I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to visit Athens for a day while on a cruise before, but I’m so glad to be able to stay here and experience all of it! While here for the past couple of days, I have been able to get more of a grasp on the culture and just the city as a whole. I have loved being able to see all the architecture and learn the stories behind it all. One thing I do enjoy too is being able to eat all the food, and I love how it’s usually cheaper than going out to eat in America! Some places I’ve really enjoyed visiting were the Parthenon and Zeus’ Temple. It just amazes me how thousands of years ago, people were able to build buildings that big and that complex. I also love learning the facts about it, for example, how the pediments that used to be on either side of the Parthenon represented the birth of Athena and how Athena defeated Poseidon and became the protector of Athens. I also think it’s very interesting how “freedom of speech” and “democracy” were first founded here. Two concepts that our country utilizes daily but being found on the other side of the world is so amazing to me. It’s fascinating to see how these ideas have spread. One thing that’s very different here culturally is driving. They all park very close to each other, and it doesn’t really seem to bother most people if their car gets scratched or the bumper gets damaged from hitting curbs. Food service and tipping is also very different, as most restaurants here don’t ask for tips at all. However, I do like how a lot of the food here is less expensive than back home. Another thing that shocked me was their portions for food are pretty big. While studying abroad, I hope to gain not only knowledge of the history of the countries I’m studying in, but also a sense of independence and cultural intelligence. It’s so easy to get wrapped in our own problems back home, but it’s also so important to learn about other countries and cultures and how they have overcome their problems and differences. We learn about history so that it doesn’t repeat itself, and I think that’s one huge takeaway about studying abroad and learning about Greece specifically. We have the opportunity to learn about rulers such as Alexander the Great, a very smart and powerful ruler, who was known as one of the greatest leaders in the world. Because of his ambition and leadership, current leaders have a role model and a person they look up to. Overall, my time here in Athens hasn’t been long, but I truly have enjoyed every moment of it. Whether it’s learning something new, going out to eat, or just walking around the city, I’ve had such a great time here in Greece and am looking forward to the rest of this trip!
