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 5
เริ่มต้นการผจญภัยใหม่ (rôem dtôn gaan phà-john wái mài) – “Starting a new adventure” ✨
Our day began early with a visit to the “San Phra Phum,” or “Shrine of the Guardian Spirit.” We offered phuang malai and incense, seeking protection and blessings for our stay and the success of our program. At the airport, we awaited our first group of students, who mostly arrived simultaneously. Our local team welcomed them with traditional flower necklaces called “phuang malai kala kala.”
After exchanging money and informing their guardians about their safe arrival, we headed to the hotel to check in. For their first meal, we aimed for simplicity yet deliciousness, and I’m pleased that the group seems open and adventurous about trying new foods. Later, we headed to the local swimming pool for the swim test and to enjoy the fresh water. To our delight, we had the pool all to ourselves. While some chatted, others played various games. I (Jose) asked the students to teach me how to dive properly but ended up performing a spectacularly bad belly flop (though the girls were great teachers).
After the pool, we had some downtime before dinner. We held our first shout out circle, followed by a more traditional meal. Meanwhile, our international director and local director went to pick up the second group from the airport. The first group, exhausted from their long flights, tried to wait up to meet the new arrivals but eventually gave in to the need for rest. Tomorrow, we look forward to experiencing more exciting activities, and we’ll definitely post a group picture. We can’t wait to share this journey with you!
With gratitude,
Mentor Jose
BLOG POST FOR JULY 6
ความประทับใจแรก (Khwaam Bpratáp Jai Raek) – First Impression
The morning started off quietly; the long flights and jet lag were beginning to take their toll. As the students rested, my colleagues and I indulged in delightful local coffee, savoring a moment of calm. In Thailand, breakfast often mirrors meals typically served for lunch and dinner, along with some classic breakfast dishes. Post-breakfast, we immersed ourselves in a comprehensive orientation session. This included guidelines, icebreakers, and an informative presentation about Thailand. The students were introduced to basic Thai phrases and cultural do’s and don’ts by the local team. We also had the opportunity to try some local tasty treats. Our packed schedule left little room for rest.
Soon, we found ourselves at a restaurant called “the View” -which indeed had a beautiful view of the mountain- where the students relished a diverse array of Thai culinary delights served in many small dishes. Some notable dishes were sea bass, cashew chicken, Tom Yum soup with shrimp and papaya salad (which was spicier than we thought!). After the meal, students tried the famous Thai tea and other local drinks.
Next, we visited three distinguished temples: Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Chiang Man. Wat Chedi Luang, an ancient Buddhist temple, is celebrated for its remarkable architecture and historical importance. Its centerpiece is the towering chedi (stupa), once the tallest structure in ancient Chiang Mai. Wat Phra Singh is revered as Chiang Mai’s most esteemed temple, formerly housing the significant Buddha statue, the Phra Buddha Sihing. Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, was established in 1296 during the city’s founding. This temple is notable for its unique architectural style, blending elements of both Lanna and Burmese design, and holds substantial historical and cultural value. In one of the temples, the students received a white bracelet and a blessing from a monk.
After visiting the temples, we moved on to our final activity of the day: cooking. We had the opportunity to make pad Thai, tom yum, a curry and spring rolls with the guidance of a vibrant instructor who explained the different ingredients and their importance to Thai cuisine. She mentioned that in the Thai culture, people cook with lots of love and passion! We first went to the garden where the herbs were being grown and then we walked over to the market to pick up the ingredients for the meal. Our efforts were crucial, as this meal would be our dinner. (Scary, right?) But overall, it turned out well! Many said that the pad Thai was the best that they have every tried! The instructor gave everyone recipe books so the students are excited to cook their foods back at home for you!
The day concluded at the hotel, where the students simply wanted to rest, call home, and sleep. Tomorrow, you will hear directly from our students!Stay tuned.
ราตรีสวัสดิ์ (raa-ttrii-sa-wat) Good Night!
