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
Click here to jump down to the most recent post!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 15
Greetings from Greece!
We’re so happy to have all these great students here on program with us. All 13 have arrived safe and are resting up after their long flights. It’s a packed itinerary with tomorrow’s highlights being a city tour, Acropolis visit, and food tour. Today we had arrivals, naps, delicious meals, and pool time on our hotel roof top overlooking Athens and it’s archeological sites.
We shared some laughs and got to know each other throughout the day. Such joyful, funny, intellectual, sporty, and musically talented students in this group. What a great start to this journey!
Our blogs will start with myself (Amanda, International Director) and Kyle (group mentor) as authors then transition into student written narrative.
They will be busy during the days fostering in-person community and have their phones at night to reach out and connect with home. I recognize this time zone difference might be a challenge when you want to reach your student so we’ll send regular blogs and be available as a staff support team for you and them 24/7.
Thanks for trusting us with your young ones, it’s a really an honor to work with them.
Amanda, International Director
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 16
Greetings from Athens!
Today marked the students’ first full day on the program, filled with a program overview, a history of Athens, and cultural and culinary insights.
Following a tasty breakfast, we started the day with the GLA Orientation, reviewing GLA’s mission and values, the Code of Conduct, Greek cultural norms and a safety overview. We concluded the orientation with an activity exploring our relationship with cell phones, social media, and establishing norms around mindful tech use during the program.
The group then explored Athens with a historical city tour led by local staff, followed by a visit to the Acropolis. Students learned about the history of Greece over the centuries, the construction of the Parthenon and surrounding ruins, and reflecting on historical Greek influence on modern life.
In the afternoon, we enjoyed a guided food tour, sampling traditional Greek dishes like gyros and various olive oils, offering a delicious introduction to Greece’s culinary culture. In the evening, we came together to discuss what the students wanted for the program, and collaborated on a community agreement based on some of the values they shared.
Tomorrow promises more adventure and leadership growth. The students have already started forming new friendships and coming together as a team. Stay tuned for more updates from Greece!
-Kyle Scheer, Mentor
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17
By Abhinav and Sienna
Greetings from Athens!
It being the second day of exploration, we embarked on an invisible tour of the side of Athens many do not see. This part of Athens is where many homeless people live.
Our tour guide Michalis told his life story and struggles involved with how he ended up homeless. He first explained the crisis in Greece, on top of how the death of his family members affected his life, and how he ended up without a home. He also explained how life never stops no matter what happens to you, and that you always have to keep moving.
We walked around Athens looking at different homeless shelters and soup kitchens, while learning the history behind it. This tour was something that really impacted the group’s thoughts about the city, realizing the struggles of different people, living in totally different circumstances than we do.
Then, we had some free time where we explored the flea market, which was a narrow street filled with different shops and souvenir stands, before having a delicious lunch.
After eating several servings of fries and gyros, we piled into the van and headed to the beach for an afternoon filled with swimming, tanning, and fun.
Then we finally ended our day with traveling to the overnight ferry to Crete where we enjoyed dinner and checked into our cabins for the night.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18
Authors – Michael M and Andrew Jack
We arrived in Crete early this morning after an overnight ferry from Athens—sleepy but excited. Our first stop was Chania, and the city was absolutely charming. The old Venetian-style harbor felt like something out of a movie, with colorful buildings, narrow alleys, and sea views around every corner. You could really feel the Italian influence from the time of the Venetian Empire.
For breakfast, we went to a local bakery and tried bougatsa—a warm puff pastry filled with sweet cream and cheese. It was light, delicious, and exactly what we needed after the ferry ride.
Next, we took a bus into the hills to Margarites, a quiet village known for its pottery. At a small workshop, we tried our hand at shaping clay. Let’s just say some of our creations were more “abstract” than functional, but it was fun and surprisingly calming. After out pottery class we got to keep our creations and learned a little more about how clay was gathered and used for the local pottery in Margarites.
By evening, we made it to Rethymnon, checked into our hotel, and headed out for dinner at a local taverna. The food was amazing—grilled meats and fresh salads. We enjoyed watching and listening to the music and traditional dances while eating this food. We even got up and were able to dance and learn simple moves that were used in the dance. This was a great way to wrap up our day in Crete.
A perfect start to our time in Crete—beautiful, flavorful, and full of life.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19
By Abhik and Brooke
Greetings from the island of Crete!
