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 JULY 14
Hello families!
Today was our arrival day. After long flights and a layover in Lima, the group made it to Cuzco. From there, we drove to our Home Base in Pisac. It took us just over one hour, but the scenic views of the Sacred Valley were definitely worth it .
Everyone settled into their rooms and ventured through the Home Base, a lovely hotel just for us, for the next three weeks. For lunch we had our first taste of delicious Peruvian food and a refreshing passionfruit drink. We warmed up with some fun games and icebreakers and went over our Orientation.
After dinner we worked together to create our community agreement, which we will all honor for the duration of our program. We finished the day with some hot tea.
By the end, everyone was ready for some deserved rest, but also full of excitement for what tomorrow will bring. Until next time!
Diego, Andre, Skylar & Urbano
BLOG POST FOR JULY 15
Hello GLA families!
The group woke up to sunny skies, ready to explore Pisac! Today we went on a scavenger hunt! We broke into teams, practiced our Spanish, roamed cobblestone streets, and even tried some infamous Inka Kola. The group seemed very enthusiastic about the game and showed real leadership; we were so proud of them!
After lunch at home base, we walked 15 minutes to meet an Incan shaman for a Pago a la Tierra ceremony to welcome our group to Peru and wish us good travels on our way to Machu Picchu. We had a beautiful gratitude ceremony thanking Pachamama (Mother Earth) for everything we receive from them, in a beautiful valley, where we could see all the mountains that surround Pisac. Then, we walked to the plaza where the Virgin of Carmen festivities were being celebrated. We danced, took photos, and saw horseback riding and different pageant parades.
We returned to home base for our chow circle, dinner, and two intense hours of Charades. We are looking forward to our first service day, where our new leaders of the day will help ensure the team is motivated and engaged!
Congrats Adrianna and Shaniah! You will hear from them tomorrow!
Skylar, Diego, Urbano & André
BLOG POST FOR JULY 16
Hey guys!
Today, we took a tour of Peru and learned about Peruvian culture, politics, and history. As our bus swerved and navigated the beautiful mountains and towns of Peru, we were able to witness and immerse ourselves in the daily lives of Peruvians. We learned about the political party system and how the healthcare system impacts Peruvians both in urban and rural areas. We listened to the positive and negative aspects of urbanization, and about the ebb and flow of migration between cities and more rural settlements. These past few days have been truly great as we get to know each other, take freezing showers, and sleep soundly on long bus rides.
We’re all looking forward to our first day of service tomorrow assisting with MED LIFE at their mobile clinic. We made sure to keep our WITS about us in the countryside and were able to take in the picturesque view while we ate our homemade arepas. While it has been a struggle to not pet the adorable stray dogs, of which there are many, taking in the wildlife in their natural habitat has been amazing (some of us have even had the opportunity to hold baby alpacas!). As we move forward with our trip, we are so excited to learn more about the local community and use this knowledge to figure out how best to contribute and effect positive change.
Sincerely your leaders of the day,
Shaniah and Adrianna
BLOG POST FOR JULY 17
After an early but hearty breakfast break, we all prepared for our first service day. After an hour of driving up the mountains, we were brought to the village of Patabamba at an altitude of 13,000 ft! This did not stop us from giving our all at the small clinic where MedLife was set up. The stations included general medicine, dentistry, OB /GYN, pharmacy, and toothbrushing. We got to observe and help doctors while they treated patients, which was a fantastic learning experience.
All the MedLife staff helped ensure we had everything and knew what to do. Some highlights included practicing our Spanish, teaching children how to brush their teeth, and observing a dentist perform teeth extractions and fill cavities. The drive home was silent as everyone was exhausted by the day’s work. After returning home base, we all took time to chill and recuperate. We read, slept, and played some cards. At 4:30, after rest time, we finished the game of charades we had started the day before, and team “Ocho Picchu” emerged victorious. Following this, we had more free time, and around half of us played “Mafia” in the standard room while the other half chilled out and talked on the patio. Next was the chow circle; we even danced while waiting for dinner. We had chicken wings, rice, veggies, and soup for dinner. To finish off the day, we had a GLA activity! It was overall a fantastic day.
Chloe & Amitai!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 18
Hello GLA families!
We started our day off with a delicious meal that included Peruvian avocados and fresh fruit. We left for service at a punctual 7:50. Upon arriving at today’s service site, everyone quickly got to work. Some of the group went to a local primary school to educate the children on proper teeth brushing. One of our students even got to watch a doctor stitch an open wound! The delicious lunch today was pasta salad along with grilled chicken and roasted potatoes. After everyone ate lunch we finished up with all of the people that needed help. We then headed off to home base. When we got back to the base we took a small break as we waited to go to the plaza to exchange our money. After that we bought lots of snacks at the grocery store. After the store we went back to base to learn some of the Peruvian dances and culture. Everyone put their best energy into learning the dances. We then went into chow circle. Lqots of shoutouts because everyone did an amazing job today. For dinner, we had breaded chicken vegetables, soup, pesto pasta, and passion fruit juice. After dinner and inspired by our dance class we all participated in this amazing game where everyone had to show their best dance moves. We then talked about how everyone was unique in their own way. Something to reflect on before bed.
