We took the overnight train to Venice on August 8th. The train, minus the lack of sleep seriously reminded me of Harry Potter and the Hogwarts Express. You really do get your own little compartment and everything. If only we had this back in the States... Well anyways, we get to Venice, and it's way too early. The town was deserted, but it was a much appreicated contrast to what it was like a few hours later, with people just swarming like ants in all crevices that was to be walked on. Venice to me is like a theme park. It's a little surreal. Absolutely NO CARS and everything, I mean everything really is on water. Even the bus system - boats... on water. I loved it actually! The Venetian architecture was present everywhere, of course. It was just a little weird to put together because I had seen it everywhere except for Venice itself. I seemed to have an underappreication for it at this point. Nonethless, Venice was a lot of fun. There's alot of high end shopping to do there, as well as really amazing structures. And it's really, Venice is more than the romanitic gandala ride through the streets and canals.
Pictures of Italy probably won't be up until I get to London and have more stable interent. So until then, I hope my words suffice.
Much love from Rome,
Carla
11 August 2008
An excerpt from my journal...
I want to jot down the words from my most recent entry from my personal journal because it seems to sum up the entirety of what I am internally going through here in Rome. It's turning out to be more than I thought it would. At first, coming to Rome was a one month vacation before a semester in London and a chance to get to know some of my mom's side better. What it's turned into is an opportunity of countless and new ways to discover who I am. It's funny because I thought I knew who I was before all this, but yet, being here has caused me to realize that there are so many more aspects to the person that I am - aspects that I had not yet touched upon. So this entry may be a little different. It's not exactly the travel blog aesthetic that I usually write... It may be a little more personal. If you all don't mind, I'd like to let you into that world.
07 August 2008 "A Mid-Mid Life Evaluation"
Being here in Rome has really given me so many opportunities to think, reflect, and discover. Most of my train of thought has been filtering through the channel that is, "Life's Direction". When I really think about it, I realize just how blessed a life it is that I lead. Yesterday, on the bus, coming back from The Vatican and Pantheon, my cousin Jay told me that out of all my cousins on my mom's side, I was the luckiest. And this really got me thinking because it was a familiar statement. I've always been told, by both sides of my family that I'm doing big things, and that It's good that I'm taking advantages of all the opportunites being given to me. For that I could thank my dad, simply because he raised me thinking that I should never let opportunities pass me by... That I should always go for them, no matter if they work out or not. Well, to refer back to the statement, I wouldn't call it lucky. Rather, I would call it truly being blessed because it really does exemplify the love of God at work. At least for my life, I see how putting God above all else, or at least trying to... How easily He directs your path, and makes them successful... Despite let downs in life, He gets you to where you need to be, at the right time. I see how loving God with all of your heart will indeed supply all your needs, not just spiritually either. And all this I'm finidng more and more evident the more I evaluate my place in this world, and my own life. I'm thinking... why am I doing what I'm doing. How crazy does my life sound right now... I've been abroad for 5 weeks, I've got an internship with THE TRAVEL CHANNEL lined up. I get to see and travel and expirience... All before I'm 20. And it's scary, but thrilling... And I just wonder "Why God? Why me?" It makes me wonder exactly what kind of plan it is God has for my life. I'm looking back at my childhood, and I see that I was always doing something - getting involved somehow... Always aspiring and having some kind of drive towards something. And it seems that that has carried itself throughout my life so far. I've always been told that God had something big for my life, and it's kind of crazy because I feel like it is actually starting NOW. I just pray that I'm ready for it. I knew that this year, 2008, God was going to launch me into the next chapter of my life... It seems like He really has. And now that it's all happening, I give God all glory for these blessings. Perhaps understanding the context of my own life, and my expiriences as a young Filipino-American woman are my testimony... I don't have to second guess it anymore, because there is inspiration here.
