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 17
The gang’s all here! Today was arrival day for our second session of the Spanish Language Experience here in Spain. We arrived at the airport in Madrid and made the hour and a half journey to the medieval city of Toledo. We had time at our new homebase to shower and rest, meet our roommates, and had our first ever chow circle in the evening, where we learned each other’s names through introductions and icebreakers. After a tasty dinner, we had time to unwind and sleep before a busy day ahead!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 18
Today was our first full day here in Toledo. We all woke up at our homebase, Colegio Mayol, and got started with orientation. We learned useful information about the program ahead, but also made time for some fun name games! Midway through, we met our Spanish teachers and took a test to place us in our Spanish levels.
After lunch, we finally got to learn our mentor groups! Mentor groups are smaller groups of students that meet daily to reflect and do activities with their mentor – in this case, Nolan, Marco, Silvio, and Jacquelyn! We played a really fun game called “Get To Know Your Mentor,” which helped us do exactly that.
Last but not least, we got to discover the historic center of Toledo. Starting with a Scavenger Hunt, we split up into mentor groups to find key places throughout the city. In the evening, we enjoyed dinner at an amazing tapas style restaurant where we also got to celebrate our birthday girl, Emery!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 19
Today was an exciting day where things started to pick up at GLA. We had an early start to the morning at 7:45 where we went straight to breakfast and later took a scenic bus drive from Toledo to Madrid. Around 10:30 we arrived at the Bernabéu stadium. We got to shop in the official team store and look around inside the stadium. We took plenty of photos of the field, posed with their famous trophies, and learned a lot about the history of Real Madrid. We ended the tour by sitting in the stands and looking over the historic stadium.
Then we hopped back on the bus and checked in to our hostel. We got some delicious burgers that brought us a taste of home. Next we were split into groups to take a Flamenco class, a traditional dance that originated in the south of Spain. With a variety of styles, passionate movements, and steady rhythms, the flamenco dance is very fun, but as we learned takes a lot of skill. We tried our best to keep up with Felipe, our dance instructor. By the end of the class we were able to perform our best rendition of the buleria, a style of Flamenco, but it did not compare to the espectaculo de flamenco that we were able to watch after our class. We had the opportunity to listen to the lead singer’s music,Naike Ponce, who was Grammy nominated for Latin America Flamenco Music.
After, we got a snack in Madrid where we enjoyed refreshing gelato and cookies. While eating our ice cream, we walked over to a park called Templo de Debod with panoramic views of the city and taught each other our favorite games from home. We then walked to the gorgeous Calle Arenal and did some shopping before dinner.
To wrap up our day, we had a buffet style dinner at 9pm with fantastic chicken and soft serve. It was an amazing day in Madrid and we can’t wait to see what else the city has to offer tomorrow!
Written by leaders of the day: Elena, Scarlett, and Brie
BLOG POST FOR JULY 20
Day 3 started with waking up in Madrid to start our walking tour to learn about the historical monuments of Madrid. We were able to see La Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, and enjoyed some churros and chocolate from a famous churro restaurant, Chocolatería San Gines.
Directly following that, we embarked on a culinary adventure to cook Spanish omelettes and Paella with a side of almond flour cake. During this cooking class we were able to have hands on experience through chopping vegetables, seafood, chicken, boiling potatoes and vegetables, and eating the delicious food we had prepared. Then we had the opportunity to explore the shops of downtown Madrid. After some eventful shopping we took the bus back to home base in Toledo.
Once we arrived we engaged in goal setting via a GLA activity, and bonded with our mentor groups. Then we enjoyed in our home base some chicken kebab and cheesy fries, con helado!
Self-proclaimed as the best group leaders of the entire GLA existence: Nevaeh, Kimball and Trenton
BLOG POST FOR JULY 21
Today we met at 8:15 in the meeting for check in and had a delicious breakfast in the cafeteria after. Everyone was excited to meet the kids in the summer camp! Afterward we went outside and played with the kids as we waited for the camp to start. The kids were of all ages, ranging from around 4-11 years old.
We split up into our mentor groups and went to different classrooms, with some groups playing music, others doing robotics, and some even playing with rainbow parachutes. It was a great experience where everyone got to practice their Spanish speaking and help the community. After three hours of helping out at the camp, we had cocido madrileno, a traditional stew from Madrid. It was so yummy!
