Greece in Hindsight

Anonymous

I woke up in my dorm room this afternoon and had to think twice about where I was. Once I realized I was in my room in Parkland, a tinge of sadness washed over me that I was back at home. I had been looking forward to Greece for months, three weeks went by in a blur, and now it's over. It's crazy to think that just a few days ago I was swimming in the Mediterranean Ocean.

Last March, I remember just taking a chance and walking into the study away fair. I've always wanted to see the world, but I'd never really considered study away. But all of a sudden, it seemed like a really good idea. I don't really know what compelled me to pick up the application other than an urging sense of adventure. Then the application became the most important thing; it took precedence over my homework for a couple days, and I turned it into the Wang Center a couple days later. After I turned in my application, I found out that a few friends had applied as well. I was pretty excited about that, but it was going to be a couple months before we found out about the trip.

On a sunny day in early May, I remember getting the email saying I had been accepted to the trip. It didn't seem real. I felt incredibly lucky to have the incredible opportunity to study in Greece. That night a few of the people we knew going on the trip got together to celebrate.

The first picture is of us at PLU the day we found out we'd be going to Greece, and the second picture is our last night in Greece. One of the things I notice looking at these two pictures is the different places we all are in our lives in the time that elapsed between them. Things are ever changing, and one of the biggest things I took from Greece was a different perspective.

Looking at yourself in a different setting than what you're comfortable with causes you to examine yourself and the way you live your life. My excitement about living has exponentially increased in three weeks. I looked at my life at home from a different perspective, and my sense of adventure became ever more present. I loved taking in all the Greek culture I could, and now I want to learn about other cultures too. I just want to experience. Going to Greece caused me to think a lot about the way I live my life and to be proud of the person I am.

Of course, I brought back a bunch of new friends too. :)

My Moment in Greece

Anonymous

How do I choose one? This is tough. Someone asked me the question on this trip, "What is the happiest you've ever been?" Well, I can't say that there's a time in my life that I've been the happiest I've ever been, but what sticks out are those moments of extreme contentment. And I had several of those in Greece.

Probably the best moment was our last night in Athens before we went to Rhodes, a bunch of us went and sat in a cafe until the early hours of the morning. I was just so content underneath those heaters, socializing with friends, and was so happy about all the people I had gotten to know in Greece.

My other favorite moment (I know I was supposed to chose one, but oh well) was the first time I stepped out onto my balcony in Rhodes. The air was clean, Turkey was just across the water, and the Mediterranean was crashing on the beach across from the hotel. It just hit me where I was, and I felt like I was in a dream. I looked down from my balcony to see everyone else on the trip poking their heads off the balcony, and it was just one of those amazing moments of contentment. :)

Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts

Anonymous Yes, beware of Greeks bearing gifts. Especially if it's food.

Today when we were back in Athens finishing up the last of our souvenir shopping, a few of us found a small chocolate shop. At first it seemed really pricey, but then we remembered that prices were for kilos, not pounds. Well, as we looked around at our selections, the lady working the store gave us a piece of chocolate to sample.

All I have to say, is that might be the most amazing thing I've ever eaten. All of us walked out of that store with at least one box of chocolates. :)

So, beware of Greeks bearing gifts.

Harmony

Anonymous
Today when we were coming back from our day trip to Lindos, we passed by four cemeteries right next to each other: Muslim, Jewish, Roman Catholic, and Greek Orthodox. Our tour guide made the comment that Religion has caused so many wars and arguments, yet we all end up next to each other in death. This comment sent me into a spiral of thought.

One of the most interesting things about the island of Rhodes is the people and religions that coexist peacefully here. I'm sure there have been issues in the past, but for the most part this seems to be a very peaceful island. I was just kind of thinking: How many places in the world would you see four cemeteries right next to each other, existing peacefully, all from different faiths? It doesn't make sense, but at the same time it does.

