Program Reviews

This was the first service trip I've ever done and the first time I've traveled out of the country by myself. Although the experience was daunting, this was the most rewarding experience I've ever been able to take a part in. Global Leadership Adventures though of each detail to a tee and the service was equally as exciting as the excursions. We spent long days mixing concrete and painting benches but the service was all so worthwhile and afterwards we were rewarded with dips in the gorgeous ocean across from our home base. The best part of the trip however was the people I met, without this trip I don't think I would have ever been able to meet people as special as the ones I met. And the best part was that we were able to make lasting memories with one another like snorkeling, horse back riding and jumping off rocks near a gorgeous waterfall. I am still friends with most of the people from the trip and I am so thankful to the program for bringing them into my life.

My experience on GLA Bali is one I will never forget. The travel time was long and tiring, but the trip made it worth my time. One of my most memorable moments was when we were residing at Ahmed beach. It was absolutely breathtaking. On the first day we arrived, Noah, Josè, and I decided to go on an adventure alongside a cliff at the end of the beach. It was around 7:00pm and the sun was setting. We climbed to the top and decide to turn back and return to the resort, but not before we took a long gaze at the sunset. It was just an amazing view and I will always remember this story because it was a special one.

When I asked my mom this past summer if I could go to a Spanish language camp, I expected I would be going to classes at my local college for a week. So when she found this Global Leadership Adventures program, we were both ecstatic. I was so nervous because I had never traveled alone before or to a Spanish speaking country. I really shouldn't have been because it was the smoothest traveling experience I've ever had. GLA finds flights for you and has a representative meet you at the airport so there is nothing to worry about. As soon as I met the staff, I was instantly welcomed along with the other students. Throughout the two weeks session they were kind and attentive, but they also gave me responsibilities and challenged my skills to help my Spanish. The most amazing part of this trip however, was the connection I made with the community. Every single day I got to live among the residents of the beautiful Rancho Quemado. These were the happiest, warmest, most generous people I have ever met. They were extremely patient with me as I struggled to be grammatically correct and included me in every conversation and game of soccer. Although the community service I did left an impact on the community, they left a much bigger impact on me. I learned to incorporate more gratitude into my daily life, to enjoy the little things. I still think of the friends I made every day. Not to mention I am now the smartest student in my Spanish class!

Going to the Dominican Republic for three weeks was completely life changing. Not only were were the experiences I had so memorable, but I was able to create great friendships to last much longer than the program. We were exposed to things completely different from everything at home, and had to adapt to an entirely new way of life for 3 weeks. Getting used to not having wifi and taking cold showers was much easier than I imagined, and easily the least of what I was thinking about. I was more preoccupied with listening to the lectures and thinking about the work we had done during the day. It made me more myself than ever and allowed me to take a break from the superficiality that is easy to get caught up in at home. Overall, going on this trip was refreshing and allowed me to come back with new perspectives and knowledge of the world.

GLA's Spain program was in its first year this year, and I'm so incredibly happy to have been a part of such an experience. I have no doubt that it will grow and evolve into an even more amazing program over the years.
Regarding community service, when I was in Spain, I wasn't thinking about the hours or what I was going to use them for at all. It felt like a dream, having fun with the kids and teaching them English. It was amazing to pass on knowledge on a language that I never had to learn. It opened my eyes to other cultures, and I really think that we opened their eyes to our culture. What we gave to the kids and taught them, they gave right back. I learned so much about Spanish culture and customs just from going to service every day.
If that's not enough of a reason to go on this trip, the social aspect was the best I've experienced on any summer trip. We were a small group of seven students (mostly 16-18, but there was one 14 year old and she still got on with us very well) and I think that's a big reason why we all felt like a family at the end.
We did a lot over the three weeks, but it never felt like our schedule was packed. We had siesta every day, so of course that helped, but looking back, we still got to do and see a lot. Our schedule was more packed when we went on our weekend trips to Barcelona and Granada, simply because we only had one full day in each city to see as much as we could. Our local director was amazing and found several concerts in Valencia that we went to on one night. She also found a dance festival, where we were able to see some traditional Valencian dance and (try to) take part in it ourselves. With such a small group we were able to shift plans based on what was going on, and if any conflict with our itinerary had shown up, it would've been easy to find something else to do in such an amazing city.
Valencia was also the perfect city to host a program like this, because it's not the touristy Barcelona, so we still got a taste of Spanish culture while staying in a relatively big city.
We were always kept safe no matter what, and our hostels (in Valencia, Barcelona and Granada) were more than sufficient.
I hate to be cheesy, but it really was a life-changing trip. On my flight home, the flight attendant said, "Anyone that needs to get off this flight for any reason should do so now," and I was holding myself back from staying in Spain for a little while longer. It was a trip that fueled my desire to travel, and as my parents keep saying, I caught the "Euro-bug."

