“The study abroad program gave me a new life in Greece. I left the US with fear of the unknown and came back a strong confident world traveler. This program offers you the opportunity to grow personally, expand your awareness of the world and the ability to make lifelong memories and friends. I never in my life thought that I would travel across the ocean, meet wonderful people and revel in breathtaking views of a foreign land. SPC’s Study Abroad Program and the wonderful donors made my dream come true.

I admired Greece from the time I was young. I read as much I could about the beginning of democracy, education, art, and stories of the Gods. I dreamed of the plays that were held at the Theatre of Dionysus, studied The Lion’s Gate at Mycenae, and fell in love with the Parthenon and all buildings on top of the Acropolis. From the moment we stepped off the plane in Athens, our adventure never stopped. Our Professors and the Study Abroad team made sure that we traveled to all the historic places and learned about the history, culture, and people. The itinerary started with us on the Island of Kalymnos and then ended in Athens. The first day I woke up on Kalymnos, I learned how to order the best coffee I have ever tasted in my life.  I met the kindest, proud people of the island, swam in the Aegean Sea and was able to appreciate the history of the sponge divers and how they came to Tarpon Springs. It was exciting to explore with our tour guide and then branch out on our own. We had no fear, there was only an excitement to experience as much as possible.

We left the island and returned to Athens and I can honestly say that my breath was taken away realizing where I was. It almost didn’t seem real when we travelled to Mycenae and I walked under the Lion’s Gate, a piece from history that I studied in class in a book. I sat in the very same seats as the Ancient Greeks at The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus and was amazed at the acoustics. My professors tried to explain but words and pictures can not even come close to being there. I touched the walls and bricks of every place we went. I walked up steps, traveled the path that thousands have and had the honor of walking where the Gods walked.

As I sit here writing this, I have chills from the memories of my experiences and I know Study Abroad made this possible. I have not stopped talking about my trip, the people, using the Greek words I picked up and looking at my photos. Greece changed me, and I will go back.”- Rachel Ross, SPC Student, Greece 2018