While I hold strong to my Christian beliefs, I have always been respectful of other religions. Having had an interesting faith journey myself, I understand how important respect between religions is. I was baptized Russian Orthodox, became Episcopalian with my family at a young age, and was confirmed Lutheran. It wasn't that I necessarily wanted to switch churches as much as that's where circumstances landed me. But every time I joined a new church I was welcomed with open arms.

Today we were unfortunate to encounter someone who wasn't quite as respectful. There was an American at one of the churches we looked around who had moved to Greece because Greek orthodoxy really hit home for her. Well great, but she felt the need to make negative comments about protestantism and anyone who wasn't Orthodox. When we talked about the place we visited, it wasn't as much about how amazing the works of art in the church were as much as how unwelcome that person had made us feel.

Anyways, I mostly told that story just to emphasize how important it is to me to respect the faith of others. Everyone thinks their own faith is "right." But what if there isn't a "right" faith? One of the ideas I've toyed with while being in this class is about the soul. What if when you die your soul goes where you always believed it would? What if you just have to do what you believe you need to to find eternal life? I realize I'm not the first person to think of this, and I also realize that this is a scary and strange thought for some. But even if this is a crazy and unacceptable idea, is it too much to ask to respect others' beliefs and the way they choose to live their lives?

Bad Romance

Anonymous

One of the things I've noticed being in this country is that public displays of affection are totally okay. Well great, but being a single American, it takes some getting used to. PDA is generally frowned upon back home, especially if you're single. That being said, it's refreshing to see how respected love is here.

College is a tough time for romance: you fall in and out of love, you watch others fall in love and wish that you would too, you might think you've found the one just to find out you haven't, and maybe if you're lucky, you find the person you're meant to spend your life with. Personally, I think most of the "bad" in romance comes when you just can't seem to do or get anything right or be the right person for your romance, and I've been there. But people change in college too. When experiences like this come up, it's a moment to examine your life, figure out who you're becoming, and change the parts of your life you want to change.

I think my experiences here have really put everything in perspective. Is it a cop-out to say that everything happens for a reason? Looking at myself in the scheme of time has kind of caused me to look at things like romance in a different way. If it's meant to be, that one person will come along. In time, I can only control so much. Part of realizing my identity is liking the person I am becoming, because that is something that is in my control. Maybe this entails the realization that I can't change myself to accommodate the way others want to view me, but I can change myself to reflect the qualities I would like to see in myself.

In the story of Aseneth and Joseph, a wise angel gave Aseneth a honeycomb that transformed her into a person even more beautiful than she already was. In a sense, this trip is part of my honeycomb. Along with many other life experiences, it's one of the things that has made me think, develop as a person, and will be a part of my heart forever.

Body and Soul

Anonymous

I have always believed that the soul and the body are two separate things. Personally, my soul feels much taller than my average height of 5'6".

I hate to use the example of falling again, but it's the first thing that comes to mind. The morning after the really rainy day that I fell down several times, my body hurt. I had several bruises and was generally kind of achy. But my soul was excited and feeling adventurous, so I didn't pay any attention to the torments of my body.

Even though the body and the soul are two separate things in my mind, I think the body can emanate the beauty of the soul. Before college, I took 13 years of dance classes. I never felt my body more connected with my soul than when I danced. Whether I was upset or the happiest I'd ever been, I could use movement to express that. There would be times when I'd be dancing so much my body would just be exhausted, but the need for my soul to express itself overpowered that exhaustion.

