2018 May Term in Greece

Visiting Greece is my first time ever leaving the country and being this far away from my family but, once I got here I saw that this trip was an opportunity to not inly learn history but experience it as well. What is truly amazing is how ancient civilizations thrived here and had technology that surpass our own and what great feats where accomplished. I have taken classes in Greek classics but to actually be here and see what these ancient minds were able to create makes me realize that we were not far more advance then they were .

One of my favorite site that we have visited so far on this trip is the Acropolis / Parthenon.  This is my first time visiting Europe and seeing ancient ruins like the types that we have seen in Greece so far.  I find it incredible that Ancient Greeks were able to envision these buildings and structures and then turn that vision into a real life structure.  It is hard to grasp how they managed to make these buildings by only using themselves and no heavy machinery, but it is truly breathtaking to see these creations in real life.  When I took a moment to myself and looked at the entirety of the Acropolis it made me appreciate how beautiful Greece is and how incredible Ancient civilizations were in their structures and technology.  Coming from the United States, there obviously isn’t a lot of ancient ruins, so to be able to have the opportunity to see these and learn about them is truly special.  Furthermore, it makes me real...

My first week in Greece was an unbelievable experience. I was most fascinated by being able to walk in the footsteps of those who lived 2,000 years ago and be a witness to their intellect. For example, at the Archeological museum in Athens, I found the stone figures of men interesting because they evolved from being simple, violin-like figures to full faces. This is a stark contrast to the stone and bronze statues we see today. I also liked going to Olympia to see the origins of the infamous Olympic Games. It was interesting to compare the track games of the times in ancient Olympia (where athletes were mostly men and was heavily intertwined with religion) to today where both men and women compete from a variety of cultures. Overall, I am amazed to see how ancient Greece has had an influence on how our society has developed as it is today. I am looking forward to witnessing more of these experiences.

     The road to Nafplion was long and curvy but offered fantastic views of the Greek countryside.  The mountains, covered in olive trees, shrubs, and fir trees, were just as neat to see as the ruins and towns along the way.  I loved seeing the small farms and homesteads scattered through the countryside. The landscape in Greece is very diverse compared to the forested hills and agricultural plains of rural Indiana. The town of Nafplion was the prettiest town we have been to so far. It reminded me of the little, seaside European towns Ernest Hemingway writes about in his literature.       The Ancient Theatre in Epidaurus and healing Temple of Asclepios were very impressive sites. Standing at the theatre in 2018, it is hard to comprehend how in the world the ancient Greeks crafted a piece of architecture that would rival any modern theatre in sound quality. As Professor Seaman said, even a modern theatre in California co...

     This May Term trip to Greece is the first time I have been out of the United States.  Our first stop in the city of Athens was a really interesting city to visit. Though I had googled Athens before the trip and viewed the street views on Google Maps, seeing Athens first hand was as if I was entering a new world.  It was very beautiful in some areas yet very rundown in others; the city seemed to be stuck in a state of limbo between antiquity and modernity.       One of my favorite sites we visited was the Athenian Acropolis and the Parthenon that sat on top.  The views from the Parthenon were stunning but even more incredible was the ancient architecture of the Parthenon.  It is amazing the ancient Greeks constructed such a magnificent structure full of heavy material.  In today’s world, architects and laborers are strict of ensuring straight lines in  building plans but there are...