Greece and The Refugee Crisis

Today felt especially hot during work. Audrey and I made up for it at the Votsala hotel by taking the kayaks out on the water. The sea was rough today with formidable waves. We continued to seek out the most chaotic spots, letting the waves crash into us and flood our kayak. At one point, we got stuck near the shore because the waves kept pushing us back, but it was so much fun and the only thing keeping us from staying out there all evening was the time limit. I'm very thankful to have a place like this hotel to retire to at the end of a long and difficult day. This has been one of my favorite activities while being abroad, because this is definitely not something I would have had the opportunity to do in Arizona. View of the "Vostala Boat" (photo taken by Hannah Parrish)

We had a half day at the refugee camp today. Afterwards, we met with the group at a nearby camp (Moria) to check out the organizations Stand by Me and One Happy Family . Stand by Me is a small organization run by a compassionate headmaster. Here, they provide schooling and lessons to refugees from the camp, as well as certificates upon completion. Every part of this school was built alongside volunteers with the funds coming from generous friends. The lessons here range from English to guitar to computers. One of the things that the founder had said that stood out tom e was that when he had learned of the refugee crisis, he asked himself what he was good at and what skills he could provide that would help. Thus, as a headmaster, he opened a school. This really got me thinking because many people think there are only certain skills or positions that are helpful in addressing an issue, but that's not the case. If we all maximize our skills and potential and apply them, then many ga

After spending the day putting up shade in the camp, I decided to cool off by going swimming in the sea. Turns out, this is a great way to end the day. Once out of the salty water, I dried off in the sun and journaled. Then ,as a group, we went out to dinner at a local restaurant that served us some amazing appetizers. These included tzaziki sauce, salad, grilled cheese, fried zucchini, french fries, peppers, dolmas, eggplant, and others! Having multiple dishes where everyone tries a little of everything is definitely my favorite way to eat, and I'm hoping to continue with this method once I get back to the states! Today's Beach View

Today was the first day of volunteering with Movement on the Ground. We met Anouka, who gave us a tour of the camp. At the surface level, the camp seemed like it was in great condition. Some highlights included spaces for women, barbershops, digital learning labs, etc. However, the more time we spend in the camps, the more I notice some fundamental problems. For instance, the bathroom facilities don't have toilet paper or soap. It took an ambulance 35 minutes to get to a woman who had suffered from  a heat stroke. The isoboxes are hardly furnished. The AC doesn't work. The list goes on. However, these all more seem to be failures of the Greek government, not the NGOs. Without these NGOs, these camps would be entirely unlivable. We aren't suppose to take pictures inside of the camps, so here is what an isobox looks like. Keep in mind, this is typically shared by a family, which can sometimes be up to 10 people. Source:  http://www.isobox.gr/isobox_classic.htm

So far, this has been a much needed break. In the morning, we went down to the beach -- a mere 10 steps from our front door. I laid out in the sun and read Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut while I sipped on some lemonade and listened to the sea. I was in heaven. I took one final swim out to where my feet could no longer touch the sea floor. It was a very liberating feeling, and the sea was refreshing. We all took the boat back to Thessaloniki, grabbed some lunch, and checked in at the bus station. After getting back into Serres, I took some time to be by myself so that my mind could feel as re-energized as my body. I washed off the day, thought a bit about the book I had recently finished, and painted. It all felt very meditative. White Tower in Thessaloniki Agria Triada Beach

About a week and a half into the program, a small group of us took a trip to Thessaloniki and stayed right by the beach in Agria Triada. With all of the new information we've gained thus far into our program, this will be a nice break to revitalize our minds. This morning, my friend Audrey and I took a walk out to the dock, and sat down at the edge. Shortly after, a small cruise ship pulled into the exact same spot. As it turns out, it was headed to Thessaloniki. We were originally planning on taking a taxi into town, but seized upon this 3 euro opportunity instead. Along the way, we enjoyed the sea breeze and saw dolphins. After we disembarked the boat, we got some delicious brunch at a restaurant. Later in the date, we also met with Myrto, a woman who works for the Refugee Trauma Initiative. We learned a lot about the activities they are doing that provides women and children with psychosocial support. This was a nice visit because since it was just the two of us, Audrey and