Horizons Study Ablog : 05/21/15

Taylor Rhymer

We are coming near the end of the trip we have a little over a week left. This trip so far has been such a great experience, and there have been so many friendships made. Greece has been a very welcoming place the locals are all very kind and helpful. Today we started out our day with a Guest Lecture on Greek History, after that we had some free time. With our free time a group of us decided to go to the White Tower and take a tour of it. The White Tower had six levels to it and as you went through each level you got to learn more and more about how Greece’s boardwalk was formed, and what happened during the fire that took out a lot of the city of Thessaloniki. So we kept climbing the tower and learning all of this new information on the Greek history, then we got to the top and at the top of the White Tower there was the most amazing view. We could see so much of the city just from this one spot.

After the White Tower tour we went to find lunch, we ate lunch in an outdoor restaurant. It was very nice, our waitress did not speak much English and the menu was for the most part in Greek so interacting with her and learning new ways to ask questions was fun. We pointed to pictures to ask questions and when she spoke to us she used the little bit of English she knew, she spoke with her hands and she also pointed to pictures. It was neat to interact with her even though we did not speak the same language.

After lunch every one relaxed until our cooking class. Antonis Theodorakis who is a chef here in Greece taught a cooking class, we made two different dishes. The first dish was called Tzatziki Sauce; it is like a cucumber and yogurt sauce. Some of the restaurants that I have tried while in Greece serve it with fried zucchini or French fries. Then we made Dolmadakia Yalantzi with herbs. It is vine leaves stuffed with rice, dill, and spearmint leaves, then you bake it in the pan with onions and fresh lemon juice. Learning to cook these dishes was a lot of fun because that is something we can take home with us and share with our family and friends. The trip so far has been amazing and taught me so many new things and I hope there is only more new and exciting things to come as we finish the trip.

Adio(goodbye),

Taylor Rhymer

At the top of the White Tower

Chef Antonis Theodorakis and I

Dolmadakia Yalantzi in the pan and ready to be cooked.

Learning how to make the Tzatziki Sauce.

Samantha Fisher

I wish I could tell you about everything I have done so far, but that would be impossible. This experience has defiantly been one for the books, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to share it with. Within the short amount of time being together, a group of strangers became great friends, and I know that we will extend these friendships beyond Greece.

This morning we survived our first storm, I’m sure the locals thought it was amusing seeing a group of Americans running as if we were going to melt. It only lasted a couple hours, and that Greece sun came right back out to brighten up the day! We started our day off with class at the Folklore Museum where we learned about the history of Greece, and then ended it at the Byzantin Museum. It was really interesting to have a guest lecturer come and teach us about the history because it was very memorable.

The best thing about Thessonaliki has been the many adventures that we go on each day. Even for the couple hours that we had free today, we managed to explore a part of the city that we hadn’t seen yet. Only ten days in and my perspectives on life, cultures, people, and traveling have changed in such a great way. Before being in Greece, I didn’t take much time to think deeply about my life and my abilities as a student. We often get caught up in our busy, daily tasks to take a moment to see how blessed we are or taking time to experience different parts of the world other than what we are accustomed too. Trust me, just within the time I have stayed in Greece, my eyes have been opened to a culture that has impacted me with not only cool adventures, but personally. I know that I will leave here with a different perspective on life, and it will help me become a better leader.

Lastly, I want to go over a few of my favorite things about Thessonaliki, Greece! I absolutely LOVE all of the cafes that are around the city. Each café has a different style, and wandering the back streets of the city is where you will find the best ones! It’s been really enjoyable sitting down and just talking to people instead of, what we are used too, having our phones in our faces the whole time. My other favorite time so far was our adventure to Halkidiki, where a small group of us were beach bums for a day! We laid out and napped on the beach for six straight hours, and I got to enjoy some seriously delicious seafood.

To say I am thankful for this opportunity is an understatement; studying abroad here in Greece has impacted me on so many different levels! I will not go home and just remember the things that happened in Greece. Instead, I will leave with new friendships, a new perspective on culture, and a new outlook on life.

Thanks Greece for all of the adventures so far!

Samantha Fisherfolk

This is me at the Byzantin Museum

My adventure in town this afternoon! Authentic gyro for lunch and Katherine and me in the taxi.

A few of the MANY cafes around town. From left to right (Me, Quynh, Katherine) with our juice and coffees!

Our adventure to Halkidiki. My yummy fish I got at the restaurant.

Rosa Villarreal

While Josh hiked with 17 students on Mt. Olympus I gave the remaining students an option to take an overnight trip to Halkidiki, a peninsula and part of the region of central Macedonia in Northern Greece. We got up bright and early to catch a train to Ouranoupoli, a part of Halkidiki. Luckily, our hotel in Thessaloniki has a sister hotel where we were able to get a wonderful corporate rate of 16 euros each for the night.

We easily found the hotel and headed straight to the beach, later on that evening we ate at a beautiful ocean front restaurant. The receptionist at the hotel called the restaurant and a waiter actually picked us up and took us back to the hotel once we were done eating!

The next morning we took a three hour cruise around Mt. Athos. It is a self governing island off of the Halkidiki peninsula. Mr. At how is currently home to 2300 monks that live in one of the 20 breathtaking monasteries. The first monastery was built in 963 on Mt. Athos.

The monks live according to the sun and not traditional time. Their days consist of three parts of eight hours each. Prayer, work, and sleep. No women or children are allowed on the island and few male outsiders are granted privelage to visit.

After our amazing tour we hopped on the bus to head to Thessaloniki in time for our sunset tour. Overall, the trip to Halkidiki was seamless, peaceful, relaxing, gorgeous, and awe-inspiring. The girls and I easily navigated travel and language barriers with ease, although we missed the rest of the group we loved every minute of our adventure!