These last few days of experiencing the heart of Greece have given me new perspective and allowed me to begin to immerse myself in the culture of Athens. The country, city, people, and my program have given me some first impressions of this experience that I find very interesting. A major difference that became immediately obvious is the design of Athens compared to any American city I have seen. Athens is, for one, much older than the U.S., and this is immediately apparent by the ruins and ancient sites seen throughout the city. Also, the whole city is designed to be much more compact than an American city. Most buildings have more verticality to provide housing, streets are narrow, and the city is very walkable overall. The compact design also leads to another major difference that left an impression on me: Traffic. Most streets are one-way, drivers are not scared to honk when aggravated, and taxi rides are a bit unnerving at first. On the other hand, public transportation has left a positive first impression on me. The metro is convenient, and bus stops are plentiful. In terms of the culture, the food is much different in Greece than in the U.S. The structure of a normal day was also a massive change. Greek people seem to eat meals later, and tend to have longer overall days. I noticed very quickly that the people here are very friendly and helpful, so that made a big impression on me as well. Looking forward in this global experience, I hope to gain a better understanding of different cultures and ways of life. I hope that, as I see the world through a new perspective, I can develop a greater appreciation of the world, and use that to improve myself personally and professionally.