Blessings,
Jose and Kasia
BLOG POST FOR JULY 7
ความประทับใจแรก (Khwām b̂ā cĥāng) – Elephant Madness 🐘
We started our day off with a long bus ride to the local Elephant hospital. This hospital is the first Elephant hospital in all of Thailand. Many of the Elephants there had suffered injuries due to land mines exploding causing them to loose a leg. One specific baby elephant named Mosha suffered the same injury, but miraculously survived due to the care she received at this hospital. Mosha’s story has spread across the world raising awareness for Elephants in need, since she is the first elephant ever to receive a functional prosthetic leg. Following the hospital we went to an elephant museum where a very kind woman showed us the evolution of Asian Elephants and their differences with their cousins, the African Elephant.
After the museum we all went to a near by park to watch the Elephants get a refreshing bath and even got a chance to feed them!
Later in the day we went to the Elephant Parade. Though this may sound like a party, the Elephant Parade is an organization that creates Elephant Statues to help raise money for Elephants like Mosha. These statues can be found in major cities across the globe. The group got a change to paint their own unique statue and will be taking them home!
Once we arrived back at the hotel we took a much needed trip to 7/11 to stock up on some snacks. And our final activity of the day was a leadership activity where we all learned more about each other’s values and our own.
From,
Olivia and Javier
A glimpse into today’s two leaders:
Javier, a young man from Madrid, Spain, may be quiet, but his insights are profound. Initially reserved, he is now interacting much more with the group.😎
Olivia might appear reserved but she has been very organized and well driven with any task that we have challenge her with. Definitely a team player and a great asset to the group.🥰
BLOG POST FOR JULY 8
ผู้เรียนที่กระตือรือร้น (P̄hū̂ reīyn thī̀ kratụ̄xrụ̄xr̂n) – Enthusiastic Learners
We started off the day with an orientation from Todd, a local teacher, who teaches English as a second language. He taught us methods of teaching used world wide (such as how to speak to the students), ways of the Thai school system, and many new Thai words!
Then, we had lunch at an amazing buffet restaurant and our group visited the school we will be working at for the next couple of days. We were welcomed with open arms by our enthusiastic students!
After traveling back to the hotel we prepared lesson plans in our teaching groups. These lesson plans are targeted towards grades 5 & 6 (prathom 5 & 6).
Later, after dinner for our mentor group, we made smart goals and wrote letters to our future self. We also engaged in an ice breaker called “speed meeting” to get to know each other better. Our last activity of the day was a show and tell of items that are important to us.
It was an amazing day and we are so excited to teach our students tomorrow!!
With Love,
Khrū Isabelle and Khrū Tamara
A glimpse into today’s two leaders:
Tamara is highly curious and inquisitive, making her great at starting conversations. She has a keen interest in learning about different cultures and people. She is incredibly creative. 🤩
Isabelle has a genuine spirit, navigating life with the ease and strength of a powerful river flowing through a mountain. 😌
BLOG POST FOR JULY 9
เปิดสอนวันแรก! (Peid s̄xn wạn ræk!) – First day of teaching! 🍎
We had an early start this morning with breakfast from 6:00 to 7:00 am. Then we put on our clothes for teaching got on the buses to go to school. After a fifteen minute ride, during which Jose and Kasia entertained us with some games, we arrived at the school.
Our first order of business was to drop off our materials at the teachers’ lounge. Then we went down to meet our enthused students. The students immediately showered us with clapping, waving, high fives, and hugs. Every one of us felt like a celebrity. After giving out hundreds hugs and high fives we observed as they prayed, gave thanks to Buddha, and sang their national anthem as the flag was raised. After that we were brought to the front to introduce ourselves to the school.
When we got to our classrooms we were greeted by our eager students. All of us began by introducing ourselves again and learning more about our students. Finally, it was time to teach. We all started in on different lessons with unique methods.
Turns out we should give our teachers more credit because after an hour with the students, we were exhausted. So, we took a much needed 45 minute break. We ate some snacks and talked over our next session which was to go from 10:30 to 11:30.
