Keep on Living

Today was Day 1 of leadership on the beautiful island of Crete. I was excited to refocus and get in the right mindset for this learning portion of our trip. Our lecture this morning was given by Garrett who spoke about the Power of Living. First we split into community groups to discuss what it really means to live. My group had so many great ideas and I enjoyed listening to each person’s opinion about what was important to them. Afterwards we read a powerful article about a man named James Shepherd whose horrible surfing accident and tough recovery inspired him to open The Shepherd Center, a catastrophic care hospital in Atlanta. One of the takeaway points of the story was persistence even in difficult situations and it helped illustrate a theory that Garrett presented: it either takes an incident or a tragedy to truly live life; sometimes called tragic optimism which leads to reevaluating one’s life. Robbie gave us three things that he strives for in travel and life in general: be intentional, be aware, be grateful. After sharing personal stories about this topic, we watched the film Darius Goes West. Even though I have seen it multiple times it still makes me laugh and cry every time. After the movie, we walked to a local cemetery. It really was one of the most beautiful cemeteries I’ve ever seen. It was small and surrounded an adorable little church. I loved how it was set up. All the graves were above ground and made of white marble. Each one was different and most of them were decorated with flowers, pictures, and letters. Some had glass keepsake boxes with various personal things inside. This is where we ended the lecture with an activity call the Dash Project. Basically this was a way to examine our lives by writing about what we plan to do with “the Dash in the Middle” which represents our live from birth to death. Visually it is the – between the two dates on our tombstone. It was a powerful activity that really made us think hard about what matters most in life. Today was very emotional and I believe everyone was a little shaken by the reflection, atmosphere, and location within the cemetery. I really enjoyed writing and reading mine out loud. If I wasn’t so verbose, I would insert my entire Dash in the Middle Project here but I’ve already said enough. So I will end with the last two sentences of my Dash assignment: “I want to use the whole dash- no dotted lines. I want my life to be made up of moments and memories that I’ll never forget until the end of my Dash.”

Jenna Chancey

OMG

Definitely just had the best week of my life. It started with a 5 hour train ride to Mt. Olympus, which we happened to get last minute “seats” on (sitting on the floor outside of the bathroom). However, we later managed to grab real seats with some Greek guys playing chess in the cafeteria. The Greek chess players, I will call them, spoke pretty great English and told us all about the cool places to go. They also mentioned how they liked our very white teeth. We also played a four-way game of chess that got pretty intense. My team won…of course. In the midst of our new friends we were also enjoying the most beautiful sights I have ever seen outside the window. My fellow Harry Potter fans, it was the train ride to Hogwarts. We arrived at our stop and said goodbye to our Greek chess players, who asked us for our emails (still haven’t received any mail).Once we arrived at our stop, we needed to find our way to the bus station. Luckily, we met this awesome old man who hopped on his bike, with cigarette in hand, and kindly guided us all the way to the bus station.

Climbing Mt. Olympus was indescribable, and I recommend that any who haven’t get on a plane ASAP. There was something so much more than feeling accomplished that took place on that adventure. As Dustin would say it was filled with a few of those moments in life that you will remember always, and change you forever.

Kelsey McDonnough

CRETE, WE’RE HERE

Take the Leap

We arrived in Crete at 5 am this morning after taking a ferry overnight. Although everyone was a little tired traveling to the hotel, we got to see the most amazing sunrise. Pinks, yellows, and oranges…it was amazing. We checked into the Galaxy Villas and are all very excited for a change of scenery. Our villas are perfect! The hotel sits up on the hill so every room has a balcony overlooking the town and water. We went on a walk around our little town this morning (although nothing was open at 7 am) and checked everything out. From the streets to the food, Crete is definitely a place that comes to mind when you think the word “Greece.” We all had the day off – some went exploring, some laid by the pool, and some caught up on sleep from the ferry! We are having a lecture tonight and then a group dinner to celebrate finally being in Crete!

Garrett joined us yesterday and got everyone excited about the upcoming Leadership lectures/activities. All of the speakers we have coming, including Garrett and the whole LEAD Staff are all so inspiring to our group. I think we have a good vibe going into leadership week and I am excited to see how everyone uses these lessons on life and leadership when we return to Athens.

Lauren Shields

Leap of Faith

Off week came to an end yesterday with a tour of the Ancient city of Corinth, a scenic boat ride down the Corinth canal, and most exciting of all, bungee jumping off a bridge over the canal. Coming on this trip, I knew that we were going to have the opportunity to go bungee jumping. This is never something that I would not have considered under normal circumstances however; I figured that spending the summer in Greece is a once in a lifetime kind of thing so I might as well do it.

When we arrived at the bridge, the people at Zulu Bungy got the 24 of us or so that decided to do it suited up in harnesses and ankle straps. At this point, I was excited and ready to go. Once we all headed down to the rickety bridge where the platform was, I realized what a long way down it was and my fear of heights started to hit me. I stood on the bridge for about an hour watching those go before me and felt myself get more and more scared. Finally it was my turn and after some tears and a pep talk from the staff at the bungee place and my friends, I knew that it was now or never. The guy on the platform counted down from 5 along with everyone on the bridge and when they got to one I jumped. It wasn’t the most graceful jump and I’m pretty sure that I screamed the entire way down, but the feeling of conquering my fear was incredible. The fall was so fast the it is hard to explain what it felt like, but soon enough it was over and I was safely back on the platform. Bungee jumping was surly a leap of faith for me because it is something that I never thought that I would ever do. I am so glad that I was able to take that jump because the reward of actually doing something so out of your comfort zone is incredible.

Today, Saturday is out last day in Glyfada for a while. Tonight we have a dinner with our community groups before heading out on an overnight ferry to Crete. I am excited for the change of scenery and to spend the next two weeks taking classes and exploring a new part of Greece.

