way quicker than I initially thought. Even though it’s only been a few days, our group is already developing a great family, and I’m happy to be sharing this trip with every one of them.

Written by: Barrett

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Today the students awoke to a very cold morning and after a quick breakfast we were briefed on some of the basics of hydrology and the systems that we would be working with from Alvaro the engineer. We finished early and left for service 30 minutes ahead of schedule. We finished digging on one side of the river and moved to the next which were able to complete by our especially good lunch of pesto pasta and marinated steak.

After service we al-packad our bags and took a short drive and hike to see some cave paintings and ruins. We then left the area and arrived at a place called Sonidos de los Andes where we learned traditional Andean ceramic making and were taught about many of the ceremonial artifacts and instruments used by the Incan people. We returned to base and rested before our dinner, after which our day concluded with stories from our local director, Hector’s, engineering and leadership experiences.

Jacob

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

This morning was no different from the previous mornings. We ate breakfast at 7:00 and had a guest speaker soon after. Today our guest speaker was Heidi from MED LIFE (Medicine Education and Development for Low Income Families Everywhere) she talked about her previous experiences working for the program. Throughout the hour long talk she emphasized the importance of having a lasting presence in the community that they are working in. This strategy ensures that the community fully understands how to use the help provided by MED LIFE. This help includes, but is not limited to greenhouses, stoves, and corn dryers.

We then took the bus to the Chahuaytire community to do our service for the day. The service for today included: pumping the water out of the trenches that have been dug; moving stones to make it easier to fill the trench; and filling the trench with those same stones and concrete. We then returned to home base and had an hour long session that covered cultural humility. We were then visited by a man from the agency that will be handling our trek for the next 3 days. He explained the path we will take leading up to Machu Picchu, and what we should pack. After we had dinner which consisted of a soup with chicken, potato, and macaroni followed by a bacon cheeseburger. Since today is the fourth of July we decided to go to a local ice-cream parlor to celebrate. Our day starts early tomorrow with a 6:00 breakfast, and the bus takes us to Lares at 7:00 to begin our trek.

Tristan

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

We woke up early to drive to the market called Calca and bought marbles, coca leaves, and bread for the children and adults in the communities we were going to pass through on the backpacking trip. We got to the head of the trail and walked ~6 miles of meandering uphill with a few steep sections, and lots of exited kids and adults with the arrival of the gifts we brought them. We got to the camping place and went to bed under the bright stars. The second day after getting coca tea brought to our tents in the morning, we hiked another ~6 miles. The first part was steep and pretty exhausting, but the view was gorgeous. Then it was all downhill from there. We picked up a dog we named Alberto who walked with us for the whole rest of the hike. He was very sweet and a good hiking companion. We finally got to the hotel and we were all very tired. This morning we left at 6 to take the bus up to Machu Piccu. It was beautiful with the morning fog slowly rolling out. We learned a lot from the tours and the Incan buildings were so cool. While waiting for the train in the town, a lot of us had a soccer match with some other kids joining in. We took a train and a bus to get back to Pisac. We are all sleep deprived and will hopefully get some good rest tonight.

xx

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Today we had a late breakfast, so we could get more sleep after the hike. Then we got a briefing from Alvaro, the engineer. At the work site we worked on leveling out the dirt so the rain would go to the river. Then we came back to Home base and got a speech from a guest speaker, about prejudices against Andean people in Peru. Then we ate dinner and had free time to play games.

By Clara

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

The group began our day by waking up to a freshly prepared breakfast prepared by the chefs. We then received a briefing from Alvaro about a retaining wall we will soon work on. The team gathered together on the bus to drive to the worksite, and we completed a difficult but accomplishing task of hauling rocks into a pile to use for the dam. Once we were done, we enjoyed our lunch and then drove to the Potato Park where we learned about the importance of potatoes in the Peruvian community, and how sacred they are to them. Lastly, the group wrapped up the night by playing games and working on our presentations.

