An incomplete list of semester highlights.

As I sit in my apartment working on a few other finals, I can't escape the overwhelming thought of how excited I am to have the experience of traveling abroad and spending time in Europe. But, while I sit here full of angst I keep thinking, how did I get here? How have I prepared myself for this experience? What have I really learned to make sure I make the most of this experience. So, I am writing this blog post for myself as much as I am for everyone else. These are some snapshots of what I’ve taken from this semester and how we as a class have pepped for this trip (Partial comical, and partial literal).

Studying Abroad is Expensive.

But hey, I mean, can you put a price on adventure and experiential learning? Honestly, I guess I’ll have an answer in a few weeks. But as Dr. Von Lintel has mentioned in class before, it is one of the most interesting things to put on a resume!

Greek History.

From the basics of the of the Parthenon’s beginning with Perikles, countless wars and skirmishes with Turks, Venetians, and others, Greece has such a rich history. This was interesting to me because in America, our history (at least what is taught) is relatively young in comparison to a large part of the rest of the world. I remember learning about Greek mythology in my 8th-grade World History class. The influence of Greek culture to the world is literally inescapable.

Grand Tour of Campus.

As the novelist Marcel Proust once said, "The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." In the midst of this activity, I remember looking around and admiring the architecture and beauty around us on our very own campus.

Words creating worlds.

Perspective can change a lot of things. Whereas some people can see Elgin as a preserver, others can see him as a thief. When learning about the weight of words, you learn about how much some words mean to you. In class when we were asked to stomp on the names of our love ones, no one could do it. Why? I mean the piece of paper had no significance. But the arrangement of letters on it did.

Korean Comfort Women.

Honestly, how could we forget the day in class when we almost tore each other to shreds in our debate over the Korean Comfort Women!

When the Marbles weren't white.

I also can't forget when we learned in class that the marbles were originally painted and the coloration of the marbles that we think of is also a reflection of “Whiteness” and Eurocentrism. (Gif Not 100% accurate.)

Websites blowing our minds.

We examined the websites for both the British Museum and the New Acropolis Museum and were strangely impressed with the eloquent wording of the British Museum. Talk about "Strategic Communication!"

When we met the real life Indiana Jones, Dr. Joe Rodgers.

Okay so maybe his life was not as exciting as Indiana Jones. But who likes that much cardio anyway?

Look, I know that this list does not even come close to capturing the full spectrum of things we have learned so far. But it is a good start! Feel fee to add your own!

One more week my friends. One more week.