A New Journey

Guest post by: Foster student studying marketing, Karen Maldonado. Karen is a Global Business Center Study Abroad Scholarship Recipient who participated in the JSIS Special Topics in European Studies program during Spring Break 2022 in Greece.

When COVID-19 began, I thought I wasn’t going to have the opportunity to study abroad before graduating. I am now a third-year student, and I finally got the chance to study abroad during spring break to Greece for the first time. Studying abroad was a beautiful and unique experience that I will never forget about. During the seminar we focused our research on the impact that COVID-19 had on Greece and its community. As part of our research, we had the opportunity to conduct ethnographic interviews to Greek citizens about their opinion on the subject. As a result, we got to know their unique perspective and the way that the Greek government handled the pandemic and its effects. Most of the program took place in Athens, but we also got to stay a few days Nafplion and visit Aegina Island. One of my favorite things we got to do was visiting historical sites like the Acropolis of Athens, as well as the Parthenon. Throughout the two weeks I spend in Greece, I got to the opportunity to get closer to the Greek culture as well as with the Greek community. Our hotel was in a more local area which made the experience more real and enjoyable. Thanks to this program I get to take home unforgettable memories like the new food dishes I tried, as well as the few Greek words I learned and the wonderful people I got to meet.