Welcome to 30 hours straight without sleep. Welcome to a thirteen hour plane ride. Welcome to Athens! I have set off on an adventure with 18 students to Greece for the month of January. After a long plane ride, I was more than thrilled to enter the town of Athens. Three other girls and I settle in our apartment and prepare to meet the class for a late night stroll, or better known by alumni classmates as the “death march.” Athens by night is a sight to see. We walked to the where the first Olympics was held and circled the Acropolis all while getting to know one another and prepare for what will be the most packed month to come. I had the opportunity to experience my first authentic souvlaki for dinner and luckily Finitsis assisted the class in ordering.
The next morning, more than half of us gathered to explore Athens in the daylight. The flea market was our first stop for this Sunday morning. At first, walking down the alley with the merchandise available looked like an outside mall from America with Nike stores and sweatshirts saying “I love NY” but further on came the Greek goods. Just soaking up being immersed with another culture is an amazing experience which was a big part of today, as I am sure it will be the entire month. I find myself making comparisons with the culture that I have been accustomed to and what I am seeing in another country. Almost everyone is smoking and our “rain jacket” style isn’t exactly what you see Greeks wearing. Most are sporting nice leather jackets or dark color clothing. The market brought successful purchases for some group members and interacting with the locals put smiles on our faces. One older man who was smoking laughed as he heard our attempt to speak what little Greek we know. I am ready and excited for what lies ahead this J-term. OPA!