Written by: John

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

After a short morning of service, we visited a local family-run a textile business. The family taught us how they shear wool, spin said wool into yarn, how they make and use dye, and how to weave the yarn into different accessories. It was fascinating to not only learn that a special type of bug produces the red pigment, but also that mixing said bug with salt, lime, or other ingredients produces a myriad of other colors. It was an amazing experience, and we were able to purchase intricately handmade souvenirs afterwards, which we appreciated, since it was obvious the family put a lot of time and effort into the products.

Barrett, Laine

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Our day started with taking a bus to the Salt Flats. They were small ponds covered in salt on a mountainside and were beautiful. From there we went to our lakeside lunch starting with herb tea, quinoa, and plantains followed by chicken and potatoes. We then took out canoes and kayaks onto the lake which was freezing cold and many got splashed. Due to this our group then took a break laying in the sun with some dogs. Next, we took the bus once more to our Cuzco hotel and walked through the city down to our three-course dinner while dancers performed tableside.

Our day ended returning to our hotel. Our following day in the city began with an exploration of the city, strolling around plazas and marketplaces buying from the local markets. And then toured a small museum displaying ancient artifacts. Lunch was next at another three-course meal restaurant. After returning we started our journey back to Pisac stopping to travel through pitch black tunnels, go down natural slides, and see rock walls made by the Incas. And the day ended returning to our Pisac hotel and eating soup and spaghetti.

-Dylan

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Today the group woke up to a great breakfast and after had a briefing from Alvaro, the engineer. Then we took a bus and went to service and was met with a photographer from GLA who took some head shots for us. We worked on the dam some more and poured a lot of concrete. Then stopped for lunch which was quinoa and chicken but soon got back to work. After we were met by some college students who will soon help to work on the service project some more. When we returned to home base we prepared and presented our presentations. Followed by a filling dinner and a fun group activity.

-Harper

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

This morning started with a fantastic breakfast from our amazing chefs. After a short briefing from our Engineer Alvaro, we headed to service. We dealt with concrete and leveling many large dirt patches. After our half day of service, we headed back to Pisac to catch the Euro game between England and Spain. Half of us went out to the market and many of us picked up small blankets and sweaters. After we came back, we played a game of poker before eating a wonderfully cooked meal of chicken and fries. After dinner, some of us played mafia together and finished the night with one last game of poker.

Written by Brody

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Today we woke up at 7:00am to enjoy the regular breakfast, consisting of pancakes, eggs, and more. At 8:00am, Alvaro, the lead engineer at the work site, came to home-base to brief us on today’s activities and we stopped at the work site’s storage house to discuss how engineers think about the materials they worked with. We learned how cement has to be kept in a cold, dry environment, to why the houses at Chahaytire were made with clay instead of concrete, it was an interesting talk that gave us insight to the job of an engineer. Later, we went to the work site and helped mix clay as well as take measurements with tools Alvaro had taught us to use earlier in the week. Alvaro told us that our measurements showed which areas of land would be flooded after the dam was complete, and he gave us a mini-demonstration of how it would look like using a pile of concrete and water. We then ate a great lunch and said our temporary goodbyes to Alvaro and Medlife as it was our last day helping out, however we will be seeing the dam completed before we leave.

We returned to home-base at 2:00pm or so and had an hour break before our guest speaker. The guest speaker of the day was Mark Gregory, who directed a documentary called “Chasing Glaciers” and he told us of his life experience and how he had gotten to direct documentaries. It was fascinating to learn of his experiences with international jobs and his unsteady curve into the directing ministry, and we all enjoyed his talk. Afterwards, the group went into the town square to celebrate the Virgin Carmen celebration. The square was full of lively bands and people dancing, as well as horses and fireworks. After an extended stay at the square to enjoy from pizza to chocolate cake, we headed back to homebase to have dinner. Shortly after dinner we discussed the plans for tomorrow and had our seventh session consisting of methods to avoid burn out that students often feel during the school year. Overall today was educational and fun, and we are all excited for the first day of our excursion tomorrow.

