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 20
Author: International Director – Chandler Woods
It is my pleasure to say that all students [except one arriving tomorrow] have officially arrived in Las Canas, Dominican Republic! After a long day of travel, airport pickups, and settling into home base, the group is finally together and ready for the adventure ahead.
The weather is definitely hot, but spirits are high. Students arrived with great energy, curiosity, and excitement for what is to come. Most of the day was spent welcoming students as they arrived, helping them get settled, and introducing them to the home base. Many students also completed their swim test, and a few had the chance to enjoy their first look at the beautiful beach located right on the home base property.
The group is already off to a strong start. Students have been driven, engaged, and eager to connect with one another. It has been exciting to see how quickly they have clicked as a group, even after a long day of travel.
For dinner, we enjoyed pasta with sides of salad, fruit, eggplant, plantains, and batata. One of the chefs also took time to speak with the group about the Dominican Republic and local culture, giving students an early introduction to the place they will be learning from and experiencing over the coming days.
Tomorrow will be a full day, beginning with orientation, followed by a discussion on global health, and a walk through the local community. We are excited to officially begin the program and continue building connections with each other and with the Dominican Republic.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21
Today, we had an exciting day getting to know the campus, leaders and other students. We got to walk around and meet members from the surrounding community. We also got to swim to our hearts content. The walk around the town gave everyone a new perspective and love for the Dominican Republic. Everyone is excited for the new activities to come!
-GLA Alumni: Danil, Brooke, Conrad, Myah, Paris, Sophia
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22
Today, we started the day with breakfast before heading to the medical brigade clinic. We rotated through different stations including taking patient vitals, confirming their medical history, and asking if they had any symptoms. The clinics also gave us an opportunity to practice speaking Spanish with members of the local community during the process. It was a great opportunity to learn and serve at the same time. At the end of the day, we enjoyed a delicious taco dinner and spent some time relaxing.
-Addy, Izzy, Josh, and Maia
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23
Today, we woke up to delicious pancakes and fried eggs before making our way to our next medical brigade.
Today’s medical brigade was significantly different than yesterday’s. Yesterday felt very chaotic and overwhelming. The medical brigade today felt more personal with the patients. It felt like we were more helpful rather than playing the role of a doctor. At the end we had a reflection circle allowing us to ask the doctor questions.
Shadowing the doctor is really cool because we get to actually watch her diagnose patients quickly. Taking vitals and interviewing patients feels like we actually get a very hands on experience.
We finished the day with a game of beach volleyball, mentor group reflection time, and some delicious burritos for dinner!!!
Love your leaders of today, – Ariana, Edith, Izzy, & Kai!!!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24
We had so much fun exploring the waters of the Dominican Republic. First we started our day with a delicious breakfast which was rolls, eggs, and fresh fruits.
We headed out around 8:30 to the cenotes of Dudú Lagoon. Before entering, we journeyed through a humongous cave, where we discovered bats, tailless scorpions, and many other new and exciting creatures.
After spending 2 hours in the cenote, we took a bus ride to Playa Grande, ate lunch and swam in the beautiful clear blue ocean for several hours. We got to practice our Spanish when bargaining for jewelry and decorations. And that was the end off our adventures for that day!
-Josilin, Roux, Emma, and Charleigh
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25
Today, we started off with a breakfast of toast, eggs, oatmeal, and of course, some delicious fruit! Then, we headed off to our 3rd medical brigade in Joba Arriba. Despite the rain and thunder, we diligently attended to our few patients. After a game of werewolves and a nice lunch with beans, rice, and chicken, we visited two local supermarkets where students purchased Dominican snacks. We came back to home base around 2:30 with students later enjoying free time for a couple of hours until dinner. To conclude the night, Dr. Indiana presented on Dominican and Haitian relations. Students ended the night early, in preparation for our early star tomorrow!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26
Today started painfully early with a 5:30 a.m. wake-up call. Some ambitious students attempted to watch the sunrise, but Léa spent more time trying to figure out where the sun actually was than watching it rise. 🌅
By 6:00, everyone was at breakfast fueling up for the day while making a mad dash to get their laundry outside. Unfortunately, a few people missed the deadline and will have to try again tomorrow. Tragic. 😔
Against all odds, we were locked in this morning and managed to board the buses a whole minute early—a miracle worthy of celebration. 🚌✨
We then set off on the long drive to Santiago, where we explored the campus, met residents, and spoke with specialists who shared their experiences and insights. It was a great opportunity to learn more about healthcare and life in the Dominican Republic.