With all that said, I feel like my life is unraveling here - in a good way. For the first time in my life, I've had to come to terms with the dualities in my own nationalities, and trying hard to explain that to a 16 year old cousin whose level of thinking at the point of ignorance, and trying not to be so sensitive to his hard comments. Although, he is a great person. It accentuates the opportunities to cultivate more patience and love in my life. My cousin tells me I'm not an American, that I shouldn't cheer for the US team duing the Olympics... And to tell you the truth, if it weren't for me coming half way across the world, I probably would never have the revelation and appreication for both nationalities that I do now. I've always known I was Filipino, duh. I've also always known that my parents did raise me in the exact tradtional Filipino household. I grew up in the US, and the American culture became my familiar ground. And I thought I was okay with that. And I spend almost 20 years like that, and I get to Rome, and it's like, whoah. There's so much I don't know about the Philippines. My sense of Filipino history does not go past WWII and McArthur, and unless the US was involved, I didn't know. I find that quite embarassing when my couisns ask me why I dond't this or that. It's like I'm not Filipino. But who can really blame me? I went to school under American education. And honestly, I thank my cousin for the scrutiny because now I have more of a drive and passion to learn more of my own Filipino culture than I knew before. I'm speaking more in Ilocano than I ever have been and it feels great to utilize my bilingual-ness. I want to learn Tagalog, I want to continue catching up with Filipino pop culture thanks to TFC (The Filipino Channel), and all that good stuff. But at the same, I am an American, and I appreciate ever single blessing that I have had because of this nationality. My whole life is invested in this country and I don't second guess any of that. I love being an American, and I love being a Filipino. And so thankful to be fully exposed to both. So thank you Rome, of all places, and thank you to my cousin, who I do truly love... But thank you for presenting to me the chance to pay more attention the dualities of who I am.
To say the least, it's been tremendously pleasant to be "meeting" other cousins and family members here in Italy. It's amazing that where I thought my family boundaries ended... It doesn't. I have family throughout the world, and that's a crazy thought, again. Too much thinking for me these days though, so I'll stop here.
With love from Rome, and a special thanks for reading this one,
Carla
07 August 2008 "A Mid-Mid Life Evaluation"
Being here in Rome has really given me so many opportunities to think, reflect, and discover. Most of my train of thought has been filtering through the channel that is, "Life's Direction". When I really think about it, I realize just how blessed a life it is that I lead. Yesterday, on the bus, coming back from The Vatican and Pantheon, my cousin Jay told me that out of all my cousins on my mom's side, I was the luckiest. And this really got me thinking because it was a familiar statement. I've always been told, by both sides of my family that I'm doing big things, and that It's good that I'm taking advantages of all the opportunites being given to me. For that I could thank my dad, simply because he raised me thinking that I should never let opportunities pass me by... That I should always go for them, no matter if they work out or not. Well, to refer back to the statement, I wouldn't call it lucky. Rather, I would call it truly being blessed because it really does exemplify the love of God at work. At least for my life, I see how putting God above all else, or at least trying to... How easily He directs your path, and makes them successful... Despite let downs in life, He gets you to where you need to be, at the right time. I see how loving God with all of your heart will indeed supply all your needs, not just spiritually either. And all this I'm finidng more and more evident the more I evaluate my place in this world, and my own life. I'm thinking... why am I doing what I'm doing. How crazy does my life sound right now... I've been abroad for 5 weeks, I've got an internship with THE TRAVEL CHANNEL lined up. I get to see and travel and expirience... All before I'm 20. And it's scary, but thrilling... And I just wonder "Why God? Why me?" It makes me wonder exactly what kind of plan it is God has for my life. I'm looking back at my childhood, and I see that I was always doing something - getting involved somehow... Always aspiring and having some kind of drive towards something. And it seems that that has carried itself throughout my life so far. I've always been told that God had something big for my life, and it's kind of crazy because I feel like it is actually starting NOW. I just pray that I'm ready for it. I knew that this year, 2008, God was going to launch me into the next chapter of my life... It seems like He really has. And now that it's all happening, I give God all glory for these blessings. Perhaps understanding the context of my own life, and my expiriences as a young Filipino-American woman are my testimony... I don't have to second guess it anymore, because there is inspiration here.