Looking forward for tomorrow.
Your leaders of the day,
Shane and Anjali
BLOG POST FOR JULY 19
Today we completed our last day of service for this week! We left this morning after a beautiful breakfast that prepared us for the day ahead. We had quite a long bus ride, with a couple of stops to clear some rocks, but we arrived at the clinic around 9:30. We promptly unloaded the supplies, set up our stations, and got to work! Some of us attended teeth extractions, assessed and attended to patients of all ages, and organized and administered the prescriptions we were instructed to. Collectively, we all did our best to assist the amazing MedLife crew!
We ate a delicious lunch of quinoa and chicken on the bus and then we went straight back to finishing our stations, where we had a blast working with the doctors and helping out the local kids. The whole group worked together to finish up with the last few patients and then it took all hands on deck to clean everything up. We practiced our spanish and even our quechua with the kids before we departed to head back to the bus for a long ride back to home base. Everyone enjoyed singing along to favorite songs and getting some extra sleep. We arrived home and got ready to start our music class that was exploring traditional songs and instruments. Everyone partnered up as we practiced our song over and over again and at the end we all sang and played together.
Looking forward to tomorrow!
Layla and Lily
BLOG POST FOR JULY 20
Today is the final day of week one. Most of the day took place in Cusco. We began with an authentic Peruvian cooking class where we made Lomo Saltado, a conglomerate of cooked tomato and beef. We were taught tricks on cutting fruits and vegetables and we learned how to use a wok. For desert we had hand made pumpkin donuts called picarones!
After cooking class we took a short walk through downtown to the Qorikancha museum, an amazing sight with paintings dating back to the 17th century and Incan ruins nearly 800 years old. The site was also home to a beautiful cathedral built by the Spaniards on top of a spiritual site constructed by a group before the Incas, built on top of an Incan temple. Lots to unpack there.
We later arrive at the infamous San Pedro market in Cusco which offers souvenirs, sweatshirts, smoothies, and great Spanish practice!
Tomorrow we head off for Machu Picchu, talk to you then!
Your Leaders of the Day,
Emily and Ben
BLOG POST FOR JULY 22
Today, the group embarked on a relaxing but informative day out of Pisac. First, the group traveled to the Salt Mine of Maras. There, we learned how to harvest salt and the different salts that were produced. Afterward, the group traveled to the village of MismINAY and was greeted with traditional dance and song in Quechua. The people of the village provided the group with a four-course meal with many ingredients native to the land.
After spending quality time with the people of Mismaniy, we had another long bus ride ahead of us to Ollantaytambo, which we arrived at around dinner time, where we ate at a nice restaurant. Then, we caught a train to Machu Picchu Pueblo. From there, we went straight to our hotel, where we got a whole night’s rest to see one of the world’s seven wonders the next day.
Starting a bit cranky, we woke up in the heart of Peru at five in the morning. With the sun just beginning to rise, we quickly grabbed breakfast and hopped on the bus to Machu Picchu. The breathtaking views of the Andes mountains were the most magical way to wake up, and when we reached the ancient Inca city, we were absolutely mesmerized. The intricate stonework and complex history captivated our attention as our guide taught us all about the rich history of the Incas.
After the tour, we descended from the mountain and had a delicious lunch, recapping our day’s adventures. Our journey continued with a scenic train ride, leading us to an ice cream shop in a small shopping plaza where we passed time waiting for our bus to come. Here, we played games, laughed, and shopped for souvenirs. We boarded the bus for a long ride back to our home base. Exhausted from the activities, we had a quick dinner and went straight to bed, excited for more adventure.
Maayan & Eljay
BLOG POST FOR JULY 23
After our trip to Machu Picchu, we were all exhausted. So today, we enjoyed a LOVELY DELICIOUS CLASSIC GLA LATE BREAKFAST after sleeping in until 9. Our fantastic leader of the day encouraged the group to have a yoga class led by our amazing mentor, Martha! (Thanks Martha) many people let go of their negative energy and stretched/exercised their bodies. Our breakfast consisted of bagels, avocados, fruits and veggies, banana pancakes, and potato cakes.