Today in class we discussed how the faithful would trust that their souls would stay pure even through torture and terrible things happening to their physical selves. Our bodies set limitations on our soul, even if our soul just wants to move beyond them. My soul is awake all the time, but my body requires about 5 or 6 hours of sleep a night. This fact has been slightly unfortunate while traveling. If my body would allow it, I would stay awake 24/7 just to experience all the amazing things this country has to offer. :)

Kimberly the Greek

Anonymous
We just finished watching "Zorba the Greek" as a class, and this movie had me thinking quite a bit about how the people in my life affect my identity. In this movie, Basil, a British character comes to Greece and meets Zorba, who changes his outlook on life. I think I'm looking at this movie in a different way than most, but I've established that I feel like an outsider in this culture, and I'm in the mood to write about something a little lighter than whether there's an afterlife or not. :)

I have been very lucky to have amazing people come in and out of my life who have changed part or the whole of my identity. I am thankful for the family who helped me to form a base identity to be proud of, but even people I knew for a very short time affected me. There have been people here in Greece who have helped me correct the little Greek I know, who have identified me as American and told me they love my country, or who has shown me extraordinary kindness that I wouldn't be shown back home. Each one of these people causes me to think and examine myself.

When you spend copious amounts of time with people, you tend to pick up on their habits and expressions and emanate them in your own life. While this has happened to me, I also feel like my encounters with other form my inner identity and my view of myself. I had a teacher once who helped me to realize that I have quite a loud voice, and when I would talk in class, I talked over everyone. She helped me work on that and now it just so happens that interrupting and talking over people is one of my biggest pet peeves. Every time someone helps me to fix something I don't like about myself, my view of my own identity becomes a little clearer. Every once in a while, someone might really offend me or make me angry when pointing one of these things out, but they help me to become a better person in the long run either by ignoring their advice or taking it to heart.

There are also the people who teach you to really live. I have seen tragedy, I have seen how it changes people for better or worse. But there are the people who helped me through these things to realize that life is special, unique, and fun, and that tragedy cannot dictate how you must live your life. And then there are the people who are inexplicably there, helping you find yourself every step of the way, keeping you in check, reminding you to stay true, and helping you through things that might be kind of hard to deal with.

Basil needed Zorba to show him the way. I am finding my way with the help of the amazing people in my life.

And there you have it: my extremely heartfelt and incredibly cheesy blog for the trip. :)

Choose Wisdom

Anonymous
When I was growing up, wisdom always came from my parents. In my eyes, they knew everything. I think of this as a form of mantic wisdom. For example, once my parents told me not to run on ice, or I would fall. But being a kid, I ran, and I fell really hard.

At this point in my life, growing up means focusing a little less on mantic wisdom, and a little more on experiential wisdom: the things I learn by experiencing the world. It's one thing to be on your own at home, having grown up in that culture. Being on your own in a different country is, in my opinion, a totally new level of responsibility. Granted, I'm not on my own; there are wonderful people on this trip I knew, have gotten to know, and whom I now call my friends. Basically, I have learned something new from every single experience I've had here. That's what wisdom is all about.

At the end of Proverbs 8, Wisdom says "All who hate me love death." Wisdom is about learning to live life out to the fullest every day. It's about learning to listen to those who will guide us while making mistakes to gain our own. If we aren't taking advantage of every opportunity handed to us, enjoying every moment we can, are we really even living?

On a lighter note, was it a wise choice to go swimming in the Mediterranean with it being as cold as it was this evening? Probably not, but I'm warm now, and I had fun!

I can see Turkey from my house!

Anonymous

I think I’ve found myself in paradise. Today we arrived at the bus for a 7 am departure to the airport for our flight to Rhodes. After a short 40 minute flight, we landed at the Rhodes airport and took another bus to the City of Rhodes. Once we got to the waterfront, Dr. Finitsis pointed out that Turkey was just across the water. Of course this sparked some Sarah Palin jokes (which are, by the way, especially hilarious when you’re Alaskan). But in all seriousness, it’s very cool that I can see another country from the balcony of my hotel room. The balcony of my room was the first place I wanted to go when we arrived at our hotel. I walked outside to find a grand view of the water and beach. I went over to the beach and breathed in the wonderful ocean air. Before we went out as a class, my “team” had our presentation on Rhodes. After our presentation, Dr. Finitsis explained that Rhodes is about as close to the Middle-East as we can get without actually being there and that people from many different cultures reside on this Island. This is one of the safest tourist destinations for Israelis and people from different cultures live side by side. This was evident as we walked around and passed at least one church, mosque, and temple. Standing on the seaside, I heard the song of an evening prayer on the wind and knew immediately this was a very unique, special place.

