Over the last two weeks I have been incredibly blessed to explore Greece from the mainland to small islands I had never heard of before. This was my first time leaving the country, and I can’t lie I was incredibly nervous, especially on the plane there. The second I walked into the airport in Athens this started to melt away slowly. The kindness I experienced from locals, amplified by the openness of my fellow Titans I was traveling with, made this one of the most comfortable experiences in my life and empowered me to want to travel and explore on my own. I went in with no expectations and was constantly engaged in once in a lifetime experiences. So much so that picking ‘a favorite memory’ is one of the more difficult things I have had to do.

This being said, if I had to choose a moment to go back to it would have to be the Feast Day of St. Constantine held in Kalymnos. We spent the morning exploring museums, beaches and the hillsides of the island but nothing could prepare us for the level of joy and hospitable energy we would be a part of that night. As the sun set people gathered to simply enjoy each other’s company, dance, eat good food, and express their values in a way that mattered to them. We spent the night dancing and watching fireworks with a perfect view of the harbor on one side and gorgeous mountains on the other. The energy was palpable and truly something money can not buy. I am smiling even recounting the details.
I am incredibly thankful to St. Petersburg College and its benefactors who made this trip possible and I further encourage other students to take the leap and discover all the world has waiting for them. – Danielle, SPC Greece Study Abroad Program, May 2024