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 JULY 15
こんにちは! (Konnichiwa!)
Welcome to the Japan Cultural Kaleidoscope Blog!
We’re so excited to begin this adventure with your students and share our experiences with you over the next 14 days. Join us as we immerse ourselves in the culture, traditions, and natural beauty of Japan through unforgettable hands-on experiences.
During our journey, we’ll learn the art of sushi making, visit the Cup Noodles Museum and the Sumo Museum, participate in an Aikido experience, hike the trails of Mt. Takao, and take part in a traditional Japanese cultural experience. We’ll also canoe through Japan’s beautiful landscapes, travel to the iconic Mt. Fuji region, volunteer alongside local rice farmers, and contribute to a Fuji restoration project that helps preserve this remarkable environment.
Most of our group arrived by 5 pm today. After dinner, we surprised Ozzie with doughnuts from a local bakery and sang “Happy Birthday” to celebrate his special day. Happy Birthday, Ozzie! Nandana, Summer, and Oskar joined us later in the evening, and we’re happy to report that our entire group has now arrived safely and is settled in for the night, ready for the adventure ahead.
The energy of the group is already incredible, and we can’t wait to see how each student grows over the next two weeks through cultural immersion, service, leadership, and adventure. We look forward to sharing this journey with you!
The GLA Team,
Gina, Juna, Kate, Musha, Rodrigo, & Justin
BLOG POST FOR JULY 16
Ohayo gozaimasu!
Today, we had a day filled with both an opportunity to reflect on Japanese religion and explore modern Japanese culture in the streets of Harajuku. We started the day with the Orientation, where we talked about some rules and guidelines for success on a GLA trip. We also reflected on the definition of community, and we made a community agreement based on a mutual understanding of respect, kindness, and inclusion. Afterwards, we were given a lesson on Japanese culture, and basic Japanese phrases.
After lunch, we visited the Meiji Shrine, a beautiful place of worship for the Japanese religion Shintoism, which encapsulates the idea that everything in nature has a spirit and must be respected. Shortly after our shrine visit, we went to Takeshita Street in Harajuku for some well deserved shopping after a long day, before returning to the food court for dinner. We ended the day with mentor groups, where we did a quick reflection on our expectations and what we are looking forward to on the trip. See you tomorrow!
Leaders of the Day- Temi & Fisher
BLOG POST FOR JULY 17
Today the GLA Japanese Cultural Kaleidoscope students started with an early
hotel breakfast and then left for a Buddhist temple.
After using public transportation and the subway system they arrived at the Sensoji Temple, the oldest-established temple in Tokyo. They went sightseeing and shopping at the local artisan markets.
Before lunch the group headed to the iconic Tokyo Tower to take in the views and then attended a traditional Japanese sushi class.
Finally the students concluded the day’s program with an Aikido martial arts lesson before admiring the city from above at the Tokyo Municipal Government Towers.
Happy Birthday, Charlie!
Leaders of the Day: Matthew & Liam
