Image courtesy of Caroline Shea ‘22
Caroline Shea ‘22 is a rising senior who is taking the scenic route to graduation. Spending her spring 2021 semester in Athens, Caroline has been getting in touch with her Greek roots all while staying on track to graduate. I was very interested in speaking with Caroline because I am also Greek and have not met many other Greek students here at Skidmore. Once I learned that she also had a Papou, the Greek term for grandfather, from Lesvos, I knew I had to hear more about her experience abroad.
When Caroline first arrived in Athens, the city was following strict Covid protocols. She spoke about the beginning of her journey, stating that “attending my Greek class, in person, three times a week, was just about my only indoor activity. Yes, it was frustrating, but at the same time, it was pretty cool. The city was quite literally our jungle.” As the country starts to reopen, Caroline notes the differences, telling me “I’ve gotten to take public transportation, outdoor dine, and shop. Seeing signs of life again is incredible.”
I can’t help but be completely smitten after hearing about the Greek sun and the chocolate croissants at Caroline’s favorite cafe, Kekkos. Despite these Greek specific beauties, the highlight of her trip seems to be the time she has spent with friends. When I asked Caroline what an average day in her life in Athens looks like, she responded, “90% of my day is probably spent laughing my head off with my roommates. It’s so hard to describe a typical day-- I usually just go where the wind (actually, heat) takes me.”
The path to Greece was a rocky one for Caroline. Initially, she was going to spend her fall semester in Vienna, but Covid prompted Caroline to defer her acceptance to the spring. When November came around, and the Vienna program was cut, Caroline found herself with only 24 hours to transfer her application to an approved study abroad program. Now, she finds herself in Greece for the very first time, basking in the glorious sunsets and swimming in enchanting caves.
While I find myself entertaining the idea that going to Greece must be like living in a Mamma Mia dreamland, I know that is fictitious. I asked Caroline about any culture shocks or language barrier issues she has come across, to which she responded, “I came here knowing absolutely no Greek. I took a Greek class and cannot say I was the star student. It was definitely an adventure. Luckily, I live with other American students who were able to retain more than I did. So when there is a language barrier, I fully rely on them. However, most people in Athens speak English!” She also highlighted how the pandemic actually acted as a way for her to assimilate into Greek life. Specifically, Caroline emphasized the ways in which the Covid restrictions forced her to fully embrace her surroundings, saying, “It forced me to really get to know the people in my group. It forced me to become super creative with plans. It forced me to recognize just how lucky I was to be here!”
Caroline and I both trace our Greek ancestry back to Lesvos, a small Greek island off the coast of Turkey. My Papou is from Lesvos, as is Caroline’s Papou. Caroline spoke highly and eloquently about her Papou, stating that “I thoroughly believe he was the greatest and smartest person to ever walk the Earth. He could talk for hours on end about all things Greece. He owned this crazy Greek Evzone (soldier) costume and was always trying to convince me to wear it on Halloween. I love stopping for a minute on my walks to watch the Evzones march. I don’t know my beliefs on death and an afterlife, but I could go on and on about why I think he’s been next to me this entire semester.”
I had to ask, from one Lesvos girl to another, what it was like for her to meet another Skidmore student from Lesvos. I have never met anyone from Lesvos who wasn’t family, so for me, this was super exciting. Caroline matched my hype energy, responding with, “It was amazing to meet another person from Lesvos! It’s crazy how small the world is. Maybe Dotty and I are cousins…”
Going abroad is a new experience in and of itself. Going abroad during a pandemic is a whole other story. I wanted to know what advice Caroline would have for fellow young travelers, she advised that young travelers “Go with the flow! Traveling (and life in general!) will never be 100% seamless. It’s so so important just to buckle up for a wild ride. That’s the fun of it.”