Uncategorized - Part 71

June 8, 2022 by Ashley Welter

Dominican Republic: Global Health Initiative (July 15 – July 28, 2022)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

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

Cell Phone Policy: The GLA cell phone policy is currently in place this summer to help foster meaningful connections between students. This means your student’s phone will be collected every day and returned to them throughout the program during designated spaces of time we call ‘tech time’. Actual tech times and regularity will vary greatly by program location. During designated ‘tech time’, your student may use their phones as they wish. Please note that your student may not always choose to use this time to get a hold of their parents. If you are not hearing directly from your student each day, you can assume that no news is good news! We strongly recommend you follow the blog to follow your students’ experience without talking to them every day. If you are a parent and would like to get in touch with your student directly, you can call us at +1-619-758-3031 and we can set up a formal time for you to connect with your student.

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Hello from the DR!

We are excited to welcome students to begin their adventure engaging in service, discovery, and connection. We had a very smooth airport day picking up all 23 students from the Puerto Plata airport. After arriving to home base in the early evening, we spent some time getting settled before eating a classic Dominican meal, the “Bandera Dominicana” (or “Dominican Flag”). We just got back from a quick walk to the beach and are doing a quick orientation before heading to bed for the night. We cannot wait to share the next two weeks with your students.

Julianne, Kate, Nilsa, and Alejandro
GLA Program Staff

BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Written by Kylie and Caitlyn

Hey GLA families!!! We had a full packed first official day with tons of fun, hard work, and friendships emerging. We started out with a hearty breakfast. After breakfast, we had a detailed orientation of what we would be getting into for the day which led into an early lunch. We then headed our way to our first service trip at La Colenia where we helped build sustainable bathrooms for the community with recycled water bottles as instillation! In addition, we added cement onto the structure to make it stronger and more long lasting. After some good couple of service, we headed to a local supermarket, where everyone bought cool drinks and some snacks for the next couple days! Once we got back with some yummy snacks we had our chow circle, which led to a fueling dinner. Then we prepared for our service tomorrow with a Medical Brigade lecture by Doctor Caho, who will be joining us tomorrow to help us with clinic we will be doing. We can´t wait for tomorrow, and the opportunities it holds!!!!

-Signing off (we´re going to go eat our snacks now)

BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

Written by Madeleine and Brea

Waking up at the break of dawn (7:45 a.m.), everyone prepared to begin their day. With a full schedule ahead, we ate a fulfilling breakfast and quickly changed for a day at the pop-up clinic. Arriving at the clinic, we divided into five groups, each of which had individual tasks including: registration, vitals, clinical history, shadowing, and pharmacy. While serving, many of us overcame numerous barriers such as language barriers and learning the various tasks of each position. After completing our time at the clinic, we returned to the lodge and enjoyed a period of relaxation in the pool while also completing our swim tests (everyone passed by the way).

In the later afternoon, we engaged in an entertaining game of mafia and were introduced to mentor groups. During these groups, we were able to reflect on our past journeys while also looking forward to future endeavors. Afterwards, we engaged in our daily tech time and dinner, followed by a lecture led by Junior who discussed environmental topics and conservation. As a part two, Ben returned to the medical spectrum and led a discussion overviewing the primary differences between the leading causes of death in developed and developing countries. Of course, lights out was at 9:30 for students to prepare for the full schedule the following day. ¨Rule of thumb, don’t be dumb, when having fun.¨

BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Written by Abby & Marisa

Today was our first free day it was full of adventures. First, we started our day with breakfast and then made our journey to Laguna DuDu. At the Laguna we swam in the beautiful crystal clear water and walked through the caves. We then ate lunch at the local restaurant and then traveled to Playa Preciosa. The beach was warm and sunny and we all enjoyed playing in the waves. After being in the sun for a while, we had virgin pina coladas and shopped through the local jewlery vendors. Then we came back to the lodge and played volleyball and ate yummy tacos. After all this we listened to a presentation on malnutrion and were very tired and ready for bed.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

Written by Gus and Theo

Once upon a time, the night became day. GLA kids were awoken and the day began. Breakfast was cracking. Due to unforeseen circumstances at la Colonia, we embarked on a beach exploration. The main goal was to collect as much trash as humanly possible, ranging all the way from bottle caps to full on tires. Winner not only got to choose their laundry day, but were also able to carry home their pride knowing they had helped the community to the maximum extent. This was followed by a world class sand sculpture competition where these revolutionary engineers constructed one of the finest sand sculptures known to man, nothing short of a miracle. For those who are biting their nails to know more, it was a GLA concert with the coconut twins performing, featuring flower bro’s.

After an eventful morning the kids headed back for lunch. Now on full belly’s, the campers were taught by the majestic Nielsa the art of Dominican dancing. This consisted of Merengue and machata, which heavily rely body movements (aka hips). The kids enjoyed their time on the dance floor as they boogied on down. The next chapter of the day was unforeseen!

As leaders of the day, Gus and Lorena were tasked with finding a game for the campers, they settled on blind maze a game that sends shivers down unsuspecting spines. Quick run down for the readers at home: A rope is set around objects, making a circular maze, one that is impossible to get out of. All the kids are blindfolded and taken to the arena, as stated in the rules you can´t take off your blindfold and you can’t go under the rope, But… If you need help, you can always ask for it. For those that can swallow their pride, the reward is a route out of the maze, some struggled more than others.

This activity was concluded with dinner. They enjoyed fish, rice and fruit and ventured out for a creamy dessert… Local ice cream! This was followed up with a Riveting Global Health talk. Delving into the health struggles of the modern world. After a short break mentor groups were continued, with conversations about Global, community and family leaders. The night was then ended by a calming meditation session by meditation prodigy Kate Berman.

P.S. We have also added in a blog post for July 17th – scroll up to read that one!

