The first stop of the tour was at the kings palace. The architectural style is modern islamic with arabic text seen around from the view point. In the photo there is a royal guard on the horse but the more interesting part is what’s in the background. The staircase seen coming down the hill is actually infrastructure built to prevent erosion. It guides water downhill to the drainage tunnels. This prevents erosion and landslides on hilly terrain and is used throughout many areas of Malaysia. There are many open channel structures because of the heavy rainfall that occurs in the tropical climate.

The next stop was a park with a national monument and other meaningful structures. The colorful emblem pictured is a common Malaysian symbol. Some of the key features are the Malaysian tigers which are the national animal and highly endangered. In the US we are familiar with watching out for deer as road kill, but here in Malaysia they have the same issue with tigers. The top has the 14 point star with an islamic symbol below, the same as seen on the flag. There is also a hibiscus flower featured which is a native plant to Malaysia that has the largest blossom of any plant in the world.

This monumental park demonstrates the emphasis on diversity and belonging. Each component represents a different ethnic group that makes up the major population of Malaysia. The fountain is in honor of Chinese, the tin lotus flowers represent a valued symbol of Indians, and the dome of the structure covering the surrounding walkway is inspired by islamic architecture. These are the three primary ethnicities that make up the population of the city.

The end destination was the central market and chinatown. The central market was like a mall with a variety of shops and a food court. Because of the diversity, it is pretty popular for locals to gather in food courts for meals. With everyone having different cuisine preferences and pallets the essence of a food courts allows everyone to enjoy their own desires and still be able to eat as a group. Students tried a highly affordable flavorful dumpling soup for about 3 USD. The stand drew people in by watching the employee freshly rolling out the dough and pinching the dumplings together. Other students tried chicken and rice, thai fried rice, and japanese hot plate called teppanyaki.

Right outside the central market was the china town of kuala lumpur. When walking through, there are many decorations like chinese lanterns and stalls selling all kinds of items. The stalls are all filled with merchants side by side selling items like jerseys, jewelry, shoes, bags and watches. Prices here are very negotiable and you can either scam or get scammed. Many of us haggled over items and landed on some knock off name branded items.

Blog by Tiana Bojic

Tuesday of this trip to Kansas City was our free day. Students split into groups to pass the time as they saw fit. Calvin, Max, and Christian went to the golf course early in the morning. Getting ready in the morning Luis made sure that the golfers were fully prepared to play. Luis told them to make sure to bring two pairs of socks just in case they get a hole in one! Hahaha. Leaving them with some backup socks they were ready to go. Playing as a team for nine holes the group shot 2 over par. After playing golf, they stopped by for Korean BBQ for lunch.

The next students were Yari, Giselle, Tamara, Joanna, and Izak. As a group, they took an Uber to a breakfast spot in Old Westport called Snooze.

After finishing up some breakfast we decided to explore the area around us. We walked into some antique shops and stores that were not far from the breakfast spot. Izak bought two pairs of jeans after trying on a few options. After researching the area around us we decided to walk around 1 mile to another area that had some more popular stores. This walk showed the true nature of Kansas City and its hilly area. Walking to the next area we ran into a live construction site. Lucky for us we were able to see the crew pouring concrete through a boom pump. This construction was for a 3-story apartment building.

We went shopping at Urban Outfitters and Lululemon. Giselle decided to purchase a pink Owala water bottle and Tamara decided on some comfy sweatpants. After this we met back up with Christian and Calvin and walked over to Puttery. Puttery has a mini golf course and restaurant attached as well. We sat at the restaurant for about an hour talking and catching up. From there we headed back to the car and drove to meet back up with everyone for dinner.

Our final group had the opportunity to explore the city further and visit some popular attractions. This group consisted of Professor Ignacio, Joie, Hristo, Dan, and Luis. Their adventures consisted of going to the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium and Union Station. At the Zoo and Aquarium, the group had the opportunity to see some aquatic life and animals. When visiting Union Station, the group was able to see the model train gallery. The model train gallery has around 8,000 square feet of model trains. Union Station has historical significance that brought some fun facts to learn about. Union Station was opened in 1914 and was a key departure point for soldiers in World War II. It was also interesting to learn that it is still an active Amtrak station to this day. With this day filled with activities the group made sure to get their steps in. Parking at the top of this giant hill the group walked down to the attractions and had the fun opportunity to hike back to the top. Leaving us with this beautiful skyline of Kansas City our free day came to an end.