Written by Olivia

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Our day started bright and early on Tuesday as we took a bus down to Tipon in Cusco after having a quick breakfast. This place was an important place where water was at its main focus. There were many wells and streams flowing with water and is marveled for its interesting usage of water. Afterwards we went down to the Cusipata River Lodge where we went white water rafting. This activity was thrilling as the river and rocks served as a fun challenge to navigate through. After washing off from the rafting we went to have a delectable meal for lunch. Then, we went zip lining over the river Vilcanota where we had act as the breaks for the zip lines. Definitely a first for many of us. Many of us were tired afterwards and spent the rest of the day in our rooms or spending time around the fire. The day ended with a late dinner and an early lights out to prepare for the hike to Rainbow Mountain the next day.

Wednesday morning started even earlier with breakfast at 5 consisting of well scrambled eggs, bread, and butter. Many of us stumbled out of bed and into the bus to get some rest before the hike up Rainbow Mountain. Our guide was energetic and determined and was able to wake us up and get us ready for the hike that we were about to endure. After an hour of fairly flat walking and 40 minutes of steep uphill hiking we were all able to make it to the peak of Rainbow Mountain and take beautiful pictures of the sight before us. The multicolored mountains on the right and low luscious valleys on the right were just a few of the sights to see. Luckily the walk back down the hill was easier and we went down to bus to go to a homestay. Each of us were divided into 3 different homestays where we were able to talk to and interact with the residents living there who cooked an amazing lunch for us after the long hike through Rainbow Mountain. After lunch we all went down to Luciano’s house and watched his masterful craft of pottery. We were able to view his creations and he showed us many of the tools he used to create the amazing pottery items he had. Then many of us wanted to get some exercise and played soccer for a bit at a local court. Coming back we had a delicious dinner followed by an evening activity. We all dressed up in traditional Peruvian clothing provided to us and watched the local people perform a ceremonial ritual which we were all able to partake in and contribute. Then we all danced around the fire, clapped, and sang songs with the residents. This ended the day and we went to bed excited for what was to come next.

Thursday morning we woke up late after getting a good night’s sleep in the comfortable beds provided to us at the homestay. After having our last meal at the homestay, we went for a little walk around the area. We learned about the importance of messengers in the area we were in and the trails that they had used. We also saw the Raqchi Temple from a beautiful viewpoint where we were able to take nice pictures as we learned the importance of the location. Before leaving we were able to say our final goodbyes to the lovely people who had provided the food and place for us to stay the night. We were all gifted a necklace and waved goodbye. Then we went back to the lodge we had stayed at for lunch. Then we finally took the bus back to our hotel in Pisac where we rested for a bit before having the option to go out to the market and explore the city a bit more in our final days here. We got a warm chicken and rice meal followed by a side of chicken soup and quinoa for dinner, ending our day.

Logan

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

For our final day in Peru, the interns had breakfast at 8 am, breakfast concluded of pancakes, watermelon, bread, egg, etc. At 9 am all of the interns presented their final presentations, each intern had to choose 3 questions from 6 questions in total, reflecting of their experience of learning in the tasks we did here in Peru. 11:45 pm we had a delicious lunch that concluded of milanesa, rice, beans, and passion fruit juice. At 12:30 pm all the interns drove to Chahuaytire to go and look at the finish of group A and group Bs’ project. Each group got to see and learn what they built, both groups gave thank you speeches to the communities and the communities gave thank you speeches as well. Both groups got to have a little celebration by breaking a vase filled with cervesa. Once all the interns returned to home base at 4:30 pm everyone met up on the terrace to do one last final activity called the appreciation circle. Everyone would sit in a circle facing away from each other, our supervisor would then number us off into different groups and each group had to tap a person that they were appreciated of. At 7 pm we threw a pizza party to send everyone a farewell and to celebrate our last night together after being in Peru for 21 days.

-Alex

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Written by Skylar & the Peru Team

OMG: Be present, be grateful, be helpful
Why: To live more fulfilled lives, to learn from our experiences and to ultimately be the change
How: by interacting in our own communities, being on our phones less, appreciate the little things and to be more authentic.

Time Capsule:

Most wonderful GLA students,

How are you? How’s life been post-GLA? Things are going well for me, but I miss Peru. The time we spent together was certainly a wonderful journey. I have so many memories with all of you that I am going to hold on to for a very long time.