After a long and hard day, the Kids were snuggled in bed by 9:30, it was another successful eventful and educational day in the GLA community. God Bless America and God Save the Queen.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

Written by Ellie

Hello GLA families! Today was our fifth full day of activities. A few of us started out the morning with a refreshing walk on the beach where we collected many interesting rocks and shells. We then returned and joined our fellow campers at breakfast where we ate fresh fruit and delicious pancakes, oatmeal, and eggs. We then got ready to embark on the journey to a local chocolate factory owned and run solely by women. At the factory we were given a presentation on the factory’s method of producing several cacao products like wine, oil, powder and of course chocolate! We then got to taste several types of chocolate, tour the factory, and purchase merchandise.

After eating a quick lunch, we set off for the village of Cano Dulce where we met a man named Johnny. Johnny is a local beekeeper who makes his own bee boxes for honey collection and harvesting. We were then put to work making more slats to put in the bee boxes to aid in honey production. On the bus ride back to base camp we jammed out to Gus’s playlist. Back at camp several campers went for a swim in the pool before reconvening at the beach for the leaders of the day activity. The game was called Circle of Saturn and the campers had a variety opinions on it. Then we had our nightly routine of tech time, Chow Circle, and dinner.Following our meal we all played a game of Hot Seat where each person was faced with 2 minutes worth of question ranging from mundane to super personal. We all learned a lot about each other today and hope to continue bonding in the week to come!

Note to families: We had a missing blog post from July 21, so we have added it in below!
Happy reading 🙂 – GLA HQ

BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

Written by Riya

Wednesday July 21st was a busy and EARLY day for us GLA students. We started the day with a delicious 6 am breakfast before a long bus ride to La Grua, a Haitian community, called a “Batey” for our Medical Brigade. We worked hard using our Spanish skills providing registration, taking vitals, clinical histories, shadowing Dr. Caho, and learning about the pharmacy. Nilsa also gave us a very informative tour about the poverty and social issues within the community. We also met many little children who gave us some cool hairstyles! After learning about La Grua, we stopped at Jumbo supermarket to grab some snacks and goodies. We came back to our wonderful lodge and met with our mentor groups where we did an activity based on our values. We enjoyed a yummy dinner of chicken sandwiches and a bean salad before The LODs, Riya and Reese, led everyone in playing charades. The night ended with a lovely meditation with Kate, as we prepared for an exciting upcoming day on this beautiful island!

We can’t wait for the rest of our GLA journey, thanks for following along!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Today we woke up and set off on a short walk down Las Cañas to a site where we mixed cement using sand, powder and water. We worked super hard and got the floor of the bathroom finished! We walked back in time for a delicious lunch at the lodge and some free time to shower.

In the afternoon, we received a lecture from our counsellor Kate and El Ministerio de la Mujer about domestic violence, which was both informative and engaging.

Tired out from our day of cement mixing and walking we enjoyed some free time and finished the day with a visualisation activity, dinner and an ice cream.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Written by Lainey & Lydia

The campers started off their day with some tragic weather as well as some tragic news. Due to slippery conditions, the students would not be cliff jumping that morning. However, they would not let this ruin their fun. Instead of cliff jumping they did something arguable more fun, a game of mystery questions about each other. After the game, things started looking up, the campers loaded onto the bus and headed to Jamao to go on their cliff jumping adventure. But alas the storm started once again. They decided to go on a surprise jungle safari where they loaded into an open-air jungle truck and then climbed the mountainous roads of the Dominican Republic. As a reward for their travels, they were gifted a delicious lunch from a local rooftop catering and some breath-taking views. On their way down the mountain, they stopped at a river bend where they swam in the down pouring rain and enjoyed some smaller jumps from the river bed.

After a long day of travel, they ended their adventure at Bons ice cream and then returned to the lodge. They enjoyed volleyball, swimming and much needed showers until the daily dose of tech time. For dinner we feasted on pasta, chicken, fruit and roasted vegetables. After feeding our stomachs we then feed our minds with an educational charla from Nilsa about the health systems in the Dominican Republic. By 9:30 the campers were all tucked in and ready for tomorrow’s adventures.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Written by Theo and Angela

Today, students had an early morning as we had a difficult day ahead of us. We started the morning at 6am with a filling breakfast and began our hour and a half bus ride to the trail of Mt Brison. Walking up 3 miles on an incline which attributed to the skills of various students. It was a breeze for some but quite a challenge for others. Upon arrival at the top of the mountain we were served lunch to replenish energy, as well as a variety of ice cream flavours. We then headed back down the mountain in what was an easier walk, and were back to the bus in no time. Upon arrival at the Homebase, we swam to cool off while others slept off the days work. Then we did a group activity and wrote letters to each other to read when the trip came to an end. To end the night, we went down to the beach and enjoyed a bonfire with s’mores and photos. Finally, we sat in the pavilion and played card games before heading off to bed.

June 8, 2022 by Ashley Welter

Dominican Republic: Global Health Initiative (June 29 – July 12, 2022)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

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

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29

Hello from the Dominican Republic! We’re excited to welcome students for their two-week adventure engaging in service, discovery, adventure, and connection. Students arrived to two of the country’s international airports this afternoon and are settling in at our home base for the next two weeks. We enjoyed swimming in the pool this afternoon, eating a classic Dominican dinner, and watching sunset on the beach.

They are tucked in for a good night’s rest before starting the day tomorrow with an orientation and our first service project. We can’t wait to spend the next two weeks watching the students form new relationships, expand their perspectives, and enjoy all of the beauty this coastal region has to offer!

Here are some pictures of the group:

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

Today the group visited the community in La Calonia. They worked on building a house using plastic bottles. After we all headed to the Supermarket and bought many different items and fruits. Our first free/tech time was 45 minutes which I used to shower off the layers of sweat and sunscreen. We then had an orientation to the Medical Brigade and we all got to practise our Spanish as well as watch fellow student Juliette translate for the group. We ended the night with reflections and got ready for bed. For me that meant eating all of the cookies I bought earlier today!