At the end of our final session for the day, we ate a delicious meal at the school and said goodbye to our students. Until tomorrow, that is. They waved goodbye as eagerly as they had greeted us and a few even ran alongside the buses as we drove off.
Our leaders decided to reward our exemplary teaching, especially for our first day, with a trip to a coffee shop/boutique. This place was absolutely gorgeous with tons of flowers everywhere and lovely displays of many things ranging from jewelry to handbags to clothing and even dishware. Each of us were given a budget of 150 Thai Baht and were allowed to order anything we liked.
Upon returning to the hotel we went back to our rooms to change into clothing that would keep us a little cooler. Then, we moved into an ice breaker around 2:00. We were about halfway through the ice breaker when we noticed there was a snake on one of the AC units. Naturally we told the hotel staff and it was taken care of, but it gave a few of us a good scare.
After our ice breaker and snake encounter we began prepping for our next two teaching sessions tomorrow. Then Kasia and Jose presented us with a game to play called Hotseat. Each of us had to take a turn sitting in the hotseat and the other students and leaders had one minute to ask any question.
Before dinner we participated in an activity called 36 Questions. We were partnered and given a list of personal questions to ask each other. Dinner consisted of pad Thai, mushroom soup, and pork balls.
After dinner we went straight to mentor group and then took a trip to 7 11 to end our night.
Love,
Khrū Berlyn and Khrū Harper
A glimpse into today’s two leaders:
Harper is the group’s diver, known for her sweetness and exceptional listening skills. She has a calming presence that puts everyone at ease. 😘
Berlyn, a dedicated bookworm and passionate Swiftie, stands out with her unique sense of humor and frequent laughter. She exhibits a remarkable maturity that often surprises those around her. 🤓
BLOG POST FOR JULY 10
ผึ้งยุ่ง! (P̄hụ̂ng yùng) – Busy Bees! 🐝
After our first day of teaching we felt much more confident and prepared going into our second day. We started off the day with an early bus ride to school. The kids excitement when we get off our buses never cease to amaze us. They swarm us with hugs and high fives, making us feel like celebrities. Some kids surprise us with the little english they know as we walk through the halls. Shouting phrases like “I love you” or “what is your name”.
When we made it to the classroom the kids had a sense of excitement to learn that was unlike anything we have seen in the US. Today we taught our group verbs and jobs. Throughout the lesson there were many laughs shared between us and the students and despite our language barrier we began to truly form bonds with each individual student. We incorporated games to keep them engaged such as moving throughout the room, throwing paper balls, and racing to write their new vocab words. Creating the lessons has given us a newfound sense of respect for teachers who spend every day planning lessons because after our lessons we were left exhausted. As we walked through the halls on the way back to our break room we were swarmed by the younger kids as usual. We got lots of cute photos with the kids and although it was chaotic, it was a very special moment for everyone. The kids smiles were contagious and we captured the moment with both photos and memories that will last a lifetime.
After school, we took a bus ride to the local market where we tried traditional Thai snacks called kalamae, kanin krok, and mango sticky rice. These snacks bursted with flavor and were very different from foods that we are used to. We had time to walk around the market where we got some usual snacks like smoothies, and some unusual ones like fried ice cream. Many of us also got dried mango, and elephant pants! Everyone was amazed by how low the prices were. The instructors helped us bargain to try and lower the price which was hard to do at first but was exhilarating and fun. We wish that we could bargain back in the US. Sometimes they would agree to lower the price but other times they wouldn’t budge.
After that, we quickly stopped at a coffee shop and were glad to be in air conditioning because we were all hot and exhausted.
After a long rest everyone recovered and made our way downstairs to begin our work again. We got with our groups and prepped for the next day of teaching. Now that it was our third day prepping, it felt quick and flowed easily because we knew the dynamic of the classroom and the ability of the kids. We were proud with the ice breaker we came up with because it was creative and different and although it started to pour, everyone enjoyed the game.
