Written by Italy & Greece Overseas Educators, Mariana (Mara + Ariana)
What a semester! 10 weeks, 2 countries, 13 locations, 7 local partner organizations, 4 puppies, and countless gelatos and cats later – we’ve finally reached the end.
Though the blog is traditionally written for your friends and family following your journey at home, as the journey has come to an end, it feels most appropriate to now write it directly to you – the students – who will be reading this from the comfort of your own cozy beds and couches with your sweet dogs and cats (and maybe even a gecko).
When we met over 10 weeks ago at the JFK airport, we never could have imagined what was in store for us. Our semester has been framed by iconic monuments throughout history from the initial glimpses of the Colosseum from the first of many buses to our final views of the Acropolis lit up in Athens. As we walked along Tuscan trails and explored Minoan archeological sites, we were also creating our own history – one filled with many Guiseppes, polar plunges, a love for animals and sweet treats, and an exclusive performance by Niko and the Big Booties! We discovered new passions for permaculture principles, banoffee, and natural building.
We loved hearing your different insights and perspectives, watching your creativity shine, and celebrating a very Dungeons and Dragons Greek Easter. You all adapted to living out of a backpack quickly and within community quickly. Throughout the challenges, triumphs, and cold nights, no one ever gave up. Throughout the semester, our local partners were consistently impressed with your respectful nature, thoughtfulness, and willingness to engage. We were too and so grateful for it!
As we write our final blog from a cafe in Athens (which is altogether too quiet without you all!), we have been reflecting on the incredible growth we’ve seen from you over the past semester. Not to sound too much like your teachers but it’s been a joy to watch you all try new things and experience moments of learning and growth throughout this trip. This program challenged each of you in unique ways and pushed you to get “comfortable in the uncomfortable” as we lived and learned in new environments.
As a final shoutout, we wanted to acknowledge some of the ways in which each of you individually contributed to this incredible group experience.
Aiden – thank you for all the delicious meals you curated for us throughout the semester! Your passion for food was infectious and allowed us all to appreciate the wonderful cuisines of Italy and Greece! We miss your meals already and hope you spam the group chat with photos of what you create back home!
Cat – It was amazing to see your creative side thrive over the last 3 months! Your curiosity for the world is beautifully funneled into your art and we loved everything from your music video to your fun doodles and the way you express yourself through clothing and design. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with us!
Henry – “We call him ‘The Builder,’” and we certainly know why! Thank you for your strong commitment to our projects and partners and your openness to new ideas and perspectives throughout this trip. We were all impressed with your maturity throughout the challenges that came your way.
Jonah – Your humor and wit always kept us on our toes! We’ve loved seeing your silly side and knowing at a moment’s notice you’d have Uno ready to go! Thank you for letting us share our pop culture references with you – may you never forget Shakira and The Backstreet Boys! Slay.
Laura – You were the unsung hero who shaped so much of our group culture from your appreciation for the clouds to your vocabulary that we’ve all adopted (sweet treat anyone?) Thanks for being someone we could always rely on and bringing so much warmth into the group!
Naomi – Thanks for your adventurous spirit! We loved splashing into Tuscan rivers and Greek lakes with you, exploring cities and new cuisines, and finding joyful moments in the day to day throughout the trip. Whether shopping for trinkets or planting tomatoes, you always were ready to jump in and participate fully!
Tai – You truly are SHINY! You never failed to make us laugh. Thanks for always bringing energy to our group and sharing everything from snacks to laughter. Your one liners will live in infamy and bring a smile to our faces every time we think of you!
Throughout this semester we’ve loved seeing each of you in and outside of your elements – creating compost, exploring archaeological sites, making pizza and pasta from scratch, applying permaculture principles, celebrating birthdays and holidays, even organizing your own travel! You’ve solved conflicts, navigated living and traveling as a group, made friends, and climbed literal mountains on this journey. Everyday with you all was an adventure and you never cease to make us laugh with your impressions, jokes, and shenanigans. We hope you feel the growth we’ve seen in you and carry that into the next chapter of your lives, wherever that takes you. Thanks for all the laughs and the mems. May the matia bracelets protect you and you always have that ticket ready for your next adventure!
❤️ Much love, “Mariana”