Remember the Titans

Anonymous

Titans, who were they? Mythological beings, a football team, godly beings?

For me, I think about titanic moments in my life. This is a titanic moment. I have been thinking a lot on this trip, and my identity makes more sense to me every day. Visiting a different country, having this opportunity makes me think of how I want to continue living.

It's also made me think about other titanic moments in my life; things that have destroyed me, lifted me up, made me a better person, or shattered my world in good ways and bad.

For me, part of this is trust. Trust is something I have an issue with, and this trip has put me out of my comfort zone as far as trust goes. Flying halfway across the world with two professors I'm not necessarily familiar with (but have had a fabulous time getting to know), and having to trust peers I don't know that well, and even putting trust in people that don't speak the same language (such as the taxi driver that drove us back to our apartments tonight). The fact that I have been more trusting than usual is huge for me, titanic.

This is my story to tell, and this experience and things we are discussing in class are helping me to add to it and tell it. I am letting go, remembering the titans of my life.

Children of Light, Children of Darkness

Anonymous

Hannah is a child of the light, I am a child of darkness.

Well, not really, but as we were sitting in our apartment, I was sitting in darkness, and she was sitting in light, and of course our blog topic was immediately what we thought of.

I think this subject pretty much describes my life here in Athens. We go out during the day, and stay out for a good part of the night drinking coffee. That's just kind of the culture, and I love it.

I think this topic also made me reflect on dualism, and the difference between my life at home and my life here in Athens. It's very different; PLU kind of feels like a world away, or a dream. Then again, I kind of feel like I'm living in a dream here. I've developed a short part of my life here, and it's refreshing to compare the differences.

In much of what we've been studying, various sects of Israelites believed that only they were the chosen ones who would live eternally. Studying the eschatological theories of these different people has caused me to think about my own religious identity. Is there an afterlife? Does being a Christian mean that I will someday see this afterlife? And even if there isn't, doesn't Christianity give me fair guidelines on how to fulfill this life and live it the best way I can?

I think this photo just kind of says it all.

I a child of light and of darkness; I am finding my balance.

People!

Anonymous
When Dr. Finitsis yells down the sidewalk "people!" we know it's time to pay attention. Whether he's telling us about something historical, how to not get lost, or good ideas where to go for the day, this is his usual call to get our attention.

People. We are all people. We all have feelings and we all work to be where we are. Today, I encountered all different types of people. From the snobby tourist who just keeps walking by, to the Greek man who can't seem to give you enough Greek cheek kisses because he loves Americans so much, to the waiters on the sidewalk chasing us down to get us to eat in their cafe, I have experienced all kinds in Greece. The one thing I've noticed though is how extraordinarily kind Greek people tend to be. The cafe we get coffee at every morning started discounting our coffee every morning, and a pizza place up the street we discovered gave us two extra pizzas with our order just because.

Not only are the Greek people wonderful, but my fellow PLU students on the trip as well. I think back to the first class meeting we had and can't even imagine a time when I didn't know all of these people as well as I do now. Even thinking back to leaving Seatac I know everyone on a very different level. Travelling together to a foreign country is a very special bond, and I think we've all bonded really well. I am so thankful for this opportunity and the wonderful people I am getting to share it with.

Sunset

Anonymous

As stereotypical as this may sound, this is how I pictured Greece. Today, I dipped my toes into the Mediterranean sea. I stood on the beach, breathing in the fresh seaside air. Getting off of the tram and witnessing a beautiful sunset with some wonderful friends was one of my favorite moments in this country so far. I sat on a rock near the sea and just spent sometime contemplating and thinking under a sky rapidly turning red. I felt like I was standing in a photograph; I could hardly believe what was before me was real.