We spent the rest of the afternoon chilling. After lunch, we headed up to our dorms to change into cozier outfits to get ready for our Spanish class. They first split us up into two groups and we spent the class doing orientation activities to help each other learn a little bit more about each other and to get to know our teachers. After three hours of Spanish classes, we all headed up to our rooms once again to get ready for la piscina (the pool). After the swim test, everyone enjoyed the time in the pool before heading inside to grab snacks and soak up the sun. Later we walked back home and got ready for dinner. Dinner tonight was hot dogs and French fries and it was a great taste of home. For dessert we had delicious ice cream and enjoyed chatting with friends. Finally to wrap up the day we met with our mentor groups to play one last game before getting ready for bed.
– Emily H. and Ella U.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 22
Today was a busy day at GLA, but it was also filled with fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories.
Once we finished breakfast we headed outside to greet the children. Today was a very special day at summer camp because not only were we going to spend the morning playing water games, but after there was a concert performed for the kids. The waters games started and things quickly got competitive. There were five stations with different water games that the groups of kids would rotate between. Some used water balloons and buckets, while others got us soaked because we were using the hose.
After we finished our water games the kids dried off and we had to go upstairs to change into some fresh clothes. Once we made our way back outside the concert had already started. A band was playing outside and we all were dancing with the children. We even got to hear Sophie and Elena both preform incredible songs for the kids. After a while, the concert wrapped up and we headed inside for lunch. Following lunch, we had a short break before going to Spanish class. In class, we practiced forming sentences by answering the teachers’ questions and worked on vocabulary to help improve our Spanish.
After our fun time at homebase we took a bus and headed into Toledo. In Toledo we took a wonderful group photo with an incredible view behind of the whole city. It was truly amazing. Then we headed back into the bus to meet the tour guides. They helped us, the GLA students, learn more about the history of Toledo. For example, it used to be Spain’s capital. At the end of our tour the guide led us into a street where we were allowed to go shop. There were many stores there including jewelry and souvenirs.
Everyone was hungry, so we headed to the restaurant. For dinner we had delicious pizza and lava cake for dessert. To finish off the day we went back in the bus and headed to bed. It was another amazing day in the city of Toledo.
This spectacular blog was written by the leaders of the day: Emery Domer and Ella Eisenberg.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 23
Today we started off with morning meeting at 8:15, followed by breakfast at 8:30! After that we had our last day of summer camp with the kids. We did a lot of fun activities such as sports, games, and dancing! Along with these exciting activities we got to celebrate our friend Emily’s birthday! All of the kids sang to her and we all enjoyed a cake and lots of balloons! After these events we said goodbye to our campers and headed to lunch.
After lunch we had a three hour long Spanish class where we learned the importance of conjugating. In this helpful class we learned about some big events in Spain! Including Las Fallas and La Tomatina, we got to learn the deeper meaning of these events and see the beautiful culture of Spain! Along with this, we learned how to make gazpacho – a popular and famous dish in Spain.
After our intriguing Spanish class we participated in a very interesting debate. The debate included points of view about the idea of diversity of language in Spain and the importance of the balance of culture and what is best for the economy. We all were assigned specific roles in this debate, each having a different stand on this situation. This debate was very engaging and almost everyone shared their point of view on this situation.
After the debate we got to cool down in the pool! The pool was very enjoyable and we all got to hang out, relax, and have some free time to ourselves after this very eventful day! Once we finished up with the pool, we walked to a local dinner nearby which had plenty of options and food galore! We all enjoyed a great dinner along with a beautiful sunset to top off the night. The night was amazing all together and it was definitely a day to remember!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 24
Written by leaders of the day: Mya and Dante
Today our group got off to an early start with breakfast at 7:30, in order to begin our morning working with Red Cross! After a quick bus ride to the beautiful river running through Toledo, everybody got to work cleaning up garbage around the area. We got to see amazing landscapes and ruins from the old city, all while clearing 17 kilos of garbage from the local community! Finally we enjoyed time listening to music and ended with a dancing circle!