Once we had the winner for the icebreaker we went into the kitchen where we were met by floods of amazing exotic fruits, native to Thailand. They ranged from watermelon to pomelo to mangosteen and they all were very unique but so tasty! The dinner on the other hand was a taste of home! Fried chicken, pasta, and a thousand island dressing. It was so cool to see the mix of Thai and American cuisines together and was a nice change from the Thai food we’ve been eating.
Lastly, we headed to a grocery store to grab some snacks and essentials and were happy to find that the store had a Dairy Queen. Most of us grabbed some quick ice cream as a perfect way to end the night.
Love,
Khrū Callie and Khrū Dom
A glimpse into today’s two leaders:
Dom is the early bird of the group, always ready to start the day with a workout. Her positive mindset, politeness, and inclusiveness have won the hearts of everyone in the group. 😇
Callie is known for her passionate viewpoints and her knack for teaching. Her dynamic approach engages students, creating a motivating environment. 😊
BLOG POST FOR JULY 11
จากครูสู่นักกีฬา (Cāk khrū s̄ū̀ nạkkīḷā) – From teachers to athletes 🥊⚽
Today was our third day of teaching. We arrived at the school bright and early and were once again greeted by the excitement of the younger students. Every morning they crowd us with hugs, high fives as we walk down the halls to our classrooms.
When we finally arrive at our own classes we receive the same treatment by our students before we begin our lessons of the day. These lessons usually include: a warm up and a review from the last day, a short presentation about what we will be that day, and then many fun games to practice what they have learned.
After our classes, we took a short bus ride to the Chiang Mai Muay Thai Gym. There we learnt some basic Muay Thai moves like punching, kicking, kneeing and blocking. Muay Thai might seem easy but it really is harder than it looks. This was a very fun experience that is unique to Thailand.
After an hour of Muay Thai, we drove over to a new cafe and enjoyed smoothies, matcha and pastries. Then, we continued driving and arrived back at the hotel to rest and shower before our next activity. We ate a yummy dinner of chicken tenders, fries, soup and pasta which everyone enjoyed. Then we prepped our classes for our last day of teaching tomorrow.
After our teaching prep, we walked to a nearby football field and played a game of football. There, we made two teams including some staff members. The match was very fun!
Our final activity was to prepare our dance and some games for the cultural exchange tomorrow at the school we’re teaching at and at one other school. We will let you know how it goes tomorrow!
From,
Jenna and Jaime
A glimpse into today’s two leaders:
Jaime has a sense of humor. He is also a huge fan of Real Madrid. 😂
Jenna is down-to-earth and wonderful to converse with, sharing a deep love for nature. She also boasts a unique and impressive ring collection. 😉
BLOG POST FOR JULY 12
วันสุดท้ายของการเรียน! (Wạn s̄udtĥāy k̄hxng kār reīyn!) – Last day of school!
We started off the day like usual, waking up and having breakfast at 7:00-7:45. We then headed to the school and taught our final class. We spent our time in class playing games and reviewing the material we had taught.
After teaching we took a quick break then headed back downstairs for our first cultural exchange. The kids from the school taught us many Thai games, and then performed traditional dance and music routines. After they had their turn we had ours. We showed them our dance we had been working on for the past few days (the famous Macarena) and then had them join us. When we got off the stage they showered us with hugs and gifts, such as candy and roses. After that we were all presented with beautifully painted fans.
We headed back to the hotel for lunch and a quick rest, then went to a local private school for our second cultural exchange. Here we met up with local high school aged kids and were each paired with one to learn more about Thai culture. They presented us with another beautiful Thai dance. After that, we taught them some American games and also showed them our dance.
Later, after our dance we headed to the school’s gym, and were suited up in a loincloth. Once dressed we were taught how to do some Thai dances. Thai dances are very beautiful to watch but extremely hard to learn. After dancing we went downstairs to the master chef room where they taught us how to make pad Thai. We got to enjoy the pad Thai while chatting with our partners and learning more about Thailand, and Thai culture.