Kelsey Foster

We’re Freaking Out

Today was our final day on the island of Andros for our getaway trip during off-week. We woke up early and hit the beach around ten or so, and me, Hannah, Beth Ann, Dustin and Madison grabbed some brunch at a local café (same local café we went to for lunch and dinner yesterday, we like simplicity) and all got omelets. They were delicious and Greek omelets we found out come with French fries in them.

The main event today was what all of us could not stop talking about, as the tomorrow the day will finally be upon us… bungee jumping. Now what seemed as an activity that seemed far off in the future and not even real is quickly becoming a reality as we count down the hours until we all go off the bridge. Unfortunately, this blog entry as well as today is kind of like the opener of an Eric Clapton concert… everyone is excitedly anticipating what is ahead and isn’t really that interested in what’s currently happening. But we’ve all been motivating each other and keeping sprits up for the big jump tomorrow, some of us even preparing face masks (Hi Madison Weiss) or Superman capes (oh hey Carrie) to show off our originality. But we all made the best of our fears and had a great time at the beach for our last few hours in Andros, soaking up the sun, playing Paddle Ball, and reading. Then later in the afternoon we checked out of our hotel, said goodbye to our new friend/hotel manager/break-dancing aficionado Roberto and took the taxi ride to the port. It was a close call but this time we were 17 for 17 in everyone making it on the ferry ride back home safely to Athens and then to the hotel in Glyfada.

After getting back, some of us went to our standard dinner staple of Zaxos for our “Last Supper” before the big jump for some gyros and spicy cheese dip. Then after that we grabbed some gelato and came back to the hotel to try to relax a little bit and calm our nerves before tomorrow. I can’t wait to see what these next three weeks has to offer full of adventure, learning and growing as well! I think it’s safe to say we all are having an amazing time here in Greece, and cross your fingers none of us ruin Corinth’s perfect bungee jumping injury record!

Katie O’Brien

Life's a Beach

After a 2-hour ferry ride, 17 of us arrived in Andros yesterday morning. We hitched a taxi from the port to the hotel. (It was the scariest 10-minute ride of my life.) After much anticipation, a tiny little bit of seasickness, and almost having a heart attack in the cab we were here. It’s incredible! The island is beautiful. We’re staying at a tiny little hotel that’s built into the side of a hill. I wake up in the morning and look out over the sea. Life is so serene and calm. The streets are practically empty, except for the shop owners who sit in chairs by their doors. I’m pretty sure we doubled the population of the town whenever we got here, and EVERYONE knows were here. The jewelry stores are offering half off, the restaurants are busy and the grocery store is being hit up multiple times a day.

A couple girls and I found a little cove where the water crashes onto some rocks. The water is so clear you can see straight down to the bottom. There are bright red anemones living in different nooks and crannies and snails cover most of the wet part of the rocks. We laid out our towels and enjoyed the sun, the seclusion and the sound of the ocean. After a couple hours of baking we finally got up the courage to jump in. Well, more of a slow dipping in, we never really had enough guts to actually jump. Today I bought a mask for 6 Euro and swam around chasing the fish. Best 6 Euros ever!

It’s been a blast and a nice little break to fully reflect upon all we saw and experienced last week, and to prepare for classes next week. Every morning I wake up and I thank God so much for this incredible opportunity to live, learn and grow. I look around and life seems surreal. I can’t wait for the next adventure… But for right now I’m enjoying life at the beach!

Kaitlin Byard

More Kefi Please!

It’s finally the off week and the only way to describe where I am right now is Heaven…aka the island of Naxos! I am here with Abby, Memma, Lauren, Matt, and Loree Anne and we are having the most amazing time. We had to wake up at 5 in the morning yesterday to catch a giant cruise ship to Naxos. As we pulled in, it was everything I had ever imagined the islands would be and more. White buildings, blue tops, and blue shutters painted the coastline. The water went from deep blue to a vibrant turquoise and you could see giant white rocks scattered across the bottom. As we got off the ship, we were basically running to get to our hotel, into our bathing suits, and head straight to the beach. We are staying at Hotel Galini; a little Greek family, who could not be more excited that we are staying here, runs it. We are right by this beautiful beach called St. George and today we hopped on a bus to a more secluded beach called Prokopios. Last night we went to a Mexican restaurant called Picasso and we ate more food than I have ever seen 6 people eat in my life. We then walked the streets of “The Center” and had a brilliant idea…we decided to pretend that it was Loree Anne’s bachelorette party so that we could get some free stuff. As soon as our waitress figured this out, we got the royal treatment. We lived it up and had a great time being given free things; we’ve decided it’s going to be Matt’s birthday tonight, Happy Birthday Matt!

Going from service week to this week makes me appreciate where I am even more. Seeing what these families go through and how difficult their lives are makes me realize I truly have “won the lottery in life” (as Robbie would say). I see now that I have been given gifts and opportunities that allow me to help others. I am so thankful that I chose Global Lead as my study abroad program because it has opened my eyes to a world I had only heard about!

My life in three words is “More Kefi Please!” I chose these three words because this trip just keeps getting better, and I can’t wait to see what the next three and a half weeks have to offer!

Jordan Luedde

Time to Relax

After an exhausting two weeks of non-stop activities and service, most of us were ready to catch up on some rest and relax. Our off- week started this past Saturday. While some of our group decided to spend the first part of off- week going on the adventure of climbing Mount Olympus, the rest of us decided to spend our days lounging on a few of the nearby beaches. Yesterday, Beth Ann took a group of us to Cape Sounion to see the temple of Poseidon. I can’t even begin to describe how gorgeous the sight was on the top of the mountain overlooking the sea. We spent a while at the temple taking pictures before we headed back down the mountain to a private beach. We snagged several lounge chairs and spent the rest of the day relaxing and sunbathing. We caught the bus back to Glyfada and stopped in town for dinner before heading back to the hotel for the night.