After enjoying our late breakfast, we moved on to the infamous GLA debate. Our debate prompt was whether the government should approve the construction of a new road, and if it would be beneficial or detrimental to the communities in the road, we also had to keep in mind the effect on the environment. We had four groups, each arguing for different things. Our debate was filled with energy, passion, and some awkward moments, but it was all in a respectful manner. After two hours of debating filled with many logical arguments and emotional statements in the end, the government (Your leaders of the day!) came up with a compromise to build the road and also preserve our environment and Incan culture. After a hearty debate, we had lunch! A delicious chicken stew (eggplant stew for vegetarians), rice, bread, yuca, guacamole, and some refreshing passion fruit juice.
After lunch, we headed to the roundtable. Roundtable is where we follow up with formal patients and hear their stories and how their situation is now. The first family visited was an older couple. Due to their poverty and old age, they are unable to make means to live. They live off a small pension the government gives them. They also had a daughter who had physical and mental disabilities. The whole family’s state was very striking and eye-opening. Despite their difficult living situation, their gratefulness was inspiring. After giving them some food and supplies, they continued to smile and give us their blessings.
Then, we headed to a second family. As soon as we walked in, the mother cried as her small children huddled around her. She told us how she was abandoned by her husband, and without a husband, she was struggling to afford food to feed her family. All of us were listening very intently. However, it was a lot to take in. On the bus ride home, we were contemplating what we heard and what we could do to help. Visiting these impoverished families was very uncomfortable and sad, but it gave us all new perspectives and made us much more grateful for our fortunate situation.
After we got home, we had a delicious meal and had a meaningful conversation about what we had seen.
Your amazing leaders of the day,
Clara and Sam
BLOG POST FOR JULY 24
Written by: Miraya & Ella
Once we got back from service, we enjoyed some free time before hitting the towns artisanal market where I fear that this group made a profound impact on Pisac’s economy. We stayed in the central market for around an hour before going to devour some delectable empanadas while enjoying the company of a few Guinea pigs. Once we were all fed, we went to go buy snacks where after the avid shoppers split from the group and created an economic boom in another part of the town. The shoppers came back just in time for dinner and after dinner activities where we all enjoyed an enthusiastic and energetic battle of the minds (trivia night)!
Tomorrow is our last day of service at the clinics, after that we will start our healthy home projects!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 25
We started our day with our classic GLA breakfast – bread, eggs, fruit, pancakes, and juice, and headed out to our last day of clinic service. Our drive was an adventure itself, but once we all made it safely to the town of Ccotataqui, we quickly settled in to our rotations, being familiar with the set up and roles for each station. We had a very busy day, every zone filled with patients. At the end of our clinic, we had a sad but sweet goodbye, hugging all of the MedLife staff and wishing them well. They are an inspiring group of women and they all asked us to come back next year!
After a long bus ride back, we took a much needed rest. We were quickly back to it with a tour of the local Andean agriculture school in Pisac, Kusi Kuwsay. The teacher taught us all about local plants and their medicinal properties. We ended the tour with a lesson on all of the seeds in the schools seed vault, giving us an insight into the Peruvian diet and ecosystem.
When we got back we had a delicious dinner of pasta bolognese, and ended the day off with a very intense game of trivia. Congratulations “trio and the bros”!
Ari and Vivian
BLOG POST FOR JULY 26
Today the group had a very exciting day! We opened the day with breakfast and a short walk to the bus. Then, we started our adventure to the falls of poc poc, a beautiful waterfall! Along the hike through water and natural agriculture, we learned about the Incan history. Es muy interesante! We stopped to eat lunch at the falls and very few decided to take a dip afterwards! Afterwards, we made our way to the bus where most were too tired from the long morning.
After an adventurous hike, we all enjoyed a very long and well deserved break. We danced, watched movies, played chess, took showers, and more. After the break and chow circle, we had a very delicious dinner that consisted of soup, rice, and some vegetarian and meat stew. Once we finished, we gathered in our mentor groups and discussed objects that are meaningful to us. We then stargazed, watched a movie, and it was lights out! Can’t wait for day 14!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 27
Today, we began our first day of service building greenhouses. We arrived to the community, where we will be working the next three days, and we split in groups to prepare the soil, some pulled weeds while others made rows and prepared the soil for the seeds, we planted strawberries, potatoes and more.
Some of us enjoyed lunch under a tree while the rest of the group went back to the bus to enjoy our packed lunch.
After our lunch break, we went back to work and completed the greenhouse. We headed to our next activity a potter studio where we worked with clay and made jewelry and some people made Llamas, bowls and other cool things.
Then, we learned about the inca’s instruments and their purpose. They had instruments to communicate among each other, some for rituals and others to communicate with their Gods.
Later we drove to a crepe shop to celebrate Miraya’s birthday. We spent the evening eating crepes and listening to live music before returning to home base for dinner.
We are looking forward to our next service day and be able to build greenhouses that can help families.