Blog by Yari Frias

To cap off our Wednesday we spent time eating dinner at Gold near the waterfront of Cape Town for an immersive African experience. Gold is well recognized in South Africa for its great celebration of African culture as well as its amazing food. The restaurant offers a chance to try a great variety of African dishes. The highlight of the night was the 14-course meal—yes, you read that right, 14 courses! Each dish was a masterpiece, offering a taste of the diverse flavors and traditions from across Africa. This was more than just a dinner, it was a cultural journey that left us full, both physically and emotionally, with a newfound appreciation for Africa’s culinary heritage.

The dinner experience started with Moroccan Zeilook, South African Roosterkoek, Malawian Kandolo Balls, and Babotie Samosas. These opening dishes really set the tone with a diverse combination of flavors from across the continent. The next round of dishes included Mazambiquan Chili Chicken Wings and a Namibian Venison Pie. The waitresses explained what each dish was as they handed them out and made sure to include detail about its origin.

From the main course it seemed that the fan favorites from the GLCM students included the Mango and Lime Congo Chicken, the Rainbow Corn Salad, and the Zanzibar Tamarind Fish and Prawn Curry. Following the main course, we were provided a sweet treat which included a Cardamon Ice Cream accompanied with a Karamonk Biscuit. The GLCM students left no crumbs on the table.

Throughout the evening, the GLCM students were greeted during their dinner with three performances. The First performance was from the rich traditions of Malian culture and included a puppet and a Praise singer. The two performers greeted us with an African song and dance as we entered. The puppets play a significant role in ceremonies marking the change of seasons. The second performance was a contest between two male warriors and female dancers which represented the strength and spirit of African men and women. The last performance of the night was a tribute to African royalty with a song dedicated to the Kings and Queens. During this performance the Queen sprinkled us all with 24-carat-gold which symbolizes wealth and power. The queen was wearing golf glasses which traditionally is worn to avoid eye contact with ordinary people.

The night was finished with a group dance to the Africa n hit song Jerusalema by Master KG. This joyful moment brought everyone together on the stage in front of everyone eating their meals, celebrating the vibrant spirit of the night. The GLCM students were particularly well-prepared for this dance, as it was the same choreography they had learned upon their arrival in Cape Town during a special evening at Ivy’s Kitchen. Revisiting the dance not only showcased their enthusiasm but also symbolized a meaningful connection to their journey and the warm hospitality they experienced in South Africa.

Blog by Christian Sechel

Our second full day in Cape Town was a free day, The majority of students attended a Red Bus tour across Cape Town. Upon waking up, each student decided to either explore a local coffee shop or make breakfast at our homes. Afterwards, we loaded a bus and drove to the Red Bus Tour, which drove across the city of Cape Town. The weather was perfect, with the sun shining and clear skies.

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One of the stops on the Red Bus Tour was a wine tasting restaurant. Each student was able to try an array of wines, and most bought their favorite bottle of wine to take home. At another Red Bus Tour stop, we visited the World of Birds WIldlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park, where we saw many different animals, including chickens, meerkats, and even monkeys, which climbed on us while we fed them. Afterwards, the students split up to eat lunch and visit local shops at the Cape Town malls.

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Meanwhile, several students woke up at 6 am to get ready to drive two and a half hours to go shark cage diving. We were picked up outside of our stay by a driver from the diving company, and we drove through beautiful mountainscapes until we arrived at a town on the harbor. Since we had arrived early, we stopped at a penguin sanctuary, where we looked at penguins being rehabilitated and cared for. We learned about how conservationists build homes for the penguins to encourage an increase in population.

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Afterwards, we arrived at the reception building for shark cage diving. As we received a briefing on the diving procedures, we were served a breakfast of croissants and deli meats.

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After the briefing, we put on a life jacket and loaded onto a boat with a lower and upper deck. After a 20 minute boat ride into the ocean, we anchored and started to put on our wetsuits. The crew threw a large metal cage into the choppy water, and we were handed masks to cover our eyes and noses. As the crew started to chum the water with fish oil and bait, seven of us were loaded into the cage. We held our breath as we pulled ourselves underwater, where we were able to see and touch sharks, a sting ray, and hundreds of fish. Even a seal passed through.

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After 20 minutes in the shark cage, we climbed back onto the boat and drank some hot chocolate. At this point some of us began to feel sea sick. However, after some rest on the front of the boat, we recovered. After we arrived back onto shore, we were served hot soup with bread to warm us up from the freezing sea winds. We then drove back to Cape Town. On the way back, we witnessed a large fire on the side of the road.

After we were done with the Red Bus Tour and shark cage diving, some students went to a local church and then we all met up for dinner at a fancy food court in downtown Cape town. Many students opted for a hamburger with a complimentary scoop of ice cream on a cone. After dinner, we explored the downtown area and headed back to our two homes, where we played card games before heading to bed.

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Blog by Joanna Kryczka