Today, a group of us took a trip to one of the private beaches here in Glyfada. After a few of our beach trips were cancelled due to weather, we were finally able to spend a beautiful, sunny day at the private beach. After a quick tram ride, we spent most of the day at the beach reading or napping. After getting some sun, we headed back into town to do some shopping and get dinner. We finally found the two-story grocery store this afternoon! We stopped to get some groceries and snacks for our trip to the island of Andros.

We’re leaving tomorrow at 5:15am to catch cabs to the port in Athens and then get on the ferry to Andros. I am so excited to visit this quaint island and spend a few more days at the beach before bungee jumping in Corinth on Friday!

Jordan Martin

Live, Laugh, Love

My “Life in 3 Words” is live, laugh, love. I know it’s a little cliché and overused but this phrase describes perfectly how I feel about this past week of service. We learned during our Power of Giving lecture on Thursday that “you have to live it before you give it”. And I try to live my life to the fullest each day, especially on this trip. Laughter was something that we heard a lot of from the children on Wednesday at Praksis. I love to laugh and listening to other people laugh brings me such joy. And love is a word that I use often. According to the Beatles, “all you need is love”. I hope that my life and my adventure in Greece are both filled with living, laughing, and loving!

Service Week began on Monday and ended Friday, but my excitement and desire to live a life full of serving others will never end. Wednesday we had a party at Praksis for the children of the refugees. I love kids so much and was so excited to spend the day just playing and interacting with them despite language and cultural barriers. But when we first got there, I was really emotional. I didn't immediately jump into playing like I expected I would. I wanted to make a special connection with one child so badly that I think I was either afraid that I wouldn't or that I would and then have a hard time leaving him/her. So I think I was hesitant and instead I sat back and just observed for the first hour or so. Finally, the cutest Sudanese boy named Peter walked through the door. I thought to myself "this is my kid"! But I soon realized that sweet little 3 year old Peter was very attached to his daddy. I reached out to hold his hand in order to lead him into party, but he pulled away and clung to his father. I understood and stepped back.

Later while coloring, I met Samira! She is a beautiful 8 year old from Afghanistan with pretty long brown hair, big brown eyes, gold earrings, a blue and silver cross necklace, and a timid but sweet spirit. She didn't speak any English or really much at all. She was very quiet but her face, especially her eyes, lit up whenever something made her happy. She loved playing with the bubbles, maybe as much as I did. We tried to talk a little. I asked how old she was, how to spell her name, and what her favorite color was. She held up 8 fingers and pointed to the orange marker.

When we were leaving Praksis to load the bus, I held back from the group to walk with Samira. Unsure of whether I would see her again, I told her that I had fun (which she might or might not have understood), smiled a big smile, and asked for a hug with outstretched arms. With the toys she was allowed to take home in her hands, she threw her little arms around me for a goodbye hug. It made my day! At the crosswalk, I stood next to Peter and his dad, who told me that this cute little boy with gorgeous eyelashes really liked our tour bus that was waiting for me across the street. His father joked that Peter would totally go with me if he could. I laughed and somewhat seriously considered taking him home with me because he was so adorable. I joked that I would take him with me right then. Before I could even ask for a hug, Peter threw his arms open and around me, willing to go. I was almost crying and laughing at the same time as I picked him up and twirled him around, secretly wishing I could take this little cutie with me for real.

Friday we split into two groups to paint the apartments that Praksis provides. I was so excited to learn the other group was working at Peter’s house and our group would be painting at Samira’s apartment. When we left, I was able to hug Samira one last time and tell her “you are beautiful” in Greek. I can't even imagine some of the horrible things that these two innocent and beautiful children may have seen or experienced in their journeys from Afghanistan and Sudan to Greece. My heart was absolutely broken for their families and the hardships they must face. I pray for their safety and that they will find hope and love in the middle of their difficult situations. I hope that even in the simple smile or hug, I made an impact- a special connection- and that they will understand that they are valued and cherished.

I loved spending time with all of the children- playing, laughing, coloring, and communicating without words. And although painting was difficult and frustrating, I enjoyed working together to give the families hope in the form of fresh paint. I wish we could stay longer and build stronger relationships with the kids. I wish there was more we could do to help Praksis and the families they serve. I want to know and understand more about the country and situation that they came from, the experiences and challenges they face here in Greece, and how they go about daily life. This week challenged me to think about my life and what I can do to make service more of a priority. I plan to translate what I’ve learned and experienced here and apply it to my life at home. To bring living, laughing, and loving from Athens, Greece back with me to Athens, Georgia!

Jenna Chancey

The Power of Giving

As service week comes to a close, we learn that to really be able to give, volunteer or best help someone or a situation, we have to learn and live it first. Spending time with those you are helping in their home and culture allows you the ability to give your time, talent and treasures appropriately.

Today, twenty-eight students woke up early and excited to make a difference: to give time and ability. After an hour bus ride to Athens and getting supplies, we arrived at the Praksis housing and met two families, needing and deserving of help. While repainting their walls only skimmed the surface of their needs, the fresh coat of paint gave hope and inspiration.

This week after our Power of Giving session I realized that we all have won the lottery of life and with that great fortune, we also receive great responsibility. Sometimes this responsibility means smiling at a stranger, volunteering at a hospice, mentoring, peer tutoring, or playing with refugees’ children and bringing joy to their lives; but somehow, it is up to us to change the world for the better because we have the capability. Often times these things come easily and one can simply see the impact they’ve made, and other times efforts are complied with challenges.

The kitchen that my group painted today proved to be a little taxing. Almost finished with our project, the paint peeled off the walls and feeling mildly defeated, we had to start over. A minor set back in the scheme of life but it taught the valuable lesson of doing the best you can; sometimes support and effort make all the difference. Who really knows if we changed lives today or not by painting apartments, but the most important thing is that we learned how to care, how to serve, and how to give.

