Safety is our #1 priority. That's why we have implemented the GLA Five-Point Safety System™ to help ensure students' safety and health and your peace of mind. 

Medications

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY US OF ANY PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION THAT YOU PLAN TO BRING WITH YOU. You may make note of these medications on the medical information form.

For students traveling to programs that require anti-malarial medication, please be sure to indicate the exact name and dosage of the medication prescribed in your forms, as there are many different varieties!

Keep medications in their original packaging, with the original label that has your name clearly listed on it. Customs officers may check to make sure that the medication is prescribed to you. 

If possible, ask your doctor for additional printouts of each prescription you are bringing. Please make sure that the doctor also lists the generic brand of each drug that he is prescribing. It is very important to bring enough of your crucial medication to last for the duration of your trip: many medications are difficult or impossible to acquire in the rural, international areas in which we will be living, and mail in most places we operate is not an option (including DHL, UPS, etc).  

Students are responsible for taking and keeping track of their medications while on the program; however, each student will meet with a staff member within a couple days of arrival to go over their medical history forms and go over any medications that they are taking in the case of an emergency.  

Dietary Preference

Meals are prepared fresh daily, with a healthy mix of fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and bread/rice/noodles. Students will eat as the locals do! Western-style options may also be available. Students also have access to unlimited safe drinking water.

We can provide a vegetarian option on all of our programs and most meals are served buffet style, so you can pick and choose what to eat. However, it's important to remember that in many cultures it is not common to be a vegetarian. Many people you meet from your program country will not be familiar with vegetarianism. Other forms of protein will be available for you (eggs and beans are the most common); however, GLA cannot guarantee that foods will not be cooked in chicken broth, or that different utensils will be used when preparing foods. We recommend bringing protein bars to supplement your diet. In the travel community, it is common for vegetarians to be a bit more relaxed about their diet when traveling, so as to avoid any cultural misunderstandings. If you are a vegetarian, or plan to eat only vegetarian dishes on your program, please notify us if you haven't already indicated this on your medical forms. 

**If you have other dietary restrictions or need to observe a diet of specifically-prepared foods (including vegan, gluten-free, kosher, etc) please discuss this with us, as not all of our programs are able to accommodate these restrictions. If you have food allergies NOT listed on your medical information form, please notify GLA.

NOTE: Students who have indicated a severe allergy on their medical forms MUST bring two epipens with them on their program. We may not be able to acquire one in-country.