With all that said, I feel like my life is unraveling here - in a good way. For the first time in my life, I've had to come to terms with the dualities in my own nationalities, and trying hard to explain that to a 16 year old cousin whose level of thinking at the point of ignorance, and trying not to be so sensitive to his hard comments. Although, he is a great person. It accentuates the opportunities to cultivate more patience and love in my life. My cousin tells me I'm not an American, that I shouldn't cheer for the US team duing the Olympics... And to tell you the truth, if it weren't for me coming half way across the world, I probably would never have the revelation and appreication for both nationalities that I do now. I've always known I was Filipino, duh. I've also always known that my parents did raise me in the exact tradtional Filipino household. I grew up in the US, and the American culture became my familiar ground. And I thought I was okay with that. And I spend almost 20 years like that, and I get to Rome, and it's like, whoah. There's so much I don't know about the Philippines. My sense of Filipino history does not go past WWII and McArthur, and unless the US was involved, I didn't know. I find that quite embarassing when my couisns ask me why I dond't this or that. It's like I'm not Filipino. But who can really blame me? I went to school under American education. And honestly, I thank my cousin for the scrutiny because now I have more of a drive and passion to learn more of my own Filipino culture than I knew before. I'm speaking more in Ilocano than I ever have been and it feels great to utilize my bilingual-ness. I want to learn Tagalog, I want to continue catching up with Filipino pop culture thanks to TFC (The Filipino Channel), and all that good stuff. But at the same, I am an American, and I appreciate ever single blessing that I have had because of this nationality. My whole life is invested in this country and I don't second guess any of that. I love being an American, and I love being a Filipino. And so thankful to be fully exposed to both. So thank you Rome, of all places, and thank you to my cousin, who I do truly love... But thank you for presenting to me the chance to pay more attention the dualities of who I am.
To say the least, it's been tremendously pleasant to be "meeting" other cousins and family members here in Italy. It's amazing that where I thought my family boundaries ended... It doesn't. I have family throughout the world, and that's a crazy thought, again. Too much thinking for me these days though, so I'll stop here.
With love from Rome, and a special thanks for reading this one,
Carla
07 August 2008
Limited with internet time, but I must post!
This may be the most rushed and hurried post ever, but I must update! It such a stinker when you have to pay for internet and it's so far away!
Okay, so I'm out of the mountains, and this week has been spent touring around Rome. So, I found out that the fountain I saw was called, Trevi Fountain. I'm sure that will ring a bell, and plus, it's in all the movies set in Rome. The other day I went to Castle St. Angelo, and walked around the Piazza Navona. I've also done the Vatican, which was incredible! Minus the heat and all the people, and the narrow stairs... It was breathtaking and stunning!
Tomorrow, my cousins and I are heading to Venice for the day. I'm excited!!
Lastly, I feel like being here in Rome has been this journey of self-discovery. There's much to say about this, so I'll update when I have more time! Nonetheless, I'm doing well... Just a tad bit homesick, but I'm good!
Much love from Rome,
Carla
Okay, so I'm out of the mountains, and this week has been spent touring around Rome. So, I found out that the fountain I saw was called, Trevi Fountain. I'm sure that will ring a bell, and plus, it's in all the movies set in Rome. The other day I went to Castle St. Angelo, and walked around the Piazza Navona. I've also done the Vatican, which was incredible! Minus the heat and all the people, and the narrow stairs... It was breathtaking and stunning!
Tomorrow, my cousins and I are heading to Venice for the day. I'm excited!!
Lastly, I feel like being here in Rome has been this journey of self-discovery. There's much to say about this, so I'll update when I have more time! Nonetheless, I'm doing well... Just a tad bit homesick, but I'm good!
Much love from Rome,
Carla
01 August 2008
When in Rome...