By around 1:00, though, the exhaustion (and the hanger) had officially kicked in. Luckily, pizza was on the menu, and everyone happily refueled at a local spot in Santiago. 🍕
After lunch, the mentors presented us with two options: spend some time relaxing at a nearby park or head back to Home Base. Without hesitation, everyone voted for Home Base.
On the ride back through the mountains, the day took one final unexpected turn when we made the most groundbreaking discovery yet: the bus windows actually open. Minds were blown, fresh air was embraced, and suddenly the ride home became infinitely more exciting. A truly unforgettable plot twist. 😭💨
Once we got back to Home Base, we finally got to enjoy some much-needed rest time before dinner. After spending the day on the road, everyone was more than ready to recharge. Following dinner, we had our halfway check-in, where we reflected on everything we’ve experienced so far and somehow realized we’re already halfway through the trip (how is time moving this fast?!).
The long-awaited laundry also made its glorious return, meaning we were reunited with clean clothes at last—a luxury we will never take for granted again. 🧺✨ Eventually, we called it a night, ready to do it all again tomorrow. 💅🌙
-Lea, Theano, Liv
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27
Today was another VERY early morning. Those who didn’t do laundry yesterday, were able to do their laundry today. Then we had another long drive to a medical brigade.
The drive was 2 hours and along the way we passed through the cities of Cabarete and Puerto Plata. When we arrived at the medical brigade, there was already a line of patients waiting for us. We rotated through working at the stations (registration, vitals, symptoms, shadowing the doctor, and pharmacy).
Then we went on a community walk to understand the differences between the Dominican and Haitian sides of La Grua. Seeing their living conditions made us very appreciative of our own lives. During the walk we met some amazing kids and even witnessed a dance off. When we got back to the clinic, we got to form more connections with the local kids. Some people even taught them kids tiktok dances.
After that we drove back and had a fun time playing imposter and listening to Spanish country music (which isn’t for everyone). When we got back we took a quick dip in the pool and took showers.
For dinner, we had pasta and chicken. After dinner we had mentor groups and free time. We are looking forward to starting to build the clinic next.
-Franny, Nicole, Bella, Jamy
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28
Today started with a beach cleanup, where we collected seven bags of trash in just 20 minutes. It was a great reminder of how much of an impact a group can make in a short amount of time.
After lunch, we spent the afternoon competing in Beach Olympics. The events included relay races, sandcastle building, trivia, and a lip-sync battle. After a rock-paper-scissors tiebreaker, the team Las Waka Flacas came out on top as the overall champions.
We finished the day with dinner, mentor groups to reflect on our time here, and ice cream before winding down on our beloved porches. We had to say goodbye to one of our group members who is headed home tomorrow; however, it was a fun day filled with teamwork, laughter, and talent. 😉
-Layla, Liv, Juliet, Paris
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29
Today was our first day on the construction site. We sifted sand, mixed concrete, and prepped the walls of the clinic. It was tough work, but it was really rewarding to physically get to help build the structure that will help so many people in the area. Overall, I think we all did a great job of keeping the vibes up and working through the heat. We got a lot done on our first day and we’re super proud. Can’t wait to see the progress we’ll make on construction day 2.
– Elissa, Charleigh, Edith, Sophie
