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GREECE

May 2023
A 12-day adventure by Caitlin Read more
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  • TravelerGREECE
    Day 17

    10. Trip influence

    May 25, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Going back to what I was hoping to learn on this trip about not being in control and me being okay with that. I think I learned that in some aspect. The first day I think I struggled with the unknown like buses being late or not stopping at the spot they’re supposed to be at or how to get places and Mads little turn around because of her gps. Those things I had no control over and it made me worried for the first day but I convinced myself that enjoying the trip and making memories was more important than worrying about every little detail. To be honest we all had little control over those details and it wasn’t Mads fault public transportation failed us a couple times. But what was the sense in worrying. By trying to keep this mindset I feel like I actually got to enjoy our time, the people, and being in Greece. This also translated to our service work by staying calm it was easier to interact with the kids. The second day when we were doing arts and crafts watching everyone interact was moving. Getting to talk to the parents or watching them laugh as we were playing with Daveed was enough relief to know we weren’t doing the worst job. However that entire time I didn’t worry once about if we were doing enough I was just living in the moment.Read more

  • TravelerGREECE
    Day 16

    5. Greek Leader I Met

    May 24, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    One Greek leader that we met while in Greece was Kayra. At first she seemed a little quiet to me but I knew she couldn’t possibly be quiet trying to run a NGO in a foreign country. I liked that she stood so strong in what she wanted to do and that after being with other organizations her realizing they didn’t fit exactly what she wanted to do. I think it’s crazy having two jobs LWB keeping her busy but she knew and calculated how many flights she’d have got work in order to support herself and the organization. I think it was the first day we met her after we laid out the paintings we were all just standing around and so I asked her if she needed any help. She needed to get lunch orders for everyone 19 of us plus her, the French students, and Mohammed it was a lot for one person so I worked on that and then Mads and I helped her pick up the souvlaki. It was then I got to learn more about her we bonded over our love for animals and she tried to convince me numerous times to bring a Greek dog home with me. I don’t know how she balances it all. If we think about the leadership process Kayra is the leader then her followers being Mohammed, refugees, other NGOs, and maybe even the community. Her context is never ending running out of places to house her current members of LWB, if they’re not back on their feet by a year, art isn’t selling and that’s just to name a few. I don’t know how many people would sacrifice their time and lives away from their family and their home to ensure there’s a space for others to feel safe and give them an option.Read more

  • TravelerGREECE
    Day 15

    4.Kyriakos Mitsotakis

    May 23, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    To think about some of the things that helped me understand my leader better was a hard thing to think about in the moment. It was something I kept searching for in hopes to find things that would validate my research. Mitsotakis is the prime minister he has a lot of political pull. However being in Greece right as election we’re about to take place gave me better insight. On our first free night we were walking trying to find an atm and suddenly a whole motorbike brigade is driving past us as they are throwing papers up in the air. That was the first time I saw a heavy police presence while we were in Greece. From everything you read on Mitsotakis it made it seem like he was a strong and the forerunner destined to win reelection. I know as a leader of a country you can’t make everyone happy however there were very few people interested or speaking out for his party. I don’t know if it was because they were convinced they didn’t have competition or what but there were a lot more people on the opposite sides. Another thing that was interesting to me was the people doing drugs right beside the political buildings. He is definitely written up to be a man for the people but if he was how is that happening right under his nose. I feel like the research I did may have been one sided and I only saw what they want people who look him up to see.Read more

  • TravelerGREECE
    Day 15

    3.Service Work in Greece

    May 23, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    I think in the United States when it comes to service work it is so easy to get caught up in hands on work and getting gratification from seeing you made a difference. However when in Greece it was hard to tell if we actually had an impact on Love Without Borders (LWB) the ones who were downstairs. Here at home when we have service work we are typically there ahead of time and so are those we help. I think people in the Unite States have a sense of rush or time crunch sense of thinking. However at LWB their open door policy leaves the freedom for people to come and go as they pleases or feel comfortable with. It was also hard to measure in my head whether or not we were able to make a difference I know some people did hands on construction work upstairs so they saw that change. But for those downstairs in the moment or maybe it was just me I felt like I could do more or I wish Kayra asked for more help. I know hers and LWB goal is to create a connection with the refugees and teach them skills that they can take with them throughout their life. Now looking back the connections were made but since I was so used to seeing the difference with hands on work I felt as if we didn’t. However now that it’s all said and done the smiles, laughter, and trust that we created means so much to meRead more

