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
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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29
Hello parents, guardians, friends, and family. Shelby here, the International Director for the Italy: Italian Odyssey 10 day adventure. I have the great responsibility of writing our very first blog post of the trip, but after tonight our wonderful leaders of the day will each have a turn sharing their musings on the day. We have a jam-packed itinerary for the next nine days, including visits to the Colosseum and the Vatican in Rome, exploring a secluded farm and a private pizza making class in Tuscany, and riding on a Gondola in Venice.
These highlights will be memories they will never forget, but it will be the moments in between these insta-worthy locations that will become the cherished memories they will look back on. The inside jokes they will make on the bus ride to Tuscany, the stories shared over plates of pasta, and the quiet confessions told in the dark in their dorms.
I read a quote by Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOM’s, years ago that reminded me of my time as a GLA student: “Trips like these aren’t vacations. They are so much more. These experiences show you what’s possible and challenge you to examine the paths you’ll take in the future.” I hope when our students look back on this summer, they do it with unabashed joy and the realization that the world is bigger than they can imagine, but that the power of human connection can make any distance feel small.
Now onto the silly portion of this post. I have a bit of a tradition when it comes to first night blogs; a horrible rendition of “The 12 Days of Christmas” Please find joy in the large creative liberties I have taken while writing this!
The 14 hours of arrivals GLA gave to me
14 students
13 new names to learn
12 trips up the elevator
11 card games
10 naps
9 flights to track
8 rounds of pool
7 misplaced room keys
6 delayed flights
5 name games
4 trips to the airport
3 rooms checked into
2 tasty meals
1 happy group photo, but no one said cheese
Overall, all students arrived safely, have eaten their first two meals, and have a fresh clean bed to rest their weary, jetlagged heads on. We’re off to a great start and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow has in store for us!
With much excitement,
Shelby
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30
Hello parents, guardians, friends, and family,
It was a scorcher here in Rome today, but we pushed through and get to enjoy so much of this wonderful city! Below is the blog written by our Leader of the Day, Catrina:
We started today off with breakfast at the hostel, followed by a stroll to the legendary statue Bocca de Verita (the Mouth of Trust). The story goes that if when you put your hand inside, if it deems you a liar, it crushes it.
We then played some games in park seeing many beautiful ruins and taking some pictures by the river before beginning our food tour. We stopped at four restaurants, learning about the history of each of the foods we got to try.
Heading to Vatican City, we rode the metro before arriving and admiring the beautiful and huge building of the Vatican, learning about the history of many different aspects. Through the many steps were difficult in the moment, the breathtaking views they brought us to at the top of the church made them all worth it. At the end, we finished off with health checks with mentor Jayme.
-Catrina
Additional details provided by Shelby
-We got our first Metro ride of the trip on our Journey towards our first stop of the day
-All hands survived the Mouth of Truth
-We ate crochettes, traditional pizza, paninis, and the best stop, gelato
-We had a guide who gave us us a private tour at the Vatican
-Our private tour was given by a lovely man who gave us an hour tour of Saint Peter’s Basilica
-We climbed 320 steps to the top of the dome, thankfully our elevator ride let up skip the first 230!
-Health checks are a standard part of the GLA orientation process. We speak with each student individually to ensure they are adjusting to their new environment well and ensuring all the information provided on their intake forms is still accurate. All students are feeling great, albeit a tad bit jet-lagged, but are overall having a great time. They are enjoying the food, and while the days are hot, are drinking enough water to stay hydrated.
Chat tomorrow!
Everyday we will be uploading photos taken throughout the day. The Leaders of the Day are given a point and shoot camera to take photos with of anything they want and at the end of the day will choose 5-7 of their favorites to upload. The camera has no screen so it’s a surprise at the end of the day when I upload them to my computer how they turn out!
With joy,
Shelby
BLOG POST FOR JULY 1
Hello parents, guardians, friends, and family
It was a scorching day in Rome today but was the coolest one yet. The dat started off with an early breakfast which led to metroing to the Colosseum. It was very cool for everyone to see 1 of the 7 wonders of the world. Hearing all of the exciting and ancient stories was truly a once in a lifetime experience. After we had lunch at a local restaurant which was very good. After we went back to the hostel to have some relaxing time and ate some delicious pizza. Then we did the second metro ride of the day and went to the Spanish steps and Trevi fountain. The fountain was a very special place in Rome that was a sight for soar eyes. We ended the day getting gelato and took a very nice walk to come back to the hostel. Today was a great day and will be my favorite day in Rome.
-Aidan
My favorite part of the day was going to the Trevi fountain, The Spanish Steps, and the Parthenon in the evening. We took the Metro and first saw the Spanish Steps. There were definitely a lot of steps and it was a beautiful sight. We moved on to the Trevi Fountain after which is my personal favorite sight from the day. The sun was starting to set so it was super cool compared to earlier in the day when it was in the nineties. We got front row access to the foundation to take pictures and see the detail of the sculptures. After that we headed to the Parthenon which was super crazy. The pillars were super tall and it was cool to hear about the special architecture it has. We finished the day off with some gelato and walked back to the hotel!