Today, on our way back from the museum, we passed a park where children were playing. It was just such a simple and meaningful reminder of how we are all so fundamentally similar. The unexplainable joy that children feel is universal, and just seeing that was a really cool moment.

Live Free, Die Hard

Anonymous

Susanna 1:21-24 If you refuse, we will testify against you that a young man was with you, and this was why you sent your maids away." Susanna groaned and said, "I am completely trapped. For if I do this, it will mean death for me; if I do not, I cannot escape your hands. I choose not to do it; I will fall into your hands, rather than sin in the sight of the Lord." Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders shouted against her.

When I saw this statue in the museum today, I was really moved. The way the statue was worn over time made it look like it was crying. This statue was once a strong figure standing somewhere in the Acropolis. While looking at this picture, I thought of Susanna and her struggle. She had to chose whether to live in shame or stand up for her religion and face death. But what really caught me was, "I am completely trapped." This partial statue is a moment trapped in time. Looking at the expression and the wear on it almost made me feel like there was an ancient soul or memory trapped inside. When an artist works, they put a piece of their soul into everything they create, and I felt that while reflecting on this photo. This statue was once trapped among other ruins waiting to be found. Just as this statue was found among the rubble, so the truth was discovered about Susanna. Susanna refused to compromise her religion to save her life, just as this piece of history refused to be lost in time.

Let's Do The Time Warp Again

Anonymous Today was quite the day. Beginning with a 7:30 am bus trip into the mountains of Greece, we ended up at our first stop: a monastery over 1000 years old. The beauty of this place really caught me. In the mountains far away from the fast life of Athens, it sits overlooking mountains and valleys. It seems to be the perfect place to reflect. The inside of the church was beautiful, with mosaics and icons still mostly intact. Standing there made me feel really small. In a Greek orthodox church service, those worshiping believe the liturgy is a time for the dead and the living to worship together. Thinking about that, I was thinking about the thousands of people, the many generations of people that have worshiped in this church.

Our next stop was our trip to Delphi. Driving towards it, it seems like nothing special and barely contrasts with the mountains. However, once you venture into the ruins, it is quite an amazing place. Looking at the ruins, I was trying to imagine what this place had looked like in all of its grandeur. Even with the models inside the sm

all museum, I could barely imagine it. I even had the luxury of riding to Delphi on a bus; while I was there I thought about numbers of people who had to walk the entire way to this magnificent place. I could clearly see why the ancient people thought Delphi was the center of the universe. The sheer size of the landscape surrounding it makes one feel very small, like an insignificant speck in the grand scheme of time.

Marble: Slippery When Wet

Anonymous
So, as many of my classmates have pointed out, it rained quite a bit today. I almost felt like I was back home in Southeast Alaska. Except for one thing: many of the sidewalks and staircases here are made of marble. I was cautious of this fact having slipped down marble stairs in our apartment building a few days ago that were in the process of being cleaned. Well, as cautious as I was, I still managed to slip and fall a few times. No harm done; with the exception of a few bruises and a little bit of embarrassment (someone always seemed to be there to watch me fall), I was unscathed. Well, I was thinking a bit more about these falls, and I realized they could be use as analogy to experiencing a new culture. Having grown up and worked in a tourist town, I definitely do not like acting like a tourist or making mistakes in new cultures. However, making mistakes or missing a custom in a new culture is bound to happen. Today a cashier got frustrated with me because I was having a hard time trying to find the right change in euro coins. Last night, I was so proud of myself for saying "epharisto" (thank you) to our waiter just to be told I need to pronounce it better. Although, I did feel better today when a taverna worker complimented me on the smart way I was carrying my purse (over my shoulder, arm over the opening). Anyways, my point is that when trying to fit into a new culture can be difficult and scary. I feel like treading lightly, like I would on slick marble. I've messed up a few times, just as I've fallen on those slick surfaces. The only thing that matters though is that I picked myself back up and kept walking, I know what euro coins look like now, and I can say "epharisto" correctly. I just need to keep learning as much as I can about this beautiful place. :)

