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 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.
- 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 JULY 10
Bienvenidos a República Dominicana! This will be your opportunity as parents and loved ones to keep tabs on our whereabouts as we continue on our adventure of service, learning and leadership here in this beautiful country.
All the students arrived here safely and called home. During our first day in Santo Domingo we waited for their arrival at the Las Américas international airport, they had lunch near the hotel and walked through the colonial zone.
We are happy to say that the last four of our new team members have arrived and are settled at he hotel. Due the delays in their flights, they arrived by night. But don’t worry, they are safe and sound. While tired, the students seemed excited for the adventure that lays ahead and the memories to be made.
Throughout the day we gave the students a chance to rest and recover from their travels while the last of the group arrived. In the afternoon dinner was served, allowing them to try Dominican empanadas.
We have an amazing group filled with lots of good vibes and curious about this incredible culture. Excited to begin, tomorrow our first stop will be the Los Tres Ojos National Park and then head to our home base in Bayahibe. Where we can talk about the basic details and rules of our new home. So, dear family and friends make sure to check back here for more details throughout our next days.
The staff
BLOG POST FOR JULY 11
Hi family and friends!
Day 2 started with an early morning wake up and breakfast down at the hotel restaurant in Santo Domingo. Before Tres Ojos National Park we had some time to learn and bond with each other and also go to a local supermarket to stock up on local food and snacks for our home base. We purchased exotic fruits and Dominican foods. We finally returned to the hotel and the shuttle picked us up. It was a short 30 minute ride to the park. We got introduced to our tour guide Domingo and he brought us down into an expansive underground cave system. We took a little boat that the ferryman nicknamed “The Dominican Titanic” across into a lagoon. It is called the Tres Ojos because inside the caves there are three bodies of crystalline water that descends into the caves due to the rain.
Once we finished the tour boarded onto the bus again for a ride into Bayahibe. We got introduced to our rooms at the home base also known as Altea Lodge. Then we had lunch and a orientation about all the necessary information, the rules and what we will be doing the next days.
For dinner we had a local Dominican dinner of chicken, rice, and beans. Finally we got a cultural night were learned about this beautiful country and how to dance to bachata and merengue!
We finished off our day by taking a quick dip in the pool and relaxing to music.
We are very excited about what awaits us tomorrow on our first day of service and what we can learn with our team.
Thanks for being with us.
-Carson and Breydan
BLOG POST FOR JULY 12
Buenos días a todos!
Today we woke up on a humid and sunny day before heading to breakfast consisting of fresh pineapple, papaya, and mango along with eggs, avocado, toast and chocolate cake. We then got ready for our first day of service and promptly left at 8:45 Padre Nuestro, a place inside of the huge Cotubanamá national park.
First we met Lidia and Mariely, a local tour guides who takes care of the park, who welcomed us and told us about the history of the place.
As a first part of the service we started picking up trash along the road, during that moment we stumbled upon limoncillo, a citrusy and sweet fruit, we bit the green skin to reveal the lychee-like fruit and suprised with a burst of sweet and sour, it was a fruit like any other.
Our second stop was Bienvenido’s house a local with a big heart and gifts to share. He gave us fresh mangos from his backyard and showed how to peeled surgarcane. It’s interesting to connect with those simple things and learn to be aware that simple acts can make a big difference.
As a second part of our service, we worked with Lydia to separate plastics from metals to help locals recycle and measure from the entrance to Chicho Cave, so we measured every 50 meters and placed signs that directed visitors to that cave. We discovered that all the water that feeds the town of Bayahibe comes from there!
After doing this we embarked on our journey back to home base. We then immediately changed into our swim attire and proceeded to walk to Magallanes beach where we were gifted with a beautiful sight of clear blue water.
We headed back to home base and participated in a debate called social sync regarding social media. This experience opened our eyes to the realities of social media and the impact of our cellphones.
For dinner we had a deliciouso rice with pork, plantains, and salad. By the end of the day we had our first mentor groups where we discussed our smart goals for the 10 day trip, thinking about what we want to achieve personally and as a team.
Although it was a little tiring and we are getting used to this tropical climate, it was an incredible day full of learning and new experiences.
Hasta la próxima!
