The countdown to Jarabacoa is on!

Hi Glimpsers and families!  My name is Chloe Keene, and I am one of the Global Glimpse Leaders (or GGLs) for our upcoming trip to Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.  I’m an English teacher at Lindblom Math and Science Academy in Chicago, IL (swoop swoop!).  I am so excited to witness the growth each student will experience on this trip and to encourage you, both when that growth feels good and when it feels tough.

I love traveling and have been to 7 countries and all but 6 states east of the Mississippi, so while this will be my first time traveling with Global Glimpse, it is definitely not my first rodeo.  I did a language immersion in high school and then studied abroad in college, and both experiences were so transformative and big motivations for me to co-lead this trip.

I think seeing the world beyond our hometown (and even our home country) makes us better people.  If you’ll let it, traveling and participating in other cultures and ways of living makes you more knowledgeable, more well-rounded, more open, more empathetic–the list goes on and on.  I know that I am a better daughter, sister, friend, coworker, teacher, and leader because of my travels, so get excited for the ways this trip will shape you!

Here are a couple of tips (as someone who took her first domestic and international trips on programs without her parents, just like many of you are about to do!):

• Wear a hoodie or sweatshirt and gym shoes for the plane ride.  Even if it is hot in Chicago when we leave, and it is hot when we get to Jarabacoa, it can get really chilly on planes.  Plus, wearing those bulky things to and from the airport means more room in your suitcase for souvenirs!
• Practice saying “yes” to new experiences.  Best case scenario: you learn about a new dish, activity, or way of thinking that you enjoy or resonate with.  Even if you end up not liking it, you’ll have a new awareness of what you like and don’t like and, potentially, a good story to tell when you get home.
• Keep the things you’ll want for the plane rides in your carry-on (headphones, books, snacks, etc.).

I will see you all at O’Hare at 12:30 pm on June 24th (in just 10 days)!

Big Love,

Chloe