-Brynn

BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

Written by Andie

We woke up, some of us beginning by running through soft sand dusting our legs with a glistening sunset in sight. We filled up with a unique breakfast of fried cheese and mashed potatoes to prepare for the test of our Spanish knowledge and helping abilities at the medical clinic. We split up into groups: patient flow, entertaining kids, registration, vitals, clinical history, doctor shadowing, and the pharmacy. Each group pushed through their challenges like communicating, taking blood pressure, keeping up with the doctor and learned from it. After continuing our streak of delicious food at lunch, we expanded our knowledge even more by listening to Ben describe the difference between the top death causes of low and high income countries and Nilsa explain the unfortunate commonality of waterborne disease in the D.R. It was eye opening to see how lower income countries died from many causes we have easy access to fix in our higher income countries.

Further, we were so glad to have met the friendly people at the clinic, one telling Brynn he was happy she was learning when she apologized for her spanish. The great day followed with some tasty ice cream, enjoying chilling at the pool, or playing basketball with some skilled locals(they won), and zen beach yoga led by Kate. The night began with a new dinner, sancocho, and a strange but fun human knot activity. Mentor groups then joined with Ben or Kate under the moonlight and we reflected on our highs, lows, and weirdos for the day as well as our prompt: Who is a leader outside and inside our sphere and why? Most highs included being able to have an immersive experience with the community, lows were the ants, and weirdos were the annoying ants. Overall, we could barely think of any lows because we were so happy to have the opportunity to visit the clinic and enjoy the paradise land.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

Written by Margo and Juliette

Rest and Recharge: Today, after two successful days of service, the group awoke to the sounds of roosters and alarms. Soon after, many students either joined together for a run up the beach or yoga, lunging at the ocean with the warrior 1 pose. After everyone arose, we joined together for breakfast and learned the focus of the day, “Rest and Recharge”.

Joining together on the bus for our ride to the first destination, Dudu lagoon, “Empire State of Mind” (by Alicia Keys) unified many of the students in song. Once arriving, we explored dark caves then ventured to the refreshing waters of the blue lagoons. Many of the students jumped from mossy rocks into the deep water (!WAS SAFE!). Finally, after plenty of diving and games, we retreated to a buffet lunch where yet again, we ate delicious Dominican food.

From the restaurant, we reached our final destination, Playa Preciosa. The empty serene beach and crashing turquoise waves invited us into an exciting afternoon. We joined together in the salty ocean to ride the playful waves. Additionally, many of the students treated themselves to various local jewelry and we sipped (VIRGIN) piña coladas in pineapples. Later, we bonded together in the classic game, “Where the West Wind Blows”, a bonding game of running and learning about each other’s similarities. After a wet and sandy day, we returned to the bus to end with a shouty rendition of “Party in the USA” (by Miley Cyrus).

The fun in the sun allowed us all to recharge and spend relaxing time with newfound friends. Peace, love, and ciao from Margo and Juliette

BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Written by Katie and Noah

We started out the day by going to La Colonia, a nearby community. We continued working on the water bottle houses, and ended up completing our goal of finishing the two areas we had been working on. After a lunch break, we then did more work on a different house, and continued being very efficient. We were also able to interact with some members of the community, which was a great experience.

After finishing our work, we headed back to the home base, where our hard work was rewarded with extra tech time. Some of the group went in the pool, but this was short lasting due to thunder. We then had a full group debate about healthcare and the availability of drugs in lower income countries, which ended up getting very intense. After another great dinner, Doctor Caho visited to give a lecture on malnutrition and diabetes with Julianne as the translator. We then had mentor groups and an early bedtime, tired after a full day of service.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 5

We had an early wake up to get to Laguna Gri Gri. We packed into a motor boat and got a tour of the mangrove forest that leads into a beautiful clear blue ocean. During the boat ride, I enjoyed Moana sing alongs and Ellis being a great photographer. We stopped to swim in two different spots. The second spot was a clear blue beach where I enjoyed watching chicken fights, looking at the ceramic heads of natives, and attempting to swim out to an island. We then drove to Playa Preciosa while singing along to hamilton.

When we got to Playa Preciosa we were greeted with a wonderful lunch on the beach. After we ate the meal everyone ran into the water. When everyone got tired we sat around the table. As we were sitting at the table someone got the idea to cover one lucky volunteer in sand. Someone bravely stepped up and proceeded to be covered. When we got bored of that we rose from the sand and we all ran to the water and swam for a little longer. After the water, we split the group up in half by mentor groups and had a dance battle to wrap up our time at playa preciosa. We had a chill bus ride back to the compound and chilled by the pool for a while. It was a great day!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

Today we had an early wake up followed by a filling breakfast to prepare us for the long day ahead. We left for La Grúa at 7 and took on the 2 hour ride. During arrival we were greeted by many children and adults waiting to be seen by the clinic. Registration started sending people through to get their vitals checked and eventually to the doctor. Happy faces of children coloring and chatting with us were admired by parents and onlookers. The slow and steady process continued until lunch at 12. We sat on the bus to eat chicken, rice, an assortment of fruit, and beans. From lunch, we finished with the rest of our patients and ended the clinic.

Post clinic, Junior was gracious enough to provide a tour of La Grua for us. La Grua is home to many inhabitants of the island who aren’t considered Dominican nor Haitian. We left La Grua and began our two hour long bus ride. Waving goodbye to the children behind us. With a break at the supermercado, we all stocked up with the most junk our pockets could afford. With an hour left in the drive, some students watched movies and others enjoyed karaoke on the bus. After tech time we all enjoyed dinner, family style, for the first time in our trip we connected tables so everyone could fit. As leaders of the day, Cassie and I chose a not so friendly game of waterpolo filled with healthy competition and rivalry. Post-game, we enjoyed free time until meditation with Kate at 9:30 and a 10:30 lights out.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

Today’s goal was to rest and restore as we started the day with a calming wake up at 7:45 am. With a not so silent bus ride, we arrived at an all women run chocolate factory called ChoJoba. All of us were mesmerized by the smooth, silky chocolate. We all soon learned that too much chocolate can’t be good for the stomach and enjoyed an agonizing bus ride. After that we came back to our “family style” dinner table to have a delicious lunch. We had a talk on domestic violence in the Dominican Republic, what the different types are and how to prevent and address the challenges that entails. Next we had a few hours of free time and an amazing basketball game against the locals. We came back had dinner and enjoyed mentor groups, socializing, and playing spoons. We hit the hay at 10 and felt refreshed for cliff jumping the next day.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

We started off the day waking up at 7:00 am. We quickly ate breakfast and then got onto the bus to Jamao, the location for cliff jumping. After hiking through rivers and waterfalls we reached our first destination at Jamao, which was a small water way where we swam and went into caves. Then we continued to hike until we got to the first cliff which was about 12 feet high. We all jumped off and then swam down the river to the second cliff. This cliff was taller than the first, ranging to about 20 feet. Then we continued onto the third and final cliff that came to be about 25 feet. After everyone jumped off the cliffs we all swam around in the river below a waterfall and we continued to explore in caves and climb up rocks. After all the swimming we were very hungry, so we ate some snacks, and then continued to hike out of the river area. Once done with the hike we ate lunch at this lookout point where we could see all the mountains and a very pretty river. After site seeing and eating lunch we headed back home.