After the cleanup, our group walked back to our lunch spot and passed time with some volleyball and soccer games across from the restaurant of the day, the famous Venta de Aires! We then ate a fantastic meal and listened to our local director Marta, as well as some other group members play songs on the piano! It was an awesome experience that showed us more of Spanish culture, people, and the local area.
After lunch, we focused on Spanish class where we learned about Flamenco and verb conjugations, even playing a little game and learning the basics of some moves!
Later, we separated into two groups: One who went to the pool nearby and the other who went to play football at home base! We also played games and even went to the music room.
At dinner, we ate some salad with seasoning, French fries, and pudding, and ended it off with assigning Emily and Ruby as our new GLA leaders of the day!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 25
Today was filled with exciting adventures involving team building and learning new things. While some students began their day with a sunrise walk or run, others slept in and prepared for the day. We started by taking a bus into the historical town of Toledo where we took an exhilarating zip line ride over a river. After walking through the picturesque and medieval streets of the town, we arrived at an authentic Spanish restaurant. The students were able to try traditional dishes like tapas while conversing with friends.
We started off the afternoon with Spanish classes. Today we switched things up and played fun games as a group, including a scavenger hunt where we ran through the halls looking for clues, and trivial pursuit, Spanish style. After we were all tired out of Spanish games, we took a quick break and rehearsed for the talent show. At 5 pm, the talent show began with an amazing singing performance by mentor Nolan, followed by Hamilton songs and limbo lines.
We then got changed and headed over to the pool, where we got to relax, go for a swim, and play card games. The night ended with a delicious dinner at the pool’s restaurant complete with Sausage, eggs, and French fries. Overall, we had a fantastic night and enjoyed our day!
Leaders of the day: Emily K and Ruby
BLOG POST FOR JULY 26
We started the morning with breakfast at the hostel. Then we got on the bus and headed for the Ruidera lakes to go kayaking. We kayaked around the lake, saw caves, and swam in the lake! Then we headed to the beach for lunch. We rested on the beach and did more swimming for a few hours.
Then, we got on a bus and rode to the windmills of Don Quixote in Consuegra. Marta told us the backstory of the windmill’s popularity. While the windmills were breathtaking, the views were exhilarating. We were able to see the town from the top. Not only that, we went inside a windmill and saw panoramic views! We could also see the castle that was next to the windmills, a Moorish fortress from the 10th century that contains rich history within its walls. Then we had another hour journey home. When we arrived home we did the Tree of Life activity in our mentor groups and ate dinner. This was one of the most memorable days of the trip!
Leaders of the day Calla and Sarah signing out!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 28
Today was a packed day with many fun activities! To start our day we had breakfast in the hostel. Then we took a bus to Park Guell and explored the amazing park! We had a tour guide show us around and teach us more about the history of the park! We saw many of the amazing architecture and art that Gaudí designed! The art was amazing and had nature included in each and every one! We then had a little time to go into the gift shops before we started to head to Sagrada Familia. We walked to Sagrada Familia and then ate at a delicious restaurant near the cathedral.
After eating, we had the privilege of getting to explore the wonders of the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, one of Barcelona’s most treasured landmarks. The Basílica is greatly admired due to its beauty and its ranking as the largest unfinished Catholic Church in the world. After an astonishing tour, we shopped around for a few minutes and even went to the iconic FCBotiga store. Following that, we took our bus over to the beach and had a great time swimming in the ocean before returning to the hostel before dinner. For dinner we went out to delicious sushi and had mochi for dessert. Overall, we had a fun-packed first full day in Barcelona, and we can’t wait for tomorrow!
Signing off,
Leaders of the day Victoria & Juliana
BLOG POST FOR JULY 29
Today we took the subway over to another part of Barcelona, the Barceloneta. Then we started the morning with a bike tour through the city! We strolled by the beach and stopped for ice cream. The ones who didn’t want to bike got to go on a walk with one of our mentors and stopped at different cafes and small shops!!
After that we went back to our hostel and wrote notes to the mentors for our last day during our hour break. We broke with our mentor groups and talked about our feedback of the whole trip in general and did some other activities in our small groups. We then went into a whole group and had an appreciation circle, where we anonymously gave compliments to each other!
For our last dinner we went to a burger place that was a short walk from our hostel. Our last night in Barcelona was wonderful but bittersweet!
Written by leaders of the day: Steven and Sydney
