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 16
Hello, we are all very excited to be finally having everyone in Thailand. It’s been a long journey for most people and they all got their deserved rest. They met some old friends from GLA, some of them came with their friends from home and some of them made new friends especially in the shared rooms. Lunch was at a beautiful cafe by the lake right outside Chiang Mai city. The group then played a few games together at the home base and some people took the swim test so they can go in the pool. Dinner was delicious food boxes filled with Thai green curry and an option of macaroni and cheese. Everyone is fast asleep and we can’t wait to have you with us tomorrow, Paloma!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17
Today we woke up and had a yummy breakfast and did some icebreakers before meeting for orientation! At orientation we went over the rules we must follow for the next 2 weeks and learned about the program! We also learned some basic Thai vocabulary, like thank you and how are you.
Then it was temple time! We hopped in the vans headed off to the temple. We visited three temples in total. We even got to see the first temple ever built in Thailand. We enjoyed seeing lots of monks and the beautiful temples. We got to learn about which buddha corresponded with the day of the week we were born. We also got to explore beautiful gardens and architecture!
Later we got to cook a 5 course meal at the Asia Scenic Cooking School and enjoy some traditional Thai meals like mango sticky rice, pad thai, red curry, tom ka soup, spring rolls, and many more. For each course we were given 3 dish options to choose from. It was really fun to engage and build connections with the cooking instructors.
They showed us interesting cooking styles and made the food in front of us before we got to try making it ourselves! They even brought us to a nearby market where we got to buy some souvenirs, and their garden with the cool ingredients and spices which we then cooked with.
After expanding our tastebuds, we ended the night by reflecting with a fun chow circle, where we talked about our highlights and takeaways for the day.
-By Sydney and Amina (Leaders of the Day)
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18
We started off with an early morning breakfast at 7:00 am to head to the Doi Inthanon which is the highest peak in Thailand! The fog up in the mountains gave us a much needed break from the heat!
After this we were able to visit a beautiful temple. There, some people got some baked goods from a cafe, while others walked around the temples and gardens. We also got to enjoy a lunch with lots friendly faces (dogs and cats). We ate 3 different Thai dishes.
We then got to see a gorgeous waterfall. The mist was very refreshing after a long day.
After our visit at the waterfall, we had the opportunity to meet and chat with a monk. We learned to take care of not only our physical health, but mental too. It is importantly to keep a balance in life and we learned we can do so by being respectful, loving, compassionate, having sympathy, and equanimity. We ended our chat with mediation centered around peace and happiness, and we took a moment of silence to reflect for our loved ones!
The day ended with a chow circle to reflect and share on our experiences of the day. A chow circle normally consists of a highlight, a takeaway, and a shout out to a peer. We also broke off into our mentor groups to learn more about ourselves as leaders.
By Chloe and Gabriella (Leaders of the Day)
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19
Today we had an early morning, leaving our previous hotel to a beautiful home base surrounded by greenery. Focusing on elephants, we made way to an elephant retreat where we learned tons about elephants. At the retreat we did physical examinations and then in groups we presented what we learned. This activity was super fun and led to a very exciting day. We ended with dinner at the home base, and a fun activity where we went over each other’s best memories of the day! Overall, one of the best days yet!
By leaders of the day Luna and Tatum
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20
Written by Mila and Charlotte
We started our day at 8:00 AM with breakfast at our home base. After eating, we headed to one of the elephant sites to plant Napier grass. Once we finished planting, we went on a beautiful hike to a waterfall, where we took time to admire the view and relax in nature.
We then continued our hike to Camp 6, where the elephants awaited us. After arriving, we ate lunch and listened to an elephant doctor who refreshed the information we had learned during yesterday’s session.
Next, we made supplement balls for the elephants and had the fantastic opportunity to feed them. After feeding time, we got into the car and drove to a small café.
We returned to home base for some free time, playing card games and bonding as a group. At 6:00 PM, we gathered for dinner, followed by a special celebration with cake for the three birthdays that all happened to fall on today! After dinner, we continued to Chow Circle, where our activity was the human knot. We also announced our leaders of the day for tomorrow. We headed to bed at 9:30 after a great day!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21
Today we woke up and ate breakfast at the hotel at 8, for breakfast we had toast, eggs, fruit, and sausages.
After breakfast we all went to see the 6 elephants and including a baby one.
We rode in the truck and arrived to elephant camp 3. We went over the rules of the elephants again and learned more about them. We first fed them all watermelon except the baby, who we fed small bananas, and then went to say hi to all of them and take photos. After we had a short break then made tie dye bandanas. While we were waiting to go on the walk the baby elephant got scared and cried which made all the other female elephants run to it and protect it. Once the elephants calmed down we gathered our water bottles and went on a walk to follow and see how the elephants live in the jungle. We stayed close to the sanctuary while on the walk.
