Audrey's Blog

Share the Love

Growing up I was introduced to the Greek culture. Most of the family friends that I grew up around were Greek and over the 20 years of my life they shared their culture with me. In my family we joke that we are “adopted Greek”. I had no idea how much I had actually been exposed to or how much of it I had held onto until this trip. As soon as we landed I started to remember all the memories of my childhood. Each bite of food, each beat of music, each mannerism and gesture brought a flood of joy and remembrance. However, what was even better than that sensation was seeing my friends experience these loves of mine for the first time. Being able to share the memories and foods that shaped my childhood was a gift that meant the world to me.

One of the moments that I remember the most from the trip was our day cruise to three of the Greek Islands: Hydra, Poros, and Aegina. It was our last day of travel before our trip home and one of our earliest mornings, not to mention it was a 3 hour boat ride to the first island.

However all of the exhaustion and irritability crumbled at the first sight of Hydra. Hydra, a picturesque island that encompasses everything one thinks of when they imagine Greece. Seeing the excitement and happiness as everyone walked around excited to take photos, see the shops, and enjoy their time with one another gave me so much joy and really brought an amazing end to a one in a lifetime trip.

I am so grateful for not only the opportunity to travel and reminisce, but most importantly I am grateful for the opportunity to travel with this group of incredible people. I thank the Close family and foundation for giving me memories that I will hold onto for a lifetime. This truly was a trip that has shaped me.

Taegan's Blog

Farewell Greece!

From the museums, pottery class, cooking lesson and amazing views, Greece had a lot to offer. The trip has been an amazing journey that allowed me to laugh and cry, but most of all build deeper connections with other Close Scholars. Being around the same group of people, who also value and appreciate the opportunity we were given, has been life changing for me. I have traveled out of the country numerous times, but I was still nervous because I had never been to Greece. I honestly did not know what to expect, but I kept an open mind and looked forward to the endless possibilities.

The trip pushed me to think outside of my comfort zone. I can honestly say that I will never forget this experience because I learned so much. I truly found a new sense of peace while taking in the mountains and sea. I am forever grateful for Mrs. Close and the Close Foundation as well. The opportunities that they have given to me have inspired me, but most importantly, taught me what it really means to be a Close Scholar.

Karl's Blog

Fitting the Mold

Traveling to a foreign country can sometimes feel like being a newborn baby. You’re dropped into a completely new culture where you don’t know the language, have no concept of where you are, and need the guidance of someone with experience to survive. For these reasons and more, it can be extremely daunting to embark on this experience.

Throughout our time here in Greece, we had to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and that was no easy task. As you begin to move through the streets you begin to notice the similarities between you and the individuals surrounding you, but where there are similarities there are often also differences. Because of these differences, you have to remain adaptable. In all of my travels, adaptability has been the most important tool in my toolbox. You enter the country and you are molded in a way that is conducive to where you come from. However, in order to realize your full potential you have to be willing to shift and change so that you can immerse yourself in the culture of the country.

Towards the end of our trip we took a pottery class where we were able to shift and mold clay into bell-shaped dolls. When I began to mold the clay it was hard and reluctant to change shape, but when I added a little water the cracks closed and it became more flexible. This is exactly what is needed when you travel. When you apply adaptability techniques while traveling you are able to shift your mindset and mold it into whatever it needs to be be to maximize your experience. Opening your mind to the language by doing something as simple learning how to say hello, goodbye, or where is the bathroom can drastically change your experience in a positive way.

After more consideration, I realized that while this tool is beneficial for travel, when used in everyday scenarios it has the same power. There may be precedents set but there are many ways to move throughout life. When learning to navigate a new work culture, friendship, or school adaptability is the tool in your toolbox that can never stop helping. This lesson is one that I will take with me beyond the streets of Greece and apply as much as possible to my life moving forward.