As Service Week comes to a close, the same twenty-eight students emotionally reflect on what we have learned. With great anticipation of the influence we will continue to have on the world, we enter the Off Week. Parting ways with our separate adventures, we will keep you posted on the things to come.

Hannah Jayne

Just Do It.

To fall or not to fall? Definitely a pressing question on all of our minds. Due to the general strike taking place throughout Greece, yesterday's activities were rescheduled and we were free to do whatever we wanted--of course excluding activities using public transportation, businesses, and stores. So, left with the options of staying at the hotel or heading to the beach, we naturally found ourselves facing blue waters and sunny skies.

While lying on the rocky sand, I had much time to think about the upcoming activities and experiences we will be presented with at Global LEAD. There we were, Thursday. Just two days away from our free week and only one week from our bungee jumping excursion. So many options. So many choices. At first it was an easy decision for me, "Well, I would jump off the bridge. No problem. Forwards? Backwards? Tandem? Whichever. But the only time offered is during the off week and I'll be in Italy. Next time." However, while planning for our week of adventure in the world of pizza and pasta, traveling to Rome seemed like less and less of an option, and climbing Mount Olympus emerged as an optimal alternative.

So, here we are ready to hike through the highest terrain Greece has to offer (the planning of which still has a long way to go before tomorrow), but our journey will end with plenty of time to return and join the group as they free fall into the trenches. Great. Out of excuses. Back to square one. Should I just jump?

It's not so much the jump that scares me. It's my fear of what I would miss out on if I was one of the unlucky cases who got hurt during the fall. I consider myself an adventurous person and the adventure aspect of Global LEAD has been a huge draw to this program for me. Yet, here I am debating what should be a simple decision. Throughout our travels thus far, Global LEAD has encouraged us to try new things, overcome our fears, and push ourselves to our limits. There is no doubt that bungee jumping would be a true testament to my efforts of engaging in LEAD's suggestions. So why am I still unsure?

I have always thought that "Just Do It" is a motto to live by. Get out there, try new things, and take a chance on what you may like. Whether it is trying a different food, driving a new road, or making a friend-- Just Do It! But, for this decision, I cannot just do it. As much as I know I would love the catch in my stomach and the thrill of the fall, I cannot just jump. For this decision, I need to step back before I can just fall forward.

Jessie Friedrich

Maximize the Kefi

Kefi is a Greek term for when someone is having an extraordinary amount of fun. When thinking of words to describe my time here at Global Lead: Greece I could not think of a better term to use. The incredible things we have experienced in less than two weeks are almost indescribable. From sailing the islands off the beautiful Greek coast to helping immigrants in the inner parts of Athens, everything has truly been a wonderful experience for me and I am sure for everyone else here.

Today the Global Lead team went to two apartments, owned by the Praksis organization, where several immigrant families live. The apartments were quite small with only two bedrooms, and a single family lives in each bedroom. This really makes one appreciate the fantastic hotel we are staying at in Glyfada. We spent all morning and afternoon painting the entire apartment, which desperately need a fresh coat of paint. It was a lot of hard work, but eventually after several long, sweaty hours of work we finished the whole apartment. Besides the fact that none of us are expert painters, I believe that we made a tremendous difference in these people’s homes. I can only hope that this small project will have a larger impact on the lives of the people living in the apartments, and that hopefully it will create a sense of optimism within them.

Today Service Week ended on a very high note and it will be a perfect transition in to our Off Week. This week we have truly maximized the kefi, and there is no doubt in my mind that next week and the rest of the trip will only continue to give us the same levels of kefi.

Matthew Roos

Greece is Expensive

There was a general strike throughout the country today so instead of going to Athens today as originally planned, the group had the morning off and listened to a lecture of the current economic situation here this afternoon. The morning started leisurely with breakfast downstairs before Austin, Beth Ann, and I went into town to the market. The market was unlike anything I have ever seen before! They had everything—jewelry, fish, fruit, clothes, shoes, purses, textiles, and even turtles! It was so neat to see and everything was such a good deal! We perused for a while before heading back to the hotel for some sun. There were a lot people out by the pool today and it was so nice to have the afternoon to relax!

We came in after lunch and got ready to go downstairs to hear from our special guest speakers for the day. We heard mostly from Alec Mally, a state department employee here in Greece who has held multiple diplomacy positions throughout the Balkan region. First, he provided us with basic insight into how the Greek economic system functions and how Greece has catapulted itself into the mess the country is currently in. He talked about how Greece was able to develop a successful economy after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1824. Much of this can be attributed to the return of native Greeks back to their homeland after independence was achieved. There was steady growth for a long time as other European countries invested in the infrastructure of Greece. According to Mally, the real problems started in the 1980’s when political power shifted and thousands of civil workers were added to the workforce and the government became unable to support the massive influx of workers and their benefits. Basically, this happened again in 2004, and things have only gotten worse from there. After learning all of this background information, Mally summarized the situation by speaking on the regulations in place that prohibit free enterprise and outlining possible outcomes to the situation. Despite all the problems, he was very adamant that although Greece’s situation is bad, it is important to keep a regional perspective. Greece is still much better off than any other country in the Balkan region. feel as though the group left with a much better understanding of the situation facing Greece while we are here.

Looking forward to tomorrow!

Hannah Springston

Seeing is Believing

Coming into this trip, I really did not know what to expect. I had always wanted to go to Greece and this trip truly made a dream of mine come true. Being the only student not from UGA, I was very nervous and anxious about meeting people on the trip and as to whether or not people would open up to me. That was not a problem at all; every single person on this trip and been so nice to me. I have never felt left out or not included and I always have someone to talk to.

