PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM
Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
Here are a few things to know and expect:
- 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.
- 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.
- Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
- Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
- 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 JUNE 30
Dearest Readers,
Our program is officially underway. We could not be more excited. Rome is absolutely beautiful, and it is only the first of many stops during our Italian odyssey. The group has all arrived and has already started to make friends. We spent the afternoon playing games, exploring the area around the hotel, and getting to know each other.
The weather is warm, the air smells like flowers, and the streets are full of people exploring the gem of the city that is Rome. Tomorrow we are going to the colosseum to follow in the steps of the ancients. We are going to do a food tour as well. We already know that it is going to be delicious.
Over the next nine days, we are going to be updating you about our adventures every two to three days. The students are excited to practice their photography and blog writing skills. Keep your eyes open for our next blog. It’s going to be a good one.
Ciao,
Your GLA Staff Team
BLOG POST FOR JULY 1
Today was fantastic. After a morning of orientation learning about GLA, our program, and each other, we set out to explore the city. We started with a culinary tour, stoping at four different restaurants as we learned about the city’s history and architecture. Then we went to the colosseum where we learned about the ancient games of Rome and the gladiators. According to the guide, the first movie is a lot better than the second. We went out to another delicious dinner at a restaurant near our hotel, and stopped to listen and dance to some live music on the way home after gelato. Students broke into mentor groups with their mentors Adham and Michelle to start the leadership curriculum to end the night. Expect a more detailed student blog tomorrow from tomorrow’s first leaders of the day.
Ciao,
GLA Italy
BLOG POST FOR JULY 1
Rome is a city that makes us feel like we’re walking through a history book—but with a slice of pizza in our hands (literally). From the cobblestone streets, to insane architecture, every corner had something special. We spent the day exploring this amazing city, and it ended up being one of the best days of our summer.
The first thing we did was dive into the food scene. Of course, we had to try real Italian pizza. We ordered both a spicy one and a classic Margherita. The spicy had a kick, but the Margherita pizza stole the show. The soft, chewy crust, fresh tomato sauce, creamy mozzarella, and a few basil leaves made it perfect. Simple, but amazing.
Next, we had something totally new: fried artichoke. It sounded weird at first, but it was crispy, salty, and honestly really good. After that, we walked through a flower market. The colors were bright, the smell was sweet, and it added a chill vibe to the day. Then came gelato, which is like ice cream but smoother and more flavorful. We had a scoop of mango and one of strawberry. It was so good, we had to slow down just to make it last longer.
After all the food and wandering, we made it to the Colosseum. Standing in front of it felt unreal. It’s massive, ancient, and full of history. We imagined gladiators fighting, crowds cheering, and how different life was back then. Nearby ruins like the Roman Forum made it even cooler like stepping back in time.
Rome gave us a little bit of everything: great food, beautiful views, and epic history. And next time someone asks us about pizza in Italy, we’ll tell them go with the Margherita.
~Joey and Prince
BLOG POST FOR JULY 2
This morning started off fresh and early. We woke up, grabbed a quick breakfast, and headed out to explore more of the Eternal City. First stop: the iconic Spanish Steps. They were massive, packed with life, and full of energy. Right nearby, we found some insane fountains literally flowing with cold, clean water straight from ancient aqueducts. We even got to drink from one, and a couple of us rinsed our hair out too. It was wild to be interacting with something so old and beautiful like that.
From there, the day just got better. We made our way over to Piazza San Pietro in Vatican City. The view of St. Peter’s Basilica was jaw-dropping. The place is massive unlike anything we’ve ever seen, and it holds such deep religious and historical meaning. We learned about the roots of Catholicism, how the Vatican works, and some unbelievable stories about the popes and the architecture. Standing there, surrounded by the history of the church, it felt like time slowed down for a second.
After all that walking and learning, we finally headed back, totally wiped but happy. We chilled out for a bit, then grabbed some of the best burgers ever juicy, stacked, and hit just right after a long day. We sat, talked about everything we saw, laughed a little, and ended the night on a peaceful note.
~Joey and Prince
BLOG POST FOR JULY 3
Everyone woke up this morning with a smile on their face waiting for a new adventure. We started off the day by transporting all of our luggage in a room to prepare for our next stop. We then had breakfast and left the hotel to head straight to our first activity.
Our first activity we did today was to go to a refugee service and help out the community there. When we arrived, we all were welcomed in by the main director of the refugee service, we were brought into a classroom where everyone learned where these people come from, and why they are here. A man named Fasil who was a refugee himself told us his story about how he made it to Italy. From Fasil’s talk, we learned that people flee their country due to government power becoming abusive and/or gangs and mafias threatening families lives. When they leave their country they often have little to no money, and sometimes they also have to walk all the way to a new country to stay. When we were done with class we headed down to the basement where all the refugees were. We all connected with some of the refugees who were willing talk with us. They also played games (table tênis and foosball) with us which was a cool experience for everyone in the group.