It's my third day here and I am currently in Santi, L'aquila, Italy for the weekend. This is a town about an hour and a half outside of Rome where another one of my Uncles and cousin lives. It's a very quaint mountainside and vert beautiful. As soon as I get better internet, I'll be able to post some pictures. But until then, just know that it is breathtaking, serene, quiet, and very different than in Greece. It seems like that here though, or at least in my perspective. Don't get me wrong, Italy is an amazing place, an amazing country... And it really is shaped like a boot! I felt like a little kid, looking out my window in the plane, and just being dumbfounded by the actual boot shaped mass of land! But for some reason, and it may be just because of my own bias... I find Greece just a wee bit more beautiful. Nonetheless, the two are unique in their own ways and I appreciate both. And I feel VERY priveleged to be able to spend a good amount of time in each.
Anyways, it's a shame that I don't remember the names of the things I've seen so far. On my first day we [my two cousins and I] saw most of the famous fountains, of which one was the one where you make a wish with a coin and throw it in backwards. We also dropped by the Republic, Piazza Venezia... and sadly, other things that I don't remember the name of. But perhaps by the time I get pictures up, I'll have time to look things up. I admit it's hard when you don't have a tourguide around who can give you enough background information to compile itself into one history book. Rome is exquisite in its architecture. VERY VENETIAN, which is such a contrast to that of Greece, although at some points you can find Venetian buidlings in areas with Roman infulence. Now, for a little while, let me get all nerdy on you all... I find it amazing to be in area, where in Greece, we talked so much about. It's absolutely funny how everyone in Greece talks about how the Romans stole everything they ever did and tried to call it their own. For example, the Greek Parthenon and the Roman Pantheon. But besides that, me seeing it so many centuries later, borrowed and unorigianal as Greece may see it, Rome is beautiful. After this mountain experience, my cousins and I have plans to see Venice and Florence, as well as finish up Rome. I'm very much excited about this, and it's weird because Italy for me is a vacation. And unlike Greece, I'm not quite the traveller because I am going to see all the touristy sites with perspective lens of a toursit. But then again, I'm not exactly a tourist seeing as I'm kind of immersed with the locals, not quite living in the moreso comforts of a hotel... I'm staying in a humble little apartment with my 2 cousins... Not quite touristy there if you get what I mean.
Nonetheless, I am overwhelmed with just how blessed this adventure has been so far. I'm going on about 5 weeks being abroad now - and it's a blessing that I'm not as homesick as I could be. But to reassure the family and friends back home, I constantly think about you all, and always try to picture you all being here with me. Well, besides the not-quite-so-homesick schpeel, being here in Rome is awesome. I have a chance to get to know some of my mom's side of the family better, which I know she is absolutely ECSTATIC about. All my life, I've been close to just my dad's side, so it's awesome to get to know my mom's brothers and sister-inlaws, as well as cousins on her side. Most of the time, I've spent with my cousin Junior... We exchange language lessons - he fills me in on basic Italian and I get to teach him English so he can communicate with everyone lese better. It's actually quite an amazing tradeoff if you know what I mean. [=
I figure I'll end here for now. Pictures will hopefully come soon!
With love from Rome,
Carla
Anyways, it's a shame that I don't remember the names of the things I've seen so far. On my first day we [my two cousins and I] saw most of the famous fountains, of which one was the one where you make a wish with a coin and throw it in backwards. We also dropped by the Republic, Piazza Venezia... and sadly, other things that I don't remember the name of. But perhaps by the time I get pictures up, I'll have time to look things up. I admit it's hard when you don't have a tourguide around who can give you enough background information to compile itself into one history book. Rome is exquisite in its architecture. VERY VENETIAN, which is such a contrast to that of Greece, although at some points you can find Venetian buidlings in areas with Roman infulence. Now, for a little while, let me get all nerdy on you all... I find it amazing to be in area, where in Greece, we talked so much about. It's absolutely funny how everyone in Greece talks about how the Romans stole everything they ever did and tried to call it their own. For example, the Greek Parthenon and the Roman Pantheon. But besides that, me seeing it so many centuries later, borrowed and unorigianal as Greece may see it, Rome is beautiful. After this mountain experience, my cousins and I have plans to see Venice and Florence, as well as finish up Rome. I'm very much excited about this, and it's weird because Italy for me is a vacation. And unlike Greece, I'm not quite the traveller because I am going to see all the touristy sites with perspective lens of a toursit. But then again, I'm not exactly a tourist seeing as I'm kind of immersed with the locals, not quite living in the moreso comforts of a hotel... I'm staying in a humble little apartment with my 2 cousins... Not quite touristy there if you get what I mean.