For day 4 of our GLA trip to Greece we were in the magnificent city of Rethymno in Crete. We started out with a biking tour to experience the different areas and culture the city has to offer. We got to see many places such as downtown, the beach areas, and the love bridge. We learned about the different social norms of the residents such as how they have a very friendly attitude but can also experience very strong feuds with other families. After which we got to have a scoop of ice cream in a nearby shop.
After that we came back to our hotel and grabbed our bags to go have lunch at Agkouseliana in the mountains with rich vegetation and wonderful, traditional food. The drive was very long but so worth it as we got to our hotel in Zaros. The hotel was beautiful with a gorgeous, crystalline pool, floral garden, and exquisite rooms for us to enjoy.
Then after we got settled we had a four-course dinner of an appetizer, salad, main meal, and dessert. The rest of the day was spent in relaxation as the students enjoyed the calm and tranquil atmosphere of our residence.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20
Authors – Kylie and Alivia
Greetings from Zaros!!
After arriving in Zaros yesterday afternoon. We got to spend the whole day in Zaros today! This city is small but beautiful and full of nature. We began our day with 30 extra minutes of sleep. We all ate breakfast at the hotel and enjoyed some fresh air before starting our day.
We then took a short bus ride and walk to a local family farm! At this farm we jumped right into learning how to make Bread. We made and shaped the dough and then let it sit. While we let our bread dough rise, we learned how to make a cheese filled pastry, lastly we got to watch how feta cheese is made. The next step was to make sure the oven was ready. The oven temperature is set by throwing flour into the oven and observing the color that it turns. If it isn’t the right color, they use an oven mop with cold water to cool it down slightly. We know the oven is ready when the flour turns light or golden brown.
While our food was cooking we got to have an amazing farm experience. On the farm we got to feed the goats, everyone got the chance to hold a baby goat if they wanted to. We got to see the chickens and collect their eggs. We also got to see, touch, or hold rabbits, dogs and pigs.
We then enjoyed our delicious lunch at the farm and danced to some traditional cretan dances that we learned a few nights prior!
We then went back to the hotel to relax and swim for a few hours to debrief. From there we went on an inclined walk to Lake Zaros. At the lake we did many group activities to improve our teamwork and enhance our communication skills. We started with a scavenger hunt of the different plants on Crete. We then did a timeline of the different eras of Greece. From there we jumped into sharing our knowledge of the Greek Gods and Goddesses. Lastly we competed in a game of charades based on our experiences on the trip so far! We ended with a beautiful three course dinner.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21
By Kylan and Yeva
We began our Saturday back in the lovely city of Zaros on Crete. After breakfast, our GLA activity. A tense debate between the European Union, the French Government, and French farmers who are arguing import costs, regulations, and the impact that farming has on the environment. We divided ourselves into smaller groups and we each represented a side, coming to an agreement between all parties. Everyone got a chance to vocalize themselves and speak for their group.
At noon we got onto our bus and took a hour long drive to Heraklion, which was rewarded with a beautiful beach! The sun was bright, the sand was burning our feet and the water was blue and clear. We enjoyed our beach day then headed on to our hotel and checked before heading out to dinner. In the city’s center, we shopped, absorbed the market and spent our euros on gifts and treats.
The winners of our previous GLA activity chose pizza for dinner as the reward. We went to a local pizza shop and enjoyed some slices of freshly made pizza, a taste of home.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22
Authors – Kane and Julian
To begin the day, the group stared with an early rise in Heraklion in order catch the ferry to Santorini. With haste, the group boarded the ship, and settled in for an oceanic ride. It allowed the group to catch some Zzzs and make up for the early rise.
After a few hours, the group arrived to the vast Santorini where we embarked on a quick ride to our pretty hotel. After settling in, we walked right down the road to the beach! After settling in our cabanas we gathered together and played in cold water, and black sand. As time passed the group ate a variety of delicious foods and smoothies. Once the group was ready to head back to the hotel, we made our way back and hit the showers. After we freshened up, we traveled to the vinard village of Megalochori and then the town of Oia.
After walking around shops and on balconies, the beautiful views did not disappoint and the group enjoyed the aesthetics of the city. During the evening, the group got some icecream, souvenirs, dinner, then headed back to the hotel where we did a GLA activity and called it a day.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23
Written by Zoya and Abhinav
The GLA students woke up to a beautiful morning, greeted by the Santorini sun, ready to take on the day!
After breakfast, we embarked on our journey to Fira, the capital city of Santorini, where we got to experience the beautiful white buildings sitting around the Caldera.