  • TravelerGREECE
    Day 9

    8. Contextual factor #2

    May 17, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    One thing that helped me understand Greek culture more was the food and the experience surrounding it. Almost every where we went I tried to ask the waitress or waiter what items they’d get or what they suggest. When interacting with these people asking their names they were shocked because not a lot of people care to ask. However since we asked those questions i got some of the best food suggestions ever. There was only one thing I didn’t love that was suggested but it was bound to happen. I loved their willingness to explain the menu and what they would order because I feel like in the US if you asked that question you’d just get a special of the day or the most expensive things suggested. Another thing about the food was it was fresh and not the processed stuff we were used to. After every meal I felt like I had energy not my usual sluggish self. When we were in Aegina some of the menu items weren’t even available because if they weren’t caught that morning they didn’t have it. Some of us even commented how the soda tasted different and that’s because the European Union cares about what their people consume and regulate their foods to better standards. Another thing about their experience is Greeks seem to be close it’s not just something that was in the text books. I feel like since to go wasn’t a common thing because people sat down and paced themselves at dinner. They take the time to eat, talk and enjoy each other’s company. Something I think we could be better at here in the US.Read more

  • TravelerGREECE
    Day 9

    Blue and White

    May 17, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Greeks actually have so much blue paint around because many years ago that “paint” was cheap and easily accessible. During that time it wasn’t paint but a cleaning product called Loulaki mixed with lime. Now people keep up the tradition with blue paint but another plus side it repels heat.Read more

  • TravelerGREECE
    Day 9

    7.Contextual Factor #1

    May 17, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    One contextual factor that helped me understand Greece more was the history. When we went on the church tour and Sandy was showing us each one she kept pointing out that each temple had a piece of history in it as well. After she pointed it out I started to notice it. Not only did I notice it I questioned it. They took pieces from temples and brought them to these churches to add them to the build. Did it hold any significance or were they just running out of stone? Sandy had said it was common to find pieces like that throughout other structures. I wondered what happened to those temples and why not rebuild them. Most Greeks can tell you their history better than some of us know our US history and it’s engrained in their culture. It makes you appreciate the beauty of what’s in front of you and what it used to be. I envy them when it comes to restoring or protecting historic sites and I feel like that’s something the US lacks. While we haven’t been around as long as Greece they’ve managed to maintain their sites more than we have and make it a priority. In the US sometimes it comes down to who’s offering more money and that doesn’t appear to be the Greek way of thinking. I loved seeing how much pride the people in Athens and in Aegina had in being from Greece. Made me wish I was from Greece.Read more

  • TravelerGREECE
    Day 7

    Please wear sunscreen 💀

    May 15, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Note to self: even though it’s overcast out on another layer of sunscreen. I don’t typically burn easily and I thought one layer was enough for me without having to reapply I was wrong. However I think what we can get from Dawson’s back is sunscreen works really well when applied all over 😂Read more

  • TravelerGREECE
    Day 7

    You have to swim in Greece

    May 15, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Let me tell you the water was freezing the sun was out for maybe a couple hours after hiding behind the cloud coverage. If we were in the US I might have skipped jumping in the water. But really how could you pass you getting in the water in Greece. You can’t!Read more

  • TravelerGREECE
    Day 7

    Animals Everywhere

    May 15, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    After being in our trip class I was hoping to see dogs and cats everywhere. I’m definitely an animal person and when there’s animals around I feel like it’s easier to me to get comfortable. While that being said i saw some of the best behaving animals because they were welcome pretty much anywhere. Maybe the US could learn a thing or two?Read more

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