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!!!