When we went to Praksis and heard a man’s story on being an immigrant and knowing no one, it really affected me. I felt as if I connected to him without knowing anyone on this trip. His name was Abdul and although he has a much more intense story than me, we still relate. He discussed with us how he had to come to Greece with nothing and no one. He has no friends here because everyone is back at his home. I knew how important it was for me to come to Greece and meet knew people. I could not make it through this trip without the people here. It must be really hard for him and he must feel lonely.

Hearing his story really impacted me and the way I look at things. The service week has been a great experience. One day we were there for hours sorting tons and tons of medicines by chronological and alphabetical order. That opened my eyes to the need for help. All the medicine we sorted someone in the world needs and will be very lucky to have. Sorting medicine helps out in a lot of ways I didn’t think it would. Another day, we had a party at Praksis with all the families and their children. This was such a fun day for me. The smiles and looks on the children’s faces were priceless and will never be forgotten. Just us being there to play with them made them so happy.

I truly do feel like I have made an impact while we have been here during service week and working with Praksis. My three words are “seeing is believing” because I truly believe you must see something to believe it. I saw many areas that need help and met people that need help and now I truly believe in the goodness of helping.

Madison Weiss

Pay it Forward

Yesterday, a few selected students were given the opportunity to see the Ammonia district of Athens, an area that was almost hard to imagine from their descriptions. They described to us a world where children grow up playing by gutters filled with bloody drug needles and passed out women blocking their street games. This description was definitely a rude awakening to most of us, still with a fresh buzz from the island tour and Acropolis viewing of last week. Many of us left this concerned and overwhelmed; I know I, personally, could not stop thinking about the images they had described and how they seem to form an endless cycle for these people who used to have completely respectable happy lives in their country of origin.

This was followed by a riveting discussion about “The Power of Giving”. We were shown clips of Pay it Forward and were reminded that a simple action can have huge results that really can change the world. We were each given a single euro and asked to do something incredible with it that would change a life. We then boarded our bus in our conservative wear, ready to change the lives of many immigrant children searching for love in a foreign country.

We arrived to many smiling faces of children overjoyed to see us, one of them even releasing her excitement on the floor. It was really rewarding to see the parents there also, so happy to see that someone in this new country was ready to welcome them. Though most of the children could not speak much English, they were still having the time of their lives and appreciating the attention and a new feeling of belonging in a new foreign country that does not feel like their home. We definitely all left Victoria Square today having experienced the “Power of Giving” and ready to “Pay it Forward” with our new euros.

Hannah Alexander

Act Your Age

Today was a day that took us all back to our childhood.

We started the morning off with a modern, Greek culture lesson by Professor Caldwell. Then, Robbie and Beth Ann lead us in our first leadership discussion, “The Power of Giving.” They each shared a few personal experiences, described to us the “Live It Before You Give It” concept, and then challenged us to embrace the power of giving and make the world a better place. Each of us received 1 euro in a small, white envelope. We can add to it if we choose, but sometime in the next 6 weeks, we have to use this money to make a change in the world in some way. I was so overwhelmed when I first realized the task in front of me. ONE EURO to change the entire WORLD!

Then, after a quick lunch from our favorite sandwich shop in Glyfada (Old Baker’s), we got on the bus and drove back to Praxis in Athens. We had a party with 10-12 of the refugee children Praxis deals with using the toys we had brought from home. I met a little Afghani girl, Samir, who was 8 years old but has yet to attend any type of formal school. We didn’t speak the same language, but by picking up a coloring book and giving a simple smile, I knew she understood me. We all played and laughed with all of the different kids, but Samir was the one I spent the most time with. As I handed her a “Party City” bag of toys to take home, I then understood that 1 euro may not be a lot; but sometimes, it doesn’t a large monetary amount to make a difference. Occasionally, all it takes is a colored marker and a grin.

My picture is of the 1 euro that came in my envelope. The 3 words I chose for “Life in 3 Words were: Changing the World. I’ll hopefully be able to let you all know how I used it to contribute my part the next time I blog! Thank you all for reading!

Loree Anne Thompson

Life is a Contradiction

Simply put, life is one big contradiction. To many, this may have a negative connotation, but to me, contradictions help to make life so beautiful, so new, so exciting. Over the course of our time here in Greece, we have spent a lot of time talking about expectations. What we expected Glyfada and Athens to be like, how we expected to spend our time, and how we expected this incredible group of 29 to interact. I think that if all of our assumptions had been exact we might be a bit disappointed. It would be like knowing the end of an incredible book before you’ve been given the chance to discover it on your own.

Unconsciously, I always manage to seek out the juxtapositions that are presented in my life. I look for the hope that shines through the darkest of situations, the importance that resonates from seemingly meaningless conversation. Here, in Greece, these contradictions hide behind every corner, and it is up to us to discover them. I find it incredible that the Acropolis still stands strong after 2500 years, with its antiquity and magnitude shining in every direction, yet rests amidst the everyday “hustle-and-bustle” of over four million people in an incredibly urbanized city. When I think back to our time at Praxis thus far, it only helps to reinforce the undying gratitude and appreciation for various things in my life; for my family and incredible friends, for the fact that I am able to be a part of this incredible journey, for the simple fact that I do not wake up every morning wondering where my next meal will come from, whether or not drugs will claim the life of those close to me.

There is one contradiction that stands out above the rest in my mind. During our orientation at Praxis last week, we were given the honor to hear the account of an incredible man, Abdul, first hand. Abdul spoke of the hardships of leaving his country in the midst of a civil war. His reasoning was clear, he had to leave to protect his family, a family that he has been forced to leave behind. After a three-month trek, much of it by foot, Abdul reached Greece and, ultimately, his safe haven – Praxis. He spoke to us, portraying in great detail his journey, making sure to show off his incredibly powerful smile the entire time. But, just a few inches above his pearly whites, his eyes described the pain and suffering he was going through. Abdul’s incredible attitude, even during the most unfathomable of situations, will forever be a guiding light in my life.