Zoe and Lucy
BLOG POST FOR JULY 28
This morning we woke up a bit later than usual before service. We returned to the same location as yesterday, about an hours drive, and we split up into two groups. The first group was the main group, which partook in the same work as yesterday. We dug up the earth in the greenhouse area, removed weeds and rocks, made the rows for planting, and finally planted and watered the lettuce.
In the second group, 8 volunteers decided to volunteer and help a widow with 5 kids who really needed help building a greenhouse. We worked on getting the rocks out and draining the water out that was filling the area that we needed to create the farm land. We started a competition on who could find the biggest rock while we were getting the rocks out. We all pickaxed the dirt and shoveled all the dirt out to make a flat area. While doing this someone found a massive rock that could be considered a boulder. We had to have everyone in the group to get it out. Shane, Shaniah, Ben, Ari, Maya, Miraya, Emily, and Lucy all had kick, pull, and push the boulder to get it out. We made lots of progress considering the state the land was in. After all our hard work we went back to home base and had a special lunch because it was independence day in Peru. We had a fan favorite meal of our group, ceviche! We then had another surprise for the birthday girl Miraya. We got some cake.
We then returned to Homebase, and since today was Perus Independence Day, we celebrated in the towns plaza. In the evening we held the annual Pisac’s Got Talent show! We had some incredible performances including singing, salsa dancing, magic tricks, and a wedding. It was a huge success, and we ended the show with everyone coming together in an epic dance party, dancing to “California Girls.”
BLOG POST FOR JULY 29
Hi!
Today was a rewarding, rigorous, and service filled morning where our group did something a bit different than anticipated. Rather than constructing greenhouses, which is what we have been doing, we went to a new place and aided in the construction of a dam. After going a bit over time on that, we came back to home base for some lunch and rest time. Once everyone was rested and clean, we broke out into mentor groups and participated in group discussions about voluntourism which were constructive and eye opening. In preparation for the upcoming overnight trip to rainbow mountain, after the mentor groups we went to go buy snacks and food at our favorite grocery store in Pisac. Once we got home, we all enjoyed a great dinner followed by a movie night where we watched The Emperors New Groove because… when in Peru!
Lots of love from your leaders of the day,
Miraya and Mahea!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 30
Hello! Today was quite advent full! It started off with a late breakfast then a longggg bus ride too the lodge we are staying at afterwards, upon arriving we jumped straight into the rafts and set sail! We had a very fun time going through, over, and around all the rapids!! After a late lunch, we geared up to go on the zipline. It was a short but really fun experience as the zipline went over the river. Then, we all split up to play card games or rest. Some of us got together to enjoy some yoga accompanied by the relaxing sound of the river. After our famous Chow Circle and a nice dinner, everyone sat around the bonfire to roast marshmallows. The night ended with some stargazing and an early bedtime as we are waking up at 4am tomorrow to go to rainbow mountain !
~Your leaders of the day : Addy and Chloé
BLOG POST FOR JULY 31
Today was adventure day! We all woke up as early as 4:15 and had a breakfast of bread with butter and jam and eggs. We then went on a 1 hour bus ride to the base of rainbow mountain. We then set about a 2 hour hike up rainbow mountain. It started out very cold but with every step it got warmer and warmer. We then reached the peak at about 9:00 and took some time to take photos and explore what rainbow mountain had to offer which included beautiful views of mountains and glaciers surrounding the peak. After an hour and a half we climbed down and set on a bus ride back to the river lodge where we stayed the previous night. We ate a delicious lunch and spent some time in the sun, and then started our trek back to home base. We all took some needed rest, and then collected ourselves back for dinner and concluded our night with productive mentor groups.
BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 1
Hey folks at home!
Welcome to Lydia and Maya’s blog for day 19. On this fateful day, the dynamic duo began with banging on everyone’s doors at 6:51 am sharp, making sure everyone arrived promptly at breakfast at 7 am sharp (they didn’t).
After eating a yummy in my tummy meal consisting of the usual nutritious bread and butter, we headed to our last bittersweet day of service. We split the group in half and worked on two greenhouses today. While some of us were dizzy and the others were covered in mud, we all felt super accomplished in the end and were sent off with a good bye ceremony, hand made necklaces, cheese, and potatoes.
After eating a much needed lunch (tacos!!) some people took a much needed shower (totally not us). We then got a presentation from Michael(the GOAT) on the production of his coffee and chocolate that came from his family’s land. We taste tested some homemade hot chocolate (which was muy delicioso) and then topped it off with some ice cream and pastries at a local cafe.
In the evening, we discussed the end of the trip in our mentor groups and reminisced on the good times.
We ended the night with watching Mama Mia and enjoying each other’s company. We have made so many great friends and memories along the way and we’re sad to see the end of this amazing trip. Last day tomorrow 🙁
Sincerely,
Your last student leaders of the day,
Maya and Lydia