Ghana is not called the heart and soul of Africa for no reason. I have never felt so welcomed and so automatically loved anywhere else. While I was in Ghana, I would get at least 10 loving hugs, 20 energetic hugs, and a whole lot of big, bright smiles every day. Every time I walked down the street I would hear people yelling hello or "Abruno!," which means "White Person" in Korobo. Walking down the streets made me feel almost famous! They value our help so much and every chance they get they say thank you, but I should really be the one thanking them.

While I was reading the other reviews to get some inspiration about what to say, I realized all of them had one major similarity, being that every GLA trip whether you go to Costa Rica or Bali (like me), you will have an unforgettable experience that will change your life. And for most that unforgettable experience helps to propel you to do incredible things for the people and cultures that populate the world.

I had the chance to work side by side with people who I still love and care about, teaching amazingly talented and inspirational children. I got to learn the culture of the Balinese people and prayed with them in Holy Temples. I walked around the city of Ubud and made conversation with random strangers on the street, not to mention the GORGEOUS views. I learned from everything around me, and I made long lasting relationships that I hope one day will bring me back.

This trip, just like every other GLA trip will alter your life and way of thinking about the world. If you're even slightly considering going on one, you should stop considering and go.

After a very long flight from New York, I and the other GLA students arrived in Chiang Mai greeted by an excited staff. For the next three days, we visited extravagant temples, a Christian school, and busy markets. My favorite activity in Chiang Mai was visiting the school where we exchanged our American culture with the students by teaching them slang words and they taught us about Thai dances and games. It was uplifting to see the students so happy, welcoming and excited to meet us. Our elephant education began in Chiang Mai where we visited the Elephant Conservation Center and Elephant Hospital. It was the first time I had ever touched an elephant which was scary and amazing!
When we arrived at Thai Elephant Home, the elephants greeted us and we were assigned a roommate and our elephant. My elephant was named Mae Chan and she was a sweetheart! Our counselors took us on a five hour trek where we rode our elephants, played in the mud with them and then took them to the river for a bath. It's daunting the first time you are riding or standing next to an elephant, but the mahouts are right there to guide us. That first day was surreal - I never thought I would actually be interacting with an elephant so intimately. Even though we were all pretty sore the next day from the riding the elephants, we got used to it quickly. All of the staff and counselors were helpful and outgoing. The atmosphere of the home is warm, safe and comfortable. Our days started at 5:30am, but we were always excited to see what the day had in store for us. In the morning, we shoveled our elephant's mess, bathed our elephants and fed them new grass before our breakfast. The food is INCREDIBLE - and this is coming from a very picky eater. Everyday, we did service work (grass cutting or dam building) which was tiresome but everyone participated and no one complained. We did have a lot of free time to get to know each other and I loved hanging out, playing bananagrams and cards. The two weeks flew by and I was sad to leave my elephant and new friends that I made.

This is my second trip with GLA and I didn't think it was possible, but it was even better than my first. The service you do, the people you meet, and the adventures you experience are absolutely unforgettable. One moment you're singing camp songs with the local children and the next you're snorkeling with sharks. You then end the day sitting at a bonfire with you're new friends coming from all over the world just to do one thing; be the change.

My time in Rancho Quemado was unforgettable and life-changing. I went in to the two weeks by myself not knowing what to expect, but from the second I walked out of the airport in San Jose I was immediately greeted with great enthusiasm and excitement from the mentors. This program really stood out to me in that Rancho Quemado reached out to GLA for help rather than the other way around, the way it often is. From this, I truly felt accepted by the community. We were living in their hostels, hiking on their trails, eating their food, and learning about their culture: all of which they were ecstatic to show us. One of my highlights of the trip was playing in the towns daily "majengas", or street soccer games. This really allowed me to communicate with the village members, from 2 year olds to 60 year olds. Other than the community service aspect of the trip with building a library and helping with a garden and recycling project, we learned and improved our knowledge of sustainable tourism and its importance as well as Spanish. This trip and the people I met along the way (from the US and Costa Rica!) has impacted me to become more appreciative of the world and its people. I would 100% suggest this trip to anyone wanting to learn Spanish, support a community, and to have an amazing time doing so.