Ο χρόνος μου στην Ελλάδα: My Time in Greece

For my STEP Signature Project, I chose to participate in the English department’s Literary Locations: Greece study abroad program. After a semester of studying classic and contemporary Greek literature in English 4400, we boarded our flights to Athens and explored many different cities on mainland Greece, even getting a taste of Greek island life. We travelled from Athens to Epidavros to Nafplio to Delphi to Corinth to Corfu (to name a few), all the while seeing some of Greece’s most legendary literary and historical spots.

This program was extremely transformative for me in more ways than one. First and foremost, I had never been overseas prior to the trip. This means I was navigating international airports, language barriers, and cultural customs as not only a first-timer, but often by myself, as our program didn’t require us to fly together. In order to feel some semblance of preparedness for all of these new experiences, I read a lot of travel blogs and tips for international travelers before leaving. I remember feeling confident and ready to face the whatever disaster was sure to arise, only to realize shortly after landing in Greece that no amount of reading could prepare me to be alone and confused in an airport whose alphabet didn’t even look like my own! However, I think being faced with the daunting task of getting myself from the airport to my Athenian Airbnb an hour away was an excellent test of not only my navigational skills, but my own capabilities and general outlook on life as well. Rather than feeling stressed or scared, I was so excited to take on my journey. Even when customs lines were long or I was seated next to an incredibly vocal toddler on a 15-hour flight or I couldn’t attract a taxi to save my life, I remained positive and calm, which, despite being told to do this by my beloved travel blog authors, was really up in the air. I think the transformative part of this is not the fact that I was able to be a calm, cool, and collected traveler, but rather the realization that I have that capability within me. Since returning to the States, I have been more confident in situations of chaos, and I find myself remaining positive in times of stress, knowing that I have gracefully maneuvered much more strenuous situations.

In addition to gaining a deeper understanding about myself, I feel much more knowledgeable about and connected to the world, an aspect of travelling I was really looking forward to. Growing up in America is surely not a universal experience, and seeing the way other people live was not only fascinating, but eye-opening as well. The European lifestyle is extremely appealing to me; they prioritize family and leisure and community, whereas so often in America the ideal of success is a wealthy businessman who lacks a healthy family or social life. Being able to see firsthand this new perspective was refreshing and allowed me to again think deeper about what I want for my life.

In terms of specific details from the program that helped to facilitate personal transformation, I think my interactions with locals were some of the most interesting and exciting moments of the trip. To connect with people from completely different backgrounds and be involved in a small piece of their lives was incredibly cool. I left Greece having met friends from Australia, France, the UK, and of course, all corners of Greece. I had existential conversations with Greek taxi drivers and danced with New Zealanders, learning something new about life and the world from each of them.

Similarly, I would have to say the relationships I formed with my fellow travelers were also extremely important in my experience. Our program consisted of fifteen girls, many of whom share similar interests as English majors. Everyone was so kind and open and eager to try new things, which was definitely a catalyst to our quick bonding. I feel that I made life-long friends in Greece, something that I wasn’t necessarily expecting but wouldn’t trade for the world. Of course these relationships made travelling together more fun, but they also taught me more about who I am and my role in a group of fifteen sleepy and sometimes stressed girls, an environment that isn’t always easy to survive in. I surprised even myself with the patience and composure I brought when we were lost in a non-English-speaking city, or when we were charged more than we had when a girl got sick in the taxi, or when We are already planning our reunion trip to Athens and, perhaps a little more realistic and surely more cost-effective, our “Greek family dinners” for when we are all back on campus in the fall.

In addition, I think my personal growth was also made possible by a choice many questioned before my departure: my decision to take only a backpack for my nearly month-long European expedition. When I told my parents I would be gone for a month with only eight outfits, they both laughed, and then bought me a new suitcase, believing there was no way I’d follow through. However, backpacking in Europe really contributed something unique to my experience; not only was I trying something completely new, but I was able to spend more time doing than I was packing and unpacking! I was able to walk everywhere with my backpack, something that couldn’t be said for the people who brought multiple suitcases, and I was able to learn about myself as a traveler: flexibility and a “go with the flow” mindset are two traits I’ve always had, but consciously choosing to rely on those in a brand new situation was, while difficult at times, entirely worth it.

My STEP Signature Project marks an extremely significant period in my life, one full of transformation and self-exploration. Growing in my understanding of myself is something that has and will prove useful in all sorts of settings, whether they be academic, professional, or social. Gaining experience overseas is very important to me, as I hope to one day live and work abroad. While this has been a goal of mine for a long time, I now know that I could do it, and am even more excited now that I’ve experienced various other cultures and lifestyles around the globe. I made life-long friends who I will continue to keep in touch with, fulfilling a personal goal of experiencing the world with people I love. I plan to visit Greece again, and maybe add a concentration area of international studies to my major to reflect my newly reignited interest in the affairs of the world. All in all, my STEP experience has been nothing short of life-changing, and I am extremely grateful to OSU and the STEP program for making this possible!