Nonetheless, I am overwhelmed with just how blessed this adventure has been so far. I'm going on about 5 weeks being abroad now - and it's a blessing that I'm not as homesick as I could be. But to reassure the family and friends back home, I constantly think about you all, and always try to picture you all being here with me. Well, besides the not-quite-so-homesick schpeel, being here in Rome is awesome. I have a chance to get to know some of my mom's side of the family better, which I know she is absolutely ECSTATIC about. All my life, I've been close to just my dad's side, so it's awesome to get to know my mom's brothers and sister-inlaws, as well as cousins on her side. Most of the time, I've spent with my cousin Junior... We exchange language lessons - he fills me in on basic Italian and I get to teach him English so he can communicate with everyone lese better. It's actually quite an amazing tradeoff if you know what I mean. [=
I figure I'll end here for now. Pictures will hopefully come soon!
With love from Rome,
Carla
26 July 2008
Some entertainment & Photos
Here are some pictures taken from all over Greece:
The canal in Corinth
The Temple of Poseidon, Suinio
Me and a Spartan!
Ithaca, where we got off the boat and swam in its waters!
Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia... The 12th most famous in the world.
Ithaca, where we got off the boat and swam in its waters!
Melissani Cave, Kefalonia
The view after climbing 999 steps to the Castle of Palmidi, Napflion
In Olympia, the site for the Olympic Ruins
Some kids doing traditional Greek Dancing in the main street of Sami, Kefalonia. I loved it!
With love from Glyfada (A suburb of Athens),
Carla
25 July 2008
Kefalonia
Today is our last day in Kefalonia. Today was also our last day of class. It's a little bit surprising how fast time flies, and I cannot believe how near I am to the end of this chapter. But, it's not over yet...
We had to read Louis deBernieres' Corelli's Mandolin for class. It's already supposed to be read, and yet I'm still trucking through it. If I can take a moment to recommend something, I defnintely suggest you pick this book up. It's a moving stroy about a few interchanging characters and their lives on this island during World War II. Anyways, there was also a movie made based on this book which was shot, no surprise, here in Kafalonia. It's amazing to walk down the streets here and see how much pride the people take in the fact that this movie was filmed here. Picutres from the film, a diner that is actually called Captain Corelli's (which by the way has some amazing bugers), getting on a taxi and having our driver point out Nicholas Cage's villa and areas where the film were shot...Reading this book and seeing this movie, has somehow in a weird way, connected me to the locals here.
Besides that though, this island is rich in it's history - especially in the WWII eras. Our class drove to Argostoli, and from there saw the exectuion sites on the sides of the road where German soliders killled off thousands of Italian soldiers, after Moussilini's surrender. Memorials made by the Greeks for them... It pains me to come to the realization that here I am, relaxing.... When only a few decade ago, this island was filled with such atrosity and violence. It's always different when you know the history behind a place you visit, rather than just blindly going. For most of this trip, I realize that I truly apprecaite the education behind it... I feel like I can connect.
On a lighter note, yesterday our class took a day cruise around the island of Ithaca. It was a lot of fun, of course, seeing as we did nothing productive of the sort. I feel like Greece now is more than just a destination for me. It's the place that has given me this journey that I am now living. It has presented me with so many oppotunities to grow and develop (as I've said before). So to me, it's more than the mere beauty of this country and all fo it's breathtaking islands. It's more than the anient ruins, the history, the souvalki and pita, etc. etc. It is the context in which I have had the opportunity to cultivate and encourage some discoverey. Knowledge wise, personally, and spiritually. On that note, yesterday Ithaca presented me with the opportunity to break a little phobia of mine. Drowning when you're 3 years old does not erase itself easily from a person's memory Up until yesterday it's scarred me with a phobia of deep water. And yes, I can swim, but of course I never did in anything where my foot could not touch the bottom. But the water was pristine, and one would be foolish to not jump in. So, I figure at some point I've got to break this fear... Why not in Greece? So I get off the boat and plnuge myself into the beautiful water - my feet far from the ground. Then I realized what I've missed out on all this time. As I let the ocean carry me, it was a rush of freedom and peace all together, that I had never expireienced iin water until now. And for Greece, I am thankful.