On our way back from the school we stopped at a pizza restaurant and all had pizza for dinner. After dinner we headed back to the hotel and rested. To end the day, we played a few games and wrapped up the night with 36 questions. Tomorrow is our day in the mountains! Talk to you then!
With lots of love,
Serrin and Hannah
A glimpse into today’s two leaders:
Hannah is consistently attentive and exceptionally organized, always eager to assist with any leadership activities and tasks. She is kind, approachable, and great at making everyone feel included. Her positive attitude and dedication make her a valuable team member.🥳
Serrín was initially quiet as a mouse, but as the days go by, she seems to be growing more comfortable. She’s always ready to participate in any activity. We are delighted to have her in the program. 🙃
BLOG POST FOR JULY 13
ภูเขาและแหล่งช้อปปิ้ง! (P̣hūk̄heā læa h̄æ l̀ng cĥxp pîng!) – Mountains and shopping!
We started out the morning with a yummy and refreshing traditional Thai breakfast and an exciting ice breaker bingo game. During the Ice Breaker Bingo we learned a lot of interesting facts including Tamara being left handed and Dominique being an instrumentalist.
Then we headed to chat with KK, the Monk or Phra and learned all about the Buddhist culture. We learned that Buddhism is not considered a religion but a practice. There is no God in Buddhism, it is a way of Life, Practice, and Training. More than 93 percent of people practice Buddhism in Thailand. They believe in Karma and reincarnations. After some meditation we drove up a very steep and swirvy hill to Doi Pui for a long day of good food and shopping.
Our first stop was lunch and we all ordered different things which were fun to try with each other. After lunch we walked all the way up the shopping street to a coffee shop on the top of the hill with a beautiful view of the top of Thailand. The Thai Staff treated us to smoothies, drinks, and yummy desserts. After taking in the phenomenal view we walked back down the street and had fun bargaining and buying new things with our Thai Baht.
After hours of shopping, we drove slightly down the hill to Doi Suthep where we walked up over 300 steps to get to the top. The beautiful temple was worth the trip up there. After lots of walking and stairs we were exhausted and slept on the long drive home. Later that night we went to the very crowded and exciting night market which has almost a mile of Thai souvenirs, clothes, and food. We had two hours to ourselves to shop and eat and definitely made all our times worth. It was an entertaining day full of culture, beautiful landscapes and fun. We had a lot of fun and are ready to depart to the Elephant Camp!
Best,
Gabby and Javier
Gabby is well-traveled, friendly, and has a passion for shopping! She never leaves without her Stanley Cup. She loves exploring new cultures, meeting new people, and finding unique items during her travels. 😄
BLOG POST FOR JULY 14
ช้างมาแล้ว! (Cĥāng mā læ̂w!) – Elephants here we come!
Today we embarked on our journey to the elephant sanctuary! Enthusiastically, our group piles into two buses where we spent our time playing games, and dreaming off the elephant related adventures yet to come!
When we arrived, we checked into our beautiful hotel and ate a delicious lunch. After a quick talk about safety we begun our journey to strengthen our relationship with the elephants. We pet and fed the elephants two big buckets of bananas! There was an adorable little baby elephant named Poopa (also known as “naughty boy”).
After bonding we cleaned up after the elephants and watched the family bathe and play in the water! They were adorable, Rolling and climbing on each-other just like humans!
On our way back to the hotel we stopped at a wonderful little coffee shop with a stunning view of a rice field. Once we returned to the hotel the group was split into teams and we explored the very relevant topic through debate, of elephants being used for entertainment purposes.
It was a wonderful day with the elephants and we all look forward to our adventures tomorrow!
Best,
Olivia and Tamara
BLOG POST FOR JULY 15
ทำงานและเล่น (Thảngān læa lèn) – Work and play!
The day started for some of us at 2 am watching a historical football ⚽️ match between Spain and England which ended up with the victory of Spain 🇪🇸 and two very happy Spanish boys who woke everyone up with their screams.
