Submitted by Camryn Garcia on the 2019 winter session program in Athens, Greece sponsored by the Department of English…
As someone who has never traveled to Europe, I was very anxious about embarking on this journey, especially without my family for a period of three weeks. My idea of Greece was of a beautiful country with ancient artifacts and tremendous monuments, but I did not do my research into what the actual city might be like, besides our class meetings. I expected the city to be much smaller, almost like a village, not a vibrant bustling city. My expectations going into this program were fearful in the moments leading up to our flight due to the many study abroad horror stories I have heard from friends and the opinions of other people I know who have traveled to Athens. When we first arrived in Athens,the neighborhood did not appease my anxieties due to the chaotic streets and the widespread graffiti as we hauled our luggage up the steep terrain. The welcome dinner helped cheer up my mood after tasting the local cuisine and conversing with members of the group about the days ahead of us.
Thankfully, Athens turned out to be everything I dreamed it would be and more. After listening to Yannis speak about the history of Greece and the welcome reception the Athens Centre offered us, I was eager to explore the city. After the walking tour, the group lunch, my anxieties finally subsided and my comfort level was much higher. From what I have experienced so far, Athens has exceeded my expectations. I love the food and the beautiful mountainous landscape and views of the Acropolis. I learned so much about the history of the Acropolis that I did not know before and am very excited to go to the museum tomorrow. The people are very welcoming and friendly and you can truly feel the deep classical and historical roots of the city due to the architecture and daily lifestyle of the Greek people we have interacted with. I love how there are minimal commercial businesses and everything is run by small family businesses because it truly gives the city authenticity and individuality. I really enjoy the academically immersive environment of learning about Greek classical literature, while exploring the exact sights we are discussing. I also really enjoyed the Greek language class and did not expect to learn how to read the Greek letters so quickly. I did not foresee myself feeling this safe and comfortable so far from home and I have a feeling I am not going to want to leave when this program is over!