-Audrey
Additional highlights of the day:
– We had another private guided tour of the Colosseum provided by our tour guide from the Vatican yesterday
– We ate the best Ester approved tiramisu with lunch
– the girls got to experience their first Italian pharmacy to look at the unique skincare products available
– By going to the Trevi Fountain at 9:00pm we were able to get pictures with almost one one else there
– Vinchi Gelato is now the forerunner for best of the trip!
Everyday we will be uploading photos taken throughout the day. The Leaders of the Day are given a point and shoot camera to take photos with of anything they want and at the end of the day will choose 5-7 of their favorites to upload. The camera has no screen so it’s a surprise at the end of the day when I upload them to my computer how they turn out!
With a belly full of gelato,
-Shelby
BLOG POST FOR JULY 2
Hello parents, guardians, friends and family,
Today was more of a relaxing day compared to the others. We started the day off by going to a local church to begin our service with the refugee center. We were able to learn a lot and how Europe specifically Italy has a lot of refugees, we were able to meet Nehemiah, a refugee from Nigeria who came to Italy with his friend looking for a better life for his family. This experience really made me realize how much I have to be great full for in life. After, We had a 4 hour bus ride to Tuscany! It was a beautiful ride and it was a good time to catch up on sleep, seeing the sun flower fields were beautiful when arriving to our new hotel. We call this hotel the villa because it really feels like it, the views are so beautiful and hanging out with all my friends and watching the sunset was an incredible and magical moment I will never forget.
-Maya
Today was very laid back, therefore, it was a day to catch up on sleep and spend some time with friends. The day started slightly later than the previous days. After we all ate breakfast at the hotel, we went to a refugee center and got to hear some interesting facts about immigration to Italy. We also got to hear a story from a refugee. When we left the center we headed to a quick lunch to finish out our time in Roma. The bus ride to Tuscany was longer than expected, so most people slept, talked with friends, watched a movie, or just listened to music and looked out the window. Upon arrival at the hotel around 7 PM, everyone checked out their rooms and took a little break. At 8 PM everyone met for supper, and it was delicious. After dinner, some people stayed downstairs to play a game, some people went to bed, and me and my friend went out for a run on the hotel property. We saw an extremely nice sunset. It was nice to have a more laid back day after so much walking in Roma.
-Hugo
Additional details provided by Shelby:
-We spent the morning at the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center
-We had a two hour bus ride to our new home base in Tuscany
-After dinner we played some leadership games- Pirates Plunder, silent human knot, and helium hoop
-The groups also started practicing for their talent show tomorrow night
Can’t wait to talk tomorrow,
Shelby
P.S. Everyday we will be uploading photos taken throughout the day. The Leaders of the Day are given a point and shoot camera to take photos with of anything they want and at the end of the day will choose 5-7 of their favorites to upload. The camera has no screen so it’s a surprise at the end of the day when I upload them to my computer how they turn out!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 3
This morning was spent on a productive hike navigated by myself and June. After a few miles and a million laughs, we arrived at a beautiful old castle, filling many childlike fairytale fantasies. After our return to the villa, we all got ready as fast as possible for the pool. Through games of volleyball, jumping competitions, and music, everyone had a wonderful time soaking up the sun. Like myself, we all were ecstatic to shower and have some calm time before dinner and the talent show. After a beautiful sunset the performances began. Like the day, the night brought unforgettable memories, unending laughter, and pure joy as our group became closer once again.
Lillian
Today we went on a hike the morning, about five miles to an abandoned castle. The castle was hidden within the woods and was absolutely beautiful, especially after crawling under the gate to see the inside as well. After we returned from the hike, we got to spend some time hanging out and swimming at the pool. After dinner, we ended the day with the GLA talent show, which way so much fun for everyone. And we ended the day playing some card games before going to bed after a long but super fun day.
June
Additional information provided by Shelby
The talent show consisted of the following acts
-Shelby- clapping with one hand
-Aidan and Hugo- poem
-Jayme and Mim- braiding while singing the president song
-Ester and Catrina- Ester play kazoo while Catrina playing ukulele- Creep Radiohead
-Cameron- how many pushups he can do (40) while counting in Spanish
-June, Emilie, Yara, Kaylie above ground synchronized swimming
-Audrey, Maya, Lilian- the cup song
-Preston and Edward- Show pig
The metric for winning was who brought me the most joy, so without further ado, the winner of the 2026 Italian Odyssey Talent Show was- June, Emilie, Yara, Kaylie and their above ground synchronized swimming routine!
Second place went to Aidan and Hugo who wrote the following poem.
