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
Click here to jump down to the most recent post!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 10
Hello, GLA EU Internship 2026!
The countdown is almost over and we can’t wait to meet each and every one of you!
Tomorrow we’ll be waiting for you at the Frankfurt airport, proudly wearing our blue GLA “Be the Change” shirts and holding a GLA sign. As soon as you exit the terminal, keep an eye out for us. We promise we’ll be just as excited to see you as you are to finally arrive!
Over the next 21 days, you’ll have the chance to explore incredible places, learn from amazing people, challenge yourself, and create memories that will last a lifetime. We hope you’ll step outside your comfort zone, make lifelong friends, take way too many photos, laugh often, and embrace every opportunity that comes your way.
This adventure is about so much more than traveling, it’s about growing as leaders, discovering new perspectives, and making a positive impact together. We are honored to be part of your journey and can’t wait to share this experience with you.
Safe travels, and we’ll see you very soon in Frankfurt!
With excitement,
Your Leadership Team
BLOG POST FOR JULY 11
What an awesome first day! Everyone arrived safely, and even better, all of the luggage made it too! 🎉
After checking into the hotel, we headed to the food court for lunch, and it was a hit with the group. In the evening, we kicked off the first part of orientation and spent time playing some fun get-to-know-you games. It didn’t take long for everyone to start learning names and making connections.
For dinner, we tried a local Turkish restaurant, and it earned another round of great reviews from the students. Back at the hotel, everyone relaxed with card games while mentors completed evening health checks.
We’re off to a great start and can’t wait to see what tomorrow in Frankfurt has in store!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 12
After a full day of traveling yesterday, the hotel lobby was filled by smells of breakfast: Nutella waffles, sausages, an assortment of cheeses, and pretzels.
To start the day’s activities, we broke out into icebreaker games; “racer”, where the winner of the game was decided through a chicken imitation; and “speed-friending”, in which we debated and conferred on philosophical questions one-on-one with our peers.
Soon after, we sat down for orientation, in which we received an in-depth timeline breakdown of our trip, an introduction to our internship project, and were given the German word of the day, “bitte,” meaning please.
Our city exploration began utilizing the city’s tram system and led us into Frankfurt’s “Old Town,” where we shopped for souvenirs and had a traditional German lunch at Romer Bebbel.
To walk off the delicious cuisine, we ventured on a guided tour, which included the one bridge where the birth of German democracy and banking was explained, and visited Frankfurt Cathedral, where we learned of the Roman beginnings of the city and its medieval history.
After the tour, we admired the city landscape from the 56th floor of Frankfurt’s tallest observation deck, and explored the modern section of the city where we had the most delicious burgers at Jamey’s Burgers.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 13
Today we went to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, where we learned about how stocks and trading in Germany work. In addition to learning about general ideas in finance, we then looked down onto the trading floor. On the floor, we saw people looking at stock information on their computers. After that, we ate lunch at a Japanese place where most of us got noodles. Next, we took the train back to the Frankfurt Airport, where we saw some of the rarest still-active commercial airliners in the world. We saw Lufthansa 747-400s and A340-600s, which they are going to retire in October. We also saw an Emirates A380-800, which is the world’s largest passenger plane.
-Blog and Photos by Aidan
BLOG POST FOR JULY 14
Today our group started of the morning by heading to the Geld Museum der Deutschen Bundesbank. At the museum our first stop was a presentation on the financial system of Germany as well as the EU. Being the financial capital of Europe, Frankfurt has a rich history of banking and finance as we learned in the presentation. After the presentation we explored the museum and got and in depth look at the history of money.
After the presentation our group got lunch and explored Zeil Street. I found Zeil Street comparable to Rodeo Drive due to its high end stores and exotic cars. Following our time on Zeil we headed across the Main river and had a picnic in one of Frankfurts many scenic parks. We played several games and worked in mentor groups. After our visit to the park we had some delicious pizza and headed back to our hotel to watch France vs Spain. All around it was an incredible day of learning and fun with hopefully more to come.
– Barrett
BLOG POST FOR JULY 15
Today we woke up in Frankfurt, and after eating breakfast, went on a bus to Heidelberg. We arrived at the hotel but our rooms weren’t ready yet, so we headed out to lunch. We ate at a traditional German restaurant before heading to a castle and getting a tour. We then split into groups, explored the city, and had dinner. After dinner we took a rail car to the top of a nearby mountain and watched the sunset.
– Max
BLOG POST FOR JULY 15
After a week of learning and settling into Europe, GLA took a relaxing trip kayaking through the Neckar River. On the river were beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and city. The most notable view was that of the castle, where GLA taught two lessons on students’ strengths and cultural humility. Students were then free to immerse themselves exploring Heidelberg’s shops and restaurants before meeting back up for the ride back to their hotel. Heidelberg’s beauty shone today as students relaxed after their studies of international business in Frankfurt.
Lucas
BLOG POST FOR JULY 17
Today we got up early and ate breakfast on the bus as we traveled to the Mercedes-Benz Factory. We had the opportunity to tour the factory and see how the cars are built, then worked on our internship logbooks before heading to lunch. In the afternoon, we visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum for a guided tour, where we learned more about the company’s history and saw everything from some of their first vehicles to modern luxury and race cars. We ended the day back in Heidelberg with free time to walk around the city, have dinner, and enjoy the evening before returning to the hotel.