So, the growth here... I've never appreciated God's work in nature so much in my life. I guess I was pretty ignorant to it. I never cared, and now I realize, through everything I've seen in Greece, that nature is one way that God expresses His love for us. Sorrounding us in beauty that has an innate ability to awe us and inspire us. To escape from the destruction that we ourselves have created in this world, and really look at the natural beauty of it - it can speak wonders to our lives. If only we let it.
Until the next time.
With love from Sami, Kefalonia,
Carla
We had to read Louis deBernieres' Corelli's Mandolin for class. It's already supposed to be read, and yet I'm still trucking through it. If I can take a moment to recommend something, I defnintely suggest you pick this book up. It's a moving stroy about a few interchanging characters and their lives on this island during World War II. Anyways, there was also a movie made based on this book which was shot, no surprise, here in Kafalonia. It's amazing to walk down the streets here and see how much pride the people take in the fact that this movie was filmed here. Picutres from the film, a diner that is actually called Captain Corelli's (which by the way has some amazing bugers), getting on a taxi and having our driver point out Nicholas Cage's villa and areas where the film were shot...Reading this book and seeing this movie, has somehow in a weird way, connected me to the locals here.
Besides that though, this island is rich in it's history - especially in the WWII eras. Our class drove to Argostoli, and from there saw the exectuion sites on the sides of the road where German soliders killled off thousands of Italian soldiers, after Moussilini's surrender. Memorials made by the Greeks for them... It pains me to come to the realization that here I am, relaxing.... When only a few decade ago, this island was filled with such atrosity and violence. It's always different when you know the history behind a place you visit, rather than just blindly going. For most of this trip, I realize that I truly apprecaite the education behind it... I feel like I can connect.
On a lighter note, yesterday our class took a day cruise around the island of Ithaca. It was a lot of fun, of course, seeing as we did nothing productive of the sort. I feel like Greece now is more than just a destination for me. It's the place that has given me this journey that I am now living. It has presented me with so many oppotunities to grow and develop (as I've said before). So to me, it's more than the mere beauty of this country and all fo it's breathtaking islands. It's more than the anient ruins, the history, the souvalki and pita, etc. etc. It is the context in which I have had the opportunity to cultivate and encourage some discoverey. Knowledge wise, personally, and spiritually. On that note, yesterday Ithaca presented me with the opportunity to break a little phobia of mine. Drowning when you're 3 years old does not erase itself easily from a person's memory Up until yesterday it's scarred me with a phobia of deep water. And yes, I can swim, but of course I never did in anything where my foot could not touch the bottom. But the water was pristine, and one would be foolish to not jump in. So, I figure at some point I've got to break this fear... Why not in Greece? So I get off the boat and plnuge myself into the beautiful water - my feet far from the ground. Then I realized what I've missed out on all this time. As I let the ocean carry me, it was a rush of freedom and peace all together, that I had never expireienced iin water until now. And for Greece, I am thankful.
So, the growth here... I've never appreciated God's work in nature so much in my life. I guess I was pretty ignorant to it. I never cared, and now I realize, through everything I've seen in Greece, that nature is one way that God expresses His love for us. Sorrounding us in beauty that has an innate ability to awe us and inspire us. To escape from the destruction that we ourselves have created in this world, and really look at the natural beauty of it - it can speak wonders to our lives. If only we let it.
Until the next time.
With love from Sami, Kefalonia,
Carla
15 July 2008
Living out of a suitcase... Hydra to Napflio!