After returning from cliff jumping, we started another intense game of waterpolo. Immediately after, we all joined together to play an extravagant game of taps. After showers and relaxation, we sat down for yet another amazing dinner. Following dinner, we put our brains to the test in a game of Dominican jeopardy. Four groups fought to figure out various trivia including the Dominican Republic’s national dish, the population, and many others. To blow off some steam, we walked to get ice cream from a neighbor down the street. We ended the day with daily meditation from Kate.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

We started the day with a relaxing wakeup at 6:45, followed by another delicious and fulfilling breakfast before piling into the bus in preparation for our last medical brigade on this trip. Close to 30 minutes later, we arrived at the community of Boca de Yasica and split into our groups for the clinic: patient flow, entertaining kids, registration, vitals, clinical history, doctor shadowing and pharmacy. By today, most of us had done almost every single one of the stations so our clinic was more of a well oiled machine.

We all pushed through the heat to deliver the best care we could to the community at each station. After filling up on another scrumptious lunch during this trip, we persevered with the second half of the clinic before wrapping it up when every patient had been seen. Before we left, Nilsa explained the different levels of healthcare within the Dominican Republic and what the healthcare systems were like in Boca De Yasica, the community we went to today. We piled back into the bus to get back to the lodge, ready to make the most of the rest of our day. On the way home, we stopped for ice cream at a store called Bon Helados, before finally arriving back at the lodge.

Free time then happened, with many of us choosing to relax by the pool or talk amongst friends. After free time, we met up for our leader of the day activity: airplane notes. We all wrote notes to each other that will be delivered at the airport and are meant to be read on the plane. After tech time and dinner, we started an appreciation circle for everyone on the trip as a great ending activity. After appreciation circle, we put on music and had a dance circle, before moving to the beach. At the beach we continued to have our dance party in the waves under the moonlight. After we got back, we all jumped into the pool for a quick night swim before heading to meditation and bedtime.

June 8, 2022 by Ashley Welter

Dominican Republic: Global Health Initiative (June 13 – June 26, 2022)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

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

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 13

We are excited to welcome students for our first session of the summer to begin their adventure engaging in service, discovery, and connection. Twenty out of the 24 students arrived at Puerto Plata (POP) airport mid-day. We enjoyed an afternoon settling in and getting to know each other followed by an ice cream treat on the beach after dinner. The remaining four students are with Kate on their way back from Santiago airport (STI) and should arrive in the next hour.

We are excited for good night’s rest before orientation and the first day of service tomorrow. We can’t wait to spend the next two weeks watching the students form new relationships, expand their perspectives, and enjoy all of the beauty this coastal region has to offer.

Here are pictures of the Puerto Plata arrival crew at home base!

(Kathleen, Maya, Emersen, and Caroline are arriving later tonight (Monday) – we are looking forward to having them join the group.)

Hasta pronto!

-Kate, Julianne, and Nilsa

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 14

We started the day with orientation where we got to meet the whole group and learn some interesting facts about everyone and where they are from. We also learned about 7elements, the non profit that works with the local community to design sustainable public health infrastructure projects and created a community agreement together.

After lunch we went to La Colonia to do our service. It was interesting to learn about the differences between the communities we live in and the site. We helped build the foundation for bathrooms using sustainable materials, and learned how to repurpose wasted plastic bottles as insulation. After we got back to the lodge, we had some pool time and met the doctor who we will work with at the medical brigade tomorrow. Overall, we were introduced to the purpose of the work we were here to do and what the rest of the trip will bring.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 15

Today was day three of our trip, and we had our first medical brigade where we set up a pop-up clinic in a rural community and learned more about their medical needs. We split up into different groups for different stations in the clinic, some of which included registration, vital signs, and shadowing. It was a very immersive experience because we all got to expand on our medical knowledge and observe the different challenges other communities face.

After we got back from the medical brigade , we went to the beach. We went for a walk, felt the warm water on our feet, and hung out reading, talking, or playing football with a coconut. It was a great way to bond with everyone, learning more about each other and sharing more about our lives at home. As a bonus, the water is so clear and warm here with plenty of beautiful shells. It was definitely a day to remember!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 16

Today was day four, and it was an excursion! For the first part of the day, we went to Lagoon DuDu. When we got to the lagoon, there was a cave and numerous swimming spots. First, we explored the cave where we found a huge bug which some of us found cool and some of us found creepy. After that, we went cliff jumping into the first lagoon. The water was crystal clear and it was enclosed by a cave. When we were done, we went to another large lagoon that was really deep and swam around for a while.There were people zip lining into the water which was fun to watch. After we were done swimming, we ate lunch at a restaurant and the food was really good.

Our afternoon excursion for the day was playa preciosa which is a beautiful beach. At the beach we had virgin piña coladas straight from a pineapple and enjoyed some ice cream. Some people played in the water while others laid on the beach and talked. We also were able to buy jewelry unique to the island. Someone even got their hair braided by a local. After about two hours at the beach we headed back to home base for some free time dinner and a lecture about diabetes and malnutrition. Overall today was spent in the water having fun.

