JTG Photos: Acropolis Museum, Special Olympics, Welcome Reception, and Orientation

And the Journey Begins: Students Arrive in Athens

June 28

On the 28^th of June, all of the Journey to Greece session one students arrived safely in Athens. The West Coast group departed from LAX and met the rest of the students in Philadelphia.. The layover in Philadelphia allowed students to taste some authentic Philly- Cheesecake.  During the layover, the Journey family was also able to celebrate the birthday of two Journey students, Aaron Nestoras and Whitney Anderson. Andonia-Maria Koulos graciously decorated and designed cupcakes for the two students and personalized them with their initials and a make shift candle made out of a Kit-Kat candy bar.

When the celebrations were complete, the Journey family departed on their US Airways flight and headed for Athens. Shortly after four in the afternoon Athens time, the flight landed and students were officially in their Motherland.

After going through customs and gathering luggage, the students were met by University of Indianapolis Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Peter Wilkins, and rode on charter coach to the University of Indianapolis, Athens Campus. A few members of the Journey family were waiting at the campus, because they had arrived in Athens early visiting relatives.

Upon the arrival to campus, students were able to move into their apartments and freshen up, before walking to a local Monastiraki Taverna for a welcome dinner. After enjoying authentic Greek cuisine, which included tzatziki, souvlaki, salad, among other selections, the students returned to their apartment to finish their unpacking.

Later that evening, program director Dr. Jim Dimitriou, led the students on a walking tour around Monestraki and treated the Journey family to ice cream, and upon the completion of the tour, the jetlagged students returned to their apartments and recharged their batteries for the next part of their Journey to Greece!!!

Session 2: Assignment for AHI US-Greek Foreign Relations Class

Yiassas Journey to Greece Family, 

     We are less than 36 hours away from the beginning of our journey. In an effort to allow students to have more free-time in Greece, Dr. Jim Dimitriou has provided the Key Terms Assignment. Students should refer to course readings and current events to identify the terms. The first 50 terms will be due July 21st and the last 50 terms will be due August 4th. If there are any questions or concerns regarding the class, please feel free to contact Program Director, Dr. Dimitriou, at jfdplato@aol.com.  

     The Key Terms assignment can be accessed here.

Respectfully,

Michael Savvas

   -Hellenext Next Generation Correspondent

JTG Arrival Instructions and the University of Indianapolis Map

Yiassas Journey to Greece Family,

We are less than 72 hours from the beginning of our journey. Please take note of the two attachments that provide important arrival instructions. Students that are already in Greece should take note of the attached map that provide directions to the University. Let the Journey Begin!

Respectfully,

Michael Savvas

-Hellenext Next Generation Correspondent 

Arrival instructions can be found here.

University of Indianpolis Map can be found here.

Journey to Greece E-Bulletin 1: Pre-Departure Edition

Yiassas Journey to Greece Family,

For JTG E-Bulletin 1: Pre-Departure Edition click here.

    

     Attached is the first Journey to Greece E-Bulletin. This is a pre-departure edition that features a brief introduction of the program, a letter from Program Director Dr. Jim Dimitriou, and other reminders and important information.

     Also remember to check for updates on the JTG Blog and Facebook, which can be accessed by searching Ahepa Journey to Greece. 

Respectfully,

Michael Savvas

Hellenext Next Generation Correspondent 

JTG Reminders: Flight Information and Flash Drives

Yiassas Journey to Greece Family,

We are less than five days away from the beginning of our journey! Please take note of the following reminders as we approach the start of a wonderful summer.

First:

For students on group flights, participants leaving from Los Angeles, please meet at the LAX US Airways tickets counter at 4:30 AM on June 27th. Students leaving from Philadelphia please meet at the departure gate.

Please take note of Program Advisor Tina Papadopoulos’ note for further details:

Greetings to All!

On behalf of Dr. Dimitirou, I wanted to give you the following updates regarding this Monday's, June 27 departure:

• Seating assignments are being handled currently by the travel agency and have been sent out. The group will be seated together. If you have not received it, please contact the travel agent directly at:  (718) 645-6499 / (888) 968-0335

• For students who are meeting the group in Philadelphia, please MEET AT THE DEPARTURE GATE.

• If there are any questions or you cannot find us at the gate, please call or text: Dr. Jim Dimitriou at 310-704-4681, or Tina Papadopoulos at 617-828-7543. 

Many thanks and I look forward to seeing you all next week!

Best Regards,

Tina Papadopoulos

Advisor - Journey to Greece 2011

Second:

Students, please remember to bring an external flash drive to store course work. This will allow students to work both at the university computer lab and campus apartments.  

Respectfully,

Michael Savvas

-Hellenext Next Generation Correspondent

Syllabi Available for Session 1 Community Service Class and Session 2 US-Greek Foreign Relations Class

     

Yiassas Journey to Greece Family,

We are less than one week away from the beginning of our journey! Please take note of the attached syllabi. We highly recommend that the students begin working before they leave for Greece, so they will have more free time. If you have any questions regarding these courses, please feel free to contact program director, Dr. Jim Dimitriou, at jfdplato@aol.com.

Session 1:

Course: 

Community Service and the Athens Special Olympics Program:Community: Learning & Serving.

The Course Syllabus is available here.

Session 2:

Course:

The American Hellenic Institute Course in Foreign Policy:

United States-Greek Foreign Relations

Course Syllabus is available here.

One of the required course texts, “The American Hellenic Institute Annual Report 2010,” can be found here.