I’m writing this letter to help you remember all of the great times we had together and to check in on how you’re doing with your goals. You went home with personal goals as well as the group goal of being present, grateful, and helpful. You all agreed that Peru opened your eyes to the privileges you have at home and wanted to become more conscious of the footprint you leave; whether it be energy usage, your cross cultural connections, etc. The team and I really admired your goal. How’s it going? I’m sure you’re doing a great job getting it done. If not, it’s never too late to start. Think of this as a little friendly reminderto keep staying after it. It’s a little nudge. Go get things done. Be the change in the world that I know all of you are capable of.

I want you to close your eyes for a second and think about your favorite memories from GLA this summer. Let yourself slip back into memories. I want you to feel like you are back in the moment. Remember what it looked like, what it sounded like. Was it the sun on your face or the wind in your hair? Were you gasping for breath at 16,000 feet on top of Rainbow mountain? Is Urbano holding a pick axe in the background? Can you hear Addie or Dylan’s laugh? Remember the moment as best as you can with as many details as possible. Make it something you will carry with you forever.

Some of my favorite memories from the program are watching you all hype each other up before service, long scenic bus rides through the sacred valley, making lomo saltado in Cusco, watching you all attempt to barter for gifts to bring back home, and laughing with Urbano. We had some ups and downs, but I’ll hold onto these memories and the lessons I learned from y’all for as long as possible. It is memories like these that make us feel alive and continue to look for the secret and important places.

When you finish reading this, I want you to send a message to a friend from the program that you haven’t talked to recently. Tell them you miss them, share your favorite memory with them, or laugh at my letter. The important thing is to make that connection. All of you made some great friends this summer, and I want those friendships to stay alive. Relationships matter, they are worth the work. You shared so many memories with each other that it would be a shame to let those friendships fade.

Remember Peru, remember your goals, and remember your friends. Go out and get things done. Remember, when in doubt, be grateful for what you have, and spread the gratitude. I hope all of you are making the most of life.

Cheers,
Sky (GLA Mentor) and the rest of the Peru team

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

Here are a few things to know and expect:

1. Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
2. We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
3. Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
4. Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
5. Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Hello families!

Today was our arrival day. After long flights and a layover in Lima, the group made it to Cuzco. From there, we drove to our Home Base in Pisac. It took us just over one hour, but the scenic views of the Sacred Valley were definitely worth it .

Everyone settled into their rooms and ventured through the Home Base, a lovely hotel just for us, for the next three weeks. For lunch we had our first taste of delicious Peruvian food and a refreshing passionfruit drink. We warmed up with some fun games and icebreakers and went over our Orientation.

After dinner we worked together to create our community agreement, which we will all honor for the duration of our program. We finished the day with some hot tea.

By the end, everyone was ready for some deserved rest, but also full of excitement for what tomorrow will bring. Until next time!

Diego, Andre, Skylar & Urbano

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Hello GLA families!

The group woke up to sunny skies, ready to explore Pisac! Today we went on a scavenger hunt! We broke into teams, practiced our Spanish, roamed cobblestone streets, and even tried some infamous Inka Kola. The group seemed very enthusiastic about the game and showed real leadership; we were so proud of them!

After lunch at home base, we walked 15 minutes to meet an Incan shaman for a Pago a la Tierra ceremony to welcome our group to Peru and wish us good travels on our way to Machu Picchu. We had a beautiful gratitude ceremony thanking Pachamama (Mother Earth) for everything we receive from them, in a beautiful valley, where we could see all the mountains that surround Pisac. Then, we walked to the plaza where the Virgin of Carmen festivities were being celebrated. We danced, took photos, and saw horseback riding and different pageant parades.

We returned to home base for our chow circle, dinner, and two intense hours of Charades. We are looking forward to our first service day, where our new leaders of the day will help ensure the team is motivated and engaged!

Congrats Adrianna and Shaniah! You will hear from them tomorrow!

Skylar, Diego, Urbano & André

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Hey guys!

Today, we took a tour of Peru and learned about Peruvian culture, politics, and history. As our bus swerved and navigated the beautiful mountains and towns of Peru, we were able to witness and immerse ourselves in the daily lives of Peruvians. We learned about the political party system and how the healthcare system impacts Peruvians both in urban and rural areas. We listened to the positive and negative aspects of urbanization, and about the ebb and flow of migration between cities and more rural settlements. These past few days have been truly great as we get to know each other, take freezing showers, and sleep soundly on long bus rides.