I look at this image of the Greek flag, its everyday pride and character blatant, yet I do what I can to look beyond-to look at the power of the light that shines through the dark. I remind myself, with the words of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, to look for the light from within and how, “People are like stained - glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”

Lauren Shuster

Money Isn't Happiness

Today I had the experience of a lifetime. I was one of the few privileged (from the Global LEAD group) to witness the “fourth world” of Greece. While our team was helping Praksis organize their donated medicine, their social worker and doctor, Maria and Yanis, took a group of us to the streets of Ammonia. Though I have heard many stories from my mother, being a social worker, I had never fully pictured or felt what actually goes on in these places. On the streets, we witnessed prostitutes (the only people here in heels) standing on street corners during broad day light, saw used bloody heroin needles on the ground, unconscious women in doorways, and drug-addicts walking around with their next dose hanging out of their pants. We then entered a café where only men were allowed. They were mostly Somalian in this particular café, and the women serving them seemed unhappy and terrified. We had to assure them we had no connection to the police to even have a conversation with them. Most of the men could not understand English with the exception of a young man around the age of 20. Maria and Yanis began telling him about Praksis and asking him to translate the information to the rest. They then asked him if we could go up to the apartments to talk to more people. He had to ask multiple people for permission first and made sure their Albanian money collector was not around before he said yes.

As we walked up the stairs, the smell changed to a rotten food and dirt aroma, and the air thickened. There were roaches climbing up the walls, and the electricity was broken. When we went into the first room, I began to feel sick to my stomach. There were ten men standing on top of several thin foam mattresses connected, and they all had holey sheets. There was no room for walking. There was a closet as a bathroom, and one stove and sink in the corner. The few clothes that they had were hanging up along the wall, so they did not take up more room. We apologized for disturbing their privacy, and they acted as if that word was not in their vocabulary. Maria and Yanis handed them all packets of information in Arabic to inform them of where they could get free food, free doctors, free medicine etc. They all acted as if they had never heard of it before though they only lived a few blocks away from Praksis’ main headquarters. We asked them what else they needed help with, and they just said money. We told them all we could do is offer them the right information and resources to get it, but they then weren’t as interested.

We then proceeded to a room of all women. There were two adults and three children in a very tiny space. The woman only spoke Arabic, so we used our new guide to translate. She told us her problem that she had lost both her babies’ birth certificates and did not know what to do. Maria, emotionless, informed her that she needed to bring someone who spoke Greek with her back to the hospital to get another. We asked if any of the men would go with her, and none of them seemed willing because they are terrified of leaving their apartments. If the police ask them for a pink card, they go straight to jail for seven days since they don’t have any. The other woman asked if there was a doctor to look at her sick child. Yanis began to give her information on where she could go to take them, but she still was only looking for instant gratification and seemed displeased. It was nice to see the babies smiling and still know there was some hope in the air.

As we were leaving the streets, I noticed that they used roads to separate the blacks from the whites, no one would look me in the eyes, and everyone was more scared of me than vise versa. There was a big sign that some Greek people had put up that said “Stop drug addiction, Stop Prostitution, Make them leave”. It was interesting to see the immigrants perspective of the Greek people as the bad guys. The police have the view that if they do not see it, it is not happening. They choose not to go into these areas unless they receive enough complaints to make them go there. And if they go there, they usually raid apartments, close them down, and arrest at least 100 immigrants and refuges. Usually they do not have enough room in jails to arrest them all, so they can’t always go.

I chose my life in three words to be “Money Isn’t Happiness” because learning about the way people live here, nothing is materialistic. It makes my appreciation for clothes and things significantly less. I have forever changed.

Emily Oppenheim

Open your Eyes

Today was a good day for reflection. We spent the early half of the afternoon with our community groups discussing the most exciting thing we’ve done over the past weekend followed by the thing we missed the most. For our group, we primarily said it was winning the scavenger hunt because obviously we are the best. Though, the second question was a bit more interesting. Answers ranged from people missing others, to objects such as A/C, and even the subtlest of conveniences like the ability to just take a drive. These discussions even got deeper when we began to apply the story of a Sudanese immigrant seeking asylum in Greece to our personal experiences of being out of the country. We were able to see the similarities through the excitement and enthusiasm we have all felt as well as the adjustment and withdrawal. This was a great opportunity for each of us to open up about the ups and downs that we have all been feeling and to reemphasize the importance of our groups, our friends, and this trip.

The latter half of the day was spent in the Praksis clinic where we had a chance to see how it worked. The whole experience was a bit overwhelming. There were people who had nowhere to go coming in and asking for help. Some of them can’t speak Greek or English and struggled to communicate. It was a very eye opening experience and I look for to spending the remainder of the week at the clinic.

--Dustin Harris

Walking in Abdul's Shoes

Today started our first day of “walking in Abdul’s shoes” through working with Praksis. Abdul is an asylum seeker from Sudan living in Greece. We heard Abdul speak the other day about his personal and legal struggles of being a refugee. I think I can speak for the entire group when I say that Abdul’s story touched all of us. Our groups discussed how Abdul felt making his journey here and how we can relate that to our own journeys being away from home. We could relate by having withdrawals from our families and familiarities and adjustment of language, culture, and conveniences. Abdul also felt excitement for his new life, filled with safety and we felt excitement to experience this country. It made us evaluate our perspective on how we view immigrants/refugees and what we can do to help them. We all chose Global LEAD for a reason – because we would have the chance to impact our own lives through impacting others. Today was exciting because we didn’t really know what to expect. We learned all about the long process that an asylum seeker, immigrant, or minority has to go through in order to receive help from Praksis. Language barriers are one of the hardest things for the Praksis workers during the initial interviews. We saw many different kinds of people with issues that ranged from health problems to homelessness. I got to see the bags and bags of medicine that we will be helping the clinic sort and organize tomorrow. Everyone feels very optimistic that even with these little things we can help Praksis.

