Submitted by Sarah Nicholls on the 2019 winter session program in Athens, Greece sponsored by the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences…
This was the third and final week of my study abroad experience in Athens, Greece. It seems like each week, time flew by faster and faster! One of my favorite parts of this week was our group excursion down the coast of the Attica Peninsula of Greece. Our first destination: the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. The hour and a half bus ride from Athens to Sounion was beautiful. We drove along the mountainous cliffs and could look down into the sparkling green-blue Aegean Sea. Along the road, there were many people biking and running, and I really enjoyed seeing people live such an active lifestyle in this area. It was definitely a nice break to get out of the city and into the fresh air! The Temple of Poseidon amazed me with its still standing pillars from the 5th century BCE. This was a major landmark for travelers in Ancient Greece, because it marks the southernmost point of the Attica Peninsula. It is amazing to think that you are walking where people lived and worshiped over 2,000 years ago. It is hard to imagine how they built giant monuments like this one, without the modern construction technology we have today.
For lunch, I had the chance to step way outside my comfort zone and try something new-octopus! This wasn’t like the regular calamari you might imagine, but an almost foot-long octopus tentacle, suckers and all! Seafood is not usually my first choice of food, so I was a little nervous to try it out. However, I was pleasantly surprised! Octopus is very tough and dense, but the outside gets crispy and flavorful. Not to be cliche, but I would compare the taste of it to chicken! Throughout my program, I’ve been able to try a lot of new foods, but this was definitely the most unique.
Reflecting on my short time in Athens, I had the most amazing experience. I write this as I sit in the London airport on a layover home, and I already wish I could go back to Greece! I enjoyed the city lifestyle so much more than I thought I would. Navigating the crowded streets and metro stations is exciting! Shadowing doctors in the hospitals in Athens also helped me realize that I am very interested in thoracic surgery which is something that I’ve never considered before. I’ve learned so much about myself through this journey, and cannot wait to go back someday. Good-bye, for now, Athens. See you soon!