Photos for June 16th coming soon!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17

This is Nandini and Kevin as your leaders of the day! Early this morning some of us did yoga with one of our favorite staff members, BEN and KATE! The yoga was relaxing and felt peaceful according to all the GLA students who participated. Later that day, the students and staff traveled to La Colonia where they helped out in several tasks: adding plastic water bottles to the insulation of the bathrooms, plowing the fields, adding seeds to the soil, organizing the greenhouse, hammering the chickenwire, etc.

Overall, all the students had an amazing time at La Colonia and quickly went on a supermarket haul as a reward! Afterwards the students attended a Global Health Lecture which was organized by one of our local staff directors, Nilsa!

Special thanks to all the staff for keeping all the students safe, but also having so much fun here at the DR!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18

Today was Day 6 and we were able to go on a hike to Mt. Brison. After waking up very early everyone got to the bus for a 2 hour ride. We started with high spirits up the rocky hill and the blaring heat. At the halfway mark we were all able to enjoy passion fruit juice and cake from a local woman who lives on the mountain.

By the 3/4ths mark everyone started getting tired, but we were able to stay positive. Finally, after reaching Maxima’s house, we had lunch and were able to learn about some of the culture and health impacts of living on the mountain. Then we departed for the long trip back down and ended the day back at home base. Looking forward to the water excursion tomorrow!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19

When we woke up this morning, we all got ready and headed straight to Laguna Gri Gri. After a 30 minute bus ride we arrived at a place where we took a boat to go see a beautiful blue Lagoon. After this we swam and snorkeled before setting off to relax for a bit on the nearest beach. From

there we headed back to Playa Preciosa where some people swam and some people read while we all waited for lunch. Lunch was very good today – fish, chicken, avocado salad, and much more; we all enjoyed a reminder of home in our food!

After lunch people went swimming in the ocean which was a great temperature. Then we loaded the bus at 2 and stopped for ice cream on the way home! Everyone really enjoyed that stop. After we arrived back at the lodge we had free time where most everyone relaxed after a long day at the beach. Dinner was another delicious meal that consisted of make your own chicken sandwich, salad, fruit, potatoes, and fresh juice! We finished off the night with a lesson on human security in the DR and a mentor group!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20

Today we started the day early to get ready to go to the town of La Grua. After the long bus ride we got to the site and got to set up the medical brigade for the day. The town was very different in contrast to La Colonia, full of energy and things going on. Separating into groups we worked within the medial brigade while some of us stayed outside and entertained the kids. Later, Junior gave a tour of the Batey and explained the history and aspects of lives for the people within the Batey.

After a few hours, we headed back to home base. We got to stop at a supermarket, and all of us stocked up on many snacks. We spent time playing card games, bonding, and relaxing after the busy but rewarding day. We had an amazing meal for dinner and got to get ready for our night activities.

Following our long, yet rewarding day, we decided to have a change of scenery, and headed to the beach for a surprise. Bonfire! Huddled around the blazing fire we made s’mores, relaxed and tired from our lively games on the beach. First we did an activity to decide which type of leader we were, and then implemented that into capture the flag where the whole group bonded through high adrenaline and raised endorphins. Ending on a high note, everyone has fully earned their late wake up tomorrow.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

After breakfast we drove to chocojoba, a chocolate factory that is local and women owned. When we got there we were shown each product they produced at their factory and got to taste raw cacao as well as taste test their products. After sampling, we went on a tour to see how each room was used to produce the chocolate bars. After our tour, we went to their store to buy chocolate bars, jams, and cacao butter. Soon after we went back to home base to enjoy lunch!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Today we drove up to a bee keeper, Johnny’s, house to collectively build bee boxes. We worked as teams to saw wood, nail the boxes, and paint. We later crossed a bridge to get to see other bee boxes and how they really work. Many were kept away from homes to give the bees a safe and private space away from people. We discussed how bee keeping is a productive way of income because of how it relies on the environment while giving back to the community.

After working on Bee boxes we headed towards La Colonia to finish our project on building a bathroom. We split off into groups while some worked on cutting water bottles and others stacked and worked with chicken wire. Once we finished up our time at La Colonia we headed back to home base and finished off our night with a short presentation from a former GLA student and partook in fun group leadership activities to end our night.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

Written by Ava & Aiden

Today we had our last medical brigade in Guanabano. We set up a pop-up clinic in a rural community and set up stations with different groups throughout the day. These stations include vitals, chief complaint, shadowing the doctor, etc. It was an enriching experience as we were able to learn more about the community’s medical needs and enjoy our last service day! It was definitely the best way to end the trip!

After the medical brigade we all decided to go to home base and relax. While chilling at home base, we decided to play hot seat! It was a lot of fun, and it was nice to learn more about my peers. Finally, we went and had a night beach trip, and watched the stars.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24

Today we departed for our Jamao Eco Tour excursion. We started with a 25 minute hike through water and the woods to get to the waterfalls. We jumped from three different waterfalls and enjoyed the scenery. Afterwards, we boarded the bus for lunch at around 11:30am

After traversing through fields, woods, jungles, and waterfalls, the group took a final walk and bus ride to reach our rooftop lunch spot where we ate a delicious meal overlooking Rio Yasica. Once we got back to home base everyone participated in a student led game of Jeopardy on the Dominican Republic. To end the adventurous day, the group played a fun trust based game requiring groups of 3 to lead one student to find their treasure with a blindfold. Looking forward to our last medical brigade tomorrow!

June 8, 2022 by Ashley Welter

Dominican Republic: Caribbean Sea Conservation Project (July 8 – July 19, 2022)

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

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

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

Hello, Everyone!

We woke up bright and early on day 2 and ate a delicious breakfast in the restaurant in the hotel lobby. After some name memorization games, the group started to feel more like a team and less like a group of random teenagers! A quick walk into the city was all we needed in order to feel hungry again right in time for yet another delicious meal! After lunchtime, the gang headed to the busses and prepared for an exciting drive through the Dominican countryside on our way to Samaná.

Once we reached our destination, we examined our living conditions. The lack of AC was definitely something we had o get used to, but the gorgeous scenery made up for it. Being immersed in a culture that isn’t similar to our own can be super tough! However, we learned as a team to engage in our surroundings and one another.