Lauren Shield

The Best is Yet to Come

It goes without saying that the past week here in Greece has been incredible. So far, we have gotten to tour the acropolis, visit picturesque islands of the Mediterranean sea, and most recently scavenge our way around the Plaka in Athens – all activities that would be a great start to any Grecian getaway. Tomorrow however, our week of service at Praksis will begin. This week will undoubtedly show us a side of Greece that very few tourists (or anyone outside of Greece) ever get to witness.

During our orientation at Praksis a few days ago, we were given an overview about the organization and what they do to help migrant workers, asylum seekers, human trafficking victims, etc. These were all very touching subjects, and obviously so different from what comes to mind when one thinks of Greece. The part of the orientation session that stuck out the most was (probably for all of us) Abdul’s story. Abdul is an asylum seeker from Sudan, as mentioned in previous blogs. The recent events of his life were shocking to all of us, and I think it’s safe to say that he has been in the back of our minds ever since hearing his story. What is so amazing is that starting tomorrow, we will be helping people like Abdul; people who have life stories and events within them that are unfathomable to any of us. Tomorrow, we begin a week that will change our lives and others. Tomorrow, we are going to see past the aesthetic beauty and ancient culture of Greece. Rather, we will acquire new perspectives of the real Greece and the unacknowledged problems within it.

I believe that after this week, our newly acquired perspectives will most certainly help us make a difference in the lives of various refugees and migrants of Greece. It is my hope that we can apply the lessons we will learn and the perspectives we will acquire to our own lives in order for us to all make a small difference in the world we live in.

Brooke Lane

Exciting, Rewarding, Thankful

Today was an adventurous day for the members of Global L.E.A.D. We took part in a scavenger hunt that had us exploring the streets of Athens in the Plaka district. Among the many activities we had to accomplish, buying as many items as possible with 2 Euros, was a group favorite. At first, I thought we might be able to buy a maximum of five items, but surprisingly by using our charm and finely tuned bargaining skills we somehow managed to acquire over fifteen objects. We also learned a common Greek dance that is often performed at weddings. Watch out Dancing with the Stars, here we come! Of all the activities, these two really made the scavenger hunt adventurous and challenging. By the time we boarded the bus to return to Glyfada, everyone was exhausted and ready for a quick nap. Although this week has certainly been exciting, the coming week should be a rewarding and eye-opening experience as we start our service work in Athens. I believe that we will gain insight into the many hardships that some of the immigrants in this country face. After completing these service hours, I am sure that everyone will be more appreciative and thankful for all the small things we take for granted in our lives.

Carrie Newton

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Today we did a very intense scavenger hunt, and my team (Tasty Ouzaki) won! We went to into Athens, and each team had a book of clues and things we had to find. I really don’t know how we won, but somehow we did. We did everything from learning a funny traditional dance to finding the closest metro station. After the scavenger hunt was over, we had some time to walk around the plaka again and eat lunch. Some of us bought fake watches for 10 Euro, which was pretty funny…we also saw all of the vendors see some police, and pack up their stuff and sprint away-there were at least 30 people scrambling away. About ten minutes later they were back in their spot selling fake jewelry and weird toys. We came back to Glyfada and lots of us fell asleep by the pool…it was so nice, and the weather is perfect!

Maryemma Sikes

Here to Help

Until today, every day had gone by slowly and we were amazed at what a short time we had been together but how much we already felt comfortable with each other. We all know that at the end of the trip we will think that it went by too fast. Unfortunately, today went by too fast. Today was the kick-off to the service component of Global Lead. We went to Athens to hear about an amazing organization called Praksis. Praksis provides medical, psychological, and humanitarian services to disadvantaged people such as asylum seekers and street children. Next week, we will be working with Praksis. I can speak for everyone when I say that after today we are all extremely excited to work with such a great organization.

Today made me re-evaluate and think about a lot of things in my life. I believe that there is a lot more that I can be doing to better the world that I live in. In high school I volunteered with a lot of organizations, and when I got to college I didn’t get very involved on campus until recently. When I return to UGA I plan on being active in helping the world through organizations like UGAmiracle. Even small deeds such as donating medicine can make a world of difference. Donating at least an hour of my time each week can change someone’s life. There are so many little things we can all do to better the world.

Today also really made me think about the way I perceive immigrants. After hearing an asylum seeker named Abdul speak about his escape from Sudan to Greece I was filled with sympathy. It took Abdul 3 months to get from Sudan to Greece and once he arrived, he was not met with open arms. The Greek immigration process is very bureaucratic that causes more problems than it solves. When he arrived he was detained at a place where he had no rights and wasn’t allowed a lawyer. When he got out 15 days later he was homeless and without a job. Abdul is black and black people have a very difficult time finding work in Greece because many Greeks attach a stigma to them. Luckily, he found Praksis who took him in and gave him shelter and classes to learn Greek so that he can one day get a job and be successful in Greece. Hearing Abdul’s story made me reflect on the way I as an American looks at immigrants. Even hearing the word “immigration” has a stigma attached to it. During his speech I realized that I never think about why someone is coming to America for work. Even when people come to America they are faced with prejudice and difficulties with the language. Immigrants to Greece face this too, but as Abdul said, “What else can I do? There is no other place.” People have to escape danger in their countries only to be treated poorly by people in another. Unfortunately, this is the best that they can hope for. I hope for a day where people can see each other as fellow human beings.

Austin Bloom

What an Experience

Image sleeping four hours for the past three nights and waking up at a time when, in the states, you would normally be fast asleep. You drag your exhausted body out of a foreign bed in a strange, new place, needing that extra dose of caffeine just to jump-start the day. Then, you open your eyes and realize where you are.

