For one week, we follow in the steps of the Athenian general and historian, matching the story with the physical space. We begin in the shadow of the Parthenon, the eternal symbol of Athenian power, join us through this blog as we will also travel to Sounion, Laurio, Delphi, and Crete.

The Three Phases of the War

The Three Phases of the War

Sunday, March 11, 2012

We are Back!




As the days unfold more will be known about this tremendous experience, as we trekked in the Footsteps of Thucydides in time and place. For the second year in a row this was a great experience for me as a teacher taking an outstanding group of young people who were polite, respectfull and thirsty for knowledge and experience. I was especially touched by their great gesture of respect and appreciation.

In Crete there is a very strong tradition of oral history and rhyming couplets that are improvised, which are called mandinades.


This is a mandinada that was written by Pagona Viglis in our honor.

Ενα μπουκετο με παιδια A bouquet of children
Πετρο μας εχεις φερει Petro you brought us
να δουνε και να γνωρισουνε so they can see and know
Και τα δικα σου μερη your home

Τοσο μακρια που ηρθατε You've come from so far
τ'αρχαια μας να δητε to See our ancient sites
τις ομορφιες του τοπου μας the beauty of our land
στο γηρισμο να πητε in your return proclaim

καλο ταξιδι ευχομαστε Good voyage we wish you
με μια ευχη μεγαλη with the great hope
στην ομορφη πατριδα μας that one day our beautiful country
να ξαναρθητε παλι you visit again




9 comments:

  1. Words are unable to explain how amazing this trip, and course, truly were for me. It has been the experience of a lifetime and worth every penny spent and word to be written! Although I may have entered the course not knowing a single person or Professor Vamvakas, I must say after the trip we have bonded as a whole and I have made friendships and connections that will always last.

    The class cannot show enough gratitude to Petros for all of his hard work, stories and showing us his home, as well the people of the institute, for hosting a large group of students with undenying attention and care, their generosity, and work to allow us to stay there.

    I already miss everyone from the trip and am dying to return back to Greece!!!! The facts I have learned and my memories from this trip will last a lifetime.

    -Kerry

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  2. BTW I forgot to mention....I recommend this course to anyone and everyone at Emmanuel College!!!!

    I am an Graphic Design, Communications major, I have never taken a Political Science course in my life and this class was all that I could have asked for and more. Although the readings and writing were rigorous, they all payed off in the end! As students from the year prior told us, reading the material before traveling truly made all the difference! The topics and history covered in class were very intriguing to me without any prior knowledge, and being able to see what I learned about in person was remarkable. Words cannot explain how worthwhile, SOOO MUCH FUN, and also educational, this trip was!!!! Take it!!! You will have the time of your life.

    Yasas!
    -Kerry

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  3. Firstly, what an adorabe picture of us in our neck pillows haha. This trip was SO amazing that even the 8 hour never-ending plane rides, or 2 hour car rides were memories I will never forget, and some of the best laughs I have had! I agree with Kerry, anyone and everyone should consider this trip. I am a senior with a communications major and I have to say, I am so happy I had this oppertunity. I never had the chance to study abroad so taking this trip was my last hope to study abroad in college, and I would do it all over again. The sites we visitied, the history we learned and the people we met were a once in a life time experience. Greece and it's history is inspiring and our professor was the best leader I could ever ask for. Thank you so much Petros for the best experience of my life thus far and enriching me with the Greek heritage.

    -Sarah

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  4. This trip has opened my eyes to the world, as cliche as that sounds. There are so many other cultures besides our own American one. They have roots farther back than one can imagine. Being a psychology major i never much though about POlitical Science but now after being surrounded by it first hand i have come to really enjoy it! the many debates we had in the class room at school and the lessons in Greece were awesome and thought provoking. The financial crisis in greece was a topic that came up very often and we even heard first hand accounts of the crisis. Once again the people in Crete are great loving people. They had a ceremony for us and we sang songs, learned greek dancing and they even wrote us a little poem! It was very hard to leave, i even considered "accidentally" forgetting to set my alarm! this was a once in a lifetime trip, the people we met and friends we made will be with me forever as well as the memories and lessons learned.
    Thank you Prof. V for letting us come and share your culture!
    -Ashley

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  5. This morning was a sad one. Today we leave Crete, a country I have fallen in love with and can't wait to return to. The trip back consisted of three plane rides in a row and about 20 hours of travel. This was the first time I have left the USA and will be a experience I will carry to my grave. This trip was eye opening for me. I now am going to pursue learning other languages (starting with Greek of course). If someone has not had the chance to travel to another country I strongly suggest to do so at some point in your life. This was the one of the best experience I have had in my life. I hope to one day return to Crete, having mastered the language, and maybe one day call it home. Petros was the best guide EVER! I wouldn't have had the trip planned any other way. Thank you so much for taking us to your home country of Greece and your home on Crete. You treated us like family and your generosity will not be forgotten.

    Efxaristo,
    Aaron

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  6. Looks like you all had an exciting and incredibly enriching experience - of course! I am sure this experience has given you the confidence to travel and learn even more!

    Take care,
    Fern MacKinnon

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  7. Our trip has come to an end. I don't want to leave this beautiful place that I now call home or the people I now call friends. This adventure is unlike I ever have had or probably will ever experience. It was my first time abroad with people I barely knew and yet the trip was more than I could ever have hoped for. I plan to return one day, hopefully with the same people. But until that day comes, I will live in the memories I now have of you.

    ~Mary

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    Replies
    1. Reading these it's all so sad.... Love you Mare, let's all go back!!

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    2. Just teared. I love you guys!!


      Yamas!

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