– Eddy Velasco
BLOG POST FOR JULY 18
Today we left Heidelberg and took a bus to the Technik museum where we got to look at cars and older planes. Then, we ate lunch at the museum and watched a documentary about the Hubble space craft. After this, we drove to the Caracalla thermal spa and relaxed for 3 hours. Lastly, we arrived at the chateau in France and celebrated Violet’s sweet sixteen with pizza and cake. I’m looking forward to spending 9 nights in Strasbourg!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 19
Bonjour from Strasbourg!
Our study abroad group had an unforgettable day soaking in the history and vibrant culture of Strasbourg. We started our morning at the breathtaking Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, marveling at its massive sandstone facade and intricate Gothic carvings. Next, we hopped onto a river boat tour to cruise past the historic timber-framed houses of Petite France and the city’s beautiful grand mansions. Afterwards, we enjoyed some free time exploring the winding cobblestone streets, hunting down local treats, and taking in the sunny atmosphere. To wrap up the perfect day, we headed to a restaurant to watch the final World Cup game. Sitting at long picnic tables under string lights and cheering alongside one another was the ultimate way to experience the city’s incredible energy!
Cooper
BLOG POST FOR JULY 20
Good morning from Strasbourg! Our day started off by taking the bus to Colmar to visit the Alsace-Moselle Memorial, where we explored the history of World War II in the Alsatian region, a breaking point in the Franco-German rivalry. We learned about the importance of uniting nations through diversity and promoting peace across borders. No pictures were allowed here.
Our day continued in Riquewihr, where we had lunch and explored the charming town. We then visited Ribeauvillé and Eguisheim, walking through their streets and taking in the beautiful scenery that Alsace has to offer.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 21
To kickstart our second full day in Strasbourg (and Jayme’s birthday!) we began with a trip to the European Parliament at the Louise Weiss building. We were given a tour lead by our guide Vanessa who gave us an extensive run-down on how the European Union’s political landscape functions today. After the tour we ate Italian lunch before once again returning to the parliament with an alternative goal in mind: fun. This time we played a simulation where we were representatives of countries and their political parties discussing real-world issues like climate change and restrictions in a digital age as if we were truly in the EU making decisions that would impact everyone. Many of us were heavily invested in the simulation as we listened carefully and thoughtfully to the opinions of others, truly making the experience enjoyable for all.
After our simulation concluded, Cos brought us to a shopping quartier and we divided into four groups where each were given a €60 limit to buy groceries for an upcoming charcuterie board competition. Once we bought what we needed, we had to setup the boards for everyone to share and eat! Finally, just before we were all about to settle in for the night, we didn’t forget to celebrate Jayme’s birthday as cakes were brought out. Atop the cakes sat candles that filled the air with smoke that, alongside the sounds of laughter and joy, signified an end to an amazing day!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 22
After a long evening and the night of celebrating our mentor, Jayme’s birthday, it was yet another day in Strasbourg.
A slower start to a morning, only heading out to lunch around 12 in the afternoon.
We ate at a a place called “Boëhm Brasserie”, and although the modern building was established in 2023, it is located in the historic site of the former “Chaîne d’Or”, which was originally founded much earlier in 1522 by André Boëhm!
After that, we were all given free time to ourselves for around 3 and a half hours.
Other groups went off to do their own things, whilst the one I was with explored the broader city of Strasbourg – drinking boba, getting souvenirs, and finding the goldmine of a flag store. We also went inside the Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg.
At around 6:30, we headed to our place of choice for dinner right near the Ill river, and got lovely food and drinks.
Afterwards, we headed back to the château and played leadership games till late, when we had to go back to our rooms.
Only two more nights to go till Brussels, Belgium!
– Laz
BLOG POST FOR JULY 23
Today was packed with fun from start to finish. We visited the Chocolate Museum and even got to make our own chocolate during the workshop, which was my favorite part of the day. After lunch, we hiked up Monkey Mountain to Koenigsbourg Castle, and the views from the top were awesome. Later, we walked across the bridge from Germany to France, which was really cool because we crossed into another country on foot. We ended the day with dinner at Sandkitsche, worked on our projects, and then went to bed tired but excited for another adventure.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 24
Today, we travelled back to the EU parliament building for the second time to learn about the inner workings of the EU council, where we were able to tour the building more and even the room where the council adjourns. After that, we enjoyed a water front lunch in the beautiful town of La Petite, France inspired heavily not only by French culture, but also Germanic culture due to the varying annexes of the region over the years. After lunch, we went on a walking tour of the town, guided by an eccentric tour guide that perfectly infused flair with the compelling information he provided about the city, making for quite the enjoyable tour. We were then provided the choice of either exploring La Petite more or heading back to the Chateau to work on our internship projects. Dinner was held at the Chateau’s own restaurant today and was generally well received. Finally to conclude the day, we held a talent show in which members displayed a wide variety of talents from music producing to synchronized dancing.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 26
Hello Everyone, today for the crew it was a big travel day. It was our last day at the Chateau and after breakfast the crew loaded up on the bus to make our way over to Luxembourg. It was about a 3 hour drive over to Luxembourg but it was nice because everyone was able to at least try to get some more sleep in. Once we arrived to Luxembourg we had lunch all together and then we were able to explore the city on our own and complete a scavenger hunt. The city of Luxembourg had a lot to offer with plenty of shopping, great restaurants and views of beautiful architecture like the Grand Ducal Palace and Place D’Armes.
After a good amount of time in the city, we had dinner as a group and then got back in the bus to head out to Brussels. This day was more like a travel day but a lot was accomplished. Once we got to Brussels we checked into the hotel and went straight to bed to get ready for the next day.
Pics coming soon!