Italy is a land so bright filled with beauty, joy, and light. From city peak and ocean blue every view feels fresh and new. Pizza, pasta, warm and easy, every bite is rich not hasty. Gelato cold on sunny days brings a smile in many ways. Ancient buildings stand so tall, sharing stories with us all. Art and music fill each square, beauty shines just everywhere. Every street has sights to share, friendly people everywhere. We’re so glad we came with GLA, Italy stole our hearts away.
P.S. Everyday we will be uploading photos taken throughout the day. The Leaders of the Day are given a point and shoot camera to take photos with of anything they want and at the end of the day will choose 5-7 of their favorites to upload. The camera has no screen so it’s a surprise at the end of the day when I upload them to my computer how they turn out!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 4
In the morning, we woke up early and headed on our quick trip to Florence. Once we arrived, we were immediately immersed in the charming city of Florence, the city felt welcoming, a beautiful way to begin our day. We immediately began our walk to Ciao Pizza Class, where our group experienced an educational journey guided by authentic pizza chefs. Each of us made our own unique pizza and cannoli, later having them for lunch. Once we finished lunch, we shortly stopped in the local market where we had an opportunity to buy souvenirs and look at the scenery of the city. Then, we headed to the Duomo where we climbed over four hundred stairs to reach the highest view of Florence, we took pictures and headed back down to do some more shopping, later heading back to home-base to end our enlightening journey through Florence.
-Miette
In the morning, we began our day by waking up extremely early and ate breakfast as a group. Then we boarded the bus to make our day trip to Florence. Upon arrival, we were greeted by magnificent architecture and pleasant weather. At the Ciao pizza class, each of us was able to create our own pizza from scratch as well as our own canola. After lunch, we went to the Duomo where we climbed over 400 stairs to experience a beautiful of Florence. Once our site seeing concluded we walked back to the bus which returned us to home-base.
-Cameron
BLOG POST FOR JULY 5
Today was a very relaxed day, where we did not do much except lay around the pool and drive to the hostel. We started later than the previous days at 9:30 and swam in the pool until it was time to leave at 2:00. We left on the bus to Venice soon after, which was a four hour trip. We stopped at a rest stop before arriving at our hostel and had dinner. To finish the day off, we traveled a mile to eat gelato and played soccer with some Italian children. The Tuscany countryside was one of my favorite parts of the trip so far!
-Edward
Today was pretty chill. We didn’t do much, but that made the experience even better. We started the day slowly with a 9:30 breakfast, which was the latest we’ve had so far. After breakfast, we spent most of the morning swimming until it was time for lunch. Lunch was probably one of my favorite meals we’ve had at the villa. The first half of the day was all about relaxing in the Tuscan countryside or, as one of our mentors put it, “La Dolce Vita.” The afternoon was spent on the bus ride to Venice, where most people caught up on sleep. Once we arrived at the hostel, we had dinner and took our daily walk for gelato. Overall, the day was fun, and it served as a great segue into the last chapter of our trip.
-Emilie
BLOG POST FOR JULY 6
Today we started off by heading to the train station to take a train to Venice. From there, we got on our boat tour and started moving towards Murano, Torcello, and Burano! Our first stop was Murano, where we did some shopping and learned how they are most known for their glass manufacturing. After spending some time there, we stopped for lunch at Torcello and made our way towards Burano. In Burano, we were able to continue shopping and learn about Burano’s lace production. Lastly, we were able to catch up on some sleep on the boat ride back to Venice where we finished with some time getting to explore Venice’s streets and shops.
-Kaylie
We woke up at 8:00 a.m. and took a 20-minute train ride to Venice. When we arrived, we went on a boat tour and enjoyed seeing the beautiful canals and famous buildings. After the tour, we had two hours of free time to explore the city and look around the shops. Later, we had dinner and relaxed after a busy day. In the evening, we watched the Portugal vs. Spain game to end the day.
-Preston
BLOG POST FOR JULY 7
We started the day with a pathway activity by answering six reflection questions using only three words in each response. Then, we went to Venice and painted some masks ourselves using four colors and adding unique designs on them. During our time there we learned about the kinds of Venetian masks. Right after we a watched a glass making show where a craftsman gave a demonstration on how it is done. When that was over, the group we went out to do some shopping for souvenirs and had lunch.
In the afternoon we took a gondola ride in Venice’s beautiful canals. While heading back to the train some of us got a little lost (shout out Catrina and Shelby).
After a tiring day, we rested at the hotel and then went to dinner. As part of the closure activity, we wrote letters of appreciation and notes for one another!!! Lastly I’ll end with a quote: “did we get lost or did find our path”.
Yara
Everyday we will be uploading photos taken throughout the day. The Leaders of the Day are given a point and shoot camera to take photos with of anything they want and at the end of the day will choose 5-7 of their favorites to upload. The camera has no screen so it’s a surprise at the end of the day when I upload them to my computer how they turn out!
