Final Reflections

I cannot believe that my semester in Greece is complete. It doesn’t seem like long ago when I boarded my flight in San Francisco and said goodbye to mom and dad. I remember the feelings of anxiety and uncertainty I had the week leading up to my departure and the first week I was in Athens. Looking back I have grown and been changed by this experience. It was truly once in a lifetime and I cannot even put into words what this semester has meant to me. The experiences I have had, the places I have traveled to, and the people I met are priceless to me. Studying abroad was one of the most exciting, adventurous, and challenging things I have ever done. Moving to another country for a semester taught me so much about the world, other cultures, and myself. I learned about my own strength and ability to cope in a new situation and flourish in a new place. I learned about the generosity and welcoming nature of the Greek people who from my very first day showed me hospitality. I think back to my first day, when I stood helpless in front of my locked apartment door, and I remember the kindness showed to me by my neighbors, complete strangers at the time. That day, they welcomed me into their home and throughout the semester, Greeks welcomed me into theirs. Greece was the best place I could have gone because it challenged me in so many ways. Not speaking the language was humbling and made me realize the frustration and humor that can result from confused conversations and misunderstandings. It forced me to be present, take in my surroundings and pay attention. Greece certainly had its quirks (no flushing toilet paper, everything closed on Sundays, random strikes and protests, and a laidback attitude towards almost everything, except driving and the Acropolis), but for me, these were some of the little things that made it Greece. I didn't decide to study abroad to go somewhere like America. I went to explore, experience, and learn about a new place.

Athens as a city is not the most aesthetic. Certainly the Acropolis and other archeological sites are breathtaking, but the city itself does not look like other Western European cities. I discovered the character of Athens and loved it for what it was. The longer I lived there, the deeper I loved it. The city is interesting, vibrant, and filled with noise and commotion. There are people everywhere and the city is alive well into the night. The history of Greece has been a hard one, and the people reflect all that the country has overcome. Athens struggles to this day to unify their classical image with their modern reality, a fact that is evident everywhere, even the subway stations that were dug around archeological sites. Greece was different from the United States in many ways, sometimes refreshing and sometimes frustrating. After four months I still don’t understand when people work. Businesses were rarely open when I left for school in the morning, closed during afternoon siesta, and not open most nights. It was uncommon to see people exercising outdoors and flip flops were a sign of poverty. I am still amazed by the women who were able to traverse the rocky ground of the Acropolis in their giant high heels, a sight that I doubt would be replicated in America. The relaxed attitude about life that most Greeks have was a breath of fresh air. Eating was an event, which is an idea I had no problem embracing. Food, company, and wine should be enjoyed for many hours and at tavernas you are never rushed away from your table. The importance of family in Greece has made me appreciate even more the special relationship and closeness that I have with my own family. This experience has awakened my desire to travel and see more of the world. Truly, I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. I will forever look back on this semester and think of it as a very special time in my life of growth, learning, and experience.