This education abroad experience was characterized by a series of firsts for me. The very first of which began at the airport where I flew by myself for the first time. I was intimidated, especially since I had multiple layovers, but Michigan State basketball player Gabe Brown was sitting at our gate, so I knew that was a good omen!

I knew my time in Greece was going to be especially valuable for me because I plan to pursue a career in social work. Our internship was focused around providing help to NGOs that assist refugees on the island of Lesvos. We got to see how each program was designed, what valuable resources were provided, and how the programs helped refugees personally address the trauma they have experienced. All of these aspects are essential to know how to do as a social worker and so I was very thankful to see how they were implemented in real life and in a foreign country.

One significant aspect of this program for me was that it was an emotional rollercoaster! There were so many highs, like making new friends with other students on the trip, connecting with the refugees we met at each organization, and exploring the wonders Greece had to share. Probably one of the greatest highlights for me was the food. The hotel that we were staying at was run by a family that cooked all of our meals at the hotel for us, so every meal there was phenomenal. The ingredients were all so fresh since many of them were locally grown (food was growing everywhere!). Oddly enough I had the best hard-boiled egg of my life there. However, on the other hand, there were some moments that weren’t as light-hearted. At each internship the refugees there told us of the hardships they had to endure to get to where they are now and how life continues to be a struggle every day. Greece also possesses a significantly hostile attitude towards refugees and so it was difficult to see that energy reflected around some areas we visited. These lows have provided even more motivation for me to be an empathetic person and to continue serving people in need.

I quickly learned how hospitable Greek culture is! They take great pride in showing their love through food. We were lucky enough to have dinner with a local Greek family. They welcomed us into our home and cooked us gigantic dinner. This meal, in addition to all our others during our stay, filled the entire table with food so there was barely enough room to set our glasses down. Our host family for the night did not speak any English, so we had a translator with us. We were able to express our gratitude through our body language and could understand their emotions through their body language as well. They wanted to marry us off to their grandson! From this dinner and all our other interactions with Greek locals, I learned about the importance of hospitality, community, and expressing one’s truest self, and that is something I’ll never forget.

Name: Stella Weinberg
Status: Senior
Major: Sociology
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Program: Contemporary Culture, Politics and Society in Greece