August 3
Today, the Journey family started wrapping up the academic portion of the program. In Dr. Dimitriou’s class, the students finished presenting their final projects.
The first pair to present was Aletha Vassilakis and Danielle Triantis. The two presented on the Ecumenical Patriarch Issue. The group gave a thorough background on the subject and then spoke about how the issue directly affects Greece, Turkey, and the European Union. Specific topics discussed included, the Halki Seminary controversy, the confiscation of Orthodox churches, and the unfair treatment of the Ecumenical Patriarch.
After the initial presentation, Constantine Frangoudis presented about the Aegean Sea Dispute between Greece and Turkey. Constantine gave a geographical background of the Aegean and explained the international laws of the sea that were ratified by the United Nations. The presentation continued and covered the conflict, including illegal Turkish flyovers, and the current status of the disagreement. At the conclusion of the presentations, our group enjoyed our traditional taverna meal in Plaka.
We then returned to the classroom for our afternoon Greek language and dance classes. In the language class, students finished their final written assignments and reviewed for the oral portion of the final exam. The Greek dance class reviewed the history behind the Zembetiko, Kalamatianos and Syrtos and began performing their final performances for their peers.
At the conclusion of classes, our group enjoyed their final free evening by shopping for relatives, studying for final exams, and walking through the beautiful Monastiraki neighborhood.
August 4
Today marked the final day of the Journey to Greece program. We had a free morning which allowed our group to visit relatives, study for afternoon final exams, and begin packing for our trip home. In the afternoon, we had our last meal at our favorite Plaka taverna, which served us great food the last few weeks.
Following lunch, our group returned to the classroom for our final exams in the Greek language and dance classes. In the Greek language class, our group was tested on reading, writing, and oral language skills. Our Greek dance class continued our final performances and took our exam on the history behind the Zembetiko, Kalamatianos and Syrtos dances. At the conclusion of our classes, we returned to our apartments and prepared for the AHEPA sponsored farewell reception.
Early in the evening, the Journey family congregated around the UINDY, Athens campus and made the walk through Monastiraki to the roof of the university’s cultural center, which featured a beautiful view of the Acropolis. For our final meal, our group enjoyed a buffet, which featured various souvlaki, spanakopita, tiropita, keftedes, potatoes, and salad.
Following our meal, University of Indianapolis Journey to Greece coordinator, Dr. Peter Wilkins, addressed the students and encouraged them to return to the JTG program and even spend an entire semester in Athens. Captain Evangelos Rigos, Director of the Hellenic Electronic Center, then spoke to the students and expressed how as young Greek-Americans we must keep Hellenism alive. To conclude the evening, program director Dr. Jim Dimitriou addressed the students and thanked all sponsors and staff that made the program possible. At the conclusion of the reception, we returned to our apartments to pack our belonging and enjoy one last evening in Athens.
August 5
Early in the morning, students departed on private coach for the Athens Elefthérios Venizélos International Airport. Students then boarded a group flight for Philadelphia. Upon arrival to the City of Brotherly Love, the Journey family said their good-byes as students boarded flights for different parts of the country. Despite leaving for various regions of North America, we understood that this was just a beginning, because we had established friendships that would last a lifetime.
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