There's No Place Like Home

I cannot be more grateful for the wonderful trip from which I just returned! It was a growing experience for me as well as an educational trip.

I went into this trip expecting to gain knowledge about mythology, and I have. BUT...I have also learned about Greek culture, language, cuisine, and politics. We visited in a time of economic turmoil and we saw the effects - soldiers with machine guns on 24 hour guard at the government building and many tourist sites; empty tourist sites; and businesses with very little foot traffic.

We talked to Dimitris and Elena, shop owners in Delphi. Dimitris shared with us his frustration over the media's embellishments of the recent bank burning in Syntagma Square. "People are scared to come to Greece. They think Greece is unsafe."

He explained to us that when Greeks go on strike, the strikers file paperwork with the government and police to notify them about the reason why, when, and where. The government can then look into the problem, while the police can set up barricades to protect the strikers and allow them to express their opinions. He said it may seem foreign to us, but it is normal for them. Random injuries and broken shop windows near the strike area are generally not due to strikers. It's others who get carried away. He also pointed out that with Athens being the "big city" and hub for travel, people are not coming to ANY Greek cities for fear of traveling through Athens.

His souvenir shop in Delphi is two and a half hours from Athens, and to me it seemed like a world away. It is located on the slope of Mount Parnassus overlooking the Corinthian Sea. It is easily one of my favorite places because of the peacefulness and friendliness of the town. Dimitris said that bad things that happen in Athens don't happen in small towns like Delphi because everyone knows each other and everyone looks out for one another. Yet, the restaurants and shops are being affected by the bad press that events in Athens have gotten. It's amazing how a few news stories can greatly affect so many lives. Not just those involved in the story, but even those unrelated to it.

I plan to keep in contact with Dimitris and Elena and see if they can be my classroom's connection to Greece. Who knows, maybe I'll return to Delphi one day to show a group of students around the ruins!

In addition to my newfound knowledge about Greece, I've had some wonderful "epiphany-like" ideas for other teaching units and my classroom set up. I think next year is going to be the best ever! I cannot wait!

THANK YOU FUND FOR TEACHERS!