Yia Sas! Or in English, "Hello" from Nafplion! Yes, again, we are in another part of Greece. I admit, I do miss Hydra. The island itelf made it almost impossible to not just sit and relax. We're back in a city, and yes, I consider myself a city girl... But I do miss the island and all of it's incomplexities. Nonetheless, I've been in Greece about 2 weeks now. We (my class) are half way through our program. I feel like we've done so much, and yet, I have not had the time to document it all. So, I think I'll do so right now.
I must say, this whole living out of a suitcase bit is really not too bad. I have surprised myself in saying that merely because I, as with a lot of us, truly do enjoy the comforts of home. Not to mention, I'm not too good with change and having to reacquaint myself. But this program broke that for me. We have, as of now, stayed in 3 different areas off Greece. Each location quite a distance from the other. It's a constant packing, moving, reacquainting with the new city, exploring and scouting out new places to eat (when you just familiarized yourself with one place, you have to start all over again). All this to be topped off with constant field trips to new sights and having to be a part of a class and community of completely new people. I think this is one of the best things that have happened to me. I'm learning - learning how to be flexible and not so stuck on familiarity - learning about pushing my own boundaries of exlporation, getting out of my comfort zone to fully be able to embrace a culture. And trust me, I am. I'm doing new things. For one, as an avid tomato hater back home, I'm actually eating them here. I'm less hesitant to try new food. I've killed a spider. I'm drinking only one cup of coffee a day as opposed to 3. I'm embracing the heat and not complaining about it. I'm getting over my fear of deep water and throwing myself into the beautiful beaches that Greece offers. But beyond the superficial... I really am getting to know myself, and the art of getting to know others. I'm getting to know what's outside of my own domestic boundaries and fully embracing every aspect of it. I'm reminded of a quote that the oh-so-wonderful, kind of, Professor Patterson told our MMW6 class - and that was to see the everything in the world, and if you can't do that, see the world in everything. As a side note, I find it so amazing that God has created us all as humans - and yet, the cultures we all have in this world are strikiningly different. But that's the beauty of it. And my only hope is that I, who have been given such an amazing chance to explore this world, embrace every part of it. Instead of limiting myself to my Flipino/American culture, I hope to integrate the world, in all that it had taught me in travelling, into my perspective of life. My lens is not a closed, but open one. Open to see what God sees everyday, and appreciate the beauty in its differences.
Alright, so Hydra. Hydra is an amazig island - it's small, but I loved it! While in Hydra, aside from class, we went to 2 museums. One of them was this old captain's mansion which was so much fun to go through. I was obsessed with the windows in the building! Each one seemed to capture an an absolutely beautiful view, effective back then to see enemies coming towards the island. Other than the islands, there was a lot of downtime. We swam in the clear blue waters, careful to avoid the lurking sea urchins which left remnants of itself in a few of my classmates. I had my first expierience in a bar/club. [And to all my readers who are worrying, don't. I didn't drink, just danced] It's funny beacause it's really not that great. And I find it surprising how eay it was to say "No, I don't drink" to everyone else I was with. It really wasn't as hard as I thought. Living by example I suppose. I took a few walks at night, when the stars were out and the port was lit beautifully! Perhaps one of the more entertaining times was having another program to American kids sharing the weekend in the same hotel as us. A group of guys with the exception of 5 girls seemed to compliment our class of 25 girls and 5 guys really well. We got to know a lot of them, and spent a good part of the weekend swimming, chatting, playing mafia, and spoons with each other. It was definitely nice.
Back on sea Monday morning into the Peloponnese. On the way to Nafplia, we stopped by Epidaurus. There we saw an stunning theatre that must have been able to seat thousands. It was good to see that it was still in use for theatre productions now. We also some some of the ruins there which included a stadium and temple.
Now we're in Napflio/Napflion... whichever way you say it. Anyways, the city is interesting. It seems to be built with layers of different eras. Hopefully I'll read more about it. Nonethless, it's nice to be back to the city life. Today we visited Mycenae and saw the Tomb of Agamemnon, as well as the Anicient Site of Mycenae. It's fascinating to see how much of Greek culture is embedded in its past or, myths of. The more I see these ruins, the more I realize this aspect of Greek life, and I find an even deeper appreication for a country of such an age.