Respectfully,

Michael Savvas

-Hellenext Next Generation Correspondent

Letter from Program Director Dr. Jim Dimitriou to the JTG Participants and their Parents

Dear JTG Students and Parents,

We understand that there may be concern regarding the demonstrations in front of the Parliament in Athens last Wednesday. Please rest assured that we do monitor the situation on a daily basis. While it is not pleasing to see what has happened, it does not impact the campus program directly. Remember that our UINDY campus is located behind the Metropolis Cathedral of Athens, as are the housing units, on the walking streets of Monostiraki. It is a very safe neighborhood, free of traffic and congestion. We do get regular reports, from UINDY and from the US Embassy. The Embassy gives us updates as to places to avoid and times to not go to Syntagma or near the Parliament building. We do not allow students to enter these areas and strictly admonish them to stay clear of demonstrators. As we are given prior notice to when there will be demonstrations, we will alter the itinerary accordingly. The current purpose of the demonstrations is to prevent the passage of the new measures by preventing MPs from entering. As parliament does end it session soon, so should the demonstrators! We will do the best for the safety of our students. Our counselors and I will be assisted by the university staff to insure the safety and well being of our students. Transportation of our group will be done by private motor coach both to and from the airport and port as well as the other organized activities.

As I do communicate with Dr.Peter Wilkins at UINDY daily, I do know they have not had any problems and the school has remained open and classes have been meeting. UINDY does provide additional security at our buildings and housing as well! Both the AHEPA and UINDY are very concerned for the well being and safety of our students! We want this summer to be filled with wonderful memories and activities in a safe environment with fellow students and staff!

We do understand all concerns regarding these news events, as we at AHEPA and UINDY are all committed to the safety and well being of our kids and the students on the Journey to Greece Program! We remain dedicated to making this the most rewarding summer of a lifetime! If I can be of help, please contact me either by phone or e-mail at any time!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jim Dimitriou, PSP

Director

AHEPA Journey to Greece Program

UINDY Athens Campus

Journey to Greece College/University Student Statistics

Along with connecting Greek-American students to their Hellenic roots, an important mission of the Journey to Greece program is allowing students to earn college credits that transfer to their universities in the United States and Canada. As the Journey to Greece program enters its sixth year, the program has over 330 alumni from over 63 universities representing 28 states and Canada. Listed are a sample of the universities and colleges of the students:

• Bellarmine College

• Binghamton University

• University of British Columbia

• Boston Conservatory

• Boston University

• University of Calgary

• University of California, Berkeley

• University of California, Irvine

• University of California, Los Angeles

• University of California, Santa Barbara

• Cal Poly University, Pomona

• Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo

• Cal State University, Sacramento

• Cal State University, San Diego

• Cal State University, San Francisco

• Catholic University

• Chapman University

• University of Chicago

• Claremont McKenna College

• Cornell University

• CUNY, Hunter Graduate School

• Drexel University

• El Camino College

• Fordham University

• George Washington University

• Holy Trinity College

• University of Indiana

• Iowa State University

• Jefferson Community College

• Kansas State University

• London School of Economics

• Loyola Marymount University

• University of Manatoba

• University of Maryland

• University of Massachusetts

• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy

• Merrimack College

• University of Miami

• New York University

• Northwestern University

• Penn State University

• Pittsburgh State University

• Randolph-Macon College

• Robert Morris University

• University of Rochester

• Santiago Canyon College

• University of South Carolina

• University of Southern California

• College of Southern Nevada

• St. Joseph’s College

• SUNY, Cortland

• University of Tampa

• University of Tennessee

• Tulane University

• University of Utah

• Vanderbilt University

• Washington State University

• University of Wisconsin

• University of Wyoming

Urgent Reminder: Photo For Special Olympics Volunteer Credential

Yiassas Journey to Greece Family,

As we are less than two weeks from the beginning of our Journey, Session 1 students, please take note of the following reminder regarding uploading a photo for your volunteer credential. It is essential to upload the photo today, so the credential will be ready.

Respectfully,

Michael Savvas

-Hellenext Next Generation Correspondent

Letter from the 2011 Volunteer Program:

Dear ATHENS 2011 Volunteers,

At the Volunteer Section of the official ATHENS 2011 website, found here, you may find the Volunteer Training Manual. We kindly advise you to read it thoroughly, as there you will find important information concerning your volunteer participation at the Special Olympics World Summer Games ATHENS 2011. Upon your arrival, you will receive a hard copy of the Volunteers Training Manual, along with your Uniform and your Credentialing Pass.

Moreover, we kindly remind you that it is necessary to provide us with your picture that is necessary for ATHENS 2011 Credentialing Pass until the 17^th of June the latest. In order to do so, please visit your Volunteer Application by following the provided link found here.

To upload the photo, follow the simple 5 steps given below:

1.Login                
(use your username and password)

2. Contact details View/Change     
(you can now view/correct your personal details if changed)

3. Browse              
(browse your files for a passport size JPG image color photo)

4. Upload photo                   
(check that you uploaded the correct photo)

5. Save changes

• Your photograph must  be recent, face-on, while headgear, hair bands or sun glasses are not allowed
• The background of the photograph must be plain single color, with even lighting, with no reflections or shadows
• The photo that will be uploaded should at least be 4 cm x 5 cm (1,6” x 2”) with minimum resolution requirements 800 x 600 pixels.

Should you encounter any problem uploading your photo according to the instructions above, please send it via email at accreditation@athens2011.org

In your e-mail make sure that you mention your Name, Surname and Date of Birth in order to identify your registration in our Volunteer Management System.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation,

ATHENS 2011 Volunteers Program