The next thing was to head back to the hotel and grab all of our luggage then head towards Tuscany. We arrived at this beautiful hotel located in a mountain landscape with a huge amount of space for us to play and hangout. Once we got assigned rooms we headed over to dinner where we had a wonderful pesto dinner. We celebrated Mentor John’s birthday with an Italian book and signatures all over the first empty pages of the book, and to “keep it real” the mentor Ester played the ukulele while the girls sang riptide by Vance Joy for John.
We ended the day off with a group circle making and splitting to our mentor groups where we discussed about our trip so far and then wrote letters to ourselves.
~Marcus and Alex
BLOG POST FOR JULY 4
This morning started off with breakfast of fruit, eggs, bread, and yogurt. Once we filled up on water, we headed out on a hike straight through the forests of Tuscany. It was surprisingly cool because of the shade and the scenery was filled with wild smells and a peaceful atmosphere that only comes with being deep in nature.
Eventually, we came across an old castle, tucked away like some secret from a fairytale. We explored the ancient halls and towers. There was something surreal about walking through ruins that have stood for so long.
Some of us jogged back through the heat, while others walked. We all had fun. After lunch we jumped straight into the pool, having some fun playing volleyball and laying around after a GLA swim check. We grabbed some sweet apricots and grapes that were really good. After a shower and an afternoon of leadership activities, we went to dinner and took some beautiful sunset photos.
We ended the night in conversation, laughs bouncing off the walls. Now we’re gearing up for a talent show for tomorrow. It’s going to be great.
Rob and Sophie
BLOG POST FOR JULY 5
Today on our Italian odyssey we woke up in a beautiful villa and we began our day with a breakfast of fresh fruits, yogurt, and baked goods. We filled up our water bottles and boarded the bus that would take us through the beautiful Italian countryside all the way to the great renascence city of Florence. As we entered the city, the first thing we noticed was the beautiful Italian architecture. As Florence has regulated that no modern buildings be built, it has retained its natural beauty through the years as well as an ancient architectural sense. Once we arrived, we traveled to a local park and began performing volunteer work cleaning up leaves and pulling weeds alongside the friendly locals.
After our morning working in the park we celebrated with ice cream. We happily enjoyed our treats on some park benches under the beautiful canopy of this small slice of heaven nestled between the busy streets of Florence.
Following the park we boarded the bus again and left for a traditional Italian restaurant where the food was big and the smiles even bigger. Next we set our sights on the Duomo a massive and ancient church located in the very middle of the city, and we set our sights on the very top. But first we had to make our way there through beautiful streets and bustling markets. When we arrived to the square housing the Duomo, we were amazed by just how intricate and massive this building was. It dwarfed every other building in the city, but we were there with a purpose.
Our sights set on the top of the dome we began the daunting task of climbing its ancient staircases and passageways that led to the roof. When we reached the top, the view was breathtaking. We saw the entirety of Florence and all of its labyrinthine streets stretching out for miles in all directions. Beyond were the Tuscan mountains that we have called home these past few days.
After the Duomo, we explored the surrounding square in search of souvenirs, and then boarded the bus once more to begin the hour and a half long trip home. At the villa we ate an amazing dinner of risotto, bread, mashed potatoes, and meat. After dinner we ended the night with a talent show, full of magic, jokes, music, and dancing as well as many fun memories made between friends, ending the night with the sound of laughter ringing out into the night. We wish these days could last forever.
Grey and Frank
BLOG POST FOR JULY 6
Today, on the 7th day of our Italian Odyssey, we woke up to eat breakfast at 8:30. We all had the most delicious food such as yogurt with granola, fresh fruit, and cereal. Once we had finished breakfast, we circled around into a group and discussed NGO’s and SMART goals, with everyone having their own personalized dreams. After our fairly lengthy conversation, we headed up to our rooms to pack to begin our route to Venice! But before we could leave, we had to take our second and last dip in the pool, obviously. We tanned, swam, played and now it was time to go to our final destination. Before departure, we all gathered to plan a goal about giving back to our home communities. Each GLA member agreed to volunteer 4 hours per month. We then ate a wonderful Italian meal at the villa before saying our final goodbyes.
We placed our bags on the big white bus and chose our proper seats. Excitingly to some, we had a 4 hour bus ride ahead of us, where we enjoyed the wonderful and breathtaking views of the Italian countryside! At one point we stopped for snacks and to use the washroom, but other than that it was 4 hours of a beautiful landscape on each side. Many GLA members slept, some listened to music, some even had their makeup done! But all the while, each member took time to complete their SMART goals’ guidelines and roadmaps!
