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 27
Hola Familias,
My name is Andrea Gallegos, and I’m the International Director for the Peru Internship -career exploration program in medicine and health.
I’m thrilled to share that all of our students have safely arrived at Home Base here in beautiful Pisac, Peru — coming together from many different places to begin what I know will be an unforgettable 21-day adventure.
Today was all about first steps: exchanging currency to soles, wandering through the vibrant main plaza of Pisac, sharing our first delicious Peruvian meals, and beginning the process of getting to know one another.
It’s always so beautiful to watch a group of strangers slowly become a community, and that process is already well underway.
Looking ahead, I couldn’t be more excited for everything that awaits: clinic days serving communities in the Sacred Valley, many adventures, and countless moments of growth, laughter, and connection.
As you might imagine, today’s students are carrying a beautiful mix of jet-lagged exhaustion and wide-eyed excitement, and I think the photos attached capture that.
We will continue to share this journey with you, one update at a time.
Warmly,
Andrea Gallegos
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28
Hola Familias,
Andrea here again! This will be the last blog post I will be writing. Starting tomorrow, our Leader of the Day take over, and your students will be the ones bringing you into our world here in Perú.
That being said, let me tell you about today.
We kicked things off with a guest speaker, a local doctor who shared information with us about how the medical system works here in Perú, and we had a very interesting conversation about the public and private sectors, accessibility, and resources. From there, we headed to the community clinic for a full tour. Students asked thoughtful, probing questions and engaged deeply with the very real challenges that small, rural communities face when it comes to accessing healthcare. I was proud to watch them.
Back at home base, we continued with orientation. While learning about the code of conduct, expectations, and the internship program, we also played games, laughed a lot, and got to know each other a little better. After that, we had our first internship session. I’ll be honest: the level of focus, motivation, and critical thinking in that room genuinely impressed me. These students are here to learn and share their knowledge, and it shows.
In the evening, we strolled to the plaza and wandered through the local markets. Souvenirs were found, gifts were chosen, and, my personal favorite detail, a surprising number of students are now the proud owners of matching alpaca sweaters.
They also picked up fruits they had never tried before and brought them back to home base for a spontaneous tasting session. Reactions were… mixed. In the best way.
As I write this, home base feels truly alive. I can hear students talking, laughing, playing chess, and doing what I love to see most, genuinely connecting.
Friendships are already forming, and we’re only on Day 2.
I can’t wait to see what’s ahead.
Ok, I’m leaving now. We are diving into a game of charades!
Warmly,
Andrea Gallegos
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29
Hola familias,
This is Claire and Kodie and we are students in the Peru Internship Career Exploration program.
First aid and CPR:
Today the group started out learning with CPR and First Aid training with local doctor. This session lasted from 9:00am-12:30pm. The group learned critical first aid skills and how to properly respond in emergency situations.
Break times:
During the breaks after sessions, students enjoyed activities such as World Cup football games and card games.
Pago a la Tierra:
After lunch, the group went to go to Pago a la Tierra which is a Peruvian native tradition that consists of an offering to the mountains for a good harvest and prosperity in life. During the ceremony the Shaman gave the group Coca leaves to impend wishes in. Afterwards, one by one, the leader took and blessed our wishes, pilled up together, and finally burned as an offering to the mountains that surround Peru.
Chow Circle:
At dinner, we led the “Chow Circle” where student take turn complimenting one another on kind actions through the day.
We are exited for the endless adventures that will come our way.
By: Claire and Kodie
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30
Hola familias,
Breakfast was at 7:00 this morning and not everyone was excited. At 8:00 we took a two hour bus ride to go kayaking, on the way there you could see lots of dogs, cattle, sheep, and pigs. When we got to the lake everyone got either a paddleboard, kayak or canoe. Then we were out on the lake for two hours, after that, we had a delicious lunch consisting of: well-seasoned chicken, veggies and potatoes accompanied by tea. Additionally, there were alpacas by the lake. Immediately after, there was a forty-minute bus ride to a salt mine that had existed for 4000 years long before the Inca. After seeing the pools, people went and bought salt as well as chocolate made with the salt. Finally, a one and half our ride back to the cafe, where we had chow circle dinner and watched the World Cup and had mentor groups.
Thomas and Anna
BLOG POST FOR JULY 1
Hola familias,
Today was full of activities! We woke up and had breakfast and then immediately started our third lesson on cultural humility. We specifically learned about how our perspective heavily influences how we interact with others. After the lesson, we played soccer at a local field (Maxine’s team won, but we all had fun)! Once back at home base we had lunch and then heard from the Med Life team about our service at the clinic (our first day is tomorrow)! After that, we had free time and some people went to the market/store or explored. We finished our day with dinner and watching the World Cup! Don’t miss us too much 😌
Annika and Maxine
BLOG POST FOR JULY 2
Hello! This is Maggie and Timothy.
Today marked our group’s very first clinic day, and it was an experience we will never forget. For the first time, we had the opportunity to work hands-on alongside the organization MedLife, gaining a deeper understanding of what it means to serve communities through healthcare.
We traveled to a small town called Lamay. We all worked in different stations. Over the next few days, each student will rotate through different roles, including taking vitals, working in pharmaceuticals, assisting with dental care, supporting physical therapy, and more. This gives us the chance to learn from many different parts of the medical field while directly helping others.
Being able to contribute, even in small ways, made today both humbling and meaningful. It reminded us how important access to healthcare is and how much impact a dedicated team can have.
After a full day of setting up, working in the clinic, and packing everything away, we returned to Pisac. The evening gave us time to relax and connect as a group some students explored the town for food and the markets, while others stayed back at home base to rest.
We also celebrated Sabrina’s birthday, and we all enjoyed some delicious cake!
Overall, today was a powerful start to this journey, and we are excited for the days ahead as we continue learning, growing, and serving together.
Looking forward to helping more people and making more memories along the way.
– Maggie and Timothy
BLOG POST FOR JULY 4
Hello! This is Anelise and Sahana.
Today was another rewarding day at the clinic! After breakfast, we headed to the clinic where we spent the day helping, learning, and building stronger connections with the community and the MedLife team. It has been amazing to see how much joy can come from spending time together and serving the community that we visit.
After returning from the clinic, we had some free time before completing Lessons 4 and 5, where we continued learning about leadership and global health. In the evening, we attended a briefing for tomorrow’s hike, where we learned about the trek and received our packing list to help us prepare.
We ended the day by having dinner, packing our bags, and getting ready for tomorrow’s adventure. We are excited for the experiences ahead and grateful for another day of learning, serving, and making memories together.
Anelise and Sahana
BLOG POST FOR JULY 6
Hola familias!
This is Neha and Ria! These past 2 days have been filled with adventure. Yesterday, we began our journey on the Lares Trek. Across the trek, we passed beautiful mountains, valleys, and indigenous communities, where campers offered coca leaves, marbles, and other toys as gifts to villagers.
While many found our hike difficult, by the time we reached our campsite, we were all rewarded with an incredible sky full of stars and heaps of animals crackers.The night quickly became very chilly, and campers were happy to relax in their warm tents.
The next morning we returned to our hike, and began trekking uphill to our summit, where we finally reached an incredible view and lengthy break. From there, our hike was all downhill, and campers had an easier and more efficient time!
