My GLA experience

I went on the 14 day program in Tanzania which was absolutely incredible. We did service during the A.M. on weekdays which was hard work but so heart warming. I had the opportunity to teach English to the 3rd graders at the local school, this was the first year they would be learning English in school. Afterwards, we were able to play together at recess and then volunteers proceeded to do 2 hours taking up and redoing concrete floors, and repainting classrooms with local staff and workers who guided us so incredibly through everything. The thing about making relationships with the third graders was that it was their first year learning English and I had only taken a crash course on Swahili. But I became very close with a young girl who I will never forget and we became very close despite the language barrier. This trip wasn’t about assimilation or volunteer hours. This trip was about being the change. I was changed by those kids and I know part of those kids were changed by me. The country of Tanzania is beautiful and Global leadership adventures was absolutely amazing at letting us see all parts of it and really indulging into the culture that it felt like when i got back to the U.S. i wasn’t “home.” GLA changed my life and I would love to be apart of what they do for the rest of my life. We got to go on a 2 day safari and learn about the history of Tanzania and whats going on in the culture and politics of the nation from people who are from Tanzania. We lived with staff from the town we went to visit. I don’t think theres any better way to do service and learn about people and a culture than how GLA does it.