After class on Friday, August 30th, I rode the COTA with my fellow International Affair Scholars and Social Chair, Audrey Montgomery to Happy Greek in the Short North area. We enjoyed an authentic Greek meal while learning more about each other. Our Program Director, Steven Blalock, joined us for dinner which was a great way to interact with him in a less professional setting than our weekly seminar class. Following dinner, we walked over the Greek Orthodox Church for the annual Columbus Greek Festival. Upon arrival, we were quickly immersed into Greek culture. There was authentic Greek music playing and dancer in traditional dress on the dance floor. We walked through all of the activities and went inside the church where there were various desserts for sale. After enjoying some delicious desserts, we joined the Greek dancers in a tradition in which the boys took turns picking up a cup and smashing it. They all picked up the cup in a unique way and everyone around would cheer in celebration. It was a really inclusive environment and it was fun to experience the Greek culture. Through this experience, I not only built deeper connections with my fellow International Affair Scholars, but I also gained a cultural knowledge of Greek culture. Being immersed in the Greek culture, even though it was not for long, made me recognize how much you can learn from simply being part of something you are not familiar with. This is why I definitely plan to study abroad during my time here at the Ohio State University. I believe that traveling to new places and going through new experiences is a great way to become more open-minded.