– Lillia
BLOG POST FOR JULY 13
Day 3 we woke up on a sunny day we headed to breakfast and had eggs, toast, avocado, and fruit. We then got ready for our second day of service at Padre Nuestro.
Once we arrived at national park we found a nice shaded spot and all sat down to prepare for afternoon’s debate. We were all assigned groups and a stance for about the environment, knowledge and management of the national park.
After that, we started our service by walking up the trail to the underwater cave. We tied the signs to the cave to trees, helped by touching up the paint on the signs, we were able to clean and delimit the path.
Once the morning of service was over our service we went into the underwater chicho cave. Surrounded by silence, we went down and were able to swim in one of the most beautiful and clear waters. Becoming aware of and connecting with elements of nature as important as the water that sustains all of Bayahibe is undoubtedly an experience to appreciate and be grateful for.
We then went back to home base where we all changed and then surprised Elena with a cake for her birthday! We were also able to try some of the fresh squeezed mango juice, that Christian made with the mangos we got from Bienvenido’s
After that, we began our discussion about the Cotubanamá national park. It was a difficult session because everyone had their own valid points, demonstrated commitment and passion with their participation. The resolution of our debate ended up being the option that Elena and Shamus proposed to us. about the importance of collaborative work among stakeholders and how to be aware of our environment in the short and long term.
We continued with a pizza night and ended the day with our mentor groups, where we had an activity in which we talked about the transversal features that make up the culture and we were able to discuss ours and that of the Dominican Republic.
Excited about tomorrow and our service, we went to sleep and regain energy.
– Mira
BLOG POST FOR JULY 14
Hola familias!
We started off our morning with a delicious breakfast consisting eggs, toast, avocado, and fruit. We then went and got ready for service and headed for the bus at around 8:30. We arrived at kids camp located in Benerito, a town next to Bayahíbe, and were greeted by such exciting and joyful children. We played games with them, taught them popular American dances, played musical chairs and many other activities. We also help them improve their English by teaching them numbers, animals and colors. We made many bonds with the children that left them with smiles on their faces.
After the children left, we made bracelets which we all added a meaning to. These activities taught us how there are no barriers to friendship and how we can make an impact on people’s lives. We then headed to the local jewelry shop and viewed the wonderful Dominican jewelry.
At around 3, we left and headed back to home base. We had some free time to relax and then proceeded with a leadership activity where we all took a step forward if we agreed with certain scenario’s and aspects in life. Then, some of us walked to the beach while some other’s played basketball with the locals. The sunset was mesmerizing and as well was the water. We then headed back and ate dinner. The last activity was Pulse Check where we anonymously shared how we were feeling personally and as a team, and gave our opinion on this program since it is the halfway point of this experience. It’s interesting because with this, we help our guides understand and improve our group dynamics for our next leadership adventures.
After we finished, we hung out in the pool and played some games such as catch. Then at 10, it was lights out.
Adiós!
– Alex
BLOG POST FOR JULY 15
Buenos días!
Our day started with breakfast at 7:30 were ate eggs, sausage, mash potatoes and fruits. Then we left for Hoyo Claro, we got to the trail we had to walk around 30 minutes and to use team work such carrying the cooler which had the food for our group. Once we got to the lagoon we jumped in and started swimming, it was quite calm because we were the first to arrive there. After a while, people started showing up, and guess what! A family lent us their goggles and we enjoyed ourselves and had fun. It was nice to connect with other people and have them trust us. Then we ate our packed lunch and swam for the remaining minutes before heading back.
Once we returned to the home base we prepared to head to Magallanes beach and there we enjoyed the clear water and the sun, we were also able to walk around town and go to a local market to get what we needed for the next few days.
Before dinner, as always, we got ready for sunset circle where we shared our great memories towards this day and learned that team work makes the dream work. Then we ate burritos, rice and chicken.
By the end of the day we got into our mentor groups and talked about values of life and how important it’s to live your values as a leader, this is where the process of taking action and generating change comes from. This activity allows us to learn new perspectives about others, be open and strengthen the bonds we have built.
For tomorrow we expect to learn new things and exploring the beautiful Saona island we are all exited about.
Hasta mañana!
– Rafael
BLOG POST FOR JULY 16
Buenos días a todos!
