This morning, after one last delicious breakfast in Urubamba, we were picked up by the Llama Pack Project crew. We took a van through curvy mountain roads and saw some incredible views along the way, including towering mountains and fluffy llamas, alpacas, and sheep. We stopped for lunch at Ancasmarka, a pre-Incan ruin site. It…
Here are student responses to the prompt: “insert name here has shown me that ethical leadership means …” Scrapes on my arm, blisters on my hands, and muscle soreness have shown me that ethical leadership means “to toil.” Ethical leadership can be seen as a love, or a struggle, or a frustration; however, I view…
My time in Kenya has helped me realize that I need to have more faith in myself. Jim‘s challenge of not saying: “I’m not that good, sorry.” while working made me have to look further into my actions and how they impact my mindset. If I begin to loosen up, not take myself so seriously,…
Untaken – Clouds circling the mountains as smoke circles the fire Hot coals fuming the cabin Spiders making their way home Saying goodbye to puppies without collars and milk tea full of warmth Trek uphill. Step in puddles iridescent with mineral as the water mixes like potion under your feet Wait for bug bites and…
One of the most important lessons I have learned from this trip so far is not confusing what I want with what I need in everyday life. I constantly think that I need to have a hot shower, or I need a machine to wash my clothes, but in reality, a cold shower won’t kill…
My time in Kenya has helped me realize help is not a zero-sum game; but rather, a gift that can wilt over time, the way flowers picked by the ignorant do, or can blossom into a beautiful flower tree that will create bouquets for generations to come. Help is offered with the purpose of…
We received several photos and a video from the team’s exploration in Kenya today — and when it comes to the students’ experience, the images truly speak for themselves!
Today we had a hard day at work in the morning. Everyone is doing very well digging their holes. My group has dug our hole to over five feet. We then came back and had a delicious lunch. We all rested for a little while, and some of us washed our laundry. Before it…
Today we put in the work for the kids. We started off the day with some pancakes from Dawa and then had a nice hike to a school nearby where we engaged with a 6th grade class by exchanging songs and knowledge. This is a poem about the experience. In Solukhumbu’s morning chill, We climbed…
We received an update from the group that they have arrived to the first destination of their trek. Using their satellite messaging device, they reported “In Cuncani, safe and happy.”
The team checked in from the field today — they’ve officially begun their trek and are on their way to the first high Andean community! We’ll be receiving daily check-ins from the group as they continue their journey through the mountains.
The Kenya team continues to make meaningful progress on their journey. The day concluded before there was time to capture it in a journal entry. One snapshot speaks volumes: students deep in conversation, sharing a meal and the moment.
We began our day bright and early at 3:30AM to start our bus-train-bus journey to Machu Picchu! We met our guide for the day, Puma, who has been to the site over 500 times and was incredibly knowledgeable. After a long drive, we arrived at the base of the mountain and caught the bus to…
Wanted you to learn your sons’ and daughters’ new names!
Reports from the field exude excitement, curiosity, and joy. Even without a written journal entry, photos and short videos illustrate the evolution from an eclectic group to a team!
Arriving in Lima, all giddy and excited for the upcoming journey, we faced some unfortunate challenges. First was the immigration services line that led us to miss our flight to Cuzco. However, despite this obstacle our group was able to grow closer and learn how to adapt to new situations. We had the chance to…
Running river – day three Bumpy roads and hot air, the gods climbing the mountains like stairs up to heaven. Rich with culture A girl washing her hair, children walking back from school, Nepalese music setting the tune Similar but different The clouds wave to me as the river runs with the heat of…
The Peru crew contacted the home office to report a joyful, resilient, and exhausted team. They made the best out of an unexpected Lima excursion before their 4:30 flight to Cuzco. Too tired to post a journal, the team will get to that task after a well-earned night of sleep.
Filled with enthusiasm for the group, the course instructors called to share the students’ early engagement and investment in this field study’s layers of purpose. After a day of work at KACH, I think they ran out of steam for a “post,” though I am assuming we will enjoy a student post tomorrow.
We will definitely need to bring more Dramamine for the trip home… A “car ride” is a generous term for the ten hour rollercoaster we experienced today. With winding roads, uneven terrain, and eighty-degree weather, those sitting in the middle seat found themselves asking what they might have done to deserve such a punishment. All…
The group has arrived safely in Lima! Due to a long customs line, they missed their originally scheduled connection to Cusco. Everyone is now confirmed on the 4:25 PM flight and will be arriving in Cusco at approximately 5:30 PM local time. In the meantime, the group is going to make the most of the…
Stark Beauty Today we experienced Kathmandu, throughout the day I observed religion take action into people’s everyday lives. Going into Kathmandu was a whole new experience I’m extremely grateful to have had; the stark difference from my life at home is so big that I don’t know what words exactly to use. Throughout my life…
Central to “inspiring ethical leadership,” students actively engage in “observation and consideration.” What is there is less important than what we see. Formulating questions, considering responses, speculating on early impressions!
We had French toast for breakfast as it started to rain we debated on going to our waterfall hike. We decided we were still going to go after the rain died down. When we arrived it was a beautiful rainforest, we decided to hike the long way to see some animals. It started to downpour…
After a long trip, the team is now shoulder to shoulder with our partners, The Small World Nepal. These smiling students are now fully-immersed and without phones for the rest of the experience. Check back here for frequent updates from the group!
The group is all smiles after smooth travel to Meru, Kenya! Stay tuned here for more daily updates from students!
The Kenya team has safely arrived in Nairobi to start their journey. Late in the evening after a long journey, we don’t expect to hear from them until tomorrow. I made this journey with last year’s group – this in an exciting yet exhausting moment!
The Nepal team is heading to their hotel – inside the airport – after a long flight. Being late there, we can expect to hear from them after a night’s rest.