We’re all looking forward to our first day of service tomorrow assisting with MED LIFE at their mobile clinic. We made sure to keep our WITS about us in the countryside and were able to take in the picturesque view while we ate our homemade arepas. While it has been a struggle to not pet the adorable stray dogs, of which there are many, taking in the wildlife in their natural habitat has been amazing (some of us have even had the opportunity to hold baby alpacas!). As we move forward with our trip, we are so excited to learn more about the local community and use this knowledge to figure out how best to contribute and effect positive change.

Sincerely your leaders of the day,
Shaniah and Adrianna

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

After an early but hearty breakfast break, we all prepared for our first service day. After an hour of driving up the mountains, we were brought to the village of Patabamba at an altitude of 13,000 ft! This did not stop us from giving our all at the small clinic where MedLife was set up. The stations included general medicine, dentistry, OB /GYN, pharmacy, and toothbrushing. We got to observe and help doctors while they treated patients, which was a fantastic learning experience.

All the MedLife staff helped ensure we had everything and knew what to do. Some highlights included practicing our Spanish, teaching children how to brush their teeth, and observing a dentist perform teeth extractions and fill cavities. The drive home was silent as everyone was exhausted by the day’s work. After returning home base, we all took time to chill and recuperate. We read, slept, and played some cards. At 4:30, after rest time, we finished the game of charades we had started the day before, and team “Ocho Picchu” emerged victorious. Following this, we had more free time, and around half of us played “Mafia” in the standard room while the other half chilled out and talked on the patio. Next was the chow circle; we even danced while waiting for dinner. We had chicken wings, rice, veggies, and soup for dinner. To finish off the day, we had a GLA activity! It was overall a fantastic day.

Chloe & Amitai!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Hello GLA families!

We started our day off with a delicious meal that included Peruvian avocados and fresh fruit. We left for service at a punctual 7:50. Upon arriving at today’s service site, everyone quickly got to work. Some of the group went to a local primary school to educate the children on proper teeth brushing. One of our students even got to watch a doctor stitch an open wound! The delicious lunch today was pasta salad along with grilled chicken and roasted potatoes. After everyone ate lunch we finished up with all of the people that needed help. We then headed off to home base. When we got back to the base we took a small break as we waited to go to the plaza to exchange our money. After that we bought lots of snacks at the grocery store. After the store we went back to base to learn some of the Peruvian dances and culture. Everyone put their best energy into learning the dances. We then went into chow circle. Lqots of shoutouts because everyone did an amazing job today. For dinner, we had breaded chicken vegetables, soup, pesto pasta, and passion fruit juice. After dinner and inspired by our dance class we all participated in this amazing game where everyone had to show their best dance moves. We then talked about how everyone was unique in their own way. Something to reflect on before bed.

Looking forward for tomorrow.

Your leaders of the day,
Shane and Anjali

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

Today we completed our last day of service for this week! We left this morning after a beautiful breakfast that prepared us for the day ahead. We had quite a long bus ride, with a couple of stops to clear some rocks, but we arrived at the clinic around 9:30. We promptly unloaded the supplies, set up our stations, and got to work! Some of us attended teeth extractions, assessed and attended to patients of all ages, and organized and administered the prescriptions we were instructed to. Collectively, we all did our best to assist the amazing MedLife crew!

We ate a delicious lunch of quinoa and chicken on the bus and then we went straight back to finishing our stations, where we had a blast working with the doctors and helping out the local kids. The whole group worked together to finish up with the last few patients and then it took all hands on deck to clean everything up. We practiced our spanish and even our quechua with the kids before we departed to head back to the bus for a long ride back to home base. Everyone enjoyed singing along to favorite songs and getting some extra sleep. We arrived home and got ready to start our music class that was exploring traditional songs and instruments. Everyone partnered up as we practiced our song over and over again and at the end we all sang and played together.

Looking forward to tomorrow!

