The JSIS Greece: Sustainability program was led by UW faculty. It is geared towards students in the Jackson School of International Studies (JSIS) program, but it is open to any major on the three campuses. As a law, economics, and public policy major focusing on environmental and international policy, this study abroad program overlapped with my interests.
Greece has always been a dream destination for me. As a child, I read countless books on Greek mythology and archaeological museums. I also love trying new cuisines, so I wanted to try their authentic dishes made with local ingredients. When I first found out about this program, I felt reluctant to apply. I have never been so far away from my family for this duration of time, and I did not know how to pay for the program. However, seeing this study abroad program as an opportunity to gain wonderful connections and culturally immerse myself in a new country, I decided to fill out the application. I also contacted the Office of Connected Learning and applied for the Study Abroad Ambassador Scholarship program, which covered much of the tuition.
The benefits of being in a quarter-long program are that I had the opportunity to pursue my studies and visit various areas of the country. This would have been difficult to do if I were only in Greece for a week or two on my own. In the program, I have gone on several excursions, including Aegina, Hydra, and Crete, as well as visiting historical sites and museums. Some of my favorites included the Acropolis, the National Archaeological Museum, Ancient Olympia, and the Benaki Museum.
In addition to the cultural immersion activities, the program also offered courses on Greek history, culture, and language at the American College of Greece. In the history class, I learned about the country’s history beyond the Parthenon or the ancient cities, which was the period of Greek history I had more knowledge of. Being Korean American, it was interesting to see many similarities between the history of Greece and South Korea. Both countries have been ruled by powerful empires and were influenced by foreign nations even after gaining independence. It was insightful to learn that despite the differences and distance between the two countries, patterns in history tend to repeat themselves across cultures.
For me, studying abroad was not just about rediscovering my passion for traveling, but also connecting with the culture in ways I would not have imagined before. For example, I took an ethnographic research class where I interviewed Athens’ locals about their views on food and sustainability. It was fascinating to learn about the similarities between the lifestyle habits of the locals in Seattle and in Athens. In addition, we had a guest speaker talk about the impact of wildfires and floods in Greece, which are prevalent in Washington State as well.
Some of the challenges during the program included adjusting to an unfamiliar environment and balancing schoolwork with other program activities. I also took a Greek language class and practiced with the locals during immersion activities. There was a learning curve at first, but I enjoyed every step of the process. Additionally, our professor taught us the Greek concept of “meraki,” which is to pour one’s soul and passion into something. I was touched to learn that despite the many hardships that the Greek people went through, they found ways to include love and joy in what they did, whether it was the food they cooked or the warm hospitality they provided to others. I felt “meraki” from the kind and welcoming locals throughout this trip. Even after the end of this program, this is a part of Greece I would like to bring with me.
It feels bittersweet that this program will soon end. I would love to visit Greece again, perhaps for my career in international relations. When I passed by the United States Embassy in Athens, I pictured what my life might be like working there. Going into these fields will take years, so I aspire to pursue more global opportunities and give back to the community by addressing issues affecting them.
I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to participate in this study abroad program and to have the support of our program directors, Dr. Taso Lagos and Dr. Nektaria Klapaki, the American College of Greece faculty, the Office of Connected Learning, and fellow students. I made so many wonderful memories along the way that I will cherish for a lifetime.