Visions of Greece

Anonymous
Everything is so different here, from the cars and mopeds crazily speeding by to the sound of our feet walking across the stones underneath. The dank and smoggy smell of the city is occasionally reprieved by an orange tree or pastry stand that we pass. We walk through side-streets of shops and Tavernas and turn the corner to find ancient ruins sprawling over a few blocks. The setting sun adds a sense of majesty and grandeur to this site and the reality of where I'm standing sets in. Looking towards the Acropolis, we can see blocks of terraces. As the sun sets, the air becomes chilly and dark, but the life around the city stays alive. We walk to a cafe and pick a table outside. Sitting in a cafe, sipping coffee, socializing, and people watching; I feel like I could sit here forever.

Opposition or Adaptation?

Anonymous So far, I love the Greek culture. It's very different, but I have thoroughly been enjoying my new temporary lifestyle. I'm not really opposed to any aspects of this culture, but there are times when I feel uncomfortable and wish that I knew some of the customs better. There have been times where I've walked into restaurants unsure where to sit, how to eat food I order, or felt kind of silly when I know I've missed something. The way people drive here also kind of scares me. Watch out for mopeds.

The thing I absolutely love so far is the restaurants, cafes, bars, and general ways to socialize in this culture. I love being able to sit at cafes until the early hours of the morning! I have always been a night person, and being able to just sit for hours and socialize over coffee or food has been fantastic. I also really love the more laid back lifestyle. I feel like I'm taking everything in stride, and I love it! I'm trying to figure out a way to continue this when I return home. Not many places are open all hours of the morning in America, and the places that are open are either fast food or bars. Bars are so different in the states and you can't just sit and socialize for hours. Coffee is very much a morning custom at home, and here it's customary to drink at any time of day. At home I can't exactly drop by starbucks and order a latte at 3 am. But I will hold fast to my night life as best I can when I return.

Between Parkland and Pagkrati

Anonymous I am extremely tired and very satisfied after my first full day in Athens. My jetlag hasn't been too bad; I fell asleep when my head hit the pillow and was wide awake when the church bells outside our balcony woke me up. We started the day with coffee at a cafe near here. Greek coffee is very, very good. After coffee, a group of us went back to the Plaka district. It is a much different place during the day. We passed cafe after cafe, a few of them offering us free wine or discounts. But my group decided that we would probably have better luck with food at a place a little off the beaten path. We went up a couple blocks from the stores, upsome stairs, and decided to stop at a Taverna that was on a small terrace. While we were still undoubtedly identified as tourists, we noticed what looked like some locals eating in the area too. The place had some lunch specials we decided to try. With a beautiful place to sit, I enjoyed a Greek salad and chicken souvlaki. After that we continued to walk around the Plaka, taking pictures and enjoying the beautiful 60 degree day. We got back just in time for our class meeting at 4:30. After our class (where we watched and discussed the movie "Agora"), we had a group dinner at a Taverna that was quite delicious and definitely real. After my first full day in this city, I love it even more. It's very different, but the more differences I find, the more I am enjoying every moment I have here!

First Impressions

Anonymous This city is amazing. I have to admit that when I first arrived, it was much different than I expected. This is a very unique city; so much history and activity. We went grocery shopping, which was a little bit of a culture shock. Our first thought for something simple and inexpensive was peanut butter and jelly. Well, Greeks don't eat peanut butter, and it's around 5 euros for a small jar. After coming up with a few things to tide us over until we get a little more acquainted with Greek supermarkets, we embarked on a walk to discover a little bit of Athens. From our apartments saw part of a wedding in a Greek Orthodox church, walked around the plaka, and had some wonderful views of the Acropolis. On our walk we stopped at a taverna for souvlaki. Long story short: I am already in love with Greek food, just like I knew I would be! I think it's just now hitting me that I'm actually here!