Layla and Lily

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

Today is the final day of week one. Most of the day took place in Cusco. We began with an authentic Peruvian cooking class where we made Lomo Saltado, a conglomerate of cooked tomato and beef. We were taught tricks on cutting fruits and vegetables and we learned how to use a wok. For desert we had hand made pumpkin donuts called picarones!

After cooking class we took a short walk through downtown to the Qorikancha museum, an amazing sight with paintings dating back to the 17th century and Incan ruins nearly 800 years old. The site was also home to a beautiful cathedral built by the Spaniards on top of a spiritual site constructed by a group before the Incas, built on top of an Incan temple. Lots to unpack there.

We later arrive at the infamous San Pedro market in Cusco which offers souvenirs, sweatshirts, smoothies, and great Spanish practice!

Tomorrow we head off for Machu Picchu, talk to you then!

Your Leaders of the Day,
Emily and Ben

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

Today, the group embarked on a relaxing but informative day out of Pisac. First, the group traveled to the Salt Mine of Maras. There, we learned how to harvest salt and the different salts that were produced. Afterward, the group traveled to the village of MismINAY and was greeted with traditional dance and song in Quechua. The people of the village provided the group with a four-course meal with many ingredients native to the land.

After spending quality time with the people of Mismaniy, we had another long bus ride ahead of us to Ollantaytambo, which we arrived at around dinner time, where we ate at a nice restaurant. Then, we caught a train to Machu Picchu Pueblo. From there, we went straight to our hotel, where we got a whole night’s rest to see one of the world’s seven wonders the next day.

Starting a bit cranky, we woke up in the heart of Peru at five in the morning. With the sun just beginning to rise, we quickly grabbed breakfast and hopped on the bus to Machu Picchu. The breathtaking views of the Andes mountains were the most magical way to wake up, and when we reached the ancient Inca city, we were absolutely mesmerized. The intricate stonework and complex history captivated our attention as our guide taught us all about the rich history of the Incas.

After the tour, we descended from the mountain and had a delicious lunch, recapping our day’s adventures. Our journey continued with a scenic train ride, leading us to an ice cream shop in a small shopping plaza where we passed time waiting for our bus to come. Here, we played games, laughed, and shopped for souvenirs. We boarded the bus for a long ride back to our home base. Exhausted from the activities, we had a quick dinner and went straight to bed, excited for more adventure.

Maayan & Eljay

BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

After our trip to Machu Picchu, we were all exhausted. So today, we enjoyed a LOVELY DELICIOUS CLASSIC GLA LATE BREAKFAST after sleeping in until 9. Our fantastic leader of the day encouraged the group to have a yoga class led by our amazing mentor, Martha! (Thanks Martha) many people let go of their negative energy and stretched/exercised their bodies. Our breakfast consisted of bagels, avocados, fruits and veggies, banana pancakes, and potato cakes.

After enjoying our late breakfast, we moved on to the infamous GLA debate. Our debate prompt was whether the government should approve the construction of a new road, and if it would be beneficial or detrimental to the communities in the road, we also had to keep in mind the effect on the environment. We had four groups, each arguing for different things. Our debate was filled with energy, passion, and some awkward moments, but it was all in a respectful manner. After two hours of debating filled with many logical arguments and emotional statements in the end, the government (Your leaders of the day!) came up with a compromise to build the road and also preserve our environment and Incan culture. After a hearty debate, we had lunch! A delicious chicken stew (eggplant stew for vegetarians), rice, bread, yuca, guacamole, and some refreshing passion fruit juice.

After lunch, we headed to the roundtable. Roundtable is where we follow up with formal patients and hear their stories and how their situation is now. The first family visited was an older couple. Due to their poverty and old age, they are unable to make means to live. They live off a small pension the government gives them. They also had a daughter who had physical and mental disabilities. The whole family’s state was very striking and eye-opening. Despite their difficult living situation, their gratefulness was inspiring. After giving them some food and supplies, they continued to smile and give us their blessings.

Then, we headed to a second family. As soon as we walked in, the mother cried as her small children huddled around her. She told us how she was abandoned by her husband, and without a husband, she was struggling to afford food to feed her family. All of us were listening very intently. However, it was a lot to take in. On the bus ride home, we were contemplating what we heard and what we could do to help. Visiting these impoverished families was very uncomfortable and sad, but it gave us all new perspectives and made us much more grateful for our fortunate situation.

