Maymester In Greece

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.

My STEP project was a Maymester study abroad in Greece! While in Greece, we traveled to roughly 10 different cities including Athens, Thessaloniki, Corinth, Sparta, and Delphi. We went to numerous archeological sites and museums to enrich the leanings from our Classics course, taught by Dean of the OSU Classics Department and Greece native, Anthony Kaldellis.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?

I think my understanding of the world changed the most. Living in a suburb of Georgia and then the bubble that is The Ohio State campus, it’s really easy to forget the great diversity of lives in the world. I am surrounded by educated and privileged people and so often forget about the millions of people living in poverty and suffering from economic hardships. I knew the government was corrupt in Greece, but after learning about the lawless academic campuses and the huge over taxation of employees, my initial view of Greece being a beautiful paradise was shattered.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you?

The first thing I noticed leaving the airport of Athens was the rampant pollution and graffiti throughout the city. Though the city was still beautiful, it was hard to overlook the way the people had treated their beloved capital, as if it was trash. Places like universities were often most affected by the graffiti. Over the next two days in Athens, as we traveled through the most historic sights and museums, the graffiti became so apparent everywhere. I inquired as to what the graffiti said and what was the cause of it. I found that it was a means of the people expressing their discontent with the government. The Greek people are incredibly proud of their history and culture, but there are major political problems that have caused the people great poverty and unrest.

Throughout our travels, I spoke with a man who owned a music shop who worked 18 hours a day just to make enough money to feed his family. I met a woman who used to be a lawyer but had been on strike for 22 months because nearly 70% of her wage was going to taxes. While buying dessert one night, I met a girl in her late 20’s studying at the University but desperately awaiting a chance to leave Greece and make a better life for herself. Though the people are lively and proud of their culture, there a major problems inside the country. As a tourist, it’s often easy to look at the most beautiful sights in a place and overlook the overall environment and surroundings of the locals.

The other most notable interaction I had was with a few locals inquiring my nationality. Though I am of Indian descent, I was born and raised in Georgia and consider myself an American in most ways. Many Greeks asked if I was Indian, and when I explained I was an American but of Indian background, they reprimanded me. A woman exclaimed, “Don’t say you’re an American! They have no culture. Tell people you’re Indian.” Given what a powerful and opportunistic country America is, it’s easy to forget that the rest of the world views the US in different ways. Due to the way the US Foreign policy is and the way we are portrayed in the media, many Greeks do not like Americans.

Overall, by being in Greece for three weeks, I feel that I have a much better idea of the diversity of lifestyles in the country and the different aspects of their daily life that makes up their rich culture.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? 

I want to be a Physical Therapist and interacting with a diversity of people from different walks of life is incredibly important to be a successful therapist. In my field, I will treat people of all religions, ethnicities, and backgrounds and it’s important to understand how to interact and communicate effectively with them. Furthermore, this trip was incredibly impactful in terms of my personal development. Learning how to get around in a country where most people don’t speak English and travel daily with a group of people in close quarters is a growing experience. I think I learned a lot of skills that will help me in the future as I leave the bubble of a college campus for the workforce.