After breakfast we were taken to fields where we dug holes and planted banana trees and Napier grasses for the elephants. We also weeded out the existing plants. We were exhausted and covered in dirt by the end of the service so many of us washed off and ate lunch.
Then we went to a waterfall and river where we swam, played in the waterfall, and watched elephants bathe and poop in the river. We then visited another coffee shop and ordered cake and drinks while watching the pouring rain. 🌧️
We came back to the camp where we did some icebreakers and leadership activities. After that we had some free time before dinner with some very good food!
Looking forward for working with elephants tomorrow!
Regards,
Isabelle and Jaime
BLOG POST FOR JULY 16
ทำงานใกล้ชิดกับช้าง! (Thảngān kıl̂ chid kạb cĥāng!) – Working closely with elephants! 🐘🐘🐘
Today was a very eventful day! We first started off with breakfast and then headed over to the VET clinic where we got put into groups and assigned elephants to measure their height and mass. After we did that we had to present our findings to the rest of the group which was super fascinating! Since the elephants eat 10% of their body weight we took them for a walk around the sanctuary, where it then started to rain. Today was very weird weather, it was hot and sunny for one minute and then started to pour rain the next. Despite all of this, it still was so beautiful to see the different temperatures of Thailand.
Since we were very tired from walking the elephants we took a break and made vitamin balls, a mixture of different foods that are very helpful for elephants’ digestive systems and overall health. These balls were exactly like making meatloaf but consisted of grass, tamarind, salt, rice, and banana(not very appetizing!)
After the elephants gobbled that up, we went back and ate a delicious lunch made for us by the local staff. Then it was time for the fun! We took the elephants to the lake and washed them with the water and had a water fight with the mahouts and the instructors. After bathing, we took the elephants to the mud and splattered them (and our friends) with mud which was so amazing and refreshing!
The next activity we took a small hike to a local beautiful waterfall where we jumped off the rocks and swam safely around the area. After the hike back, we were so tired we needed to rest so we drove back to the home base. After much needed showers we played two rounds of mafia and did a leadership activity which was choosing songs for people based on their character so we will remember each other forever! to end the day, we had dinner, which again was delicious in every way! Tomorrow is our very last full day, which we all are so sad about. Thailand had been amazing so far!
Sincerely,
Dominique and Hannah
BLOG POST FOR JULY 17
ลาก่อน (Lā k̀xn) – Goodbye 👋❤️
We started off the day by packing up our stuff and grabbing a quick breakfast before heading out for our final goodbye with the elephants. We were all sad to be leaving the elephant sanctuary. Although we only spent a few nights there, the sunsets, balcony talks, and beautiful surroundings were definitely something to remember. However, we were definitely excited to be back in the soft beds of the Chiang Mai hotel.
We loaded into the vans and took off to spend our last few hours with the elephants. Everyone was thrilled to see Ricky, the baby elephant. He was only 4 months old and adorable. His playfulness and mischievous tricks had us all laughing. We took lots of photos with the gentle giants and then watched them play in the river. We ate lunch and then departed on our road trip back to our hotel in Chang Mai. We sang along to our favorite songs for the whole ride back.
We were all relived to step into air conditioning for the first time in four days at our original hotel. We took a long break so we could shower, repack, and rest before getting all dressed up for our farewell dinner. We stopped at a grocery store for some last-minute essentials before making our way to the restaurant.
As we arrived we were pleasantly surprised by a beautiful boat waiting for us to eat dinner on. The dinner cruise was an amazing experience and everyone enjoyed their meals as we watched the sun set.
Returning to the hotel in a nice mood, our stomachs full from a yummy dinner, we began our last activity of the trip. The appreciation circle definitely hit people on a sad note and we ended it feeling grateful and closer than ever to our new friends!
Tomorrow is departure day and this will be our last blog. Thank you for all of those that followed our adventures!
As we end the night off we say “khob khun ka” to Thailand 🇹🇭 and all the memories we made along the way!
Love,
Callie and Harper
