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 15
We made it! After a big travel day, we set foot on British soil and started our STEM European tour. London is great. The weather is warm, the birds are singing, and the accents are fabulous. We are staying at a quaint hotel with a charming restaurant, and a beautiful park is just around the corner. There are brick buildings everywhere and a delightful “Britishness” hangs in the air.
The group is great. Everyone is already starting to make friends. We spent the afternoon getting to know one another and doing challenges in the park after a delicious meal at Nando’s. We talked about everything we are excited about for this program, and the list only got better and better the more we talked. From site-seeing in London to wandering the streets of Paris, from CERN to the UN, this program is going to be incredible.
We are taking our first night easy to catch up on sleep because tomorrow we start to explore the city. We are going to do a forensics workshop in Sherlock’s city, take a boat ride on the Thames, and tour Big Ben. We can’t wait. And that’s just the start.
We are going to be posting student blogs every couple of days, so keep your eyes open for our next round of updates. We can’t wait to tell you about our adventures in London, Paris, and Geneva. They are going to be great.
Wishing everyone a happy belated fathers’ day.
Cheers,
GLA STEM Team
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18
Written by Sahasra Sadhanala and Conlan
On our first day, Monday June 10, we began with an orientation, followed by games we used to get to know each other. We then went to a workshop where a detective from Scotland Yard explained how evidence was investigated at a crime scene, showing using a model crime scene, and having a volunteer explore it in the professional attire. After that he had groups analyze witness statements, bank records, and other information relating to the case. In order to confirm who was the true culprit we acted out mock interrogations where students acted as the suspects and the officers. After the workshop we took a scenic boat ride on the river Thames, seeing beautiful architecture (such as the London Bridge). We then ended the day by going to Big Ben where we took pictures.
The students began Day 2 by traveling to Oxford for a guided tour. During the tour, we experienced its beautiful architecture, learned about student traditions, the history of the colleges, and how the university operates. After the tour, we had lunch before splitting into two groups. Some students chose to explore one of Oxford’s libraries instead of visiting the Museum of Natural Sciences History. Those who visited the library ended up at the Divinity School, where the infirmary scenes in Harry Potter were filmed. There, they learned about the history of the library above them, as well as the architecture, history, and laws of the school. Those students then proceeded to go to a different science museum where they learned about planets and how science has evolved. The students who went to The History of Natural Sciences museum at Oxford contained artifacts exploring topics such as magic, warfare, marine life, and more. It allowed us to see the numerous aspects of history from a variety of perspectives-which was rather interesting.
Our third day began with a trip to Buckingham Palace. After spending some time in the nearby park, we watched the Changing of the Guard. The group then went on a Harry Potter tour, since many scenes from the films were shot in London. During the tour, students had the opportunity to touch a wall that Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) touched during filming. Afterwards, everyone visited Camden Market, where the students shopped for souvenirs and gifts for their families. To end the day, we attended a performance of Wicked in London’s West End.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19
June 19th was mostly a travel day from London to Paris. But before we went to Paris, we took a short stop down to the Tower of London. Where we saw the Crown Jewels and all the super cool architecture and interesting animal sculptures spread all around. After our short but very detailed and interesting visit, we made it to the station where we had lunch. When we got on the train, most slept and recharged their batteries. Once the train arrived in Paris, the group powered through the heat because we are awesome travelers!
I really thought all the animal sculptures at the Tower of London were really cool because they were made of this weird material and then the train ride was a bit long but music and naps always help pass the time really quickly and once we arrived in Paris the heat hit me immediately but I think with a few days here it will feel a little bit more normal and the rest of Paris will be hopefully not that hot and cool down!
The next day in Paris began with a visit to “The Museum of Science and Industry.” All the students split up in groups and explored the museum’s collection of exhibits, which included interactive displays on mathematics, lots of robotics and technology, and an exhibit on the evolution of gaming. A highlight of the museum visit was the planetarium show. This displayed the different planets and galaxies on a large screen as if they were on a rocket ship.
After our time at the museum, our group made its way to the Eiffel Tower. The stairs were rather aggressive, but after a hard journey we made it to the top to see the breathtaking views of the city. Many students went to purchase souvenirs at the gift shop, selecting gifts for their loved ones back home. To conclude our eventful evening we returned to the hotel for a brief period of relaxation and freshening up. Later in the evening, we ventured out to dine at Tajmahal, an Indian restaurant by the hotel! It was delicious.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21
Today’s GLA adventurers explored their second full day in Paris, where students gained important and meaningful experiences while working with Serve the City, a local organization. They prepared and distributed sandwiches and water to help feed those in need throughout the city. Volunteers, both local and international, are dedicated to making a difference and putting a smile on people’s faces.
After eating lunch at Serve the City, students walked to and boarded a boat on the Seine River. Whether inside the boat or up on the top, they were able to observe the calm waters and see an abundance of beautiful architecture, including the Eiffel Tower, while floating through Paris.
Following the Seine River, GLA ventured to a spot high above the city, Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre. This area reveals a colorful side of Paris, full of entertainment, greenery, delicious food, street art, and stunning architecture. The blend of traditional buildings with a lively atmosphere creates a unique sense of spiritual beauty and cultural vibrance.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22
Today, June 22nd, the group went to Versailles and the Louvre. In Versailles, we visited the Palace of Versailles where we had around an hour to explore in small groups, enjoying the architecture and the art. The grandeur of the Hall of Mirrors and the intricate details in each room left us all in awe. After that, we went to the Park of Versailles where we rented bikes and toured the beautifully scenic park. Riding along the tree-lined paths and past sparkling fountains, we felt like we’d stepped into a famous French painting. We stopped for lunch and had delicious French pastries and sandwiches by the lake, savoring the peaceful atmosphere and sharing stories about our favorite parts of the day so far.
After this, we traveled to the Louvre and did a scavenger hunt for many different famous pieces of art such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. The scavenger hunt made exploring the vast museum even more exciting, as we raced to find each masterpiece and learn a little bit about its history. We took plenty of photos to document our whole trip there. We then ate dinner at a great Japanese restaurant where everyone enjoyed trying something new and sharing their favorite dishes. The day ended with a relaxed walk back to the hotel, where we packed our bags and chatted about our adventures, looking forward to the journey to Switzerland tomorrow!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23
Today we woke up early to be able to make it to the United Nations Offices in Geneva. when we arrived there we first went upstairs and got to see the various gifts the UN has received from other countries. Following that we had to opportunity to spectate a conference that’s only held 3 times a year about humanitarian problems and this specific one heavily involved Sudan. We got to learn about the cool things we saw and that happen in these types of meetings. Then we went down to another conference room that’s more newer and this one is used for many different topics not just humanitarian rights. The tour ended off seeing the 17 goals that the UN want to reach by 2030. We left after visiting the souvenir shop and buying many things.
After visiting the UN we had such a fun experience at a chocolate factory. We got to learn how chocolate is made, try different kinds, and even design our own chocolate bars. Everyone’s design was super different and creative, which made it even more fun to see how unique we all are. After the factory eli picked a really good Italian restaurant for dinner and the whole group loved it. We had burgers and pizza, and just a really chill time laughing and talking about the day. We ended off with some of us playing a fun trivia game. Now we are heading back early so we can get some sleep and be ready for the next day which is gonna be amazing.