In order to understand what we are all experiencing, I will explain what today was like for the twenty-nine of us. We left the hotel today at 7:00 am (that would be 12:00 am for you in the US), traveling about thirty minutes to a port where an enormous ferryboat was waiting to carry us out to sea. After getting very little sleep in the past few days, we were battling our drooping eyelids, to say the least. However, within the first hour of sailing, we watched as dolphins crashed beside the boat into the waves, and pelicans surrounded the top deck. The day began with excitement and just kept getting better.

We traveled to three islands off of the coast of Athens—Poros, Hydra and the Aegina. My favorite moment happened in Hydra, an island overflowing with white buildings, cobblestone streets, and vibrant people. A handful of us leapt off of the barge with the intention of trekking through the hilly terrain to a small, white church set apart from the city, yet we barely made it halfway, before deciding we had bitten off more than we could chew. We must have climbed about a half a mile of steep, white washed stairs, through the narrow streets and residential avenues before turning around and heading back toward the blue-green coast. The contrast between the white cement buildings, colorful shutters and doors, and the foliage of the bougainvillea and lemon trees that flowed over the walls and cobblestone overwhelmed the senses. I wish I could describe the setting that surrounded us and the culture that seeped out into the streets from the cafes and local markets, but I could not do it justice with words. Though we never made it to the church, we did manage to find the ocean, diving into the refreshing salt water from the rocks surrounding the bay, enjoying every second.

The history that this proud place holds is relevant in every moment we spend here. As we all learn, we are forming friendships and bonds with each other and our wonderful leaders, Beth Ann and Robbie. More importantly, in the short period of time I have been in Greece, I have seen a true testament to humanity. In a country plagued by economic crisis, there is still integrity and elegance to be found. We constantly see the unfortunate images of the riots that occurred last week, but, in the United States, we do not see the everyday lives that these people live or the power this land has on its people.

We have been here for a little over eighty hours, yet it feels like it has been weeks. I feel as though I’ve known some of the people in our group for years not days, and we have already done and seen so much. What an experience… and it is only just beginning.

Annie Herndon

Acropolis and much more!

Today was so unreal! I think it finally sunk in that I was spending 6 weeks in GREECE! Today we started out with a very early rise and a trip to Athens. We started at an ancient Greek theatre, which was so beautiful! The view was spectacular, and to know that it would only get better was unbelievable. We had a great lecture of Greek history at this theatre about the constant rise and fall of Athens. I really admire the Athenians, because even though they did do some not so smart things that often got them slaughtered and conquered, they never gave up their creative gifts. Their love for learning, art, dance, theatre, creativity, and the desire to be the best never left them.

So in blazing heat and lots of sweat we climbed up to see the acropolis and its surrounding structures. It was so crazy to think that Aristotle and ancient Greeks in general once walked in those very places. The work on these structures was gorgeous. Seeing the Parthenon up close was such an experience. The views were to die for. Being able to see all of the structures, the city, the sea, and the mountains in the background made my eyes very, very happy. I’m not even a picture person, and I could not put my camera down. My favorite part, however, was being able to climb up on the big rock that the apostle Paul taught on. Running up there made me so happy. Earlier that morning I had read in the book of Acts about Paul’s trip to Athens to share the message of Christ, and to be where that took place thousands of years ago was ridiculously cool. To run down this insanely slippery mountain of a rock, I had to take my shoes off but then I realized that I was barefoot where Paul had walked- which for some reason made it that much more awesome. At the end of the tour we were all exhausted and we basically passed out the second we got to our rooms. The day ended perfectly with Zumba and yummy gelato. I can’t believe this is just the third day. So far, this trip has been purely AMAZING!!!!

Amrutha Renganathan

The Other Athens

Life in 3 Words: Beauty, Adventure, Learning

I chose to use this picture of the statue of the goddess Athena to represent life in 3 words. Athena was the daughter of Zeus. She was the goddess of which the city of Athens was named and the Parthenon was built in her honor. I feel that Athens is representative of Greece and the beauty, adventure, and learning that I will experience during my time here.

Today was such an exciting day in Greece. After an early breakfast we headed out on a city tour of downtown Athens. We had a great tour guide who showed us many historic buildings and landmarks in the city center. After being in Athens for a few days, I still can’t get over the way that everyone drives here. People park all kinds of crazy ways and I have yet to see a speed limit sign yet. I have just learned to be careful when crossing the street. Our tour guide explained to us that people in Athens love their cars and drive everywhere despite the fact that there is very limited parking everywhere. This was surprising to me because I had always heard that Europeans tend to walk a lot more.

After the city tour we got the chance to go up to the Acropolis. It was so neat how we were in the middle of such a modern city and all of a sudden these ancient ruins from 500 B.C. appear. We got to hear an enthusiastic talk from our professor Craig. It was basically the history of ancient Greece in a nutshell. It was good to hear the history before we saw everything that way we could appreciate it more. There was a long steep hike up to the top of the Acropolis, but it was so worth it once we got up there. The view was incredible and you could get a sense of how sprawling the city of Athens is. At the top of the Acropolis there is the Parthenon and a few other temples. The thing that struck me the most was just how old everything. It is just amazing to think that after thousands of years so much of the ruins are still intact.

Towards the end of the day we got to visit the Acropolis museum. There were a lot of the ruins that had been recovered from the temples. All of the statues had been preserved so well and you could really get a sense of how advanced the Greeks were in their art and society.

After the museum, we headed into the Plaka for lunch. By this time everyone was exhausted and hungry. The plaka was very touristy and crowded, but I’m glad I got to experience it. It was obvious to me how bad the Greek economy must be because every restaurant owner tried so hard to get us to eat at their place. We were almost bargaining with the locals to find a cheap, yet yummy place to have lunch. We finally decided on a smaller outdoor café and had chicken gyros and French fries. The server obviously figured we were American because he brought us ketchup before we even had to ask.

Greece is such an amazing country and after learning more about its ancient history, I feel that I am able to appreciate it even more.

Kelsey Foster