Once dinner was over, we gained more knowledge about the culture and geography of our home for the next ten days. After an exciting day of travel, it was time for bed.

Thanks for reading!

-Owen V and Saeed H.
Leaders of the day!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Hola, Familia!

After waking up to the sounds of the animals, the team enjoyed a hearty breakfast and prepared for el Museo de las Ballenas (the whale museum).

Once we reached our destination, Daniel (our museum guide) walked us through the trials and tribulations of what it’s like to be a whale in Samaná Bay. After some videos and a quick whale identification game, the squad broke for lunch. After some rice, beans, chicken, and vegetables, José (a CEBSE member) told us about the nonprofit (CEBSE) that we’d be assisting on our escapade.

He also taught us all about the issues around coral contó conservation and how it relates to the mangrove forests. After making our leave, each member of the team had a quick medical/mental evaluation from one of the GLA staff members.

Everyone enjoyed yet another hearty dinner back at base camp. Following dinner, the squad sat in a circle and played some group games, and got to know each other a little bit more. After nominating our next leaders, everyone turned in for the night.

Thanks for reading!

-Owen V and Saeed H
Leaders of the day!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Written by Edward N and Madison

Hey Friends and Family!

Today was an awesome day in the Dominican Republic. After waking to the sounds of the rooster, we head out to an amazing breakfast of fresh fruit, eggs, and bread.

We then loaded into the buses and traveled to the mangrove park where we split into two groups for different activities. Both groups were able to kayak in the river and help out the community with works of service.

After our lunch break, we learned about the INaturalista app which allows us to record our findings in the ecosystem. We also helped out CEBSE by doing different tasks around the whale museum. We then returned to home base where we had an amazing dinner of classic rice and beans.

Thanks for tuning in!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Written by Saharla and Quinn

Hola amigos,

Today for breakfast we had the privilege of eating pancakes, fresh fruit, bacon, and delicious coffee.. After breakfast, we took the bus down to el Valle (Samana) for a ziplining adventure. As we soared down the zip lines (12 to be exact), we go to view the beautiful landscape Samana has to offer.

On the bus ride to the beach, we snacked on Oreos and chips, serving as an appetizer of an amazing meal to come. When we arrived at Playa de Rincon, we dined on an extravagant meal of rice, beans, and fried fish.

Once we had finished the meal we were able to enjoy the beauty of Playa de Rincon. Many of us played volleyball, purchased jewelry and clothing from local vendors, spent time in the water with friends, and tanned in the bright Dominican sun. After a long hot day at the beach, we headed back to the Homebase where we enjoyed a meal of chicken, fish, pico de gallo, rice, and beans.

We spent our group activity participating in a bonding activity, and finished the day off with a values discussion. Today, we were able to learn more about one another, ultimately growing closer as one familia.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Written by Egypt and Massimo

Hola Amigos,

Today for breakfast we got to try the native dish of Mangú, a delicious variety of fruits, and sausages. We then took off to Cabo Samana National Park where we embarked on our two hour hike viewing the wildlife and nature at its purest accompanied by the workers at CEBSE. During the hike we used the app iNaturalist to identify the plants and animals of the Dominican Republic.

At the end of the trail, we arrived at a beautiful beach called Froton where we swam while we waited for the snorkel gear to arrive and for our well needed lunch after that long hike.

As we enjoyed the beautiful views, for lunch we ate fried plantain, rice, chicken, fish, and cabbage salad. Soon after, we put on the gear and headed out to find the coral in the amazing waters of the beach to complete our coral tree.

Once we carefully placed the coral onto the structure , we hopped into the boats to take a ride to watch the CEBSE workers place down the coral trees which will last and grow coral for four years. As our journey for the day concluded, we headed to the shore where the buses were waiting to take us back to Homebase.

Upon arrival, we had an hour of free time. The students hung out, called home, or chilled in their own space. After some time we then headed to dinner to enjoy rice mixed with corn, pork chops, lentils, macaroni salad, and washed it down with iced tea.

For activity time, we played group games which had everyone laughing and in a good mood. Then to finish off the night, we split up into four mentor groups to come up with a special name and performance that will be presented at a later date. Today definitely brought us closer as a group and one inch closer to becoming one big happy familia <3 !

BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Written by Sophie & Lawson

Hello Familia!

Today we drove to a mangrove beach in order to collect their seeds for future reforestation. We collected red mangrove and white mangrove seeds with our CEBSE partners and were told that we had collected 4 times what they were expecting! After collecting the seeds, and a delicious lunch, we drove back to the city of Samana for some more service. We helped to transport clean water to the coral specimens we collected yesterday while snorkeling.

The corals released a chemical due to the stress of transport that made it difficult for them to get enough oxygen. To counteract this effect, we filtered saltwater and brought it in buckets to the CEBSE coral laboratory where we filled up their tanks with this clean water, and some of us even cleaned the coral of the chemicals with spray bottles. We drove back to where we are staying in Las Galeras where we had burgers and spaghetti for dinner, before doing some leadership activities and skit performances before bed.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Written by Miri and Arianna

Hola amigos,

After a lovely lie-in, we woke up to coconut bread, fresh fruit and guava jam, before making the brilliant decision to head down to the beach for a swim. The water was super warm, and most importantly, mosquito free! Having dried off, we got on the bus towards a restaurant, where we ate a delicious meal and drank sprite from wine glasses.

Soon after, we found ourselves on a hike towards the El Limon waterfall. It was a long and arduous journey on a flat, muddy trail occasionally interrupted by a procession of horses. Feeling slightly jealous of the riders, we persevered past a smaller waterfall, slipped down a precarious flight of stairs, and were rewarded with the most incredible sight. We swam beneath an enormous waterfall, in much-needed cold water. The pounding spray of water felt like a high-pressure shower, yet somehow we still found ourselves muddy on the bus back.

We enjoyed a relaxing journey back, playing various Disney songs, before arriving back at the house. Having cleaned ourselves up, we ate fried chicken, a mix of veggies, mashed potatoes, and of course our daily dose of rice & beans.

We finished the day by prepping for the debate we plan to have tomorrow. After our fun but high-energy day, we’re very excited to sleep.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Written by Levi and Devin

Buenos Noches!

