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
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BLOG POST FOR MARCH 24
Hola familia y amigos!
We have arrived in Playa Junquillal, in the beautiful Guanacaste province of Costa Rica! It’s time for Spring Break Service Adventure to begin. 🌴
All 19 students arrived at home base this afternoon to see our rooms and explore the hotel that will be our home for the next 7 days. We were so excited!
After we settled into our rooms, we played some games and waited for the last group to arrive. Then we did some health checks and swim tests and it was SO nice to cool off on this very hot day. When the sun started to go down, we walked across the street to our home beach to see the sky turn red, pink, and yellow. It was beautiful! We saw some hermit crabs in the sand, and one of us was seeing the ocean for the very first time!
After sunset we had a delicious dinner which was a traditional Costa Rican meal called a “Casado,” with chicken, salad, rice, and beans.
We ended the night with some fun games to learn everyone’s names, and then we had some time in the pool 🏊
We’re off to bed for the night! Tomorrow is orientation day, and then we go to a local beach in the afternoon. Can’t wait to swim in the ocean and learn more about our service projects!
Pura Vida,
GLA Spring Break Service Adventure 🌴
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 25
Hey people back home that are missing us! Here is a specially made account of everything that we did today.
First we woke up to a hot morning – the sun was blazing! We had breakfast which was a combination of eggs, beans, fruit, cereal, and yogurt. It was great thanks to the fam that runs this place.
After that we all met up for orientation which consisted of our GLA pillars and a slideshow of what we are going to do while we are here. Then we had some downtime and then went over to eat lunch which was chicken, beans, rice, and salad.
After lunch we had time to get ready for the beach and then took a quick and bumpy bus ride to a beautiful beach. Once we walked across the HOT sand we enjoyed a fun hour in the ocean, and we all got to bond in between waves. Then we got the option to go into the gift shop near the beach and grab some souvenirs.
After returning home we had some downtime to wash off before dance lessons! A few people came in to teach us the basic steps and then we created our own dances and had lots of fun! At night we had a delicious dinner.
After dinner we connected in our first mentor groups. Finally, we showered and then headed to bed and that was our day!
Stay tuned in for tomorrow!
– Costa Rica Spring Break Service Adventure Leaders of the Day – Alexarya, Amelia, Vivian, & Christo🌴
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 26
Hello! Today was a full day.
Today we woke up to an early morning breakfast to get our service work day started full of fuel, then we headed to the Guanacaste Water Center where we lent a hand in planting trees, painting signs, raking leaves, and building damns for water.
We had a delicious lunch at the water center then headed home at 2:30 where we had time to rest then played some pool games. In the evening all met at the beach for sunset where we played frisbee and had a chow circle, where we share highlights, takeaways, and shout outs from our day. We then had a yummy stir fry dinner and followed it up with a culture talk and staff trivia PowerPoint! We are now headed to bed to rest up for our Zipline adventure tomorrow! Buenos Noches!
– Costa Rica Spring Break Service Adventure Leaders of the Day – Jojo, Xavier, Clara, & Lyla
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 27
Today was an adventure day! We started the day with a thrilling and heart racing zip line course. We got to zip line through a forest of trees and even saw monkeys! Following that, we rode into town to get to the beach! It was a new and different experience. The water was refreshing and clear and full of sea shells. Speaking of refreshing, many of us got a delicious pineapple drink that quenched our thirst and heat. Before dinner, we enjoyed a lovely guitar show (with the sunset in the background!!) by our host’s son. Following dinner, we had a conversation about environmentally conscious farming and the effects on the environment, animals, and humans. We are looking forward to another service day and the opportunity to cook a traditional Costa Rican dish.
– Costa Rica Spring Break Service Adventure Leaders of the Day – Ellie, Richard, and Lexi 🌴
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 28
To start the day off, we had a nutritious breakfast consisting of French toast, beans and rice, as well as some fruit. Right after that, our team started our service work for the day. The satisfying work included planting plants, raking leaves, and building a trench for irrigation. Some of us went to local areas to pick seeds, and we tried numerous local fruit we have never tried before like starfruit. We also got to experience the first time it rained in this area since November! A special shoutout to Marcia, the Guanacaste Water Center team, and the Costa Rican high school students for a heartwarming send-off that set the tone for a wonderful day ahead.
Our journey continued with an enchanting cooking demonstration where we mastered the art of crafting homemade corn tortillas and indulged in delectable empanadas. The magic of the day unfolded by the beach as we witnessed a captivating sunset, followed by another cozy chow circle. The day wrapped up with a feast, mentor group bonding, a lively talent show, and some hilarious blind karaoke, leaving us with memories to cherish and smiles to remember.
Tune in tomorrow for catamaran day!
– Costa Rica Spring Break Service Adventure Leaders of the Day – Kai, Mallory, and Cole 🌴
BLOG POST FOR MARCH 29
We started the day off bright and early with a bus ride to the catamaran day trip. We left at 7 am with a delicious breakfast wrap on the way, supplied by the eco resort restaurant staff. We took a scenic sail ride to our snorkel area, in an inlet close to shore. Those who wanted were able to snorkel and kayak while others relaxed on deck. We saw beautiful fish species, coral reefs, a sea turtle and even had the opportunity to see an octopus up close. Our nutritious and delicious lunch on board included fruits, burritos, and various salads. Although a little crispy we all enjoyed our day on the boat and wished we had more time.
We concluded our day with free time, an incredible beach sunset, a birthday celebration for Ellie, and a home cooked dinner of burger and fries. Our final activity was a heart warming bonding experience remembering our time in the stunning and culturally diverse country of Costa Rica!
We are so grateful for the friendships we’ve made here. Tomorrow we head home again, but we will never forget all that we learned on this trip ❤️
