Tag: Athens

By emilycreighton

This past week my program took us all on a trip to the Peloponnese area of Greece- this included places like Kalamata (famous for its olives) and Olympia (famous for the birth of the Olympic Games). The most important thing I took away from this excursion? That Greece is so much more than city centers and beaches.

Greece has absolutely breathtaking mountain ranges and gorgeous fields. Castles perched high on hilltops and tombs scattered throughout the grass and history etched into its foundation.

...continue reading "Greece is so much more than beaches"

By emilycreighton

I don't think the refugee crisis was a deciding factor in my decision to study abroad in Greece, but it definitely played a part. Once I settled on Greece, I knew I wanted to work with refugees in some capacity. In my ignorance I thought that meant traveling to an island close to Turkey, like Lesvos or Chios, and walking among a crowded polluted plastic tent town. Now, there are places like that and I plan on visiting for a weekend later in the semester. But, I also discovered that there are many places right in the heart of Athens that house refugees.

These places are, generally, in better condition than their plastic tent counterpart. Most are abandoned buildings that are equipped with kitchens and makeshift bedrooms. But these places still struggle with clean and hot water, clothing, and most predominately- space.

Experiencing this is quite a paradox. On one hand, the refugee crisis is utterly heartbreaking. To think about the hundreds of families separated, children drowned, and parents unable to work causes an overwhelming feeling of despair. But on the other hand, witnessing the incredible camaraderie from volunteers and other refugees was heartwarming.

...continue reading "What it’s like to volunteer with refugees"

By emilycreighton

 

I knew that studying in Greece would bring immense beauty of ancient ruins and artifacts. I knew that living next door to the first modern Olympic stadium would never get old. But I had no idea how incredible and amazing having class every Monday and Wednesday at the Acropolis would be.

First, some history. The Acropolis literally means "highest city". It's comprised of several ancient ruins on a large hill overlooking Athens. The first and most famous being the Parthenon. The structure was an old temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, for which Athens is named after. It's considered one of the most important buildings in ancient Greek architecture with ornate decorations and complicated designs.

Next we have the Temple of Athena Nike. Nike means "victory" in Greek, which is exactly how Athena was worshiped- the goddess of war and wisdom. In this very temple, citizens prayed for an end to the Peloponnesian War.

Other structures include the Propylaia, a gateway, and the Erectheion, a temple dedicated to Athena and Poseidon.

I've visited the Acropolis once before having class there so I semi-knew what to expect. But this trip was filled with behind-the-scenes-looks, roping jumping, and talks in offices.

...continue reading "What it’s like to have class at the Acropolis"

By emilycreighton

 

Here's a fun fact for you: Rome wasn't built in a day, but I saw it in one. Okay, well two. One of the many perks of studying abroad in Europe is the close proximity of other countries. For example, my flight to Rome took only two hours and cost about 60 euros round trip.

60 euros!!!

It was an opportunity I couldn't miss. So when a few people in my program brought up the idea of taking a weekend trip to Rome, I immediately hopped on board. And I'm so thankful I did because the Eternal City stole my heart (and budget).

Thursday night was filled with bubbling excitement and strategic packing. Our flight left at 9:15 pm- which meant there would still be enough time to explore the city at night. Which is exactly what we did.

We randomly strolled through the cobblestoned streets and under tall palm trees when I noticed a familiar face on the other side of the street. He was another GW student named Lucas. My mouth dropped as we waved at each other and spoke about our semesters and mutual friends and random chances. He spoke about a few places we should visit and then we said our goodbyes.

But not ten minutes later I ran into another friend, Audrey. We screamed girlish screams and hugged a lot until I had to leave with my other friends. I'm currently 5,000 miles away from GW on the other side of the world and yet it's just so small.

...continue reading "Rome wasn’t built in a day"

By emilycreighton

It has become extremely evident that Greeks are extraordinarily welcoming and friendly. In every bakery and cafe I enter, I receive a free pastry or drink or some other traditional Greek food. The giver eagerly waits for me to taste the new delectable dish- smiling the entire time.

I must admit there hasn't been a single thing I haven't liked. From the 2 euro souvlaki (gyro for you Americans) to homemade tzatziki to baklava- the list is endless. But it's not the food that unveils the iridescence of Greek culture, it's the willingness to give and chat and make friends with a stranger.

Take Chris, for example.

My friends and I met Chris at a local restaurant a few nights ago. He was out waiter- our extremely friendly waiter. After chatting for several minutes we learned some things about him.

...continue reading "Meet Chris"