The group started off with a portion of us doing a rooftop yoga session due to a delayed breakfast. We then all convened for a breakfast of fruits, eggs, and bread; a breakfast we know and love. After, everyone finished eating and conversing we prepared for a journey to Saona island. We walked our usual path down to the beach but instead of playing in the water we loaded onto a boat for an exciting ride through the most blue water we collectively have ever seen. We took a pitstop to indulge in some snorkelling in the marvellous water. Then we finished our boat journey gliding into a stretch of beach we now know and love as our home base away from home base in a place called Mano Juan. We took to the sand courts and played volleyball with some locals. After the sun got too hot we reunited with the blue waters for a refreshing swim. From there we had lunch on the beach and returned to swimming after. The constant activities made everyone hungry yet again and we returned to eat a snack of fruits on the beach. After our snack we walked to our turtle walk orientation learning the ins and outs of our early morning task. When that came to an end we took an eye opening walk around the island village learning about the local culture. Following that we returned to our beloved swimming spot and even had our sunset circle in the water. We wrapped up the day with the most delicious dinner of the trip(in my opinion) and our appreciation circle where we spread the love between our little familia. Even though we had an early morning, the group took to a bonfire and ended the day with bonding conversation, excited for the adventures we were to face in the morning.
-Shamus
BLOG POST FOR JULY 17
We awoke on a warm starry night at 4:15 am and set out on our journey along the beach. the sun began to peak through the palm trees as we kept our eyes peeled for sea turtle nests buried beneath the sand. Our guide, Negro, taught us how to ensure the nests were safe from poachers and predators. We were pleased to see that all of the nests were intact and protected from a compromising position. we continued our journey through a small path of mangroves and palm trees which revealed a beautiful clear beach- an oasis after our sweaty hike. the warm white sand met with the pristine water to create a majestic scene too irresistible to not jump in. a 6:30 am swim in the gentle waves set our day on the right foot. we hopped in a boat and headed back to our temporary home base where some of us decided to head to the local beach while the rest of us caught up on some much needed sleep after our early awakening. we ate breakfast along the beach- fried eggs, fresh fruit, bread and jam before we got our last minute beach time in. we packed up and waved goodbye to the friends we made playing volleyball the day before. The beautiful boat ride came to an end and we had a lunch of fish, chicken, salad, and rice along the pier.
We came back to home base and caught up on some sleep before we had our final sunset circle on the roof. Sancocho with rice was our concluding dinner- a traditional Dominican dish. Finally, we had our last mentor group meeting where we revisited why we came on this trip and the things we learned together and about ourselves. As a team, we wrote down our one meaningful goal that encompassed our values and take aways from our experiences this trip, so we could apply it when we return to our communities. After we finished, we began to pack up and prepare for our day of travel tomorrow to Santo Domingo, our final day together.
-Elena
BLOG POST FOR JULY 18
Buenos días!
We woke up on the very last day well rested from the night before. We had a great sleep and we were all anxious to discover what our last day would entail. After a solid breakfast courtesy of the Altea Lodge staff and a morning of packing, we embarked on the long journey back to our original hotel in Santo Domingo. On the way, we discussed our adventures and how much we grew and bonded with each other in such a short period of time. We talked about our experience in the caves of Tres Ojos and we all laughed when talked about our time in Isle Saona. After getting to the hotel, we quickly set up our luggage for the night and then headed out to our last adventure of the trip: A Colonial Tour of the City by a Mr. Tony.
While exploring the streets of Santo Domingo, we encountered a couple of tourist shops and some of the crew purchased a few accessories. While on the tour we stopped at several national monuments such as the House of Christopher Columbus, the Pantheon of the Fatherland, the Reloj de Sol (Sun Clock), the ruins of the Hospital of Saint Nicholas of Bari, and Independence Park. After the hike through the different places we ended up back in the hotel and stayed there up until our “cena” at El Conuco restaurant! During our dinner we recounted the day travels and had our very last sunset circle. We discussed our highlights of trip and the day, we shouted out those who we thought made the trip better, and we acknowledged what we learned during our 10 day trip. With that settled, we finished up our meals tearfully and returned back to home base for the last time. This GLA trip has been a whirlwind of learning, experiencing, and connecting with other people of different backgrounds and, of course, how to be the change when returning to our homes. GLA It can only be described as an “unique experience.”
– Christian