After we got home, we had a delicious meal and had a meaningful conversation about what we had seen.

Your amazing leaders of the day,

Clara and Sam

BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Written by: Miraya & Ella

Once we got back from service, we enjoyed some free time before hitting the towns artisanal market where I fear that this group made a profound impact on Pisac’s economy. We stayed in the central market for around an hour before going to devour some delectable empanadas while enjoying the company of a few Guinea pigs. Once we were all fed, we went to go buy snacks where after the avid shoppers split from the group and created an economic boom in another part of the town. The shoppers came back just in time for dinner and after dinner activities where we all enjoyed an enthusiastic and energetic battle of the minds (trivia night)!

Tomorrow is our last day of service at the clinics, after that we will start our healthy home projects!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

We started our day with our classic GLA breakfast – bread, eggs, fruit, pancakes, and juice, and headed out to our last day of clinic service. Our drive was an adventure itself, but once we all made it safely to the town of Ccotataqui, we quickly settled in to our rotations, being familiar with the set up and roles for each station. We had a very busy day, every zone filled with patients. At the end of our clinic, we had a sad but sweet goodbye, hugging all of the MedLife staff and wishing them well. They are an inspiring group of women and they all asked us to come back next year!

After a long bus ride back, we took a much needed rest. We were quickly back to it with a tour of the local Andean agriculture school in Pisac, Kusi Kuwsay. The teacher taught us all about local plants and their medicinal properties. We ended the tour with a lesson on all of the seeds in the schools seed vault, giving us an insight into the Peruvian diet and ecosystem.

When we got back we had a delicious dinner of pasta bolognese, and ended the day off with a very intense game of trivia. Congratulations “trio and the bros”!

Ari and Vivian

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

Today the group had a very exciting day! We opened the day with breakfast and a short walk to the bus. Then, we started our adventure to the falls of poc poc, a beautiful waterfall! Along the hike through water and natural agriculture, we learned about the Incan history. Es muy interesante! We stopped to eat lunch at the falls and very few decided to take a dip afterwards! Afterwards, we made our way to the bus where most were too tired from the long morning.

After an adventurous hike, we all enjoyed a very long and well deserved break. We danced, watched movies, played chess, took showers, and more. After the break and chow circle, we had a very delicious dinner that consisted of soup, rice, and some vegetarian and meat stew. Once we finished, we gathered in our mentor groups and discussed objects that are meaningful to us. We then stargazed, watched a movie, and it was lights out! Can’t wait for day 14!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Today, we began our first day of service building greenhouses. We arrived to the community, where we will be working the next three days, and we split in groups to prepare the soil, some pulled weeds while others made rows and prepared the soil for the seeds, we planted strawberries, potatoes and more.

Some of us enjoyed lunch under a tree while the rest of the group went back to the bus to enjoy our packed lunch.

After our lunch break, we went back to work and completed the greenhouse. We headed to our next activity a potter studio where we worked with clay and made jewelry and some people made Llamas, bowls and other cool things.
Then, we learned about the inca’s instruments and their purpose. They had instruments to communicate among each other, some for rituals and others to communicate with their Gods.

Later we drove to a crepe shop to celebrate Miraya’s birthday. We spent the evening eating crepes and listening to live music before returning to home base for dinner.

We are looking forward to our next service day and be able to build greenhouses that can help families.

Zoe and Lucy

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

This morning we woke up a bit later than usual before service. We returned to the same location as yesterday, about an hours drive, and we split up into two groups. The first group was the main group, which partook in the same work as yesterday. We dug up the earth in the greenhouse area, removed weeds and rocks, made the rows for planting, and finally planted and watered the lettuce.

