Submitted by Brianna Pisacane on the 2019 winter session program in Athens, Greece sponsored by the Department of English…
Since this program to Greece was my first time coming to Europe, I was unsure of exactly what to expect. Sure, I’ve searched “Athens, Greece” on Google Images more times than I can count, but even so, I had no idea what life would be like in this new city. On the bus ride from the airport, I was in awe of the picturesque view of the mountains with all of the many white buildings in front of them. It was something that I had never seen before. That being said, when we drove into the city for the first time, my feelings began to change. To be quite honest, my first impression of inside the city wasn’t the greatest. I thought that it looked a bit run down, and although I knew Athens was supposed to be more of a “gritty” city, I was still surprised at just how gritty it was. Nonetheless, by the second day, my feelings changed completely. After seeing more parts of the city in the light of day, I began to see just how charming Athens really is.
My first real “wow” moment was on the second day after lunch in Syntagma Square when a small of group of us went up to a rooftop restaurant and saw one of the most breathtaking views I’ve ever seen. With the Acropolis in the background and the streets of Syntagma Square and traditional-looking European buildings in front of it, I was struck by the realization that I’m in Greece. After months of dreaming about this seemingly far-off destination, I was finally there. The sun was nearing the bright blue horizon and a warm breeze was blowing gently through the air, leaving me feeling completely at peace. I think it was after I overcame the initial shock of the first night in a new city thousands of miles away from home that I was able to embrace my new surroundings.
Furthermore, I found myself being a bit surprised by the language barrier (or lack thereof). Before arriving, I expected most of the locals that I encountered to speak very little English, but I’ve found that this is not the case. For the most part, when I’m at a restaurant or shop, I’ve noticed that most of the waiters/ staff speak English relatively well. I learned that in Greece, students start taking English classes in the third grade, which probably accounts for why it is spoken relatively well here. Also, many of the signs and menus that I’ve seen are in English as well as Greek, which has made our lives as travelers much easier. Ultimately, I have really enjoyed our first few days of exploring Athens and can’t wait to see all of the other places we’ll travel to.
