Greece – Beginning

I decided to study abroad this summer because after six months of working full time on co-op in Boston, I had an itch to go somewhere new. I travelled to Europe last summer and as soon as I left, I could not wait to go back. Northeastern offers so many opportunities to study abroad and I did not see any reason to let those opportunities slip by. Every time I visit a new country or city, I feel like I am changed in some way. Just by being exposed to how other cultures live day by day, I gain new insight and am enlightened to some of the other values and cultural practices that exist. I expect Greece to change me in a way that I have not been changed yet. Of all the countries I have visited in my life, Greece is entirely unique. The sea is such a big part of the country’s survival and I cannot wait to experience how the Greeks rely on their natural surroundings to make a large part of their earnings. Through this travel experience, I expect my eyes to be opened in such a way that I appreciate my surroundings a lot more back in the U.S. and learn to incorporate natural resources into my life more.

One of my goals while I am abroad is to try new things. From what I have heard and read about Greece, the food there is very natural, as I touched on before. This may be a stretch for me. For example, I have never been served a plate of fish in which the head, eyes, and tail have all been intact. During my travels, I want to make sure that I am open to trying new things, whether it be a food, activity, etc. I plan to achieve this goal by starting my journey without having my mind made up about anything, so that I can live in the moment with each experience that presents itself during my travels. Another goal that I have is to continuously find similarities and differences between Greece and the U.S. I feel that if I can constantly be taking mental notes when I notice things that are alike or different from what I am used to, I will remember them when I come home, and this will cause me to maintain my open eyes even after my excursions abroad. I plan to do this by carrying a notebook to jot ideas and thoughts down in, which leads to another one of my goals. A third goal that I have while I am abroad is to keep a journal. I think that my blog entries will remind me to do that and will get me off to a good start. I plan to follow through with this goal by setting aside just fifteen minutes each night before bed so that I can recap my day and note any strong feelings that I experienced or anything that stood out in particular. I really want to remember every moment I have in Greece! Finally, I want to be completely immersed in Greece while I am there. I want to be separated from social media and other distractions that technology offers. I plan to achieve this goal by bringing a digital camera, so that I won’t be tempted to use my cell phone when taking pictures with it. I also did not purchase a data plan through my wireless carrier so that I can limit any and all social media distractions while I am abroad. I plan to use my phone for emergencies only and I am surprisingly really looking forward to that.

A major fear that I have about going to Greece is due to the current economic situation. I am afraid that there will be civil unrest due to the banks being closed and the bankruptcy of the country. I feel that our professor has prepared us for this and assured us that Greece is safe, however I have never really been exposed to a situation like this before. Another apprehension I have about visiting Greece is that it functions as a cash economy. I rarely carry cash in the U.S., so I am a bit worried about having a lot of money on me in an unfamiliar place. Despite these worries, I feel that I will have an unforgettable experience abroad this summer. I am most looking forward to the lectures that we will get to attend from professors in Greece. Each lecture has an entirely different topic and I can’t wait to hear about the Greek culture, beliefs, history, government, economy, and more first-hand from people who have experienced them. I believe that learning directly from the Greeks will help me to be completely immersed in the country and gain a great understanding of it. While I am looking forward to these lectures, I am also extremely excited for the beaches, caves, food, boats, and marketplaces of Greece as well. As my departure is nearing, I could not be more excited to embark on my journey.