This morning we awoke to fresh fruit, tasty bread, and omelets with vegetables. About an hour later, we set out to a protected area to help conserve and plant a diminishing species of tree: the drago tree. Saplings were growing by saltwater, so we gathered them up by plucking seeds from the ground. Saltwater is poisonous to these trees! After we planted and gathered the seeds and trees, we said our goodbyes to the wonderful workers at CEBSE, who were incredibly gracious for our help.

Once we finished our work and left the people at CEBSE, we had lunch at a local restaurant featuring fried fish, rice, potato salad, and stew chicken. They also had dominos once we finished eating, very fun. We went out a bit further until we reached a souvenir shop that had everything from bowls to art to sunglasses. Next, we cooled off with some nice ice cream from a local shop nearby, Bon.

After that lowkey highkey nonchalant day we headed back to the crib and talked with Nacho about the political and economic state of the world. We learned that he is a Spanish teacher and works in the RD. We had the most delicious sancocho stew prepared by Margerita and Rakael and at the end of dinner we dove into a cake to celebrate the last day at Las Galeras. After dinner there was a group debate which was pretty fun, and we all headed to bed.

Thanks for reading!

June 8, 2022 by Ashley Welter

Dominican Republic: Caribbean Sea Conservation Project (June 24 – July 5, 2022)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

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

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

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

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24-26

¡Hola amigos!

We first landed in Santo Domingo where we stayed at a hotel, then we migrated to Samaná where we’re staying in local housing for the remainder of the trip. Today we went to the whale museum and learned all about the humpback whales in the Dominican Republic. As our new arrivals came, we had lunch at a local restaurant with an amazing view of the Samaná Bay. Then we went back to the museum to help identify the different patterns of whale flukes. We then came back to base where we had some free time and hung out on the terrace and enjoyed music while socializing with the group. We had a great dinner (those mashed potatoes smacked) which led into mentor groups where we talked about leadership skills and as our final duty as Leaders of the Day, we came back and wrote this for you, our devoted readers.

Hasta mañana,
Morgan and Liam signing off

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27

¡Hola amigos!

We started the day off with some delicious breakfasts from the lovely cooks; we had oatmeal, fresh mango and bananas, bread, and your beverage of choice. After breakfast, we headed out on the busses split into our new mentor groups, one bus with the whales and crabs, the other with the starfish and octopi. The busses took us to Sanchez to learn about the historic railroad which was used for imports and exports via boat. We hopped back on the busses to go to a mangrove restoration greenhouse which was part of a community service project called Bajo Yuna Area In Los Haitises National Park. After exploring the mangroves and participating in greenhouse responsibilities we finished it off by planting red mangroves in hopes of restoring them. On the busses back to las galaleras we enjoyed some tunes and lively conversation about today’s activities and what is to come. We returned to base and cleaned up for an exquisite meal consisting of sausage, rice, pasta, and fried plantains. Post dinner, we all had a

Fun time on the terrace, with all the best people, and the best music. To wrap the night up we joined together for a discussion of today’s events and an activity where we write inside of a circle what we desire for the trip, and wrote outside the circle for what we don’t want for the trip. We had a lovely day with amazing team members and mentors. We hope everything is well at home.

¡Hasta mañana y Buenas Noches!
Love, Mckenzie, Peter, and the rest of the team

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28

Hi Family and Friends,

Today for breakfast we had the privilege of eating homegrown fruit fresh from the garden. After breakfast, we took the bus down to el Valle (Samana) for a ziplining adventure. It consisted of 12 lines and over 7000 feet of cable. As we spiraled down towards the bottom of the rainforest we headed back to the bus to explore a local marketplace.

Many of us purchased local cookies and chips, we headed back on the bus to the beach to eat an extravagant meal of rice, beans, and fried fish (Head & eyes still attached!).

Once we had finished the meal we were able to enjoy the beauty and warm waters of Playa de Rincon. Many of us played frisbee, purchased jewelry from the local vendor, spent time in the water with friends, and tanned in the bright Dominican sun. After a long hot day at the beach, we headed back to the Homebase where we enjoyed a meal of pork chops, eggs, rice, and beans. We spent tech time together enjoying music and each other’s company, and we finished off the day with highs and lows from everybody. We`re all having a fantastic trip and we can`t wait to tell you all about it!

Today we were able to learn to appreciate each other’s company and we feel as if we are growing into one family.

Love to our loved ones,
Olivia, Roarke, and the rest of the group

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29

Hello Family and Friends,

This morning for breakfast we had some delicious empanadas, bread, and fruit. After breakfast, we took the bus to Santa Barbara de Samana for our adventure across the ocean to a small island called Farola, where we hiked and snorkeled.

For lunch, we had authentic rice, chicken, fish, fruit, and salad. Many of us bought some ice cream from the local store in the restaurant.

After lunch, we grabbed our gloves and trash bags and headed to the beach for a clean-up. After filling up almost all of our trash bags we headed back to home base for dinner. For dinner, we enjoyed a classic meal of rice and chicken tenders.

Post tech time our groups got together and discussed the core elements of a leader. Overall everyone was tired but had a great time and is excited for what awaits us tomorrow.

Love to our loved ones,
Olivia, Elizabeth, and the rest of the group

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

What’s up Family and Friends,

Today for breakfast we had a local classic of Mango, Mangú, and fried Salami. Then we received a message from the Dominican Navy that stated that all open water activities had to be canceled, including our Kayaking excursion, instead, we went out to a mangrove, to collect their seeds for the CEBSE Mangrove restoration project. o get to the mangrove we had to cross a deep river.

After our muddy adventure, we headed for lunch, on the way we got to see some incredible views of Samaná Bay from the top of a mountain. For lunch, we had a plate of steamed vegetables, rice, and chicken.

In the afternoon we went to CEBSE headquarters for a variety of activities, including building part of coral nurseries, such as concrete discs to attract corals and devices designed to catch coral-eating worms and planting the seeds collected in the morning.

For dinner, we had white rice, fried cheese, beans, and pasta. Overall we had a fantastic day, and even though it didn’t go as originally planned we had a great time.

