EC EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SUMMER PROGRAMS: Scavenger Hunt

Friday, June 23, 2017

Scavenger Hunt

A few nights ago we had our second scavenger hunt of the program. The first scavenger hunt took place in Rhodes and my team had a great time running around the city exploring, learning (and winning). The most recent scavenger hunt was around our neighborhood in Alikianos. I have to admit I wasn't too excited to do a scavenger hunt after a long day and with the deadline for a paper hanging over my head, but once we got started I realized I was thankful for the incentive to get out and explore Alikianos. The village was absolutely beautiful with the pink sun hitting the mountains at sunset, and because I arrived to the program a day late I missed the initial tour of the village so it was nice to go investigate some of its hidden treasures. I was sad to realize that this is the last week of the program and I didn't spend nearly enough time out in the village. One of the most heartwarming things was when our group was searching for Basil and we thought there would be some in a woman's garden. Even though she didn't speak much English, Starr was able to connect with her and it was a really sweet reminder that a huge part of the scavenger hunts should be connecting with locals and not being afraid to ask for help. In the end both teams ran up the final hill together, which served as another reminder in the sense that the scavenger hunts should be about coming together as a program as much as it's about engaging with the community.

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EC Eastern Security Studies Program

In the summer of 2011, as the "Arab Spring" was unfolding and the "Eurozone Crisis" was entering its second year, the Emmanuel College Eastern Mediterranean Security Studies Program was established in Crete, as a way to make the location the classroom. Beyond the grand theoretical, historical and political understanding that can be achieved through reading and classroom discussion and exchange, a more immediate, intimate and truer appreciation of the complexities can only achieved by experiencing the cultures, languages of personal interaction.

Since 2012 students have been able to combine an intensive curricular study, with the experience of immersion and living in a local setting. The geopolitical and geoeconomic forces that have acted in the region for centuries, can be identified in the classroom, but they can only be understood by being there. This year's EC EMSS Program will add a fourth week of study, experience and exploration and will also travel to the islands of Rhodes, and Cyprus. In Rhodes we will be partnering with the Prefecture of Southern Aegean and the Aegean University, while in Cyprus we will be hosted by the University of Nicosia.