By Jake Bertram  

If there’s one thing that has always flowed through my blood, it’s a knack for adventure. From running around the “crick” in my neighborhood as a child & hiking through Brown County, Indiana, to exploring The Tetons in Wyoming, exploration is a dragon I will forever chase. Getting the opportunity to travel to a beautiful country such as Greece is a dream come true. Having never been out of the United States before, there was no way in hell I was going to pass up this chance to see another part of the world. In all honesty, I had no idea what to expect coming here.  

Within the first few days, I feel I have become very familiar with the culture and the customs here. Though most people here speak pretty good English, I thought it was appropriate and respectful to know some words and phrases. The language is surprisingly easy to catch onto for the most part, which makes communication with locals very easy. It almost feels normal to be here, whereas my first time in the western United States was an absolute culture shock compared to the Midwest. However, it does feel almost surreal to be surrounded by literal thousands of years of history that still stands and lives today in harmony with the modern culture. I am looking forward to seeing and experiencing new things every day here and making everlasting memories with such great classmates and friends!