In the second group, 8 volunteers decided to volunteer and help a widow with 5 kids who really needed help building a greenhouse. We worked on getting the rocks out and draining the water out that was filling the area that we needed to create the farm land. We started a competition on who could find the biggest rock while we were getting the rocks out. We all pickaxed the dirt and shoveled all the dirt out to make a flat area. While doing this someone found a massive rock that could be considered a boulder. We had to have everyone in the group to get it out. Shane, Shaniah, Ben, Ari, Maya, Miraya, Emily, and Lucy all had kick, pull, and push the boulder to get it out. We made lots of progress considering the state the land was in. After all our hard work we went back to home base and had a special lunch because it was independence day in Peru. We had a fan favorite meal of our group, ceviche! We then had another surprise for the birthday girl Miraya. We got some cake.

We then returned to Homebase, and since today was Perus Independence Day, we celebrated in the towns plaza. In the evening we held the annual Pisac’s Got Talent show! We had some incredible performances including singing, salsa dancing, magic tricks, and a wedding. It was a huge success, and we ended the show with everyone coming together in an epic dance party, dancing to “California Girls.”

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

Hi!

Today was a rewarding, rigorous, and service filled morning where our group did something a bit different than anticipated. Rather than constructing greenhouses, which is what we have been doing, we went to a new place and aided in the construction of a dam. After going a bit over time on that, we came back to home base for some lunch and rest time. Once everyone was rested and clean, we broke out into mentor groups and participated in group discussions about voluntourism which were constructive and eye opening. In preparation for the upcoming overnight trip to rainbow mountain, after the mentor groups we went to go buy snacks and food at our favorite grocery store in Pisac. Once we got home, we all enjoyed a great dinner followed by a movie night where we watched The Emperors New Groove because… when in Peru!

Lots of love from your leaders of the day,

Miraya and Mahea!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 30

Hello! Today was quite advent full! It started off with a late breakfast then a longggg bus ride too the lodge we are staying at afterwards, upon arriving we jumped straight into the rafts and set sail! We had a very fun time going through, over, and around all the rapids!! After a late lunch, we geared up to go on the zipline. It was a short but really fun experience as the zipline went over the river. Then, we all split up to play card games or rest. Some of us got together to enjoy some yoga accompanied by the relaxing sound of the river. After our famous Chow Circle and a nice dinner, everyone sat around the bonfire to roast marshmallows. The night ended with some stargazing and an early bedtime as we are waking up at 4am tomorrow to go to rainbow mountain !

~Your leaders of the day : Addy and Chloé

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 31

Today was adventure day! We all woke up as early as 4:15 and had a breakfast of bread with butter and jam and eggs. We then went on a 1 hour bus ride to the base of rainbow mountain. We then set about a 2 hour hike up rainbow mountain. It started out very cold but with every step it got warmer and warmer. We then reached the peak at about 9:00 and took some time to take photos and explore what rainbow mountain had to offer which included beautiful views of mountains and glaciers surrounding the peak. After an hour and a half we climbed down and set on a bus ride back to the river lodge where we stayed the previous night. We ate a delicious lunch and spent some time in the sun, and then started our trek back to home base. We all took some needed rest, and then collected ourselves back for dinner and concluded our night with productive mentor groups.

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 1

Hey folks at home!

Welcome to Lydia and Maya’s blog for day 19. On this fateful day, the dynamic duo began with banging on everyone’s doors at 6:51 am sharp, making sure everyone arrived promptly at breakfast at 7 am sharp (they didn’t).

After eating a yummy in my tummy meal consisting of the usual nutritious bread and butter, we headed to our last bittersweet day of service. We split the group in half and worked on two greenhouses today. While some of us were dizzy and the others were covered in mud, we all felt super accomplished in the end and were sent off with a good bye ceremony, hand made necklaces, cheese, and potatoes.

After eating a much needed lunch (tacos!!) some people took a much needed shower (totally not us). We then got a presentation from Michael(the GOAT) on the production of his coffee and chocolate that came from his family’s land. We taste tested some homemade hot chocolate (which was muy delicioso) and then topped it off with some ice cream and pastries at a local cafe.

In the evening, we discussed the end of the trip in our mentor groups and reminisced on the good times.

We ended the night with watching Mama Mia and enjoying each other’s company. We have made so many great friends and memories along the way and we’re sad to see the end of this amazing trip. Last day tomorrow 🙁

Sincerely,
Your last student leaders of the day,
Maya and Lydia