Submitted by Olivia Castanza on the 2019 winter session program in Athens, Greece sponsored by the Department of English…
Before this program, I had never left the United States and for the longest time I have always wanted to visit a foreign country. I would have gone anywhere just to experience something different, however, I got very lucky with this program because Greece was at the top of my list! For me, visiting places like the Acropolis and Parthenon is the physical counterpart to this desire that I have had for so long. I, personally, would not be satisfied with a picture on Google or in a textbook. Nothing, especially a picture or video, can compare to the feelings and experience of being immersed in another culture’s history. The magnitude of the sites are irreplicable.
The religious perspective of our site visits, and of the course in general, so far have been particularly thought-provoking for me. I really enjoyed our visit to the Hosios Loukas Monastery because the energy accompanied with being in such a beautiful and sacred space reminded me of my Catholic upbringing and how much I appreciate having a God to believe in and lean on at all times. Places like the monastery encourage me to reflect on how a religion can bring together a community, as well as bring individuals in touch with their inner selves. By putting the magnitude of this world into perspective and reminding me how small I really am, this program has made way for my own introspection about who I am and who I want to be relative to the community. It is refreshing to think about how one person can serve the greater good.