We arrived around 5 PM to the Meininger hotel in Venice, where we checked in and settled in before going to dinner at 7:45 PM. We enjoyed a lovely hearty meal with vegetables, chicken, and mash potatoes. We then split off into our mentor groups to do a heartwarming activity, where we each wrote a unique positive message about each GLA member (except John and Ester, our directors—but they’re both amazing too!) after this, we played the iconic, thrilling, one and only: Among Us! 3 rounds were played and each came with plenty of laughter, excitement, and overall bonding that no amount of money could ever pay for. After this, the night came to a gradual end, with some quiet chatting amongst the group before bedtime.
Overall, while July 6 was certainly not as active or jam-packed as some of the other days on the trip, it provided some essential experiences, like learning to plan goals effectively, setting up a promise for helping our individual communities even after we leave GLA, and last but not least, bonding through Among Us!
William G and Paula
Here are some photos from the last couple days!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 7
Today, our second to last day on the Italian Odyssey expedition, we woke up and went to eat breakfast at the hotel at 8:30 AM. It included in the breakfast was croissants, yogurt, eggs, cereal, and lots of Nutella! We then immediately left the hotel for a walk to the train station. The train dropped us off at the boat station and we had a little time for a short shopping break.
We then traveled on our first ferry of the day to the island of Murano. Here, we could either watch glass making or explore the island. Then, we hopped on our second ferry to the gorgeous Torcello Island. We ate a lunch consisting of pasta, seafood, fries, and much more! Then we journeyed to the last island of our expedition, Burano Island. The houses here were extremely colorful and pretty. After finishing up, we once again hopped onto a ferry and traveled back to Venice. We shopped while learning how to properly use directions and the help from others to find where we met up with the whole group.
We got back on a train to head back to the hotel around 5:30 PM. After arriving, we had time to relax and get ready for the delicious dinner. There was a wide range of foods available at the restaurant including many forms of pastas and pizzas. Once back at the hotel, the group met up and held Ciao Circle. After finishing, we went to a playground and played volleyball, soccer, and used the jungle gym. Before bedtime, there were numerous games of fuseball and a few group members got their nails painted beautifully!
All together, the day was wonderful and filled with fun and laughter!
Emma and William L
BLOG POST FOR JULY 9
Blog by TJ, Zoe, and Tom:
We started the day with a tasty breakfast before catching the train back to Venice. After a walk through the city, we found a mask and glass making shop. Lunch at Cantina Canaletto was delicious pasta, chicken, potatoes, and gelato. We enjoyed a gondola ride, then took on John’s challenge to find the train station without a map. With the trains down, we took the bus back and rested before our final GLA activity. We then ended the day by going to dinner with our beautiful masks on our faces.
Speech by TJ:
GLA’s mission is to inspire the next generation to realize their potential to transform the world and their unique role in it. They strive to put students in a state of open-mindedness and encourage them to become aspiring leaders in their own communities.
Not only did you directors and mentors lead us on this trip and educate us on Italian culture, but you’ve also upheld GLA’s mission in unlocking our potential to become something extraordinary in the world.
John, you are the best international director that I’ve ever met! You always talk to us with a chill, laid-back demeanor which makes us feel comfortable to hangout and talk to you if we need any help.
Ester, you’re an amazing tour guide and local director! Your skills in navigating through different cities in Italy help us explore various landmarks that we will never forget.
Michelle, you’re a sweet and energetic person. You display an energizer-type leadership by keeping us in a good mood and encouraging us to do the most amazing things.
Lastly, Adham, you are the coolest person that I have met! You always make us feel good around you through your charismatic ways, which makes you an outstanding mentor.
You 4 leaders have inspired us to do good in our own communities and become great role models for other people to follow; and for that, I thank you all.
As for my fellow GLA friends, thank you guys for making this trip an unforgettable and fun experience for me! I had an amazing time getting to know each and every one of you as well as listening to your goals and what you wanted to achieve from this trip. We bonded so quickly when we first landed in Rome and we’ve kept that bond strong throughout the entire trip.
I came to Italy not knowing who I was gonna meet or what was going to be in store for me; but now, I can happily say that I’m coming back home with a broader perspective of the world and 14 new and wonderful friends that I’ll cherish forever. I am going to miss all of you from the bottom of my heart and I wish you guys only the best on what the future has in store for yall. Let’s always keep in touch with each other after this trip!
I’m very sad that the program has to come to an end and I know that most, if not, all of you are going to be emotional and cry once we go our separate ways. But don’t cry because its over, smile because it happened. Take all of the lessons that you’ve learned from this trip and apply it to your own lives as you find yourselves making an impact in your communities.
Always remember, though miles may lie between us, we are never far apart, for friendship doesn’t count miles, it’s measured by the heart.