Love to our loved ones, peace out
Lander, Finn, and the rest of the group.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

Written by Brynn and Reid

Hola familia y amigos!

Today we began the day with the dogs barking and a hearty breakfast with pancakes ham, and some cereal. We began our adventure with a short stroll to the beach, we then continued our journey to our destination of three boats waiting for us. We enjoyed a boat ride to Playa el Fronton. Once we arrived, taking in the breathtaking views, we put on snorkel gear while the crystal blue water awaited us. The group witnessed sea urchins, coral, and many species of fish. we headed back to the buses with another eventful boat ride.

we began our next journey to a beautiful restaurant with an amazing buffet waiting for us. We served ourseñves with plates full of beans, rice, chicken, beef, yuca, and vegetables.

As we loaded the buses, we then arrived shortly at our waterfall hike, through mud and stairs we arrived at our final destination el Limon Waterfall. The water was beautiful and refreshing and the view was breathtaking as well.

Once we got back to our Homebase, we enjoyed taco night and played frisbee. During our tech time, we reached out to loved ones and socialized with each other too. Later that night we had our group activity including the intro to tomorrow’s debate, we will fill you in tomorrow on how that played out ;). Lights turned off at ten and we dreamed of our next big adventure tomorrow.

Love, the leaders of the day: Brynn and Reid, and the rest of the GLA team.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

Written by Jamie and Joel

Hola familias y amigos!!!!

It all started bright and early when we had a delicious breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs, pan de coco (bread), corn paste (harina de maiz), pineapple, cheese cubes, and watermelon. We grabbed our backpacks, hopped on the bus, and made our way down a bumpy dirt road to the hiking trail. Once there we started our service by snapping pics of shrubs and lizards. Then, the true adventure began. We trekked deep into the mighty jungle on a two-and-a-half (ish) mile hike to the beach! On the way, we enjoyed some nice rain because it was raining. Then we had a wonderful time hanging out on the beach.

While we enjoyed our time in the crystal blue water, a hearty lunch of rice, rice and bean combo, chicken, fish, miscellaneous veggies, and cabbage was prepared for us to eat at 1:30.

Next, we waded out to the boats awaiting us in the vast, turquoise sea, where we braved the huge waves and bumpy waters and boated to the safety of the mainland.

The next leg of our journey began with us walking through the local roads to an ice cream shop. We devoured our fantastic frozen treats in a mere matter of seconds, and it was only $2. (Omg!)

After, we got on the busses for a speedy lil ride and made it back to base camp. Everyone was pretty tired so we all hung out and chatted with friends and showered and packed a tad and prepared for the debate a bit, and called friends and family from home. We gobbled up our dinner of french fries, rice, stew (veggie or pork chop), and steamed veggies. And as a special treat the chefs made us not one, but TWO cakes (one for gluten free, one for not gluten free). They were super good and one had blue frosting, and one was a super cool corn banana and coconut milk cake.

As for the part you´ve all been waiting for: The much-hyped debate! Everyone poured their love and passion into their arguments leading to an enthralling and engaging whirlwind of a conversation. It was an exciting way to get to hear everyone speak in a manner that we hadn´t before.

After the debate, we headed back to our rooms to pack up before spending our last night in the place we´ve called home for the past seven days. We were all sad to leave behind the resident dogs we`ve befriended and our amazing hosts, but we’re super stoked as to what tomorrow will bring.

Thanks lol, lots of love, the leaders of the day, Jamie and Joel, and also everyone else on the gla squad. 🙂

BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Written by Sam and Declan

To everyone back home,

We woke up for our last morning spent in the Samaná home base with our things packed and ready to go. The breakfast area was soon filled with everyone eager for our meal consisting of pancakes, fresh fruit, cheese, bread with jam, and iced tea. After our bus ride into the town of Samaná we loaded our luggage onto the ferry where we boated to Sábana de la Mar (our mentor Jackson`s home town!). From there, we had a short bus ride to our hotel Caño Hondo; where we had lunch. Once we ate, we went on a five minute walk to a kayak/boat tour through the mangroves to the Los Haitises National Park. Along the way we stopped to plant some mangrove seedlings, thus assisting the longterm mangrove restoration project. In doing so, we had to trudge through the sulfuric smelling and mud-filled forest. Everyone then loaded onto the boat to travel to the national park cave system. On the way, we were caught in a thunderstom in which the tarp covering the boat could not even protect us. Departing the boat soaking wet, we wandered through the caves admiring the history and markings of the Taino people living there once before. Heading back, we were lucky to not be caught in another storm. Eventually, we made it back to the hotel; we unpacked our things and got settled into our rooms. All tired, we meandered down to the lobby. Our dinner of cheeseburgers, pizza, french fries, chicken kebabs, and fried broccoli awaited us. Wrapping things up, we had a group reflection and a circle of appreciation, thus concluding our days of service in the Dominican Republic.

Signing off,
Your leaders of the day: Sam and Declan

BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

Written by Kieran and Noa

We started off the day by waking up in a castle-like hotel where some of us took a dip in the turquoise pools below. After walking down what seemed like an endless amount of stairs we all gathered for a breakfast on the outdoor patio and prepared to head out for Santo Domingo. The bus ride was a long three hours but to pass the time we played music and shared snacks after stopping at a local shop.

When we finally reached Santo Domingo we stopped for lunch at a local pizza place before returning back to the hotel that we had originally stayed in. Once we had settled our stuff in the rooms and checked in for the flights home, we headed out for one last adventure as a team. While we walked around the city learning about its colonial history and some of the oldest buildings in the Americas, we also had time to stop and buy some award-winning popsicles and grab a few souvenirs.

Once we had wrapped that up we embarked on our final dinner together at a fun and lively restaurant in the city. At the restaurant, we had the privilege of not only watching but joining professional dancers for a high-energy evening including sparklers and a special patriotic cake to honor the 4th of July. We then returned to the hotel to say some final goodbyes and reminisce on our once-in-a-lifetime experience.

See you soon,
Your leaders of the day: Kieran and Noa