Greece and The Refugee Crisis

One of the biggest challenges of this trip was leaving. The last day was filled with some of the hardest goodbyes I've ever had to say. This study abroad experience was extremely valuable, as the challenges also lead to a lot of growth. In these four short weeks, I not only learned a lot about the refugee crisis -- I became intimate with it. This trip has helped foster a passion within myself to do good in the world, especially now that I don't want to let my new friends down. I've begun settling back into the U.S., but the culture shock I've felt from this program has been different than my past study abroad experiences. While the pace of life has always stood out as different, this time I noticed more of an emphasis on the conflicting values. While away, I was surrounded by other passionate people who wanted to do good in the world. I also worked in the refugee camps that you read about in the New York Times. After spending time in that kind of environment, I found

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

Today consisted of some service work with Lifting Hands International (LHI), an NGO that works closely with the Yazidi camp here in Serres. Outside of the camp, in a small field a couple minutes away, LHI holds various activities in their Child Friendly Space and Female Friendly Space, as well as in the sports field parallel to them. These serve as ways for the residents of the camp to engage in some programs that add a much needed "normal" component of their day and life, which can become stagnant when placed in a camp for years on end. Some of these activities include sports, arts and crafts, spa days, dance, and several others. Today, I helped out in the dance class, which held about 10 kids ranging in age from about 5 to 13. In here, the kids themselves taught us many of the Zumba dances they had been learning-- and their moves weren't easy either. It was a ton of fun, and I even had a chance to teach of them one of the Zumba dances I had committed to memory from one

June 6th marked the transition from phase 1 to phase 2 of this trip. While in Athens, we were able to meet with a variety of different governmental and nongovernmental organizations who are working to address the refugee crisis. This was much more of a learning period in which we gained some more perspective from the people who are working behind the scenes. We learned more about the strategies and procedures that are currently in place, and one of the biggest takeaways from all of this were the limitations each faced from government authorities. However, now that we have arrived in Serres, we will be working with Lifting Hands International, who provides services for the Yazidi outside of the camp itself. They provide language classes. crafts, and women's spaces, but we will specifically be working in their clothing distribution warehouse. This is exciting because it will be much more interactive and provide us with a different kind of exposure. In this blog, I've included som

Knowing the content behind the towering structures inside the Acropolis enriches the experience significantly. So as I post my pictures from today's guided tour, I want to share a couple stories that may make them more interesting: -The term "marathon" comes from the legend of Pheidippides. In 490 BC, Pheidippides, a Greek messenger, ran from the battlefield in the town marathon to the center of Athens to announce their victory over the Persians. The distance between these points was 26.2 miles, and after Pheidippides alerted the city of their triumph, he collapsed dead of exhaustion. -The ancient Greeks weren't sure who to devote the city to, so they asked which god or goddess would like to claim it. Both Athena and Poseidon stepped forward. Unable to pick between the two, the Greeks asked them each to provide a gift, and whoever gave the best one would be awarded the city. Poseidon gave them a beautiful fountain full of salt water. While it was a work of art, it

Changing the tone from my last post, I wanted to take some time to talk about the other fun activities I have done in Athens. Today, a few of my peers and I visited the Archaeological Museum, which houses the largest collection of ancient Greek artifacts. Here, I saw a lot of pottery, jewelry, statues, and other miscellaneous items!

After recovering a bit more from jet lag, I feel ready to write my first post since arriving in Greece. I'm excited to share some of the information I have already learned these past couple of days, as these are the kinds of things that get me motivated and ready to make a difference. Before I begin this entry, I want to open with a quote that one of my instructors said that I think really resonates to the work we will be doing here, and I hope everyone takes these words to heart. "For evil to succeed, all it needs is for good men to do nothing." -Martin Luther King Jr. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the news of all the atrocities in the world. Sometimes we become numb to it, and our empathy quickly turns to apathy. Unfortunately, I even find myself falling into this pattern at times. However, there's always that one podcast or one conversation or one movie that reignites the passion I have for making sure every human on this earth has an opportunity to live a