After a few hours of walking around, shopping, taking pictures, and admiring the view, we relaxed in a nice Greek restaurant.
After finishing lunch, we went to the port of Fira, where we got on our boat for the rest of the night. Our pirate-looking boat took us to the beautiful hot springs, allowing us to swim in the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea. We also had the opportunity to hike the volcano which created Santorini, giving us a beautiful view of the Caldera.
Once we got back on the boat, we ate some Greek barbecue, danced to the music, and watched the breathtaking sunset from the boat.
Overall, today was an amazing part of the trip, giving us a great opportunity to view the Greek island of Santorini.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24
Authors – Brooke and Sienna
During the second to last day of our Greece trip we woke up at around 8:00 for a quick breakfast before jumping into a group reflection activity.
We reflected on a letter we wrote to ourselves last week about SMART goals, where we made goals for ourselves and our group as a whole to become better as people.
After packing up all of our stuff, we finally ventured off to the port where we continued our journey on long ferry ride back to Athens. However, we will all miss Santorini and its beautiful views and teal waters so much.
During this cruise we got to see a great view of all the islands, and bonded with each other as a whole for a long 6 hours. Some played UNO, while others slept or watched movies together. It was a tiring but rewarding journey when we finally made it back.
We finished the day off with a sunset circle where we shared what we did while on the cruise and someone that made us laugh today. We also chose our new group leaders for tomorrow before heading to dinner which was delicious as usual.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25
Written by Abhik and Alivia
Kalimera (good morning) from all of the students in Athens! We started our day at 8 a.m. with a joyful farewell breakfast, savoring every bite of our exquisite food and cherishing our last minutes together. As the morning sun warmed the city, we convened as a GLA group to reflect on our experiences and the friendships we’d built. In this spirit of solidarity, we set a common objective to improve our leadership abilities and make a good difference in our communities. This commitment demonstrates not just our drive to personal improvement, but also our desire to inspire others. As we move forward, we are eager to use what we have learned and empower people around us, ensuring that our time in Athens leaves a lasting impact.
We left the hotel at 10:30 a.m., excited to volunteer at Humanity Greece and help prepare lunch for those in need. Upon arriving, we were greeted with warm grins and a sense of purpose, eager to contribute to a worthwhile cause. Our responsibilities included cleaning and cutting a variety of fresh vegetables, such as carrots, tomatoes, peppers, green onions, and cilantro, as well as making pasta. The kitchen was alive with activity as we worked together, sharing laughs and stories while slicing and preparing items. After we finished preparing the food, we focused on designing small boxes to contain the meals, giving each one a particular touch. Some of us loaded the boxes with the delicious food we had cooked, while others carefully closed them to ensure everything was properly packaged. After all of the boxes were packed and ready for distribution, we made a few extra pieces for ourselves to eat for lunch, appreciating the results of our effort and contemplating on the impact that we were making in the community.
We all returned to the hotel for a special GLA activity, during which Amanda graciously gave beautiful pictures from Santorini to everyone of us. The plan was to pass these images around, allowing everyone to write small words and notes to one another, resulting in a treasured memory that we could look back on in the future. This activity encouraged connection and thought as we shared our ideas and memories from the trip.
After this important exchange, we proceeded to fill out a survey aimed to summarise all of our experiences on this remarkable trip. This survey gave us the opportunity to reflect on the lessons we learnt and the friendships we made. After all of the organized activities were completed, we were pleased to have some free time to relax. Many of us took advantage of this break by swimming in the hotel pool, playing cards with friends, and indulging in some excellent Starbucks, all while enjoying the casual atmosphere and friendships we’d formed during our time together.
Finally, we wrapped out our busy vacation with a lovely dinner at Zafiro cafe-restaurant, an ideal backdrop for celebrating our shared experiences. The meal was served buffet style, with a delectable selection of dishes that allowed us to experience the rich flavors of the native cuisine. As we dined, the wonderful sounds of live music filled the air, setting the tone for a great evening. The vibrant tunes motivated many of us to get up and dance, and we were happy to be able to participate in the festivities with the local performers and another group. We embraced their culture by wearing traditional dancing clothing, which brought authenticity to our experience and made us feel even more connected to the vivid heritage around us. This evening not only provided us with excellent cuisine, but also created lasting memories of laughter, joy, and a deeper respect for the culture we had immersed ourselves in throughout our journey.