Perhaps this is getting a bit lengthy so I'll leave you here. As far as pictures go, I'll post a few on the blogs themselves, but if you have Facebook, my albums are updated. For the Photobucket album, I will let you know when that is updated!
Until the next time!
With love from Napflio,
Carla
I must say, this whole living out of a suitcase bit is really not too bad. I have surprised myself in saying that merely because I, as with a lot of us, truly do enjoy the comforts of home. Not to mention, I'm not too good with change and having to reacquaint myself. But this program broke that for me. We have, as of now, stayed in 3 different areas off Greece. Each location quite a distance from the other. It's a constant packing, moving, reacquainting with the new city, exploring and scouting out new places to eat (when you just familiarized yourself with one place, you have to start all over again). All this to be topped off with constant field trips to new sights and having to be a part of a class and community of completely new people. I think this is one of the best things that have happened to me. I'm learning - learning how to be flexible and not so stuck on familiarity - learning about pushing my own boundaries of exlporation, getting out of my comfort zone to fully be able to embrace a culture. And trust me, I am. I'm doing new things. For one, as an avid tomato hater back home, I'm actually eating them here. I'm less hesitant to try new food. I've killed a spider. I'm drinking only one cup of coffee a day as opposed to 3. I'm embracing the heat and not complaining about it. I'm getting over my fear of deep water and throwing myself into the beautiful beaches that Greece offers. But beyond the superficial... I really am getting to know myself, and the art of getting to know others. I'm getting to know what's outside of my own domestic boundaries and fully embracing every aspect of it. I'm reminded of a quote that the oh-so-wonderful, kind of, Professor Patterson told our MMW6 class - and that was to see the everything in the world, and if you can't do that, see the world in everything. As a side note, I find it so amazing that God has created us all as humans - and yet, the cultures we all have in this world are strikiningly different. But that's the beauty of it. And my only hope is that I, who have been given such an amazing chance to explore this world, embrace every part of it. Instead of limiting myself to my Flipino/American culture, I hope to integrate the world, in all that it had taught me in travelling, into my perspective of life. My lens is not a closed, but open one. Open to see what God sees everyday, and appreciate the beauty in its differences.
Alright, so Hydra. Hydra is an amazig island - it's small, but I loved it! While in Hydra, aside from class, we went to 2 museums. One of them was this old captain's mansion which was so much fun to go through. I was obsessed with the windows in the building! Each one seemed to capture an an absolutely beautiful view, effective back then to see enemies coming towards the island. Other than the islands, there was a lot of downtime. We swam in the clear blue waters, careful to avoid the lurking sea urchins which left remnants of itself in a few of my classmates. I had my first expierience in a bar/club. [And to all my readers who are worrying, don't. I didn't drink, just danced] It's funny beacause it's really not that great. And I find it surprising how eay it was to say "No, I don't drink" to everyone else I was with. It really wasn't as hard as I thought. Living by example I suppose. I took a few walks at night, when the stars were out and the port was lit beautifully! Perhaps one of the more entertaining times was having another program to American kids sharing the weekend in the same hotel as us. A group of guys with the exception of 5 girls seemed to compliment our class of 25 girls and 5 guys really well. We got to know a lot of them, and spent a good part of the weekend swimming, chatting, playing mafia, and spoons with each other. It was definitely nice.
Now we're in Napflio/Napflion... whichever way you say it. Anyways, the city is interesting. It seems to be built with layers of different eras. Hopefully I'll read more about it. Nonethless, it's nice to be back to the city life. Today we visited Mycenae and saw the Tomb of Agamemnon, as well as the Anicient Site of Mycenae. It's fascinating to see how much of Greek culture is embedded in its past or, myths of. The more I see these ruins, the more I realize this aspect of Greek life, and I find an even deeper appreication for a country of such an age.
Perhaps this is getting a bit lengthy so I'll leave you here. As far as pictures go, I'll post a few on the blogs themselves, but if you have Facebook, my albums are updated. For the Photobucket album, I will let you know when that is updated!
Until the next time!
With love from Napflio,
Carla
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)