After the walk we went to lunch back at the sanctuary were we had rice, chicken, fruit and mini hotdogs. Then we went into the water and bathed the elephants with buckets, and once they were all clean we had a water fight. After we went into a mud bath and rubbed mud on the elephants in order to protect them from the sun. We rinsed off and headed back to the hotel to wind down and get fully clean before dinner. Some people gathered outside and played games and others took naps and rested in their rooms. After we ate dinner and played mafia & card games, then we had a debate and got ready for bed.
By LoD Jacqueline and Michael
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22
Today was our last day at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. After packing up our bags and loading them into the truck, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast with eggs, sausage, toast, watermelon, and pineapple. We then headed to Camp #4 for a final chance to feed the elephants, including Monsai, an adorable three-year-old baby elephant.
Lunch was a simple Thai meal. Before leaving, we said our goodbyes to Jumbo and the rest of the camp staff who made our stay unforgettable.
On the way to our original hotel—Ratchapruek Lanna Boutique—we stopped at 7-Eleven for snacks and bug spray. Once we arrived, we sorted laundry with bags being passed out.
We then did a “pulse check,” using a poster created by Olivia and Jacqueline reflecting on how we’re feeling emotionally and physically, and gave feedback on the program. In the evening, we visited the Sunday Night Walking Street Market, where we used baht to buy dinner and shop for jewelry, clothes, and teaching attire.
We ended the day with chow circle before heading to our rooms for lights out. We’re excited and ready for our upcoming teaching days!
By LoD Olivia and Blake
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23
We had breakfast at 8 and Todd came at 9 to help us and understand how we can teach the children. We split into our 3 teaching groups and came up with lesson plans for our classes. After we went for lunch at a very pretty restaurant with picturesque waterfalls and wonderful food at 12:30.
After finishing lunch we went to the school and visited the students we are going to teach. We got to meet them and we also participated in thai dancing. After saying goodbye to the students we went to an elephant sculpture painting class and we all got to paint are own unique elephant sculptures.
At 5 we headed to a restaurant for dinner and had a lovely time. We ended this great day by having chow circle and announcing the new leaders. This was one of our favourite days so far!
By LoD Alex and Bella
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24
We woke up around 7, to leave for the school where we teach at 8 o’clock. After a short van ride, we arrived at the school at 8:30. We made our way to one of 3 classrooms on the third floor with our pre-planned lessons. After a quick introduction, we got to teach the 3rd graders and swapped around at the end of one hour. We then went back to home base after lunch and reflected on the teaching in our mentor groups. Then prepped for the next teaching day and after we went to 7-11 for snacks. We came back and had a chow circle for shoutouts after dinner and then off to sleep and be ready for tomorrow.
By LoD Nico and Bailey
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25
Today we woke up and went to teach at the Thai public school in the morning. Then we went to a local indoor market. After we went back to the hotel and had a fruit party. We ended the day with a leadership activity.
By LoD Zac and Walker
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26
Today we left home base at 8:00 to go the school. There we learned a Thai dance in the morning with the children and taught two classes before lunch. We ate lunch at the school and then went back to the hotel. In the afternoon we enjoyed some relaxation and pool time. Dinner was a pizza party! We enjoyed fries, pizza, onion rings and more before going upstairs for a chow circle and karaoke.
By LoD Paloma and Eden
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27
Today we woke up and had breakfast at 7 and went to teach at the school for the last time! We arrived and learned a traditional Muay Thai dance which we did with the kids, then we taught two classes. After these two classes we said goodbye to the students for one last time and had lunch, then we headed on over to a Muay Thai boxing studio and got an introduction to Muay Thai boxing. After we learned a few basic kicks, punches, and blocks. We practiced our moves on punching bags in the gym and on the instructors who wore protective pads. The session ended with a kicking competition, who can do the most kicks in twenty seconds. Gabby won this competition with forty seven kicks in twenty seconds. We then headed back to home base where some people spent time in the pool, cafe, and in their rooms. We then had dinner and a chow circle which concluded with an early appreciation circle for those who are leaving a day sooner than most.
By LoD Gemma and Jacqueline
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28
Today marked our final day at Ratchapruek Lanna Hotel, and with it came some goodbyes to a few friends from the program. We started the morning with one last breakfast at the hotel, enjoying a mix of pasta, cereal, fresh fruit, and more.
After packing up, we hopped in the vans and headed up the winding roads to the Hmong Doi Pui Village. There, we explored a vibrant local market and spent our remaining baht on souvenirs before tomorrow’s departure.
Our next stop was the stunning Doi Suthep temple. We wandered through its golden grounds, taking in the views and soaking up the peaceful atmosphere.
Around two o’clock, we returned to the hotel to rest and prepare for our final evening together. To wrap up our trip, we went to Riverside restaurant for a delicious dinner followed by a scenic boat ride— the perfect way to end our unforgettable journey.
By LoD Olivia and Michael
